Page 87 of Viking in Love

How could she not understand him? He was practically spitting his displeasure.

Caedmon hung back as the group went inside toward the chapel, which could be entered both from the inside of the keep, or through an exterior door. “You did well,” he told her in an undertone.

“You jest. I did terribly. My voice shook, and my eyes probably belied my lack of honesty.”

“I will make sure to be with you any time you speak with the archbishop,” he promised. “Do not fear. This will soon be over, and we can resume our bargain.”

“Whaaat?” she screeched. “How can you think of that at a time like this?”

“Breanne, Breanne, Breanne! I think of that all the time.”

To emphasize his words, the rogue cupped her buttock and squeezed before anyone could notice.

Except for his children, who began to make bzzzzing noises.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

When dumb men hear dum-dum-dee-dum…

It was late afternoon and the archbishop could be put off no longer. He wanted to speak with Breanne. Now!

Caedmon had to give Breanne credit. She had managed to make herself and the children nigh invisible. It could have been disastrous if he had had to cope with the antics of the bratlings along with the verbal traps set by Dunstan.

And there were traps aplenty, he had soon learned, when Dunstan revealed the primary reason for his visit. Despite his being joined at the hip with King Edgar and way too involved for a priest in the cesspit of royal politics, the archbishop was in the midst of a monastic revival in Britain, building churches, abbeys, and monasteries hither and yon. Probably trying to earn points with God toward sainthood when he died. In fact, he wanted to build a bloody damn monastery on Larkspur lands, as if Caedmon had land to spare. And even if he were willing to part with his Odal rights to a portion of Larkspur, that would not be the end of it. Next, workers would be required to help build the monastery. Then cattle and sheep for subsistence. Guardsmen to protect the clergy from raiders. Then the monks would be baptizing every living body in sight and demanding donations in God’s name. Worst of all, having Dunstan or his minions so close would mean that Caedmon would have the church and King Edgar’s spies constantly looking over his shoulder.

He took Hugh with him in his search for Breanne. They finally found her down by the river, sitting on a blanket where food had been spread out. Piers was asleep beside her, his little buttocks up in her air, one of his thumbs in his mouth. Joanna and Kendrick were in the water, swimming, whilst all the others were playing some kind of run-and-hide game. Mina was the first to see him, and she made a running leap. He caught her up in his arms and kissed the top of her head where the hair was still damp, no doubt from her swimming, too. Beth was next. She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her face against his abdomen. Aidan and Alfred had death holds on his thigh, on the other side.

Breanne looked up, then looked again. She appeared amazed at the affection his children showed toward him, or was it perchance his own affection toward them that caused her astonishment? The expression on her face soon turned to wariness, but was probably because of the way he had embarrassed her in bed this morn. By the saints! Was it only this morn that she shared my bed? It feels like a lifetime ago.

“You are summoned,” he said, disengaging himself from his children’s clutches. Holding out a hand, he pulled her to her feet.

“Archbishop Dunstan?”

“One and the same. He wants to talk with you. Immediately.”

She shivered, but then straightened herself as if gathering courage. “So be it.”

“I will stay with you, regardless of what he says.”

“What he says?” she repeated.

“He will no doubt try to question you separately from anyone else, in order to trick you.”

She moaned.

“Hugh, you will stay with the children. When it is time to return to the castle, go through the scullery. Whatever you do”—he was speaking to all the children now—“you are to stay out of sight and do not speak, other than answering yea or nay. Do you understand? This is important.”

One by one, they all nodded.

Walking back across the grassy field studded with fragrant larkspur, he put a hand to her waist, tugging her to his side. It was a sign of her nervousness that she did not swat him away. In fact, she looped her arm around his waist, as well.

Trying to distract her, he remarked, “Didst know that when you touch me, I tingle?” And grow hard as a pike.

Instead of laughing, she said, “Me, too.”

“Huh?”

“I may not like you much, but there is no denying your sizzling charms.”