Viking's Desire: Sexy-Romance Novel: A Viking Love Story by Catherine Sharp

things about England.  “Off to the market for the coming dinner then,” He was very anxious to meet these priests and speak of religion and other subjects he could not speak of here.
    Lillian heard of the missionaries and was eager to speak with them as well.  She hoped they were from somewhere near English soil and could tell her news of her family and friends.  She had built a life here but still missed her father and would love news of him.  She whiled away the morning arranging for their visit, making sure the great room looked its best and helping Geirhild with her preparations. 
    Later on in the morning, Eriik showed up with several priests and introduced them to everyone, waiting until the last for Lillian. 
    “And Lady Lillian, these are the priests from the west, close to your home if I’m not mistaken, my dear.   They will dine with us tonight as our honored guests.”
    “Wonderful news, my lord.”  She was very excited but kept her eagerness in check.  She noticed one particular priest who kept looking at her with what looked like disdain.  She must be imagining it.  They had never even met each other before.  She could have sworn she heard him quietly call the people here heathens but couldn’t have sworn to it.  What a way to win the hearts of the local people.  She thought he was looking at her in a hateful manner. Perhaps he is judging me as Eriik’s paramour .  Judge not lest ye be judged .  Well perhaps she should be judged.  But he wasn’t going to be the man to do it!  He still made her very uneasy. Well he can go to bloody hell. Oops, that wasn’t very lady like, s he thought, and she giggled.
    She didn’t have the time or patience to let this priest, who she was probably imagining everything about him anyway, ruin her day.  She would be able to talk to the others at dinner about England and home, and she felt better.  Everything seemed well in hand, so she retired to her chamber to rest, realizing just how much she was looking forward to this evening. 
    Eriik was also looking forward to this evening, but for very different reasons!
    While the main staff was working through the day preparing for dinner along with many guests, a few of the priests started feeling a bit at home and quietly asked questions about the Thorennson bastion and the beautiful countryside surrounding it.  Amazing how much can be learned when the right questions are asked by innocent men of the cloth.  Just the appropriate amount of questions with lots of interesting information of travels, foreign lands, beautiful silks and spices to trade and the stories to follow.  Perhaps some ale, then there is so much to tell and so much to hear.  And no one really noticed when one of the priests sidled away from the group with a sardonic grin on his face and a plan in his pocket. Now to the lady.

Chapter 1 9
     
    A maid knocked softly on Lillian’s door.  “Yes, come in.”
    “Lady Lillian, there is a priest who says he has word of your father in desperate times and must talk with you.”
    Lillian sat up almost tumbling the chair over, “Yes, yes, bring him to me, please, at once!”
    “M iss he will not see you in the manor.  He feels unsafe here with the Master.  He will only see you outside.  He told me he has found the tunnel under the manor and will meet you there.  He has your father’s ring, an emerald signet ring, and a letter meant only for you.”
    Lillian started prattling in English and the maid couldn’t understand a word she was saying so she just stood there dumbf ounded.  “Oh I’m sorry, tell this man I’ll meet him in the tunnel in one half hour.  He better be there with the ring and the letter!
    “Lady he insists you come alone or he’ll disappear and you won’t see him again.”
    “Sidrid, did he speak to you himself in your language?”
    “No, he had a translator.”
    “Thank you dear.  If you would, help me dress and then run on and do whatever you need to.  I