courage to tell the truth, she’d admit she was daydreaming about a Scot whose stormy eyes revealed everything he felt. She’d do anything if he spoke to her in that same velvet tone he’d used when they’d met on the island. Crossing her arms over her chest, she exhaled exaggeratedly. All the servants missed Marteinn.
“No,” she disagreed. “I’m glad he’s gone.”
Amelia frowned. “You couldn’t possibly mean it, child.”
Kara gritted her teeth. “Why ask if you refuse to believe me?”
For all the qualities her father lacked, Erik the Bald treated his servants well, especially the women. They spoke freely. Kara appreciated it, but wished they would keep their personal opinions to themselves. Her ideas differed from most women’s. Life didn’t stop at the gates. An expansive world lay beyond Lagenheim, and she wanted to see it, experience it firsthand. Not rely on men’s tales for glimpses of what the world was really like.
“We all love Marteinn,” she soothed. “He is like my own brother.”
The maid wiped her hands on her apron. “I’ve suspected something was amiss between you two for a long time.”
Kara stared at her, surprised. “What?”
“Only what you’ve now admitted—you do not love him as a man. Your heart and mind are elsewhere.”
By Odin, hadn’t she concealed her interest in Aaron well enough to keep anyone from seeing it? “Who else—”
“Be at peace, milady.” The maid patted her arm affectionately. “Tis my duty to keep watch over you. I’m no muddleheaded girl.”
“I know.” Truth be told, Amelia had always been her favorite. Nearly ten years separated them, but Amelia’s sisterly affection added happiness to her life. She ran her father’s household so efficiently, Erik valued her above most warriors. Her husband had perished at Stamford Bridge, along with so many others.
“A girl’s wandering eye is hard to miss at a feast. That Scottish rogue is handsome as the devil, but not as tempting as Marteinn.”
That observation made Kara blush. “I would never compare them.” She covered her mouth, ashamed of her near confession. “I’ve revealed too much.”
The older woman smiled. “Passion.”
“I don’t like how it feels.”
“Aye, you do.”
Kara smacked the table with her palms. Since she’d opened her big mouth, why hide anything? She needed someone to talk to. “Before I met Aaron, I never felt the slightest inclination to know a man intimately. Now my insides are churning.”
“When a girl meets the right man, the tiniest spark between them ignites the fiercest flame. There are no words to describe it. One night you go to sleep a girl, the next day, you wake up a woman. I felt that with my blessed husband.”
Halfway across the room, Gunter stood glaring. “Has my sister suddenly blossomed into a woman?”
Four days of riding with Erik the Bald as your companion could inspire a man to fall on his own sword. At first, Aaron suspected he’d joined them to undermine everything he had planned. But they’d picked up twenty more recruits along the way, relying on contacts the elder jarl had in the region. And fifteen more from Floro. Grudgingly grateful for Erik’s assistance, Aaron could hardly ask the man to leave. But telling him to shut up was another thing altogether. Why did he insist on engaging in conversation at full gallop? And if Aaron didn’t answer his questions, the jarl called him a rude bastard.
Along with his present issues with Erik, Aaron also contemplated a location for their permanent encampment. He finally selected a spot near enough to the coastal village of Alesund, where they could regularly buy supplies. A seasoned rider could make the round trip in two days.
The tents were pitched along the edge of the forest, where the soldiers would find relief in the shade. A large clearing provided ample space for training. Archery targets were constructed on the far side. The female thrall’s quarters consisted
“No,” she disagreed. “I’m glad he’s gone.”
Amelia frowned. “You couldn’t possibly mean it, child.”
Kara gritted her teeth. “Why ask if you refuse to believe me?”
For all the qualities her father lacked, Erik the Bald treated his servants well, especially the women. They spoke freely. Kara appreciated it, but wished they would keep their personal opinions to themselves. Her ideas differed from most women’s. Life didn’t stop at the gates. An expansive world lay beyond Lagenheim, and she wanted to see it, experience it firsthand. Not rely on men’s tales for glimpses of what the world was really like.
“We all love Marteinn,” she soothed. “He is like my own brother.”
The maid wiped her hands on her apron. “I’ve suspected something was amiss between you two for a long time.”
Kara stared at her, surprised. “What?”
“Only what you’ve now admitted—you do not love him as a man. Your heart and mind are elsewhere.”
By Odin, hadn’t she concealed her interest in Aaron well enough to keep anyone from seeing it? “Who else—”
“Be at peace, milady.” The maid patted her arm affectionately. “Tis my duty to keep watch over you. I’m no muddleheaded girl.”
“I know.” Truth be told, Amelia had always been her favorite. Nearly ten years separated them, but Amelia’s sisterly affection added happiness to her life. She ran her father’s household so efficiently, Erik valued her above most warriors. Her husband had perished at Stamford Bridge, along with so many others.
“A girl’s wandering eye is hard to miss at a feast. That Scottish rogue is handsome as the devil, but not as tempting as Marteinn.”
That observation made Kara blush. “I would never compare them.” She covered her mouth, ashamed of her near confession. “I’ve revealed too much.”
The older woman smiled. “Passion.”
“I don’t like how it feels.”
“Aye, you do.”
Kara smacked the table with her palms. Since she’d opened her big mouth, why hide anything? She needed someone to talk to. “Before I met Aaron, I never felt the slightest inclination to know a man intimately. Now my insides are churning.”
“When a girl meets the right man, the tiniest spark between them ignites the fiercest flame. There are no words to describe it. One night you go to sleep a girl, the next day, you wake up a woman. I felt that with my blessed husband.”
Halfway across the room, Gunter stood glaring. “Has my sister suddenly blossomed into a woman?”
Four days of riding with Erik the Bald as your companion could inspire a man to fall on his own sword. At first, Aaron suspected he’d joined them to undermine everything he had planned. But they’d picked up twenty more recruits along the way, relying on contacts the elder jarl had in the region. And fifteen more from Floro. Grudgingly grateful for Erik’s assistance, Aaron could hardly ask the man to leave. But telling him to shut up was another thing altogether. Why did he insist on engaging in conversation at full gallop? And if Aaron didn’t answer his questions, the jarl called him a rude bastard.
Along with his present issues with Erik, Aaron also contemplated a location for their permanent encampment. He finally selected a spot near enough to the coastal village of Alesund, where they could regularly buy supplies. A seasoned rider could make the round trip in two days.
The tents were pitched along the edge of the forest, where the soldiers would find relief in the shade. A large clearing provided ample space for training. Archery targets were constructed on the far side. The female thrall’s quarters consisted
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