The Viking's Touch

by Joanna Fulford

  His jaw dropped. ‘You can’t be serious.’

  ‘I was never more serious in my life.’

  ‘Look, Anwyn, I know that your first marriage was not happy, but…’

  ‘My first marriage was a living hell—a hell that you were instrumental in making.’

  ‘I meant it for the best. Torstein—’

  ‘Torstein was a brute and you knew it, yet still you sided with Father.’ Her gaze raked him. ‘I begged you, Osric, but you ignored me.’

  ‘Father would have insisted on the match anyway. My intervention would have made no difference,’ he replied. ‘Besides, it’s water under the bridge now. We cannot change the past.’

  ‘True, but we can shape the future. I am not a child any more, and I will not be treated like a chattel. If I marry again it will be to a man of my choosing, not yours.’

  ‘Don’t be a fool, Anwyn. This is a wonderful chance. You can’t just throw it away.’

  ‘Watch me.’

  For a moment he was silent, regarding her resentfully. ‘You really mean it, don’t you?’

  ‘Don’t be in any doubt about that.’

  ‘Father won’t like it.’

  ‘I’m sorry. I’ll just have to live with that.’

  ‘He will compel your obedience.’

  ‘No, he won’t and neither will you, even if I have to barricade myself into Drakensburgh with an army.’

  Wulfgar sent the game bag to the kitchens and then went to the carpenter’s shop. The new yard was almost ready. The repair to the rudder was complete. Had it not been for their current agreement he and his crew would have been on their way tomorrow. His men seemed content enough: the living was easy here. Apart from the promise of gold, they had good food to eat and slept dry. It sufficed, for now. In the end, though, it could never compete with the call of the sea or the feel of the ship beneath their feet. They would do what they had promised here, but eventually the Sea Wolf would reclaim her own.

  ‘So who was that with Lady Anwyn?’ asked Hermund.

  Wulfgar returned abruptly to dry land. ‘Her brother, one Osric.’

  ‘Brother, eh? What does he want here?’

  ‘A social call,’ replied Wulfgar. ‘Says he’s on his way north.’

  ‘North? He’s well out of his road then, isn’t he?’

  ‘My thought exactly. It’s more than just a visit with family.’

  ‘Has to be.’

  ‘I expect we’ll find out soon enough.’

  ‘Aye, no doubt we—’ Hermund broke off, his attention on something beyond his companion’s shoulder.

  Instinctively Wulfgar turned round, just in time to see Anwyn astride a horse and heading out of the gates.

  ‘She oughtn’t to go out alone,’ said Hermund. ‘It’s not safe.’

  ‘I told her that.’

  ‘Ah. Well, I expect she’s got a good reason for disregarding the advice.’

  Wulfgar’s brows drew together. ‘She’d better have.’

  Leaving his companion, he sprinted to the stables. Minutes later he was astride a horse and heading off in pursuit of the fugitive.

  Anwyn had no clear idea of where she was going, only of the need to get out of Drakensburgh for a while. Her brain burned with the memory of that recent conversation with her brother, fuelling anger and resentment. Was she never to be free of the men who sought to control her life? Did they really imagine that she would bend meekly to their will once again? If so, they had another thing coming. Rage spilled over into tears. Damn Osric! Damn all of them! Leaning forwards she gave the horse its head, letting it out to a gallop.

  The thudding hooves pounded like the blood in her veins, the pace bordering on reckless, but just then she didn’t care. The horse was fresh and keen, the wind in her face exhilarating, giving back a sensation of freedom. They sped on for more than a mile before she slowed a little, reining in to let the animal breathe. Only then did she hear the muffled thud of hoofbeats on turf and looked up sharply to see the advancing horseman. For a moment she tensed, but, realising he was alone, her anxiety faded a little. It wasn’t until he was within a hundred yards that she recognised the rider.

  ‘Wulfgar,’ she murmured.

  Surprise mingled with vague unease as she watched the other horse pull up. Then she saw the expression on the rider’s face.

  ‘Is something wrong, my lord?’

