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‘It is most kind of you.’ Edith held out her hand to Hilda, who scampered over to her. Hilda’s cold fingers clasped hers.
‘Where are we going?’ Hilda whispered.
‘Away from here,’ Edith answered in an undertone. ‘Next time remember where we are. You know what nearly happened. I can’t promise to keep you safe if you behave like that.’
Hilda blanched. ‘I’ll...I’ll try.’
‘We walk out of here, slowly. Do not make eye contact with anyone.’
‘I understand.’
Edith started to walk towards the door. All the Norsemen’s eyes were on her and Hilda.
‘Hold!’ Brand’s voice boomed out before she had taken ten paces.
Sweat trickled down her back. What had she done wrong this time? ‘You require something, my lord?’
‘You may retire to a convent, Lady Hilda, if you wish,’ Brand said with a lazy wave of his hand. ‘Lady Edith fears that you might not wish to be here or might find being with my men distasteful.’
Edith stared at him, astonished. He was giving Hilda the option, something Egbert had never done. A tiny flicker of hope burnt within her. Perhaps this Norseman was not the barbarian she’d first considered him to be.
Hilda shifted from foot to foot, ducking her head and not quite meeting Edith’s eye.
‘Hilda, do you understand what you are being offered?’ Edith asked in an undertone. ‘A new start. A place away from these men. Tell them all in a loud voice what you want. Don’t be shy. You are under my protection.’
‘I wish to stay here.’ Hilda suddenly straightened her back and shoulders. Her blonde hair gleamed in the torch light. ‘I refuse to abandon Lady Edith to men such as you. She is a gently reared lady despite what you seem to think. She has chosen to stay and so shall I. But I demand the right to choose my own man, if I desire. I believe the women from the north are allowed that privilege.’
‘Spoken like a woman from the north!’ someone called out.
The hall erupted with laughter.
Edith blinked in surprise. She never knew that Hilda felt that way. She had always considered that Hilda only stayed because she had no choice or because she enjoyed the power she had from being Egbert’s mistress. And she knew precisely how much Hilda feared the Norsemen.
‘I’m honoured, Hilda, truly I am,’ she muttered. ‘Are you certain you know what you are doing?’
‘You are doing this for everyone. I heard the talk in the kitchen of how it came about,’ Hilda said in a low tone. ‘I couldn’t leave you with these men. Your bravery has given me courage. I was so wrong and selfish earlier to doubt you. Forgive my temper, cousin. Allow me to make sure that you are the best concubine. You are the only hope we have of civilising this brute. I see that now.’
Edith gave Hilda’s hand a squeeze. Somehow it did make a huge difference to know that Hilda was willing to stay. A pang of guilt washed through her. Perhaps she’d done Hilda a disservice in thinking her selfish. Right now she had an ally and she was awfully short of people who’d help her.
‘We shall have to look after each other, then.’ She wrinkled her nose. ‘Besides, I don’t think either of us would enjoy a nunnery.’
Hilda gave a small shiver. ‘No. I’m no nun given to praying all day. Can you imagine?’
‘It is settled, then,’ Brand said. ‘Both of you women are staying of your own free will. And you, Lady Hilda, shall choose the man who shares your bed. You are right—in Norway, our women are allowed to choose. In Jorvik, they are also allowed to choose.’
Edith dropped a curtsy in Brand’s direction. She had misjudged him. Once he had recognised the danger, he took steps. ‘We shall retire now. I bid you adieu,’ she said loudly.
‘And you go to keep my bed warm.’ He, too, lifted his voice, she noted. ‘I will join you in due course.’
Edith swallowed hard. He’d said the words she’d feared all throughout the feast, the true reason why everything had tasted of ash. Unlike Hilda, she’d already made her choice. ‘I have my own bed. It is where my husband...’
Her voice trailed away under his hard gaze.
‘Not when you are my concubine. Or did you forget that little morsel? You sleep where and when I want you to.’
His gaze was clearly fixed on her lips, and against her will, Edith found herself remembering the kiss they’d shared earlier. Her mouth tingled as if he had just kissed her. She rubbed her hand against it, banishing the thought. He wouldn’t do such a thing in front of his men.
