Magnus dismissed the elders with instructions to spread word through their villages.
When they'd gone, he sank into his chair and rubbed his face with both hands. The exhaustion from the day was catching up with him—the long ride, the hours spent tending the sick, the constant worry about what the sickness meant for his people.
And beneath all of it, the memory of Ada falling asleep against his chest. The weight of her in his arms when he'd carried her to her chamber. The trust in her voice when she'd told him healing was the only thing that had ever been truly hers.
"Ye're thinkin' about her."
Magnus looked up. Torvald sat across from him, arms crossed, wearing that insufferable knowing expression.
"I'm thinkin' about the poisoned well and who might've done it," Magnus said flatly.
"Aye, and also about the lass who figured it out." Torvald's grin widened. "Dinnae deny it. I saw how ye looked at her today."
"I didnae look at her any particular way."
"Ye growled at me when I tried tae help her with the torn skirt."
"That was—" Magnus stopped. He had growled. Like some jealous hound guarding a bone. "That was about propriety. She's tae be me wife. I willnae have other men seein' her in a state of undress."
"Propriety." Torvald's tone suggested he didn't believe a word of it. "That's what we're callin' it now?"
"What would ye have me call it?"
"Interest. Attraction. The beginnings of somethin' that might actually make this marriage bearable fer both of ye." Torvald leaned forward. "She's smart, Magnus. Skilled. She cares about yer people. Ye could dae a hell of a lot worse."
"I'm nae interested in her like that."
"Then why did ye carry her all the way tae her chamber instead of lettin' her walk on her own?"
"Because she could barely stand."
"Why did ye wrap her in yer cloak tae hide the torn skirt?"
"Because it was cold and fer propriety. I told ye."
"Why did ye send me away instead of lettin' me help?"
Magnus clenched his jaw. "Because she's mine tae protect. Mine tae care fer. That's what a husband daes."
"Ye're nae her husband yet."
"I will be in a fortnight."
"Aye, so ye have made up yer mind, aye? If ye keep lookin' at her the way ye did today, those two weeks are goin' tae be very long indeed." Torvald stood, stretched. "I'm just sayin', Magnus. She's nae Freydis. She's proved herself today. Maybe it's time tae stop waitin' fer her tae betray ye and start considerin' that she might actually be exactly what she appears to be."
"And what's that?"
"A woman who's been hurt, same as ye. A woman tryin' tae survive, same as ye. A woman who might make a decent partner if ye'd pull yer head out of yer arse long enough tae see it."
Magnus wanted to argue. Wanted to tell Torvald he was wrong, that this wasn't about attraction or partnership or anything beyond political necessity. But the words stuck in his throat.
"Get out," Magnus said.
Torvald grinned. "As ye wish, me jarl." He headed for the door, paused. "eor what it's worth? I like her."
Then he was gone, leaving Magnus alone with his thoughts and the uncomfortable truth that his friend might be right.
Magnus woke to pounding on his chamber door.
