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Chapter Forty-Nine
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The Bartered Princess Chapter Fifty
Daphne had received Lord Hubert in her chamber as planned. And then things had begun to change. She did not miss the predatory look in his eye as he took in her inappropriate outfit. Another one to be scratched off the list, she supposed. Why had she been given to understand he preferred to sleep with men when he was ogling her like that? “Forgive my unusual attire,” she told him, extending a bare arm, “I have been rehearsing a play.” “No doubt you were cast in the starring role,” he murmured, touching his lips to the back of her hand. She felt a frisson of something and told herself she had not yet come down from her high. Though that was hardly the case given the way she and Sigurd had parted. Or, rather, he had left her in that embarrassing and unsatisfied position. She wriggled her shoulders before moving across to the window seat. It was probably unconventional, but wasn’t that the kind of relationship she was hoping for? “I sent for you and apparently forgot all about it. How
The Bartered Princess Chapter Fifty-One
Astrid excelled at mock fighting. She even had her own sword, Shatter, and had made friends with young women who were of an age to remember her from before but, strangely, didn’t. Had she been so different as a fourteen year old? Rolf seemed to think so. Unwisely, she had lain with him, simply because she had drunk too much ale and he had been pursuing her for ages. Now, it seemed, he wanted more and had even proposed an encounter with that middle-aged slave of his, the kind she knew too much about and didn’t want to repeat again. Ketil would probably be furious if he knew, which was why she hadn’t told him. She was only grateful he was looking after her welfare to such an extent that he wanted her out of the way when King Harald came to his demesne. It was a shame she would miss the wedding, but it would be good to see Eirik again, this time in the community close to the mountains she had heard so much about. Magnus was coming, too. It would be an opportunity to confide in him. No-
The Bartered Princess Chapter Fifty-Two
“You scare me, and I don’t know why.” For some reason those words haunted Sigurd throughout the night. He had asked her to explain how, but all she said was, “I have become accustomed to keeping my heart to myself.”Ruth was so different from any other woman he had ever known. He watched her sleeping. A woman who didn’t snore. Perhaps it was because she was not one to partake regularly of mead. The triptych mirror showed him different images of her. He stripped away the coverlet, knowing she was too hot.The nightgown was as modest as he had suspected. He had only come to check on her. The chill she had taken was showing no signs of abating, leaving her nose red and her throat, when she spoke, sounded raw.“Rest easy, little bird,” he said, preparing to stay awhile. The low stool in the corner had a tapestry cushion showing hounds chasing a fox.“She could have stripped me naked,” Ruth murmured, pushing at the frilled cap on her head, obviously in the middle of some dream. That would
The Bartered Princess Chapter Fifty-Three
Ruth was exhausted after a long day preparing the kind of exquisite delicacies which would please and delight these unexpected yet honoured guests. The mead supplies were dwindling though she was given to understand these men from the desert lands did not partake. Then she was sent into a panic by the news that a delegation from Abadon had arrived. She hoped the wine would not run out as it would be too late to brew beer.Sending one of the village girls with a couple of guards on a possibly hopeless mission to the taverns in the district, she was pleasantly surprised by their willingness to supply ale. That would never have happened in King Gregory’s day.Leaving Jenna in charge of the gooseberry fools, she headed upstairs to her chamber. A nice soak in the tub was just what she needed. Thanks to the Queen, she no longer had to risk being propositioned in the bathhouse. In fairness, that hadn’t happened in a long time and not often. It occurred to her now, after all these months, tha
The Bartered Princess Chapter Fifty-Four
Miriam was vexed at the mention of the bride price. For once, Ketil didn’t make any untoward comment and she realised how solemn, as well as joyous, this occasion was. There was no exchanging of swords, since she didn’t own one, though he shocked her by producing a silver ring which had belonged to his late mother, Ylfa. Unable to indulge in mead, she happily watched the others, only wishing Astrid had been able to stay for the ceremony. King Harald’s ships had been caught in a storm and so she had yet to meet the Norse ruler, which was fine by her. Kings were not flavour of the month as far as she was concerned. Feeling nervous as the day wore on, she asked herself why. This was only confirmation of a commitment which had begun in the Great Hall of the Vercian palace less than a year ago. She had doubted sometimes, given what had befallen them, but there was no mistaking the love on both sides. Even Ragnar’s presence could not take away her joy and thankfulness, though he was on hi
The Bartered Princess Chapter Fifty-Five
Twenty Years LaterBeyla had wandered away from the settlement, in defiance of her mother’s instructions, and now she was lost. This was embarrassing, though she only had herself to blame. Easing her fingers underneath the cloth barbette which confined her neck, she lamented the fact that it was her duty to wear something so different to anyone else. So what if her destiny lay elsewhere? Couldn’t she conform then, or maybe institute a new fashion? As Princess Consort of Vercia, surely she would have that right?Princess Amber, wife to Prince Philip, was someone she didn’t want to become. The betrothal had been arranged when they were children. Maybe she could work on her father, because all her lady mother ever talked about was Beyla fulfilling her duty. Her elder brother, Tyr, would stay here in Eggsor and become Jarl when anything happened to their father. His Vercian middle name of Edmund would be forgotten and she would no longer be around to tease him about it.Leaving him behind
The Bartered Princess Chapter Fifty-Six
The Jarl was going to be so mad with her. Not because of the money, but for putting herself in danger like this. And it hadn’t escaped her notice that the ringleader appeared to hail from the Ice Lands, given the particular way he’d acknowledged her relationship to her father.After a few tense beats of her heart the giant surrendered the group’s prize with a little push.Wondering how to ask, she was nonplussed when Njord offered to escort them. They were cousins, though the tie often went unacknowledged because of his “villainous sire”. That was how her mother usually described him, while her father remained tight-lipped on the subject.“Come on, Liv,” he said to the startled woman. He winked at Beyla. “You have some explaining to do.”When they were out of earshot of the others, she remembered her manners and thanked him, stammering a little and blushing.“If you had not been there … ”“Think nothing of it, Bee,” he said. “But I will collect sooner rather than later.”She really ho
The Bartered Princess Chapter Fifty-Seven
Beyla learned the hard way that trying to do good deeds often backfired. Not only would Helga need recompense, the small matter of the berserkers had sent her father into a rage the like of which she had never seen. On the positive side, her mother didn’t scold her too much for discarding the barbette, admitting the day was hot. She was obviously softening her up for the next blow, which came in the form of the drab mourning attire she would be expected to don once they reached Vercia. “Forgive me, father,” she said, kneeling before him and grabbing for his hand. “It was foolish of me. But I was only trying to do good.” His face softened, highlighting the old scar, a thin line which ran from hairline to jaw. Ketil Haakonsson was in his early forties now and there was grey in the topknot which signalled him out from others. His stormy eyes were as sharp as ever and now held that indulgent look he reserved solely for her. “Just like your mother,” he murmured. The way he looked at his
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- The Bartered Princess Chapter Eighty-Two
- The Bartered Princess Chapter Eighty-One
- The Bartered Princess Chapter Eighty
- The Bartered Princess Chapter Seventy-Nine
- The Bartered Princess Chapter Seventy-Eight
- The Bartered Princess Chapter Seventy-Seven
- The Bartered Princess Chapter Seventy-Six
- The Bartered Princess Chapter Seventy-Five
- The Bartered Princess Chapter Seventy-Four
