Page 54 of A Tale of Two Vikings

“Go away, you odious oaf,” she said, her eyes flying open as she sank lower in the tub.

“You’ve been crying.” The tone of his voice was so doleful you would think her tears hurt him.

“I got soap in my eyes,” she lied.

“I have to talk to you,” he said, bracing both elbows on his knees and his chin in his two hands.

“You can talk to me later. And stop looking like that.”

“How?”

“Like you are trying to see through the water.”

“Well, I am. What kind of Viking would I be if I did not enjoy the sight of a naked woman?”

“Aaarrgh!”

“You are not to worry, Esme. I can’t see anything…yet. Mayhap in a while, when the petals start to droop, your hidden assets will no longer be hidden.”

She closed her eyes and counted to ten silently. When she opened them, he continued to stare at her. “Are you still here?”

“I am.”

“Speak your mind and begone,” she said through gritted teeth.

“I have been speaking with Eirik and Tykir about your situation. They agree with our plan, as far as it goes, but there is one happenstance we had not counted on.”

Esme immediately grew alert and sat up as straight as she could without uncovering any “hidden assets.”

“The Witan is meeting next week. The king’s council of close advisers, of which Eirik is a member, is holding a regular session in Winchester.”

All the fine hairs on her body, wet as they were, stood at attention. “My father is a member of the Witan, too.”

“I know,” Toste said, his usually teasing expression somber now…somber in a way that frightened her. “It is my belief and that of Eirik and Tykir, as well, that your father will bring up your situation at that time. Whether he knows of your whereabouts by then or not, he will petition the king for either your guardianship or your marriage to Lord Rotting-Cock.” Esme had made the mistake of telling Toste of her father’s latest marriage plans for her.

She should have cringed at his vulgarity, but she was becoming accustomed to his earthy language. “Either way spells doom for me and any future I might have at Evergreen,” she mused dolefully.

“Not necessarily. Eirik will be our ears and when the moment is right, mayhap our advocate. For now, you must bide your time, and know that you are safe here at Ravenshire.”

“For now,” she said.

“For now,” he agreed. “One more thing. Alinor has chided me up one side and down the other for my treatment of you. She says I embarrassed a lady of good breeding and that I must humble myself afore you with contrition.”

Esme had to smile. “Was that an apology?”

“Yea, ’twas. Do you accept it?”

“I do accept, and despite your crude treatment of me, I must offer my thanks for rescuing me. If you had not removed me from the abbey, I would be in my father’s hands by now.”

He nodded his acceptance of her thanks, then added, seemingly as an afterthought, “Just how thankful are you?” He was gazing pointedly at the cluster of rose petals surrounding her hidden breasts.

“Not that thankful,” she said with a laugh as he got up and prepared to leave the chamber.

She thought she heard him say, just before the door closed after him, “Being a champion is not all it used to be.” He was probably talking to his dead brother, Vagn, which was his practice of late.

If Toste only knew how much she appreciated her champion, he would not give up so easily. Lucky for her he was a dimwitted Viking.

You want her to do WHAT?…