“Faðir,” she began steadily, “let us come to terms over this.”
“Terms?” His eyebrows jerked up violently. “As if we bargain over plunder? There will be no bargaining, Hulda. Your móðir has told me what you’ve done.”
Hulda drew breath to speak. Before she could, he raged on.
“Bad enough you should come home with a babe in your belly.” He made a gesture with his hand, like an axe falling. “But a Scots brat? Nei, and nei. It is not acceptable.”
“Yet the child exists.” Safe within her. Cherished.
“How could you be so foolish, Hulda? How could you lie down with one of those…swine? Did he force you? Tell me he forced you and I will send five longboats back there to take his head.”
Hulda went hot and cold in turns, because she knew he meant it. He had the wealth and he had the might. Come spring…
“He did not force me,” she said quietly. “I lay down with him because—” Could she mention the wordlovewhile Faðir ranted at her? “Because I wanted to. As a free woman, I chose to.”
“A free woman,” he repeated, staring as if he had never seen her before. “You might have the pick of any man, and you choosethat? I quite see where I have gone wrong.”
“Where?”
“I have spoiled you, dottir. Overindulged you. I take responsibility for that, but, by Odin’s eye, it will be difficult to hold up my head if that child is born.”
“It happens, Faðir. Between our people and slaves—”
“Not in my home! Not to me!”
“I am sorry for bringing you shame. I never meant to.” Quite the opposite.
“Who knows of this? Your crew?”
“Only Garik.”
“He is a clever lad. He will not speak. The gift of a heavy pouch will assure it.”
“You have no need to bribe Garik. He is a friend and loyal to me.”
Faðir eyed her. “Will he marry you? Take the brat as his?”
“Nei. I do not want—”
“Hulda, do you not see I no longer care what you want?”
“I do, Faðir, ja.”
“That is what got us to this dreadful place. If you will not take Garik for husband—”
“I will not.”
“—then I see we have but two choices. I can beat the brat out of you. You are not far along. It should not be difficult.”
“Nei.” Hulda shifted her feet. She should like to see him try.
“Or you can go to see Roskva, as your móðir has suggested.”
Móðir had wasted no time telling him that, had she? Hulda turned accusing eyes on her móðir, who looked away.
“Faðir, I will not do that. I want this child.”
“Impossible. Not under my roof.”
