The Bloodletter's Daughter
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Text copyright © 2012 Linda Lafferty
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
Published by Amazon Publishing
P.O. Box 400818
Las Vegas, NV 89140
ISBN 13: 9781612184654
ISBN 10: 1612184650
To my beloved parents, Fred and Betty Lafferty, who taught their daughters the magic of books
First and foremost, my profound gratitude to my husband, writer and editor, Andy Stone. For twenty-seven years, he suffered the heartache of publishers’ rejections along with me.
Just keep writing
, he said.
A writer writes
.
Andy, my “touchstone,” taught me to write well by writing more...and loving the art and craft, published or not.
The Bloodletter’s Daughter
is the result of that love.
To my parents, Fred and Betty Lafferty, who taught their children the love of books at a tender age. We are a family of readers as a result.
A tremendous amount of research went into this novel. I would like to thank translators and Czech friends who offered assistance. Thank you, Zuzana Petraskova, Jiri Vaclavicek, and Mirka Gamarra. For housing me with great Czech hospitality, my thanks to Jakub Rippl of Dum u Velke Boty bed and breakfast in Prague.
Screenwriter Vladimir Vojir helped me procure a DVD of his documentary for Czech television illustrating the story of Don Julius and Marketa Pichlerova. Gratitude to him and to Ceska Televize for this valuable resource.
A highlight for me as a writer was to hold the Coded Book of Wonder (the Voynich manuscript) in my hands. Immense gratitude to Marty Flug, Yale president Dr. Richard Levin, and Yale University for this opportunity. (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library is magical.)
Thank you to another Yalie, Jonathan Rose, for your help.
Thank you, photographer Nora Feller of NoraFeller.com for the extraordinary author portraits. My white shepherd, Rosco, sends a lick on your cheek, whether you want one or not.
Writing is a solitary process, but a few friends gave me vital encouragement. Thank you, Nancy Elisha, my beloved sister who has read every word I have ever written. Her belief and love of my books carried me through the darkest hours for nearly three decades.
Other dear friends and readers: Sarah Kennedy Flug, Anne Fitzgibbon Shusterman, Lucia Caretto, Judy Sharp, and Elizabeth Haas White. Thank you, dear ones, for the support over the years.
To Caroline Leavitt, who swooped into my life, buoying me up when I was heartbroken by the publishing industry. Caroline, you are a talented writer and an extraordinary human being. God bless you.
Thanks to David Forrer, who worked with me on early versions of this book.
My editor, Melody Guy, guided me in rewrites with a gentle, supportive hand. I loved working with her. I trusted her judgment absolutely and worked to meet her expectations. Thank you, Melody.
Jessica Fogleman’s expert eye reviewing the manuscript was essential and much appreciated.
To my author team of Danielle Marshall, Nikki Sprinkle, Jessica Poore, and PR rep Gracie Doyle, a debt of gratitude for helping readers connect with my book.
To those at Gelfman Schneider, who help in all matters—Victoria Marini and Cathy Gleason, thank you.
To the Production Department, thank you for all your meticulous work.
My boundless gratitude to Betsy Robbins and the translation rights staff at Curtis Brown.
Special thanks to the Aspen Writers’ Foundation, and especially Executive Director Lisa Consiglio; Programs Manager Natalie Lacy; AWF Board Vice President Julie Comins Pickrell; the entire AWF Board of Trustees; and Founder Kurt Brown. Attending the Aspen Writers’ Conference and Aspen Summer Words for over thirty years has paid off! I always enjoy those terrific June workshops and the talented writers who share their experiences and the craft of writing. Aspen Summer Words is truly a “Writers’ Mecca in the Mountains.”
Bravo to Amazon’s art department. You dazzled me with the cover design.
To my acquisitions editor, Lindsay Guzzardo, who believed fervently in
The Bloodletter’s Daughter
. You are this book’s fairy godmother. Lindsay, thank you for your faith and persistence. Amazon Publishing—you made this book possible. Thank you for taking a chance on me.
Finally, to my spectacular agent, Deborah Schneider—who took me back as a client after an eighteen-year absence and secured the perfect home for three books at once.
Chai, Deborah, Chai.
PROLOGUE: L
ITTLE
G
IUGLIO AND THE
C
ODED
B
OOK OF
W
ONDER
CHAPTER 1: M
USLE OF
C
ESKY
K
RUMLOV
CHAPTER 2: T
HE
M
AD
B
ASTARD OF
P
RAGUE
CHAPTER 3: A
NNABELLA AND THE
M
AGIC
P
EARL
CHAPTER 4: A
RCHDUKE
M
ATTHIAS,
Y
OUNGER
B
ROTHER OF
R
UDOLF
II
CHAPTER 6: R
UDOLF
II
AND THE
C
ODED
B
OOK OF
W
ONDER
CHAPTER 8: N
EWS OF
D
ON
J
ULIUS IN
K
RUMLOV
CHAPTER 9: A H
OLY
C
ONSPIRACY IN
H
UNGARY
CHAPTER 13: A L
ETTER FOR
M
ARKETA
CHAPTER 14: L
EECHES FOR A
H
APSBURG
CHAPTER 16: T
HE
P
OOR
C
LARES
C
ONVENT
CHAPTER 18: T
HE
C
ODED
B
OOK OF
W
ONDER
CHAPTER 20: M
ARKETA’S
C
HARM VS. THE
C
ODED
B
OOK
CHAPTER 21: T
HE
R
OYAL
G
ARDENS OF
P
RAGUE
CHAPTER 23: A H
APSBURG’S
A
DDICTION
CHAPTER 25: K
ATARINA AND THE
G
RAIN
S
HED
CHAPTER 28: A
N
I
NVITATION TO
P
RAGUE
CHAPTER 30: D
ECEPTION AND
D
ANGER
CHAPTER 31: A M
IDNIGHT
D
EPARTURE
CHAPTER 35: K
EPLER AND THE
H
EAVENS
CHAPTER 37: T
HE
L
IBERATION OF
D
ON
J
ULIUS
CHAPTER 39: A M
AN IN
A
NNABELLA’S
H
OUSE
CHAPTER 40: J
AKUB
H
ORCICKY DE
T
ENEPEC AT
R
OZMBERK
C
ASTLE
CHAPTER 42: K
ATARINA’S
N
IGHTMARE
CHAPTER 43: M
ATTHIAS AND
T
AMAS OF
E
SZTERGOM
CHAPTER 45: A
N
A
FTERNOON OF
L
OVE AND
B
LISS
CHAPTER 46: T
HE
L
AST
N
IGHT OF
M
ASOPUST
CHAPTER 47: A
N
E
NCHANTED
E
VENING
CHAPTER 49: A
N
A
CT OF
C
ONTRITION
CHAPTER 51: T
HE
F
UNERAL FOR THE
S
AVIOR OF
K
RUMLOV
CHAPTER 52: T
HE
C
ORONATION OF
M
ATTHIAS