That Selig had a new wife gave Lida no worry at all, for she had already been told that he despised the lady, and had only married her at the Saxon king’s insistence. But even had he been in love with her, Lida wouldn’t have worried. She knew her own appeal, knew the power of it, and her confidence had never been daunted.
Still, there was risk involved with a man like Selig Haardrad, a risk that she might become as enslaved to him as he would be to her. She had always remained detached in her involvements with men, her emotions her own to control. But for such a man, it was a risk she would gladly take.
Chapter 36
SELIG LED THEstallion from the stable. It was not his horse, but one borrowed from Royce, his own favored destrier in the hands of thieves now, as well as his prized sword. He had thought often of pursuing those ambushers during his recovery, if not to lay waste to them all, then to retrieve his property. He was still considering it. Mayhap after he settled in his own home…
He had not picked the best time to leave Wyndhurst, what with the activity in the bailey greater than usual with the arrival of more visitors. Royce and Kristen were busy with a group of men he didn’t recognize, but then, half the men from the king’s party he hadn’t known either. His brothers ignored all with a test of arms in the south corner, which garnered a small crowd, including their father. His mother was having words with Turgeis Ten Feet, who stood some fifteen feet distant from Erika, not far—her shadow, he had heard him called. He wondered what his mother could find of common interest with the giant.She looked like a child standing next to him, but not the least bit wary.
Erika waited for him just outside the hall, where he had left her. Only a few hours earlier she had said her good-byes to her brother. Selig had thought there might be tears afterward, so he had taken her immediately back up to their chamber to pack her belongings with his, thinking that might distract her. More fool he.
His thoughtfulness had received a scathing remark that she had no belongings to pack. He had retaliated by picking up her chains from the floor and tucking them into his coffer. She had been looking daggers at him ever since, which he found vastly amusing.
Kristen waved to him and approached. She was all smiles, telling him either she was delighted that her home was about to return to some semblance of normalcy now that he was departing for his own, or she had thought of some mischief to bedevil him with.
“My son will complain mightily if you do not await his return,” she told him. Both children, along with young Meghan, had been sent to Royce’s cousin Alden as a precaution, because of Ragnar’s anticipated arrival. “They should be here shortly.”
“I am only changing where I sleep,” he reminded her. “With all the family here, I will, of course, ride over each day, or at least every other.”
“With your wife?”
He frowned, refusing to answer that. Kristen’s teasing wasn’t so easy to take when itconcerned one woman instead of women in general. Easiest was to ignore it.
To that end, he remarked, “I thought all of the king’s party had left with him.”
Kristen followed his gaze to the group of strangers Royce was still talking to. “Those are new arrivals who have business with Alfred. They were directed here; now we have directed them elsewhere.”
His eyes narrowed on one of the men. “That one in the middle looks somehow familiar to me. Has he ever been here before?”
“Lord Durwyn? Mayhap he has visited in the past, since Royce does seem acquainted with him, but not since I have lived here.”
Selig shrugged it off. Staring at the man was giving him a definite headache, and he had thought he was done with them for a while.
He continued to the front of the hall where Erika waited, Kristen falling into step beside him. Her thoughts went in a new direction as well.
“What is bothering your wife, that she is scowling at you so? Does she not want to leave Wyndhurst?”
Selig’s humor returned. “Nay, she just objects to taking her chains with us—ouch!” Kristen had punched his shoulder. “Now, what was that for?”
“For smiling when you said that,” Kristen grumbled. “You know how I feel—”
“Odin help me,” he cut in. “Do not start that again, sister. She is not wearing them, is she?”
“Which does not mean you will not force them on her again, does it?”
“As it happens—”
He didn’t get to finish his sentence, the new commotion at the gates drawing both their attention as the children and their escort arrived. Young Alfred was off his pony first and racing to his father, then his grandfather; then he came tearing across the bailey to throw himself at Selig. His mother was the last to be greeted, but she understood that he had reached that age where men came first.
Selig was laughing all the while, and the more so when Thora was brought forward by her nurse, and it was Selig the little girl reached for, not Kristen. He couldn’t resist the angel, of course, and drew her into his arms.
Not for the first time, he wished he had a daughter just like her. That his eyes happened to fall on Erika as he had the thought gave him a jolt, though. A wife, whose main duty to husband and church was the bearing of children. But nothiswife, who was as pagan in her beliefs as he, and who had extracted a promise from him not to touch her. No children would be forthcoming fromthatbargain.
“Mayhap itisbest you are leaving.”
It took a moment for Selig to tamp down the irritation his thoughts had caused, and to realize what his sister meant. “Now, do not be jealous, Kris.” He grinned at her. “Alden’s wife likely smothered Thora with so much affection, she wants naught more to do with women, even mothers.”
“I never noticedyouhaving that problem.”
