“No.”
Of course he’d expected it, but her refusal still grated. Precisely because he’d guessed she would refuse, he would havepreferred to surprise her with the new pair of shoes, thereby avoiding an unnecessary conversation. Unfortunately, that was not an option, as he needed to take her measurements.
“Listen, it is not a question of money,” he said, guessing that would be the reason behind her objection. “You’re here to help my family, look after my nieces, help my sister-in-law, set my brother’s mind at rest. That is priceless. The least I can do I ensure your comfort while you’re doing it.” This time Eahlswith didn’t reply but she still looked unsure. He hated it. “Please, let me do this.”
To his relief, she took the hand he was offering and jumped onto the ground. Then she obeyed his silent instructions to place her booted foot on the plank and didn’t move when he traced the outline of it with the nail. Then he drew the other foot on the other side of the plank. With this, Bo would be able to make her a pair of shoes that would allow her to walk in the snow without getting wet. The ones she was wearing really were good for nothing, and they had still not completely dried. The new pair could not come quickly enough.
“Thank you, he said, standing back up.
“I think I should be the one thanking you.”
“No. I won’t be the one making the boots.”
“You know very well that is not the issue here.”
Yes. He did. Still. He would have done much more for her. “If it were up to me, I would also get you a new pair of stockings and gloves so this is nothing.” She reddened when he nodded at the ones she was wearing. He could tell she was fighting the urge to hide her hands behind her back. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed that they, too, are worn out.”
“Please. You have done enough for me already.”
No. Whatever he did for her, it would never be enough. Sven forced himself to move and put the nail and plank back into his bag. It was either that or give her another kiss and he couldtell that, this time, she might well push him away. The explicit rejection would be too hard to handle.
“Let’s go. Cwenthryth will be waiting for you.”
They climbed back on Gulltoppr and a moment later they were in front of his brother’s hut. Sven handed Eahlswith down, enjoying the feel of her in his hands. What was it about her that set his blood on fire? She was hardly the first woman whose waist he had held…
“Come to find me tomorrow night. I’ll give you the boots then.”
He could have brought them to the hut, of course, but he guessed she would prefer it if no one knew he’d had them made for her, instead pretending they had been in her bag all along. After all, the two of them were not supposed to know one another. The way she nodded indicated he was right. She didn’t want to be seen accepting a present from him.
“Thank you, Sven. For everything.”
Everything. The boots and the night of passion.
The wind had picked up since they’d exited the forest and was now whipping tendrils of hair about her face. He reached to remove an inky strand from her eyes. If she had been his wife he would have suggested she braided it around the temples like the people in his village did.
His wife.
He swallowed as the idea exploded in his mind. It was not the first time he had imagined himself married, of course, but this time it felt just right, not merely like wishful thinking. With the other women, his reason had prevailed. It had told him that they could perhaps fulfil the role of wife. With Eahlswith, his Alva, his heart was doing the talking. And it was urging him not to give up until he’d made her his in all the ways a man could make a woman his.
The door opened, preventing him from doing or saying anything else. Cwenthryth beamed when she saw that her friend had arrived. Despite her obvious delight, though, Sven did not miss the dark circles under her eyes. If they worried him, he could not imagine what his brother would think when he looked at his beloved wife. No wonder Steinar had arranged for her to have help while he was gone. She looked exhausted.
“I was about to go to the well,” she said, indicating the bucket in her hand.
“I’ll do that.” Eahlswith immediately volunteered. “You go?—”
“No,I’lldo that. You two get back inside, where it’s warm. I’ll bring the bucket back in a moment, when I’ve seen to Gulltoppr.”
“Thank you.”
Sven barely repressed a snort. No one had thanked him more than this woman had today. But he didn’t want her to thank him for bringing in water for her, making sure she had dry feet or even giving her pleasure in bed. Any man, anyone could do that. Instead, he wanted her to accept what was between them and agree to see what it could develop into. Unfortunately, she didn’t seem ready to.
Well, at least, she was here for a few days. He would make sure to make the most of this unhoped for opportunity.
Eahlswith watched Sven walk away, Gulltoppr following him like a pup would. The two of them made a striking pair. The true Heimdallr and his golden-maned steed could surely not look more magnificent.
“I should have guessed Sven would go to the well for us. He’s very thoughtful, like his two brothers,” Cwenthryth told her, leading her into the hut. Indeed, the wind was bitterly cold and she was glad not to have to have to worry about filling the bucket. In this weather, she wouldn’t be surprised if there was a layer of ice to break to access the water.
“Yes, it was thoughtful of him to offer to go to the well.”
