Rakel looked away. Oh, no! Now Herr Disen would hear the news in the worst way possible – straight from the priest, and without any warning.
She felt miserable. His beautiful voice drowned out most of the others who were just murmuring along, and she felt the tears welling up. He was going to be terribly disappointed in her. This man, so upright and honourable, didn’t deserve to be treated this way.
She cast another glance in his direction. He turned and looked her straight in the eyes. A warm smile spread across his face, and Rakel blushed. She smiled back before turning away and staring shamefully down at her lap.
She felt like there had never been such a short sermon. The announcements were fast approaching and there was nothing she could do to stop it from happening.
“It’s time,” her mother whispered, nudging her. She should have straightened up and smiled shyly, but when she heard the priest announce that the candles were being lit for her and Syver, she could barely hold back the tears. She sat there, neck bent, her gaze fixed on her lap as she hoped the other churchgoers mistook it for shyness.
It wasn’t until the service was over and the church bells were ringing that she stole a glance at Herr Disen, but he was just staring straight ahead. It was hard to read what he was thinking, but he had a strained look on his face she’d never seen before.
Rakel had been hoping for the chance to exchange a few words with Herr Disen when she left the church, but she was immediately surrounded by people congratulating her and had more than enough to do performing as a bride is expected to. Syver also had enough to deal with, she noticed. He was standing a few steps away, accepting congratulations with a big smile.
It was hard to pretend she was happy, and she felt herself missing Jenny more than ever. If her friend had been here, she would have found comfort and support in her. As it was now, she felt utterly alone.
Rakel knew most of the congratulators well. There were neighbours from Skoppum, friends of her parents, and Aunt Esther and Uncle Peder. However, there were also people she didn’t know, and some Rakel would rather not talk to – like Fru Sørensen, the biggest gossip in Carljohansværn.
“I must congratulate you,” she said. “I feel like we know each other after your time in Carljohansværn.”
“Thank you,” Rakel replied, hoping she would move on, but she didn’t. Instead, she lowered her gaze and studied Rakel’s stomach quite openly.
“It happened quite suddenly, didn’t it?” she continued. “It hasn’t been more than a week since I last spoke with your aunt, and she didn’t mention a word about marriage then.”
Rakel didn’t know how to respond. It was clear that Fru Sørensen thought she and Syver had to get married. Just the thought of her spreading such rumours was enough to make Rakel ill.
“Yes, it may seem as though it happened quite suddenly to people outside our families,” she answered as calmly as possible. “But there has been talk of merging the farms for a long time. When Father and Herr Svartangen reached an agreement on how the operations should be run, there was no reason to put it off any longer.”
Fru Sørensen smiled sweetly. “So that’s how it is.” She scrutinised Rakel as though considering whether to believe her or not. “Well, we’ll see about that,” she added to herself before stepping away and leaving Rakel to the next congratulator. It was Doctor Eriksen, but she couldn’t quite concentrate on the conversation with him because she could hear Fru Sørensen’s nagging voice in the background. She was standing a stone’s throw away, talking to a group of women. Rakel couldn’t help but overhear what she said: “And I thought she was swooning for Lieutenant Bakke,” Fru Sørensen said. “After he visited her aunt, I took it as a given. Well, who knows. He might be the child’s father as it is, but I suppose a lieutenant probably isn’t a suitable marriage for a farmer’s daughter. She needs someone who’s at home and can till the soil.”
Rakel ached to put her in her place, but at that same moment, the priest approached her, and she had to keep a straight face.
“This marriage is a true blessing, Frøken Ovreid,” he said with a smile. “It seems that there are many sinners in Borre, but they aren’t that eager to enter into marriage. It’s almost as though there is evil behind it,” he continued. “Something luring the innocent into depravity.”
“What do you mean by that?” she asked.