  The blue eyes were glacial. ‘Just what do you think you’re doing?’

  The autocratic tone brought all her former ire bubbling to the surface. ‘What does it look like I’m doing?’

  ‘What it looks like is a total disregard for common sense. You little fool. Don’t you know better than to go off alone like that?’

  Anwyn’s chin lifted. ‘I’ll go where I please.’

  ‘Not while I’m responsible for protecting you, you won’t.’

  ‘I am the one who gives the orders at Drakensburgh, not you.’

  ‘That isn’t the point at issue here.’

  ‘Isn’t it?’

  He brought his horse alongside hers. ‘We had an agreement, remember? If you refuse to honour it, then we can call off the whole arrangement right now.’

  Anwyn stared at him. ‘Call it off?’

  ‘You heard me. Do you think I’m going to waste my time creating a defensive force only to have my work undermined by a wilful, heedless little idiot who changes the rules to suit herself?’

  Her cheeks burned. ‘I wasn’t changing the rules.’

  ‘Oh, really?’ He gestured to the vast expanse of heath around them. ‘Then what are you doing out here by yourself?’

  ‘I didn’t mean any harm. I didn’t think…’

  ‘No, you damned well didn’t, or you’d have seen the risk.’

  It took every ounce of control not to retort in kind. He was high-handed and arrogant and overbearing. The knowledge that he was right and his anger justified did nothing to improve her mood. Nor did the realisation that she needed him a lot more than he needed her. With an effort she swallowed her pride.

  ‘I don’t want to end our agreement.’

  ‘Well, you’re giving a good impression of it.’

  ‘I didn’t mean to.’

  ‘Then what did you mean?’

  ‘I…it was just…’

  His gaze raked her. ‘Just what?’ Then, for the first time, he noticed her tear-stained face and frowned. ‘Anwyn?’

  To her horror she felt fresh tears welling and looked away. ‘Forgive me.’ She dashed the water away with the back of her hand.

  Had it been any other woman he’d have suspected a play for sympathy, but this distress clearly had earlier origins. He let out a long breath and anger subsided a little.

  ‘Do you want to tell me about it?’

  She nodded. Wulfgar dismounted and waited as she followed suit. Then he tethered the horses and led Anwyn to a fallen log that would serve as a makeshift seat. When they had both sat down he turned to face her.

  ‘Now…’

  She took a deep breath, collecting herself again. Then she gave him an unvarnished account of what had passed between herself and Osric. He listened without interruption, but as he did so he felt his anger mount again. This time, however, its focus was quite different. Although her actions had been foolhardy, he could also understand why she had wanted to get away from Drakensburgh for a while. He also regretted his earlier anger, even though it had been born out of concern.

  ‘If this match is repugnant to you, then you are right to refuse it,’ he said, when at length the tale was concluded.

  She shook her head. ‘It isn’t as simple as that. My father is powerful…’

  ‘Surely he would not try to compel you to remarry.’

  ‘He is not concerned with my will, only his own. He would not hesitate to try—or to use force if commanding failed. My brother as good as said so before I left.’

  Though she tried to conceal it her agitation was evident. It touched him more deeply than he had antic
ipated, more so than if she had wept openly. Along with that was a growing sense of her vulnerability.

  ‘He may try, but he would be unlikely to succeed.’ He paused. ‘Drakensburgh is strong. You will be safe enough.’

  ‘I wonder if I will ever be really safe.’

  ‘I will not allow anyone to remove you by force.’

  Some of the tension went out of her. ‘Then you won’t withdraw from our agreement?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘But in return I want your solemn promise that you will obey me in this matter.’

  ‘You have it.’ She hesitated. ‘I’m sorry that I gave you cause for concern. I won’t do it again.’

  He smiled wryly. ‘See you don’t. Even if Ingvar’s men aren’t lying in wait to carry you off, you’ll break your neck riding at that speed.’

  ‘I wouldn’t normally. It’s just that I was so angry and I wanted to get as far away from Osric as possible.’

