Garrick approached them slowly, his displeasure written all over his face. When he reached them he ignored Brenna and addressed his mother, though not in his Norwegian tongue.
“What is she doing here?”
“Ask me, Viking!” Brenna snapped. He gave her a steely look.
“Your friends Gorm and Bayard chased her in here, Garrick,” Heloise explained quickly.
“And the knife?”
“She took it from Bayard.”
“I can blessed well speak for myself!” Brenna interjected angrily.
“I am sure you can, wench,” Garrick replied in a tight voice. “So tell me then. How were you found? I will not believe my friends entered the sewing room.”
“I came below.”
“You were told to stay put!” he reminded her harshly.
“Is it your intention to starve me then?” she asked indignantly, feeling a tight knot in her throat. “No one brought me food so I sought it myself.”
His features softened only slightly. “Very well. So ’twas someone else’s forgetfulness that caused you to be found. But that did not give you leave to steal a weapon, mistress!”
“I did so only to protect myself!”
“From what? he asked brusquely. “No one would harm you here.”
“Mayhaps not harm, but what they intended was as bad!” Brenna returned.
“What they intended is permissible in this house, mistress,” Garrick said, his brows narrowed.
“You would allow them to take me, then?”
“Yea. I have not denied my friends their pleasure before, and I will not start now.”
Brenna’s eyes widened, her confusion obvious. “Then why did you keep me hidden from them?”
“I would have given you time to adjust to your new life,” he replied easily, as though his thoughtfulness should be appreciated by her. “I will still give you time.”
She glared at him contemptuously, her eyes a stormy gray. “Again you show yourself to be a fool, Viking, for I will never adjust to the life you would force on me! I will not whore for your friends!”
His eyes brightened with barely controlled anger. “I think the time has come, wench, to prove who is the master here.”
Heloise finally interceded. “Garrick, nay. Not here before all.” She spoke in their tongue, assuming Brenna could not understand.
“She needs be taught a lesson!”
“Yea, but privately, son. She must be handled differently from the other slaves, for her spirit is too proud.”
“Spirit can be broken, mistress.”
“You would do that to such a beautiful creature?”
He crooked his head at her. “Why do you take her side? Do you expect me to tolerate her tantrums?”
“Nay, but I feel a sort of kinship with her,” Heloise admitted. “At one time I felt much the same way as she does now. But I was won with love.”
“What do you suggest, then?”
