‘When is this bargain to be met?’
With an effort she gathered her thoughts again. ‘The sooner the better.’
‘Then on the morrow, if you will.’
It wasn’t quite what she had anticipated, but perhaps he was right. If they were to commit themselves thus it might be as well not to have too much time to reconsider. All the same she could not but be keenly aware of how contrary it was to the accepted mode of doing things.
‘It will have to be a quiet affair,’ she said. ‘Will you mind?’
‘No. Besides, there will be time enough to let everyone know afterwards.’ He smiled faintly. ‘I imagine we’re going to get some interesting reactions.’
‘Yes, I imagine we are.’
‘Not all of them will be friendly. Are you prepared for that?
‘As prepared as I’ll ever be.’
‘Well, you have never lacked for courage.’
Again it wasn’t what she had been expecting, but the words had sounded sincere. Moreover, they reflected the expression in his eyes.
‘I will try to do you honour, my lord.’
‘You already have,’ he replied.
Some time later, after Anwyn had left, Hermund returned to find Wulfgar deep in thought.
‘Is everything all right, my lord?’
‘Everything is fine. However, there’s something I must tell you…’ He related the substance of his recent conversation.
Hermund’s jaw dropped. ‘Getting married?’
‘That’s right. Incidentally, that’s just for your information at present.’
‘I’ll be as silent as the tomb.’ Hermund shook his head. ‘I’ve got to hand it to you, lord, you’re a fast worker. Not that I blame you, of course. She’s gorgeous—and rich.’
‘This wasn’t my idea, it was hers.’
‘Do you know, I had a suspicion she liked you. Not that anyone would wonder at that, either. You make a handsome couple.’
Wulfgar eyed him askance. ‘For the love of Odin, could you forget about romance and stick to the practicalities?’
‘Aye, right. When’s the wedding, then?’
‘Tomorrow.’
‘She is keen, isn’t she?’ Then, as another thought occurred to him, Hermund added, ‘What about Rollo?’
‘What about him?’
‘Well, I imagine the plan has changed now.’
‘Not at all.’
For the second time in the space of a minute Hermund was taken aback. ‘Oh.’
‘This is a marriage of convenience, nothing more. Of course I’ll ensure that Drakensburgh is well protected.’
‘Aren’t you forgetting Ingvar?’
‘Who could forget Ingvar?’
‘You know what I mean. He isn’t going to like it.’
‘His opinion is of no interest. All he has to understand is that Drakensburgh is mine and Lady Anwyn, too.’
His companion nodded. ‘I’m sure you’ll make it clear.’
‘I shall, and that right soon.’
‘He won’t poach on your preserve after that.’
‘He’d better not.’
‘No man in his right mind would do that.’ Hermund hesitated. ‘Doesn’t it bother you, though, the thought of leaving her alone all that time? I mean, you could be away for years.’
Wulfgar’s jaw tightened. ‘It was part of the agreement. She knew that at the outset.’
‘I see.’
‘She will still have Ina. Besides, she’s intelligent and competent, perfectly capable of running things in my absence.’
‘Of course she is. It’s just that…’
‘What?’
‘Isn’t it going to be a bit lonely for her?’
‘She will have plenty to occupy her in my absence.’
‘Oh, well, that’s all right, then.’
Wulfgar eyed him sharply, but his companion’s expression was quite bland. All the same, the words left a strangely sour taste.
‘So when are you going to tell the lads?’
‘Not yet, but as soon as I can.’
Hermund grinned. ‘I’ll look forward to that. In the meantime, is there anything you need—for tomorrow?’
‘I don’t think so. No, wait. There is one thing…’
After the conversation with Wulfgar, Anwyn returned to the women’s bower, her heart thumping. She was trembling a little, too. Unable to settle, she paced the floor slowly, trying to order her chaotic thoughts. She had just put her future into the hands of a man she had known only a matter of days and yet, underneath anxiety, was still the instinct that he could be trusted to keep his word. Drakensburgh would be secure and the people safe from the depredations of men like Ingvar. She could watch her son grow to manhood without the permanent shadow of threat hanging over him. And she… Anwyn smiled ruefully. Wulfgar had made his position clear on that score. What mattered was that he had agreed to help her. She could expect nothing more from him.
When Jodis came in a little later she told her the whole, or at least as much as she needed to know. Jodis’s eyes widened.
‘You’ve actually done it, my lady?’
‘Yes, heaven help me. I’ve done it.’
‘I’m glad you have.’ Jodis’s face lit in a smile. ‘I believe Lord Wulfgar to be an honourable man; he will deal fairly with the people here—and with you.’
‘I hope you’re right. I hope I’m right. My instinct tells me I am and yet I feel as nervous as a cat on a raft.’
‘What does your heart tell you?’
‘This is not an affair of hearts, Jodis. It is a matter of business.’
The maid lowered her gaze. ‘Of course it is, my lady.’
Anwyn crossed the room to the clothes chest and opened the lid. ‘Will you help me find something to wear tomorrow?’
For the next hour gowns were examined and rejected and with each one her uncertainty grew. In the end she selected a dark blue, intricately embroidered with gold-coloured thread, to be worn over a fine linen kirtle. A light headrail completed the outfit, held in place with a slender gold fillet. It was a rich and elegant costume, one that she hoped would do honour to the occasion and to her bridegroom.
The word sent a tremor through her. For all that this was to be a marriage of convenience, Wulfgar would still be her husband. Even there he had been honest. It was his legal right to take her if he wished, and yet he left the choice to her. She had not let her imagination dwell on the more intimate aspects of their relationship. Now she was going to have to confront it. I would be lying if I said I didn’t want you to share my bed… She bit her lip. How would it be to share his bed? She knew enough about him now to guess that he would not use her roughly, but even so, their coupling would mean nothing to him beyond the sating of physical desire. The wife he had loved was dead. Not only that, she had died young; she would always remain like that for him, her beauty undiminished by time.
Anwyn squared her shoulders. It was no use thinking in those terms. She had chosen this; she would have to live with the consequences—whatever they were. In the interim she needed to speak to Ina.
He heard her in silence, his craggy face impassive. Only when she had finished did he venture to speak.
‘I wish you happy, my lady.’
‘Thank you.’ She paused. ‘You do not venture an opinion on the matter, though.’
‘It is not my place to venture an opinion. You are doing what you believe to be best for Drakensburgh.’
‘Indeed, Ina, I pray I am doing the right thing. I do truly believe that Lord Wulfgar will be open and just in his dealings with the people here.’
‘Thus far there has been nothing in his manner to suggest otherwise,’ the old warrior replied, ‘but only time will tell.’
‘Can I still rely on your support?’
‘That is a given, my lady. I thought you knew that.’
‘Forgive me. It’s just that things have become so complicated of late and…well, I wasn’t sure you would approve this latest step. The consequences are so far-reaching—for all of us.’
‘Aye, they are, my lady. So I’ll continue to watch your back.’
Retracing her steps to the women’s bower, Anwyn went to find Eyvind. In truth, she had been putting off the moment when she would have to tell him about the great change that was about to happen in his life. He had not been close to his father, had feared him. The thought of having another, and a near stranger to boot, might not be welcome.
Eyvind listened in wide-eyed silence as she explained, as simply as she could, what was about to happen. Anwyn had been half-prepared for tears and protests, but none were forthcoming. The silence drew out.
‘Shall you like having Lord Wulfgar as a father?’ she asked.
He lowered his eyes and shrugged. It was hardly an expression of rapture, but nor was it outright rejection. Had he been older, she would have said he was reserving judgement.