Recap: Miri is rescued from the boat, and the children are all sent off to meet their parents. When Miri, Katie, and Sabrina return home, Mr. Sanchez tells them that Mrs. Cornwell’s carriage has just pulled up. Mrs. Cornwell is an informer.
“Quick, girls, run into the sitting room, grab some of the gowns in the workbasket and a needle and thread, and start working on the hems.”
I shook my head. “But I don’t know how—”
Sabrina nudged me toward the living room. “Just follow what I do.”
We zoomed into the living room, and Sabrina threw us each a gown. She handed a needle to Katie and one to me. I watched as she poked the needle into the hem of the gown and deftly started pushing it in and out along the bottom edge.
I poked my needle into the gown and my finger at the same time. I suppressed a gasp of pain and tried the best I could to imitate the way Sabrina was sewing. Katie was having a much easier time.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. The front door creaked open.
“Mrs. Cornwell, I wasn’t expecting you. Such an honor.” Mrs. Dolar ushered Mrs. Cornwell into the room.
“I’m here on business.” She gazed around the large living room. “There are some missing children, and everyone is concerned.” Her beady eyes rested on me.
My heart thudded.
“Who are these girls? I didn’t know you had visitors.”
Mrs. Dolar motioned Mrs. Cornwell into the room. “You know we’re busy preparing gowns for the royal ball.” Mrs. Dolar’s voice rose. “As you know, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella are hosting a ball for King Manoel of Portugal.” I noticed Mrs. Dolar’s fingers tremble as she handed another gown to Sabrina.
Mrs. Cornwell perched primly on one of the red velvet chairs. “King Manoel is going to choose an entourage for his future wife. Perhaps he’ll choose one of these girls to be a handmaiden for the princess.”
I felt my heart plunge to my toes. No way! No way! I wanted nothing to do with the wicked royal family who wanted to destroy my people.
I thought of Esther HaMalkah. How did she stand being kept in the palace of Achashveirosh?
“He will be looking to see who makes a good impression on him at the ball, and then he will choose a select few women to be handmaidens for his queen.” Mrs. Cornwell peered closely at me. “Indeed, this girl does have lovely gold hair like Isabella. The king will like that. What a privilege that will be for the chosen ones.”
My neck muscles tightened.
She reminded me of an alligator revealing its razor-edged teeth. “King Manoel, sovereign of Portugal, wishes to marry Queen Isabella’s daughter, Isabella. He was willing to let the filthy Jews stay in Spain and not bother them; but Isabella’s daughter is a good Catholic, and she refuses to marry him unless he makes sure they all leave or convert.”
Her sharp, beady eyes blazed with religious fervor. “An edict is out that all Jewish children between the ages of 4 and 14 must report to our beloved church for baptism. Many Jews are already penned up, awaiting their salvation.” Her lips curved into a cruel smile.
A wave of nausea engulfed me. So wicked! So disgusting!
Mrs. Dolar fluttered around like a nervous bird, bringing Mrs. Cornwell a hot drink.
“They have nothing to say for themselves?” Mrs. Cornwell asked. Her eyes were fixed on me.
“They don’t speak our language. They grew up in Amsterdam.” She stepped between us.
“Ah, then they know Dutch.”
Uh-oh. She expects us to speak Dutch!
“They need to go rest now. It was a long trip for them.” Mrs. Dolar motioned for us to go upstairs.
My heart beat wildly as Katie and I nodded toward Mrs. Cornwell and then headed up the winding staircase.
We could still hear her harsh, measured voice, even from all the way up on the second floor.
We sat in the room, waiting to hear that she had left.
I wiped the sweat from my forehead.
Katie’s eyes were wide.
Finally, Sabrina knocked and sauntered into the room.
“She left.”
“I’m—we’re not going to any ball to become some evil king’s handmaidens.” My heart was thumping.
Mrs. Dolar strode into the room.
“Sabrina told me you want to speak to the great Rav Sarna.”
I glanced at Sabrina. Had she explained our problem to her mother?
“Yes, we must go to him. We need to leave. We’re both only 14. We can’t go to this ball, and anyway, we don’t want to—”
“Yes, I understand. I would send you with Mr. Sanchez to take a boat to Amsterdam, but no boats are due for a week, and the ball is this Sunday night. It’s not safe for you to stay here now that Mrs. Cornwell has seen you.”
“What should we do?”
“You will go to meet with the Rav.”
“Yes, we must go to him. We don’t belong here in this time. We’re from another time.”
Mrs. Dolar’s forehead creased. “I don’t know what you mean, dear. How can you be from another time?”
“I don’t know either, but it’s true. We were staying in this castle with Katie’s parents, my mom, and Katie’s little sister. Something strange happened. I mean, there was an electrical storm, and then, I don’t know, we somehow—”
“Yes, yes. It appears that way to you. We know we can’t travel through time, but I understand.” Mrs. Dolar nodded. “A bump on the head can do all sorts of damage. It’s good that you’re going to Rav Sarna. He is well versed in so many things, including medical issues. A hit to the head can cause all sorts of problems. It is a good idea for you to go to him. I will send Sabrina with you, as it’s a long, long walk to Toledo. We must make quick preparations. You need to wear many layers of clothing. It’s chilly in March, especially when the rains come.”
I sighed. She thinks I’m crazy. I wondered if Sabrina also didn’t believe me.
At least we were going to head to this great sage. Hashem should help him help us. We had to get back home. We couldn’t stay here and get chosen to be a wicked princess’s handmaidens.
I shuddered just thinking of it.
“I’ll pack up food for the three-day journey. Girls, pack up some clothing and take extra stockings. The roads can be muddy and wet.”
Mrs. Dolar packed a basket of fruit and other foods, and Katie and I put together a bag of clothing. In no time at all, we were ready to depart.
She kissed each of us. “Go out through the secret passage. I don’t want Mrs. Cornwell or anyone else to see you go.”
She handed Sabrina a map. “Hashem should protect you. Go safely. Return safely.”
To be continued…
Susie Garber is the author of 11 popular Jewish books, including her newly released historical fiction novel The Blizzard (Menucha 2026) and recently published novel Captured (Menucha 2025). She is also the current news editor of Binyan Magazine.
