‘He tried to halt the beating I received from Drengr and his sons. They would have pummelled me to death. Thanks to his quick thinking about jumping aboard that ship though, I survived. Recovering except the scar.’
Her stomach knotted. Who had observed the fateful encounter between her and Rand and then informed Drengr? Probably immaterial now. However, she knew that confessing any of the past was beyond her because he would surely blame her.
‘How do you think you will solve this? Any idea?’
He put his hands behind his back and stared out at the water. ‘Sigmund must agree to an alliance. I will provide surety in some fashion. I will make up the rest. No point in borrowing trouble.’
‘But your king will only be satisfied if there is a kinship to bind the countries together.’
The instant the words tumbled from her throat, she knew there was a way through this for him, and a way for her to show that her future could have more meaning than simply being the companion who had once served an important purpose but was now no longer truly required. She could even be a mother, like she’d dreamt of. So many possibilities if she dared give voice to what must be the obvious solution. She clenched her fists and tried to hold back the fatal words which could alter her life.
His scar stood out more vividly than ever in the dawn light. ‘Aye, my lady, but—’
She felt like she had as a young girl when she’d heard Tippi crying from the other side of her hiding place and knew she couldn’t stay hidden, even with Agthir burning all around her. She had to make a move. And she could argue from a position of strength because she suspected he intended something similar.
A marriage of convenience would mean she could avoid the terrors of the marriage bed. She suspected he’d agree to it if she put it in vague terms because his heart belonged to his late wife. It could be why he’d explained about his late wife before kissing her.
Going forward is better than going backwards. A saying from when she was a little girl, and its truth echoed in her brain. And Rand was not like Turgeis. She knew that from the way her body reacted to him, even if that was going to have no part in any marriage. The more she considered it, the more the idea appealed to her.
‘I offer myself as a peace-weaver in this unknown’s stead.’
Her words hung in the morning stillness.
Rand’s mouth dropped open. ‘You? A peace-weaver? Between Islay and Tara? Or Lord Sigmund and you?’
‘Islay, Tara and Agthir.’ She braided her fingers together. ‘All woven together with bonds of kinship and a determination to prevent Turgeis and his brothers from succeeding. Your king would desire that, wouldn’t he?’
‘My king believes in the binding bonds of kinship.’
‘I assumed that was what you were angling for with your praise of my practicality.’ She forced a smile but her insides knotted tighter than ever. She hated being manipulated, but she also knew she had something to bargain with. She could set terms for any marriage. ‘Stealing a kiss which any could view. By Freya, I should have seen the half-hearted seduction for what it was.’
He blinked several times. ‘My king has no need of a wife.’
‘But you are the king’s blood by your former marriage.’ She crossed her arms and dared him to say differently. ‘Or are you telling me that you have not considered this point? You’re many things, Randolfr, but I doubt you’re a fool. Don’t treat me as one either. You require a mother for your daughter. Two birds, one stone.’
‘My late wife even mentioned the possibility as she lay dying but…the time never felt right. Birdie has me.’
‘It will solve your conundrum though. Let’s not play any undignified games with stolen kisses.’ She held out her hand. ‘Will you accept my offer of marriage, because I shan’t make it a second time? You must see it is the best way to secure your daughter’s future.’
His fingers hovered over hers for several long heartbeats while his eyes appeared to bore into her soul. His smile turned wintry. ‘A political alliance only?’
‘Your heart remains with your wife. I wouldn’t dream of intruding,’ she whispered, giving the barest of nods.
His fingers finally curled around hers. ‘Shall we inform Sigmund of the scheme and get his verdict?’
‘Allow me to do it,’ she said, trying to ignore the pounding of her heart. ‘My foster-mother needs to hear of the proposal from me first.’
He watched her mouth. She licked her parched lips, but he made no move to take her into his arms. Her heart ached. She’d guessed right. His kiss had been an attempt to manipulate her into a marriage. A lesser woman might have fallen for the honey-sweet words.
‘My cousin and his wife will be grateful.’
‘And you?’
He bowed his head. ‘Marriage to you is one answer to the problem I had not considered, but it makes more sense than any other option.’
‘Sometimes the Norns twist our life threads in mysterious ways.’
‘You do have a way of putting things, Svanna.’
