Chapter Twenty-Six
AMSTERDAM 1624
Clara woke in darkness, aware of footsteps outside her door and muffled, urgent voices. The wind had dropped a little, but rain still hit the window, hard driven by swirling gusts. She pushed back the bed drapes to grab the night candle before anxiously flinging open her door.
Nico was at the head of the stairs, with Pieter and Sander close behind, all carrying candles, guttering in the wild drafts.
‘What’s happened?’ Clara asked.
‘They’ve opened the sluices and Prinsengracht is high. Water has already found its way into the cellars so we’re going to try and block the entry points.’
A candle flame flickered above, and Clara saw Will and Adela looking down from the galleried landing. Will gave Adela the candle and ran down to join Nico. Adela followed
