Page 96 of Viking in Love

The archbishop’s face flushed red. “I did not think they did that anymore.”

“’Twas a long time ago,” Amicia chimed in.

Thank God that Amicia got in the spirit of things. Now she was caught in the lies, like him and Breanne.

“Well, bless you, my child, for your chastity.” He made the sign of the cross in the air over her.

Some of his housecarls snickered at Amicia being described as chaste, and he flashed them glowers of warning.

“So, Caedmon, when would you like to hold the betrothal ceremony?” the archbishop asked then.

How could I have forgotten that? “’Tis really unnecessary, Your Grace. We will wed soon enough.”

“And I would much prefer to have my father present,” Breanne interjected.

“Females are to be seen and not heard,” Dunstan said, scowling at Breanne, before adding, “Is King Thorvald on his way?”

“Uh, yea, he is, but I am not sure when he will arrive.” Breanne’s eyes caught his, pleading for help.

“We sent a missive to Breanne’s father sennights ago,” Caedmon lied, realizing too late that he was digging them deeper into the hole of deceit, “but you know how long the voyages to the Norselands are, to and fro. Dependent on the wind, storms, and God himself.” Caedmon patted himself on the back for adding that last bit about God. Surely, the archbishop would be impressed.

“I go to Heatherby from here. If King Thorvald has not arrived by the time I depart for Glastonbury, we will hold the betrothal ceremony forth-with. Provided that this meets with King Edgar’s approval, of course. He will already be angry over Lady Moreton’s marriage; he had plans for her.”

He left then to go to his seat, his two sheeplike priests following after him, heads bowed, arms crossed with hands inside the opposite sleeves.

Whilst Amicia was busy gawking all around from her novel position near the high table, Caedmon sank down to the bench next to Breanne, just for a second. He had to nudge her with his hip to get her to move over. “It appears that you and I are going to have to get betrothed.”

“One lie leads to another and another and another. Where will it end?”

He had an idea, a horrific idea, but if she did not suspect, he was not going to be the one to tell her.

“Exactly what happens in a betrothal ceremony?” she asked.

“I have ne’er had one afore, but it seems to me that it is just two people pledging to get married within a year.”

“A year? Phew! A year will give us plenty of time to unbetroth ourselves.”

“I have missed you, Breanne. Have you missed me?”

“How could I miss you? You are always there.”

“Not always.”

She studied him for a moment. “You mean, in bed.”

Definitely. “That, too.”

“I slept with you last night.”

“That is the problem. You slept.” He let the fingers of one hand walk up her arm, from wrist to shoulder. He could almost imagine the goosebumps rising on her skin. Bloody hell, he had goosebumps, too.

She lifted his errant hand and placed it on the table. “Bedplay! Is that all you can think of?”

“It is when I am around you.”

“I do not like being a lady,” Amicia interrupted their flirtsome game.

He and Breanne both said, “Why?”