Page 115 of Viking in Love

But then Geoff stood and spoke over all the voices, “’Tis past time we held a wedding. Mine.”

Caedmon breathed a sigh of relief then as the room began to empty. It would be a short-lived relief, though, because nothing had been settled.

Fifteen children? He almost gagged.

And Lady Helen? Hah! He would sooner wed a camel.

It was appropriate then that Rashid, in passing, tossed one of his proverbs his way: “He who rides the camel should not be afraid of dogs.”

“We have a similar Saxon saying, Rashid,” Geoff interjected.

Caedmon could not wait to hear this one.

“He who tups the keg must take the foam with the ale.”

“Well said!” Rashid congratulated Geoff.

Caedmon just put his face in his hands.

CHAPTER TWENTY

The path to true love is mighty rocky…

It was by far the most unusual wedding that had ever occurred in Northumbria, perhaps the whole world. The blond godly handsome knight and the hunchbacked lady.

Breanne and her sisters could not stop giggling, even during the overlong ceremony performed by Archbishop Dunstan. The king and his troop had left afterward, having accomplished or not having accomplished what he had wanted. Besides, they had no way of knowing there would a real feast to follow, no more of that bland fare fit for only peasants.

Because it was a wedding feast, Dunstan had been forced to allow women at the high table, but he did not like it, and made sure he was at the opposite end. Working with the Heatherby cook, Ingrith had surpassed herself with the food.

The archbishop kept criticizing Sybil for providing such a merry feast when, in fact, she should still be in mourning. But Breanne noticed that the priests ate heartily; no fasting for them.

While several young girls played lutes, the kitchen helpers were carrying in trenchers of food. Among the meats were roast boar in Ingrith’s special sauce, mutton, several pigs cooked whole in hot coals, calf brains, and the organs of all the animals. If meat was not to the feast goers’ taste, there were five kinds of freshwater fishes: trout in honey cream, oat-stuffed pike, gingered carp, poached perch in mustard sauce, and pickled eels. Egg and mushroom pies, various cheeses including the Viking skyr, manchet bread, and honey-oat cakes accompanied various vegetable dishes, like creamed turnip, lentils with lamb, marrow-thickened cabbage, herbed beets, buttered peas. If that weren’t enough, there were savory puddings and apple tarts. And of course, mead and ale, lots of it.

“I think we should leave for Larkspur this evening, whilst there is still light,” Breanne’s father said to her. He was seated at her right, and Caedmon on her left.

“I have already sent word ahead to prepare for you and your army,” Caedmon told him. “You are welcome at Larkspur, but do not expect much.”

“Caedmon! Why would you say that? Larkspur is a lovely place,” said Breanne.

His face flushed. “I only meant it is not as grand as what you might be accustomed to.”

“Hah!” Thorvald said. “You would be surprised at where I have put my head down on occasion.” He studied Caedmon for a few moments, then added, “I like you. Too bad you will not suit for my Breanne.”

“What? Father! Caedmon has not offered for me. We merely pretended an upcoming betrothal to divert the archbishop and king’s attention. So, discussion of his suitability is unseemly.”

Her father and Caedmon both grinned.

“Furthermore, if I wanted to marry this loathsome lout, I would be the one to judge his suitability, which would be more than satisfactory.”

“Huh?” Caedmon said.

Her father let loose with a chortle of laughter. “I merely meant that Caedmon wants no more children, whilst I yearn for a grandson.”

It was Breanne’s turn to blush.

The subject was changed when her father said to Caedmon, “Didst know that Adam, my son-by-marriage, drilled a hole in my head one time? Save me from death, it did.”

The two of them carried on a conversation around her then, but that was just as well because she felt a vise closing over her heart at the prospect of leaving Caedmon behind when she left with her father. They would all return to Larkspur to await Vana’s return, which might be only a matter of days.