Aife did not pretend it was not the case. “Yes. I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be.” He stared at the ceiling, not wanting to see sorrow, or worse, pity in her eyes. Not now, not when she had been the one restoring his faith in himself. He didn’t want her to start seeing him differently. “At least you proved to me that there was nothing wrong with me before, convinced me the problem was all in my head.”
Yes. And now the problem might well be in his body. How cruel. Some ruthless god really did seem intent on having a laugh at his expense. Why? What had he done to deserve it? He had never caused anyone harm.
Before he could add anything, the door opened again, letting in Sigurd and Björn, who nodded their greetings to him. He nodded back, doing his best to behave normally.
“The healer agreed we could take you home on the cart, provided we keep the horse at a walk,” Aife’s father said. “If you feel strong enough?”
“I do.”
He would feel better in his own home, amongst his own people. And he did want to hear Helga’s opinion.
It was when the two men unfurled a blanket on the floor next to him that Torsten understood he was going to be carried like a helpless babe. Would there be no end to his humiliation? Apparently not, because there was no way he could have walked to the cart when he could barely move his legs.
“Could I have a moment alone with Torsten?” Sigurd asked before they could lift him up.
Björn nodded and placed a hand on the small of Aife’s back to lead her outside. Though she obeyed the silent command, Torsten could see she was reluctant to go and leave him alone with her formidable father, fearing what he would do. In truth, he was nervous himself. The Dane, who had been nicknamed “Beast” in his youth, was not a man to be trifled with. Had he spoken to his mother and guessed what had transpired in the Roman ruins? Was that what this was about? Was he about to warn him to stay away from his daughter, like his own father had done with Moon when his friend had started to see Eyja?
It was not impossible.
What would Torsten answer if Sigurd demanded he stopped seeing his daughter? Would he tell him that he and Aife had already decided to stop whatever was between them so there was no need to worry? Even if they hadn’t, in view of what had just happened, he would have put a stop to it. How could he be with Aife now, or any woman? He had at least to wait until he knewfor certain what the future held for him before he thought of bringing a woman into it.
“What is it?” he asked, behaving as if he were in control of the situation.
Sigurd crouched down on the floor, his face unusually earnest.
“Once again, I would like to thank you for saving my daughter’s life.”
Oh. Not a remonstrance then, and nothing to do with what had happened in the Roman ruins. It was when his body relaxed that Torsten realized how tense he’d been. “It’s nothing,” he said, relieved he would not have to justify his behavior.
“It is not nothing, and you know it. You saved her, for the second time in as many weeks, and you are now paying the price for your bravery.” Sigurd’s eyes sparkled with intent. “I spoke to the healer’s husband. He was the one who found you on the beach, along with a group of friends. He told me what you had done to protect Aife. We both know that had you not shielded her with your body, she might be dead by now.”
Dead. Up until then, and rather foolishly, Torsten had not considered the possibility. He had done what he needed to do, acting without thinking. But Sigurd was right. Aife would have been crushed by the rocks had he not been there. She was so much smaller than he was.
“It’s nothing. I’m sure you would have done the same in my place.”
“Of course, I would have. Because I love her.”
There was a pause, as if Sigurd wanted him to understand something he hadn’t said. Was he hinting… Torsten shook his head. Had the man suggested that he had saved Aife because he was in love with her? What was going on? His mother, now Aife’s father… Had everyone started to suspect that things had changed between them? And was Sigurd right? Had Torstenreally saved his friend because of the new, confusing feelings he harbored for her? No. He knew he would have done the same for any other woman, or child. Hell, he would even have done it for his oaf of a brother, Sven. Yes, but he might not have felt that excruciating anguish while doing it…
His heart had jumped in his throat when he’d realized that the cliff was falling apart and they were about to be smothered under a shower of rocks. There had been no time to run to safety. The only option had been to use his body to protect hers. And despite the possible repercussions to his health, he could not regret it.
“I would do the same again in a heartbeat,” he whispered.
The reason for it was best ignored for now, irrelevant even. The important thing was that Aife was whole and well.
“So I see, and I’m telling you I’m grateful for it. My wife will no doubt tell you the same when we reach the village. Now, let me call Björn. We’ll take you to the cart.” A side smile lit up the Dane’s face. “Not like a babe, mind, but like a wounded warrior after battle. Does that sound better to you?”
Despite his wretchedness, Torsten couldn’t help return the smile.
Yes. That did sound a lot better.
14
The next few days were the longest of Aife’s life. She alternated between despair and hope that Torsten would be all right. Despair because she had still not seen him on his feet, hope because, despite the seriousness of the situation, like her father had predicted, Helga’s opinion about his chances of recovery had not been as grim as the Saxon healer’s.
“The blow to his spine was severe and he might not be himself for a few days, or perhaps even weeks,” the healer had conceded, “but he is a strong, determined young man, who will do what is needed to get better. I see no reason to think he will spend the rest of his life bound to his bed.”
