Randvior’s pleasant reflection changed course. Noelle needed time to exorcise the demons from her mind before he took her on ship. Many a seasoned warrior had chosen a watery death over another year of raiding if they didn’t want to go. Always a coward’s way out. And he refused to give the girl a chance to dive overboard. With the burden of her sister’s death on her mind, she was in no shape to think clearly yet. And the way her murdering brother treated her—his tongue should be carved from its English mouth. How dare he refer to her as a Norseman’s whore?
But he couldn’t delay their departure. The evasive girl would simply have to accept her fate. The thought of running his hands over her lithe form nearly drove him insane. He wantedto master her body. Something told him she was more than just a pretty face, though. And he truly wanted the opportunity to explore the complexities of her mind, experience the world through her eyes.
Convincing her to accept him was going to be difficult. He refused to resort to rape as most men in his position would. But he wasn’t opposed to relentless seduction.
He left the alcove and headed directly for the stairs. Noelle’s sister would provide the information he needed to find her. English castles were a maze of endless rooms and hidden chambers. It could take a man a week to discover the places where a young girl would hide in a structure that took three centuries to build. He knocked on the bedchamber door.
Margaret answered.
He studied her delicate features. Blue eyes as round as a serving tray darted nervously between him and the empty hallway behind. “I know you blame me for Ophelia’s death,” he paused, surmising her state of mind. “There is no time for formalities. I need your help finding Noelle.”
A faint smile flickered across her tear-stained face. “You may be different from the Norsemen the village women describe, but what makes you think I’ll provide you with any information?” she asked. “Many of those women were left with child after the raids and will never forget the beasts who assaulted them.”
He also exercised better judgment than most jarls. His men had not inflicted such indignities on the women in this household for good reason. The gods directed his hand in this endeavor, and temperance was divine.
“I offer my deepest sympathies for the women who suffered so needlessly.” His statement was true for the most part. Resorting to violence was necessary sometimes to bring conquered peoples under control. “Tell me what I need to know.”
She scrutinized him with a lingering stare. “I’ll only tell you to spare my sister further pain.”
“Prudence should prevail, lady. You are in no position to deny me anything.”
“There’s nothing you can do to make my life any worse. You’ll leave my home in shambles and I’ll be the one tasked with putting it back together. Do you really think I’m afraid to die after what occurred here today, Viking?” Her eyes brimmed with tears. “I can’t challenge or negotiate for Noelle’s freedom, I’ve nothing to give. So you’ll take her by whatever means necessary, I know this. But I’ll tell you. If you harm a hair on her head, I will damn your soul every day for the rest of my life, and believe me, God will hear my pleadings.”
Bewildered by this sudden display of feminine mettle, he could do nothing but admire her and further loathe her brother’s cowardice.
“My sister only seeks refuge in two places, the woods or the old cellars.” She rubbed her nose and looked over her shoulder, in the direction of the windows. “She’s in the cellar.”
As Randvior turned to leave, she fastened her hand around his arm.
“A priest could never hear my brother’s confession, there’s no salvation for such a man. I beg you not to be such a brute where my sister is concerned, she’s only eighteen.”
Why was she saying this to him? He inhaled and blew out a frustrated breath, fisted his hands.By Odin, what evils did she speak of?And just what had he bargained for?
“My brother is obsessed with death.”
“Some men are born killers.”
She nodded and changed the subject. “Howoldare you?”
“Twenty-eight.”
Her gaze drifted to his eyes. “Old enough to take care of my sister,I hope.”
“Aye,” he said, and left.
The cellar door was open, a clear indicationsomeonewas inside. After his men finished exploring the storage rooms for gold, Randvior had ordered them to remove the torches and secure the door from the outside. He ducked under the stone archway and lifted his torch high so he could see down the stairs.
It was an ancient passageway with narrow steps; the kind a man could fall down and break his neck. As he descended, he admired the carved stonework. Two torches burned in a floor stand—Noelle was definitely there. He knew this wasn’t the kind of place a young woman would customarily seek solace. But any place must seem safer than near her brother.
He searched the cellar, rummaging through piles of debris. There were three subchambers off the main room, and small, round windows hewn in the stone allowed natural light to filter in. No one was there. He sighed and searched the first subchamber. Dozens of empty barrels and crates were stashed in a corner, but no girl.
He didn’t wish to frighten, only wanted to show her a bit of kindness.
“Noelle Sinclair,” he called, walking slowly. He sincerely hoped to lure her out of hiding without resorting to physical force. No matter if she resisted, the terms of surrender werenotnegotiable. She was his greatest prize—not intended for slavery, but true companionship after years of meaningless trysts with faceless wenches all over the world.
No words could describe the emotions that stirred inside him once he met those somber eyes searching for an escape from the besieged hall. It compelled him to abandon his men and concentrate on her safety alone. Attraction turned to pure enchantment after she came face-to-face with his fiercest fighter and didn’t utter a sound. The rare bravery she demonstrated sparked a passion inside him long forgotten. An attribute greatlyadmired amongst the Norse. He rubbed his chin and suppressed a smile.
He explored the second room. A hint of shadow moved across the wall. “Min lille dukke, komme til meg, jeg vil ikke skade deg,” he whispered. “Why are you hiding in the dark?”
