chewed on the roasted duck, she kept sneaking looks at Konal. He’d returned from the river more silent then he’d ever been with her. Though she usually welcomed the peace, for reasons she didn’t know, she craved the familiarity of his rich voice. Regardless of their positions, master and slave, he often made her laugh and forget the pain of the recent days, if only temporarily.
“You are angry at me?” she braved asking.
He didn’t look up. “No.”
“Do you regret bringing me along?”
“No.”
“Will we arrive in Filey tomorrow?”
“By everything sacred…” He tossed a bone in the fire pit. “I thought you didn’t like playing the question game.”
“I find the silence between us unbearable.”
“Perhaps you should have considered the consequences before you invaded my privacy at the river.”
“I didn’t know you owned the woods and river, milord. I will be sure to ask your permission before I seek ingredients for our meals.” Her voice shook as she spoke, but she couldn’t allow him to get the best of her. She was quickly learning how to challenge him without sparking his anger.
Though she had specifically ventured to the river to see the flex of his muscles and the way his body would glisten in the fading sunlight when wet—what he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. Like all the things no chaste girl would ever brood about. But Silvia didn’t consider herself the same as other women. Her body might be inexperienced, but her mind burned with fantasies. And if she didn’t tread carefully around this man, he’d make sure her body caught up with her thoughts.
“You’d be smart to remember not to take a step without my permission,” he reminded her.
“Unless my path leads to your bed.”
Dark blue eyes met hers. “I’ve made it clear how your stubbornness arouses me, Silvia. If you continue to provoke me, what makes you think I won’t take what I want?”
“I’ve seen the irreversible damage done by unscrupulous men in York. Rape and violence. Bastard children born to Saxon women whose fathers were nowhere to be found. How can you suggest such a thing, even if those threats are empty?”
“Is that what you think of me?” He shot up, the linen draped across his lap with food on it, fell to the ground. “Am I weak because I haven’t claimed you?”
“No,” she said. “You are a better man than most.”
He paced on his side of the fire.
“I know you had no choice in coming here,” she started. “But from everything I’ve learned, the Danes come to gain wealth and power, or to spill blood. But not you, milord. You show little interest in anything.”
He sighed. “In Norway, fertile land is scarce. My family is fortunate to own enough to feed ourselves and the people who serve us. Hundreds have fled our country in search of a new life. And the wars… There is only tentative peace between the Norse and Danes. Men serving under Prince Ivarr have crossed our borders and salted the soils so nothing will grow. Do you know how long it takes for the fields to recover? Men faced with starvation will do anything to fill their hungry bellies.”
“Is that what you hoped to gain? Farmable lands?”
His jaw clenched. “My steading here will provide additional crops. I left Norway a second son and return a jarl. That is all you need to know.”
“I only wish to understand your motivations, to know you better.”
“That is not your concern, Silvia. You will serve me. If I command you to cook my meals or arrange my furs, you will do so without hesitation. My private affairs are my business alone.”
“You called out for Eira in your sleep.”
He gave her a hard look. “Never speak that name aloud.”
She marveled at his sudden turn in mood. Who was Eira, and why did her lovely name inspire such coldness? “Forgive me, milord.” She rushed to pick up the food he’d dropped.
After she finished her work, she addressed Konal. “I seek permission to go to sleep,
“You are angry at me?” she braved asking.
He didn’t look up. “No.”
“Do you regret bringing me along?”
“No.”
“Will we arrive in Filey tomorrow?”
“By everything sacred…” He tossed a bone in the fire pit. “I thought you didn’t like playing the question game.”
“I find the silence between us unbearable.”
“Perhaps you should have considered the consequences before you invaded my privacy at the river.”
“I didn’t know you owned the woods and river, milord. I will be sure to ask your permission before I seek ingredients for our meals.” Her voice shook as she spoke, but she couldn’t allow him to get the best of her. She was quickly learning how to challenge him without sparking his anger.
Though she had specifically ventured to the river to see the flex of his muscles and the way his body would glisten in the fading sunlight when wet—what he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. Like all the things no chaste girl would ever brood about. But Silvia didn’t consider herself the same as other women. Her body might be inexperienced, but her mind burned with fantasies. And if she didn’t tread carefully around this man, he’d make sure her body caught up with her thoughts.
“You’d be smart to remember not to take a step without my permission,” he reminded her.
“Unless my path leads to your bed.”
Dark blue eyes met hers. “I’ve made it clear how your stubbornness arouses me, Silvia. If you continue to provoke me, what makes you think I won’t take what I want?”
“I’ve seen the irreversible damage done by unscrupulous men in York. Rape and violence. Bastard children born to Saxon women whose fathers were nowhere to be found. How can you suggest such a thing, even if those threats are empty?”
“Is that what you think of me?” He shot up, the linen draped across his lap with food on it, fell to the ground. “Am I weak because I haven’t claimed you?”
“No,” she said. “You are a better man than most.”
He paced on his side of the fire.
“I know you had no choice in coming here,” she started. “But from everything I’ve learned, the Danes come to gain wealth and power, or to spill blood. But not you, milord. You show little interest in anything.”
He sighed. “In Norway, fertile land is scarce. My family is fortunate to own enough to feed ourselves and the people who serve us. Hundreds have fled our country in search of a new life. And the wars… There is only tentative peace between the Norse and Danes. Men serving under Prince Ivarr have crossed our borders and salted the soils so nothing will grow. Do you know how long it takes for the fields to recover? Men faced with starvation will do anything to fill their hungry bellies.”
“Is that what you hoped to gain? Farmable lands?”
His jaw clenched. “My steading here will provide additional crops. I left Norway a second son and return a jarl. That is all you need to know.”
“I only wish to understand your motivations, to know you better.”
“That is not your concern, Silvia. You will serve me. If I command you to cook my meals or arrange my furs, you will do so without hesitation. My private affairs are my business alone.”
“You called out for Eira in your sleep.”
He gave her a hard look. “Never speak that name aloud.”
She marveled at his sudden turn in mood. Who was Eira, and why did her lovely name inspire such coldness? “Forgive me, milord.” She rushed to pick up the food he’d dropped.
After she finished her work, she addressed Konal. “I seek permission to go to sleep,
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