“I’m talking about demons, Frøken Ovreid. They can take many forms and carry out their evil deeds in secret. But fear not,” he continued. “If evil has gained a foothold in Borre, I’m just the man to uncover and expel it. I won’t give up as easily as my predecessors. Instead of fighting, they moved on and left the congregation in Satan’s hands. It’s a good thing I came now, before the evil had the chance to spread. I will find the demon ravaging the village and free us all.”
Rakel saw that he meant every word he said. Did he really think there was a demon on the loose? That was ridiculous, but she didn’t protest. The priest was allowed to believe what he wanted. Soon, he would also discover that the young people were being driven by desire, not an evil force. Then he would give up and find a new parish just as all the others had done.
Rakel was exhausted from keeping up the facade when the crowd finally began to disperse. Her cheeks were stiff from the fake smile, and she wanted to run away more than anything. There were still a few people left to greet, though, and one of them was the captain’s wife. She came over and gave Rakel a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“My congratulations,” she said, taking Rakel’s hand. “This came as a bit of a surprise.” Fru Horgen’s kind voice and warm hand gently squeezing hers made her throat sting.
“Yes,” she replied tearfully. “For me as well.” She regretted saying that immediately, but luckily, there wasn’t anyone besides Fru Horgen who’d heard her. The captain’s wife looked thoughtful for a moment, then smiled warmly.
“I think a visit to Carljohansværn would do you good,” she said quietly. “My husband is out of town and I’m terribly bored, so I’d like to invite you to tea next Wednesday. I hope you’ll come? There won’t be that many people, perhaps ten or twelve, but I promise you it will be nice. I’ll send a carriage to fetch you after breakfast,” she continued. “See you on Wednesday!” With that, she winked and left before Rakel could turn her down.
It seemed like the captain’s wife was in quite a hurry; she was now heading straight for Herr Disen, probably to invite him to the tea party as well, Rakel guessed. He was standing with a couple of young boys who were looking up at him with eager faces. The children laughed at something, and Herr Disen patted one of them on the head and laughed along. The boys must be students at Bjerkeskolen, and it looked as though they worshipped their new teacher.
“Frøken Ovreid?” A high boy’s voice made her look down, and she saw Eilert standing there. She hadn’t seen him at church. She thought of his despair just a few days earlier when he’d begged her to help his mother and she’d failed. It seemed like Eilert was alone today, as his mother was nowhere to be seen. Still, he looked happy, she noticed with some surprise.
“Good day, Eilert,” she said. “I wasn’t aware you were here today.”
“Yes,” he answered eagerly. “Mother is better, so she asked me to come.”
“Is she better?” A heavy burden fell from Rakel’s shoulders.
“Yes, whatever you did helped,” he continued softly and confidently. “I just wanted to say thank you.”
“I didn’t do anything, Eilert,” she replied. “It’s the truth. If your mother has got better, it wasn’t my doing.”
Eilert just smiled and took no notice of her words.
“I’m happy you’ll be farm wife at Svartangen,” he said. “Both Mother and I are looking forward to it. But are you sure you want to do it?” He furrowed his tiny forehead, and Rakel felt a lump form in her throat from his genuine concern.
“I’m looking forward to it, Eilert, because then I’ll get to see more of you.” She smiled. That wasn’t a lie. It really was the only positive thing in all of this. She’d be better equipped to help Eilert and his mother when she moved to Svartangen.
She said goodbye to the boy and let her eyes wander to where she’d last spotted Herr Disen, but he wasn’t there anymore. She looked around the churchyard. Syver and his father were conversing with her grandmother, but otherwise, there were just a few people left. Herr Disen had left without attempting to have a word with her, she realised. He must be both angry and disappointed, and she couldn’t blame him.
A few days later, Rakel was on her way to Carljohansværn. Fru Horgen’s coachman had fetched her and she was bumping along in the back of the carriage. It was overcast, and a downpour at dawn had made the road wet and muddy. While there was a lull at the moment, the dark clouds gliding rapidly over the sky were ominous. More rain was probably on its way, and Rakel was glad she had a roof over her head.
