The Viking’s Touch(21)

 ‘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 anticipated, 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?’