Defiant in the Viking's Bed

‘You do.’ He drained his cup and tossed it to a servant. ‘I am come to take you back to Vingulmark.’

Her stomach lurched. ‘My lord?’

‘I have found a husband for you. You’re to be married.’

It was like being punched and, for a moment or two, speech was impossible. The piercing gaze fixed her.

‘Why do you stare at me, girl?’

There were many things she might have said, all of them angry and all of them unwise since their utterance would only create a public scene. Instead she strove for self-control.

‘Forgive me. I...I was just taken by surprise, that’s all.’

He grunted. ‘No doubt. Possibly you thought I had forgotten the matter entirely.’ Without waiting for a reply he continued, ‘I will admit it should have happened sooner, but I have been occupied with other things. However, it has turned out well enough. Your future husband is connected to the most influential family in Vingulmark.’

Astrid licked dry lips. ‘May I know his name?’

‘Of course. You are to marry Jarl Gulbrand.’

She controlled resentment and a sensation of rising panic. Her uncle had spoken the truth. Gulbrand did indeed have a noble name: he was related to the royal house. He was also Prince Hakke’s cousin and, like his cousin, he had an unsavoury reputation, on the battlefield and off it.

‘When is this marriage to take place?’

‘Next month.’

‘But that’s barely two weeks away.’

‘Time enough. We leave tomorrow.’

‘I cannot go so soon. I have duties here.’

The dark eyes narrowed. ‘Your duties here are over. Be ready to leave first thing in the morning.’

It was dismissal. Astrid made her escape from the hall, her mind reeling. Ragnhild caught up with her outside.

‘I’m so sorry, Astrid. It has come as a shock to me too.’

‘Is there no way this can be prevented?’

‘I wish there were, but your uncle is your guardian, not I.’

‘Might not the king intervene?’

‘He has no more jurisdiction in this than I do.’

Astrid blinked back angry tears. ‘Then I am well and truly lost.’

* * *

When Leif looked around the hall that evening he could see no sign of the one he sought. He wondered if she were avoiding him but then decided it was unlikely, since Ragnhild wasn’t present either. No doubt Astrid was keeping her company. All the same, it was frustrating and, if he were honest, disappointing too. Her absence cast an unexpected pall over the proceedings. Until then he hadn’t realised how much he had been hoping to see her; to speak with her; to try and persuade her...

‘What in the name of Tyr One-Hand is he doing here?’

Finn’s voice roused him from his reverie and he followed his brother’s gaze across the hall. Seeing Jarl Einar, he frowned. The jarl’s estates in Vingulmark might be close to Leif’s own lands, but that was the sole extent of their neighbourliness. While there hadn’t been open hostility as such, it was well known that many of Einar’s associates were connected with the royal house of Vingulmark. The defeat at Eid must have come as a blow. He could not have foreseen that, or the subsequent turn of events, when he placed his niece with Sigurd Hjort and his family all those years ago.

‘Good question,’ he replied.

‘I doubt it bodes any good.’

‘He won’t start any trouble here, be assured of that.’

‘All the same,’ said Finn, ‘he’s not a man I’d choose to turn my back on.’

‘You were wise not to,’ replied Erik. ‘All the same, Leif is in the right of it. Einar isn’t here to cause trouble. He’s come to fetch his niece.’

‘Fetch her where?’

‘Back to Vingulmark. Seems she’s to be married.’

Leif was suddenly still. ‘Married?’

Erik nodded. ‘That’s right.’

‘How would you know?’ demanded Finn.

‘Ingolf heard some of Einar’s men talking.’

Finn glanced at Leif. ‘It looks as if your hopes there are dashed, then.’

Leif casually reached for his cup. ‘It does rather, doesn’t it?’

‘Never mind. Plenty more shingles on the roof, eh?’

‘As you say.’

Erik eyed him speculatively. ‘Fancied her yourself, did you?’

It was an understatement, but Leif wasn’t about to confide the fact. Instead he shrugged. ‘You win some, you lose some.’

‘True enough. Besides, Finn’s right. The world is full of pretty women.’

Finn smiled. ‘Do you remember that redhead in Alfheim who...?’

Leif barely heard him, his mind still trying to assimilate what he’d just heard. He hadn’t seen that coming. Nor would he have anticipated his own reaction. He had hoped to have more time to achieve his goal; that Astrid might somehow be persuaded. Not only was he out of time, but the goal was unattainable as well. It engendered a series of unwonted emotions. He smiled in self-mockery. He’d lost. It happened. He just hadn’t expected it to matter quite as much.

* * *

The following morning Astrid left with her uncle and his retinue. Leave-taking had been hard, particularly from Ragnhild.