  ‘I suppose I should be thankful I didn’t have to pursue you the length of the kingdom.’

  She shook her head. ‘You would have given it up as a bad job long before then.’

  ‘I never give up when I have a goal, my sweet, and I’d have found you eventually. Only then my temper would have been much worse.’

  Anwyn shivered inwardly, but not with fear—or not exactly. She couldn’t quite identify the emotion that swept her then.

  ‘Your anger would be justified.’

  ‘Aye, it would. Though in truth I think it would be hard to remain angry with you for very long.’

  ‘I would not have you so,’ she replied.

  ‘In any case, anger is a waste of energy that could be put to better use.’

  The expression in the blue eyes was quite unmistakable and it sent a flush of heat to the region of her loins. Suddenly she was aware that they were alone and the place isolated. There was nothing to stop him pursuing this. And if he did? Shocked by the answer in her own heart, she turned away from him lest he should read it in her face. He was too experienced not to recognise what was there.

  ‘You’re trembling. What are you afraid of, Anwyn?’ He paused. ‘Me?’

  ‘No, of course not.’

  That much was true. It wasn’t him she was afraid of.

  ‘Then look at me.’

  She took a deep breath and forced herself to face him again, to bear that quiet scrutiny.

  ‘I won’t hurt you,’ he continued. ‘Nor will I let anything happen to you.’

  ‘I know.’

  The green eyes expressed trust, possibly the last emotion he had expected to see there at that moment. It was more powerful than he could ever have envisaged. It also prevented any further advance down the delightful route of his imagination. He squeezed her hand gently. Then, reluctantly, he got to his feet and drew her up with him.

  ‘We’d better get back before Hermund sends out a search party.’

  She nodded, not trusting herself to speak, every part of her alive to him. His touch was warm and strong, reassuring and disturbing in equal measure. She was just glad that he could not see the extent of her thoughts. This man represented the kind of temptation she could never previously have imagined.

  They walked together back to the horses, by which time she had regained a little more composure. Under his watchful gaze she gathered the reins and remounted. Having seen her safely in the saddle, he vaulted on to his own horse and brought it alongside. Then they set off, this time at a much gentler pace.

  The gathering at table that evening seemed a strangely unreal affair. Osric made no secret of his displeasure with Anwyn, adopting a manner of frigid courtesy. If he had thought to dismay her or induce feelings of remorse, he was well wide of the mark. Anwyn barely seemed to notice, much less to care. Her mind was elsewhere. Wulfgar, too, seemed more thoughtful than usual this evening, although his face betrayed no hint of what those thoughts might be.

  Once or twice she glanced his way, hoping to glean some inkling, but in vain. She was mortified now by the folly of her earlier actions, and by the recollection of his anger. If he pulled out of their agreement she was lost. Future security depended on his goodwill. If he could ensure ongoing protection for Drakensburgh she would be safe, and all those for whom she was responsible. He didn’t seem to be the kind of man who would renege on a promise, but nor would he tolerate any infraction of the rules he had laid down. Rules, she now admitted, that were necessary, not arbitrary.

  ‘I shall leave early in the morning, Sister. My companions and I have a long ride ahead of us.’

  Osric’s voice broke in to her reverie. Anwyn glanced across at him, noting dispassionately that he looked both disapproving and sullen.

  ‘As you will,’ she replied. ‘I’ll have the servants provide you with food for your journey.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Not at all. It’ll be a pleasure.’

  His eyes narrowed. ‘You’re making a serious mistake, Anwyn, you know that? Father will never allow you to get away with this.’

  ‘I think you are Father’s mouthpiece now, Osric. Nevertheless, my decision is made. I shall not go back on it.’

  ‘You’re a fool, then.’

  ‘I don’t think so.’

  ‘Well, on your own head be it.’ He leaned closer. ‘This isn’t the end of the matter. I’ll be back, and with a much larger force next time.’

  The implied threat did not escape her. Anwyn took another sip of ale and looked away, unwilling to prolong the discussion. As she did so her gaze met Wulfgar’s.

