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Athelstan had promised that he would not harm Brand as long as Brand treated her properly. Edith had rolled her eyes. Mary had agreed, but neither of them had sent Godwin to Brand. ‘He means you no harm, Brand. All he wants to do is be with his family. When he is well enough, he will go.’
‘His father is dead. He died in the battle. You told me.’ Brand shook his head. ‘I trusted your word. What else have you been hiding from me, Edith? Who?’
Edith drew herself up to her full height. ‘I told you what I believed to be the truth at the time, but I was wrong. Perhaps I should have informed you straight away, but you must trust I had my reasons. I am willing to vouch for him, but I was wrong about his death.’
‘Amazing, you admitting that you were wrong.’
‘It happens.’ Edith ignored the sarcasm and concentrated on keeping her voice steady. He had to see that her duty came before everything. Her only crime was to selfishly want a tiny piece of happiness. ‘Athelstan has returned. He wanted to come home to his family and the people he loves. What is wrong with that?’
Edith prayed Brand would understand the need to return home. She had to wonder if Brand knew the feeling and the deep peace of homecoming. For so many years, he had lived the life of a wanderer. His only home was the battlefield.
Brand stood completely still as if rooted to the spot, his face giving away nothing. He had become the fearsome warrior of the first day, rather than the tender lover who had held her all last night.
‘He wanted to see his children,’ she continued, trying to reach the man who had held her so lovingly rather than confronting the warrior. ‘This is where his blood is and where his ancestors are buried. Surely you can understand what drove him? He knows there is a price on his head, but he still had to come.’
‘He is incapable of finer feelings!’ Athelstan suddenly shouted. ‘The Norsemen do not understand such things.’
‘You have no idea, Athelstan.’ Edith retorted. Her blood boiled on Brand’s behalf. ‘Brand Bjornson is no barbarian. How many times must I tell you that?’
‘How long? How long has he been back?’ Brand demanded, his face turning even more thunderous. It was all Edith could do to stand there and face him. The man had gone and only the warrior remained. ‘How long, Edith? How long have you been defying me over this? How long have you been hiding a rebel?’
‘My husband returned, your lordship. It is why I sent for her ladyship.’ Mary gave a low curtsy. ‘You must believe that. Lady Edith had nothing to do with it. She is innocent of any blame, except the knowing. If you must blame someone, blame me.’
‘Is this true, Edith?’
‘Over a week.’ Edith bowed her head. ‘I’ve known ever since we came back from Owen the Plough’s. Hilda informed me of the rumour. I went to see him as soon as I could leave the hall without causing upset. It is why I took the cup. I wanted to convince him to go and thought if he had money, he might leave and everything could be as it was.’
An expression of extreme hurt and betrayal crossed his face, but was instantly masked. His eyes grew colder than ice.
‘Were you going to tell me? Or did you hope that by keeping my bed warm, I’d forgive you everything?’
‘I hoped never to have to tell you.’ Edith pressed her hands together. Her chest ached as if it had been stabbed. He didn’t understand. ‘I saw no need. And it had nothing to do with keeping your bed warm.’
She kept her head up and refused to beg. The words—keeping his bed warm—seemed so inadequate and cheap for what had passed between them. For her, certainly, it had been so much more.
‘Why?’
‘For you, he is a ghost. For Godwin and his mother, he is the most important person in the world. I had hoped to convince him to go south either with or without his family, but as yet that had not happened. The injuries he received haven’t healed. You must believe me that his arrival had nothing to do with what passed between us.’
She went forwards and touched his sleeve. He turned from her, rejecting her.
‘Was he on his own? Or was there some other plan? Why precisely did you take the cup?’
Each word lashed through her.
‘My original thought was to have him go south to Wessex and take the cup to provide some funds. He has been a good and loyal servant to my family.’ Edith shook her head. Every time she opened her mouth, she made the situation worse. ‘He refused to even countenance taking the cup, saying I needed it more than he did.’
