Page 65 of Taming His Viking Woman

She started to get up, but her muscles ached in places where she had never dreamt she had muscles before and she collapsed back with a groan. ‘I feel worse than if I had been fighting!’

‘You stay in bed.’ His face had become like a mask again. She searched it, trying to find the man who had held her through the night and who had made her feel valued as a woman. In his arms, the voice that had mocked and haunted her for so many years fell silent. But that man had vanished, leaving behind a determined sea king who had no need of her.

‘This shouldn’t take long, particularly if your early-warning system is accurate.’

An ice-cold shiver went down her spine. He was expecting someone and expecting them to bring trouble. And what was more infuriating, he wanted her out of the way. As if she couldn’t handle a sword! She fought better than most men.

She shook her head. ‘You picked the wrong sort of woman. I want to see who has arrived. News travels fast, but I didn’t expect it to travel this fast. It is sure to be innocent. I’ve no wish for pointless feuds if someone takes offence at not being properly greeted by the woman of the house.’

‘As you wish…’ He buckled his leather chest-protector on, before grabbing one of his velvet cloaks. Very much the lord of the hall, but prepared for war.

‘Despite my words you dress for battle. Who do you think it could be?’ Sayrid grabbed her clothes and began dressing.

‘Your brother.’ He gave a half smile. ‘Here I was hoping to spend the morning in bed with you. All in all your brother seems to delight in making me do things I’ve no wish to do.’

She fastened her belt about her middle with furious fingers. ‘Regin is on his way to see my stepmother, doing his duty finally. Why would he come here? It is at least a week overland to reach where she lives with her latest husband.’

‘Your eyes flash adorably when you are angry.’

He tilted her chin upwards. His thumb lazily rubbed the bottom curve of her lip. The fire inside her roared into full flame. It was all she could do to stop from dragging his mouth to hers. ‘And you are trying to get around my questioning.’

He let her go. Her traitorous body cried out in protest. ‘All my instincts scream that your brother is most likely to come here instead of visiting his mother. How often has he visited your stepmother in the past? Why does he want to mislead everyone? He was the only one to leave the village.’

‘Never, but there were reasons. Something always came up.’ Sayrid regarded the tapestries. Some of Regin’s excuses had been pretty slender, but she had accepted them because she had no wish for a return visit. ‘Once he was going to go, but turned around because he caught a fever. He didn’t want to give it to my stepmother.’

‘How noble of him.’ He coughed. ‘How will your stepmother feel about his marrying a woman without a dowry?’

‘He still knows his duty.’

‘And the damage to my ship, how do you explain that?’

‘He is not in league with Lavrans. He just isn’t.’ A deep chill filled her bones. ‘There must be another traitor.’

‘If I were disaffected and had just lost my inheritance, who would I turn to? It has to be said, Sayrid.’

The words acted like ice water. He was doing it deliberately. How little respect he had for her even to make that sort of suggestion.

‘You’re completely wrong. Auda swore that he had gone to see my stepmother and pay his respects now that he is properly married. Why would Regin lie to Auda?’

‘And you are certain Auda told you the truth.’

‘Auda is my sister.’ She ticked off the points on her fingers, trying to piece the events together. ‘Blodvin left a rune for her to find. It is possible I suppose that Regin changed his mind when he sobered up.’

‘Nevertheless, would you care to wager?’

She stuck her chin in the air. Once these travellers arrived, she looked forward to hearing his abject apology. He might think he knew about people, but he didn’t know her brother. ‘Happily. You’ll allow me the freedom to keep up my fighting skills, even though I haven’t completely honed my housekeeping skills. I want to train with your men. And I want to train Inga with them as well.’

‘She doesn’t want to do such things.’ Hrolf’s eyes blazed. ‘She prefers sewing and weaving.’

‘She is trying to master tafl. We played ten matches yesterday. You were busy when she wanted to play a game with you.’

‘The last time you wagered with me, you lost.’ He captured her chin. ‘If I am right, you will stay with the women and not train at all. Is that high enough stakes for you or would you prefer something less important?’ He nodded towards the bed. ‘Maybe something where we both can win?’

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