She’d weighed the pros and cons of going on this visit, and in the end, reason did not win the battle. She shouldn’t have gone. Nevertheless, she was still hoping for the opportunity to exchange a few words with Herr Disen without anyone noticing. Fru Horgen had said there would be ten or twelve people so it might be possible – if he was there at all, that is. If he was as angry with her as she thought, it wasn’t a guarantee.
An anxious feeling grew in her stomach as the carriage approached Carljohansværn. She smoothed her hair and moistened her lips. This was stupid – she knew that – but then again, she wasn’t doing anything wrong, was she? She was on her way to a tea party among the naval city’s most distinguished residents. Not even Syver could find fault in that. However, he’d look at it differently if he knew Herr Disen had also been asked – at least if he’d known Herr Disen’s intentions. That was before, though, she reminded herself, when she was free and Herr Disen could court her.
Now that he knew she was engaged to Syver, he probably wanted to avoid her. She still hoped he’d come anyway. After she’d encouraged him to write to her, he deserved an explanation.
The carriage stopped outside Captain Horgen’s villa, and she was greeted by the young girl she’d rescued from Syver’s clutches at the well. The girl showed no signs of recognising her, but that wasn’t all that unusual considering how terrified she’d been when it happened.
It had started raining again, and the maid held an umbrella over Rakel’s head so she wouldn’t get wet. Rakel gave her shawl and bonnet to the maid when they got inside. It was strangely quiet in the villa, and there weren’t many coats in the entryway, either. Where were all the other guests?
“Follow me, please,” the maid said, showing Rakel through the hallway and into the living room. There was only one other person there: Fru Horgen herself. She was sitting at a round table set for three.
“Frøken Ovreid! Welcome!” she said, standing up. She greeted Rakel with a big smile, taking hold of her hands and squeezing them welcomingly.
“You’re cold,” she said, concerned. “But we’ll get some tea in you soon, and you’ll get the warmth back! What terrible weather we’re having! It’s a good thing you got inside before it started properly.”
“Yes, and thank you,” Rakel replied in a daze, glancing around. Who was the third person the table had been set for? Herr Disen?
Fru Horgen noticed her look and gave her a quick smile.
“Not everyone is here yet,” she explained. “But they will be soon. Now, where did that maid get off to?” she continued. “The tea should have been served by now. I’ll go and get her. Just a moment,” she said, hurrying out of the living room.
Rakel was still perplexed when Fru Horgen disappeared. What was going on? Fru Horgen had said there would be ten to twelve people. Had so many of them declined her invitation? And who was the third? Her stomach turned. Could Herr Disen have asked Fru Horgen if it could just be the three of them because he wanted to speak with her?
She went to the window and looked out. It was so quiet in the villa that she could hear the ticking of the grandfather clock in the adjacent room. Outside, the street was deserted in all directions. The rain had picked up and was hammering against the ground and thrumming monotonously against the roof. Small streams trickled down the windowpanes. Perhaps she’d catch a glimpse of the third guest when he or she arrived?
She turned at the sound of the door being opened, but it was only the maid carrying a tray with tea and cakes. She placed the teapot and tray on the table and was soon on her way back out.
“Excuse me,” Rakel said. “Do you know where Fru Horgen is?”
“She’ll be right here,” the maid replied. “I was told to ask you to wait.”
“I see,” Rakel answered as the maid disappeared. She didn’t quite know what to do. She was nervous, and she didn’t want to leave even though she probably should.
Then she heard Fru Horgen’s voice in the hallway. It sounded like she was talking to herself because she didn’t receive any response. Soon after, she came into the living room with a big smile.
“I apologise, Frøken Ovreid,” she said. “It wasn’t my intention to leave you on your own, but I also hadn’t expected my last guest to be so… troublesome,” she said, rolling her eyes. “But now he’s here,” she continued and peered out the door.
Soon, Rakel heard heavy bootsteps approaching. She straightened up. Her heart started beating faster. When a man finally came into view in the doorway, she didn’t understand.
It wasn’t Herr Disen standing there. It was a soaking wet Sheriff Bergan.