  ‘Your brother seems a little out of sorts, my lady.’

  ‘He’ll get over it.’

  ‘No doubt.’ He lowered his voice. ‘But what of you, Anwyn?’

  A pink flush rose along her throat. ‘I do not fear his displeasure.’

  ‘Neither should you. It cannot harm you now.’

  His words carried all manner of implications, which filled her with wildly contrasting emotions. Although she was nominally in charge of affairs here, his power was considerable—in real terms greater than hers. Caught now between two powerful men, her instinct was still to trust him. She could only pray that her instinct was correct, for the people of Drakensburgh and for herself.

  She retired early that evening, needing time to think. For all her brave assertions to Wulfgar, she knew full well that she couldn’t ignore the danger posed by her father and brother. Osric’s words had not been an idle threat. It would not be beyond either of them to use force if the perceived gain outweighed the disadvantages. Her jaw tightened. She would resist them as far as she could, but resistance meant bloodshed. Freedom came only at a price, and one more costly than gold.

  That thought engendered others. She had wealth enough to buy the loyalty of the mercenaries for now, but how if the situation escalated into a conflict on two fronts? Increased risk might well mean an increased demand for payment. The gold was not limitless and there was no way of knowing how long such a conflict might last. Anwyn sighed, feeling as though she were caught between hammer and anvil. A woman alone was a hostage to fortune. In truth, it was a man’s world. Marry the unknown northern earl or marry Ingvar. The choice was stark affording no third way.

  She drew off her gown and, having laid the garment carefully aside, unfastened her hair and reached for the comb. If only she could yoke the mercenary force permanently, her position would be unassailable. The question was how? She drew the comb slowly through a skein of hair. The teeth had slid about halfway down its length when the third way suggested itself. Her hand froze and she was suddenly very still but, deep within, her heart performed something dangerously close to a somersault. Anwyn mentally shook herself.

  ‘That’s ridiculous. It’s madness,’ she murmured. ‘Utter madness.’

  Her mind immediately followed through with all the reasons for thinking so. Yet what underpinned that lengthy list was a faint glimmer of hope. It could be made to work. The glimmer grew brighter. What
it illuminated then was the fundamental shift in her thinking that had somehow taken place without her even being aware of it, until now. With trembling fingers she put the comb down. Such a decision should not be reached in haste. She must sleep on it. The trouble was that sleep had never seemed so far away.

  Chapter Eleven

  Osric and his companions left early next day after a cool leave-taking in which few words were spoken. Anwyn watched them go, her dominant emotion relief. She wasn’t naïve enough to think that she had heard the end of the matter, but it would be a little while before either he or her father were in a position to take any kind of action. By the time they did… She swallowed hard. Then, summoning all her courage, she went in search of Wulfgar.

  She found him in the carpenter’s workshop with Hermund. Both men looked up and smiled, offering a courteous greeting. She returned it, then looked pointedly at Wulfgar.

  ‘I beg you will forgive the intrusion, but I need to talk to you, my lord.’

  ‘Very well.’ He glanced at his companion.

  Hermund was quick to take the hint. ‘Right, I’ll leave you to it then.’

  Anwyn was barely aware of his going, only of the growing knot in her stomach. The silence stretched out. She could almost hear her own heartbeat. The man before her disposed himself casually on the edge of the workbench, waiting.

  ‘My lady?’

  ‘It concerns the matter we spoke of yesterday.’

  ‘Your brother?’

  She nodded. ‘I will never be safe, and nor will the people here, unless I can put myself permanently out of his reach and Ingvar’s, too.’

  ‘How do you propose to do that?’

  Anwyn drew a deep breath. ‘I must be married.’

  ‘Forgive me, but didn’t you say—’

  ‘Married to a man of my choosing.’ She took another deep breath and steeled herself. ‘I want you to marry me.’

  He was genuinely speechless, as though all the air had been driven out of his lungs. Under other circumstances he might have laughed at the sheer absurdity of it.

  ‘A marriage in name only,’ she continued, ‘that will put everyone concerned beyond their power.’