Page 46 of Viking in Love

“You and Breanne,” Wulf said.

“Wine? They are using my wine for cooking?” One more grievance to lay at their door.

“Tell us,” Geoff insisted.

“Tell you what?”

“What is your game plan?” Geoff elaborated.

“Are you demented? I have no game plan. Why do you not go off again to woo your betrothed and leave me alone? I have enough problems without your bedevilment.”

“I have done enough wooing.”

“There is no such thing as too much wooing.”

“I beg to differ. Any more and her expectations will be set too high.”

“Well said, Geoff,” Wulf said, again speaking across him. “Do as you intend to go on. Excessive wooing will wear your cock to a nub in the end.”

Geoff and Wulf grinned at each other as if they had made some grand jest.

Idiots!

Then they both turned to him.

Knowing they would not cease their questions until he revealed all, Caedmon leaned back in his chair. “Which cat and which mouse?”

“You know very well which,” Geoff said, slapping him on the shoulder. “You and the red-haired thorn-in-your-arse have been changing roles all day. First, you were the cat chasing her about so you could send her and her sisters on their merry way, but she evaded your chase. A milkmaid told Gerard, who told me, that she was hiding…I mean, working in the stable, repairing a stall door or some such. Then, when it was too late to leave this day, she was after you, attempting a meeting, and you hid from her.”

“I ne’er hid from anyone.” Avoided, but not hid.

Wulf raised his eyebrows. “Oh? There was some urgent reason why you needed to inventory the storerooms?”

“Someone needed to do it afore our supplies are depleted.” And that is the truth.

“I saw her under the table in the steward’s room at one point,” Wulf remarked. He, too, was enjoying the wild boar, taking two more slices off the shank.

“She was in my steward’s room?”

“Yea. On the floor. Said she was searching for a lost quill.”

“That is naught,” Geoff told Wulf. “I found Caedmon in the bathing house, having his toenails clipped. In the middle of the day, for saints’ sake!”

“Must be he has some need for clean toes.” Wulf stroked his mustache thoughtfully. “I wonder…oh, please tell me that it is a new perversion you are contemplating?”

“Or mayhap it has something to do with unfinished rooftop business.” Geoff winked at him.

The only activity I am planning of that nature will be a solitary endeavor. Unfortunately. “Enough! Both of you, desist!” Caedmon said, laughing.

Just then, he felt a hand clamp on his shoulder. With humor still twitching at his lips, he turned.

Oh, no!

It was the mouse.

Or is she the cat?

I wonder if her tongue is abrasive when she licks.