Surprised by the commanding edge to his tone, Osana glanced up to find the king still observing her.
“I made you a promise, and I shall keep it,” he said.
Osana held his gaze for a moment, wilting under its force. He still had not smiled. He was clearly regretting his offer. “Sire,” she spoke up. “I will not hold you to it, for I see now I was rash to come here. I will go now … sorry for disturbing you.”
She hurriedly dipped into a curtsey before casting a glance over her shoulder at where Lora stared at her, her face flushed with embarrassment. “Come, Lora.”
Osana stepped around the king, intending to bolt across the rushes toward the doors, but he caught her by the arm, pulling her up short.
The physical contact shocked her, and her head snapped around. Their gazes met and held for a heartbeat.
“You aren’t disturbing me,” he said. His voice was as gentle as his grip was firm. Heat flooded through Osana, only this time it was not embarrassment but something else—a sensation she had not felt in a long while.
Pure, undiluted desire.
“I’m sorry for the cool welcome,” he continued, “but your arrival was a surprise.”
Osana wet her lips, aware that his gaze had now lowered to her mouth. “I had no time to send word,” she replied.
Aldfrith blinked and released her, stepping back. A gulf of cold air rushed in-between them, and a strange disappointment swept over Osana. Mastering it, she watched as a smile curved his mouth.
“You will stay here, Lady Osana. I will have an alcove prepared for you and your handmaid.”
His tone brooked no argument. Although softly spoken, there was a power to this man’s voice that checked her.
“We will earn our keep, milord,” she replied, wretched. It was still there, even after all this time—this heat between them that made her senses come alive. For that reason alone she should have stayed away from Bebbanburg. He knew it too; she could see it in his eyes. That was why his welcome was cool. He had made that offer at an unguarded moment and now regretted it. “My handmaid and I can cook, weave, and sew. We can—”
“I’m sure of it,” he cut her off, still smiling. He took another step back from her and gestured toward the high seat. “The noon meal is almost upon us. Please join me, and take a cup of mead to celebrate your arrival.”
The words were cordial but forced. With a sinking heart and a beseeching look at Lora, Osana followed him across the hall.
Chapter Fourteen
Out of Sight
ALDFRITH SETTLED INTO his carven chair, his gaze returning to the pale-faced woman who now took a seat to his left. Osana’s face was taut, her hazel eyes startled, and her shoulders tense.
The widow looked different to the last time he had seen her: gone were the mourning clothes and head-rail that had framed her face in Hagustaldes. Instead, she wore a high-necked, woolen tunic that fitted her curvaceous form snugly, girded at the waist with a narrow leather belt. Her hair—the color of richly polished oak—fell in a thick braid over one shoulder.
Opposite Osana, Bishop Wilfrid helped himself to another cup of mead, studying her with a jaundiced eye. “You are a bold woman,” the bishop commented. “To walk into your king’s hall and demand he take you in. Have you no shame?”
Osana visibly blanched at the reprimand. However, she did not look away from the bishop. Her chin rose as she answered him. “The king invited me here, Father.”
“I did, so let us dispense with the accusations,” Aldfrith swiftly added. “Let us eat in peace.”
“Aye,” Cerdic piped up from where he sat next to the bishop. “You’ve a scowl that could curdle milk, Father.”
Osana’s handmaid, who was circling the table with a jug of mead, grinned at Cerdic’s comment. She was blonde with a pretty smile and bright blue eyes.
Aldfrith too fought a smile; Cerdic said little, but when he did speak, his words were known to hit the mark.
Wilfrid’s scowl deepened, and he cast the warrior an icy look. Yet Cerdic just ignored him and held up his cup to be filled. As he did so, the warrior saw Osana’s handmaid was still smiling and favored her with a wink.
The woman inclined her head in answer.
Watching them, Aldfrith noted it was the first time he had seen Cerdic interact with a woman in such a light-hearted manner. The arrival of this bright-eyed woman had drawn his eye.
Cerdic was not the only one distracted.
