Page 98 of Viking in Love

“And now I have jeopardized that for you.”

He shrugged. “I had a choice, as did you when you agreed to our bargain. But a man like me, with no powerful political connections, is always at risk with greedy kings…and influential churchmen.”

“How horrible!”

“’Tis the way of the world. But do not think I am sitting here waiting for doom and gloom to fall on my head. Little by little I am building up my troop of housecarls and hirdsmen. Eventually, I would like to add more rooms onto the keep, and build a village beyond the castle grounds, to attract men with families.”

All that building made Breanne nigh salivate. “What is stopping you?”

“Money, mostly. But more than that, when the king calls me into service, as he did for the past nine months, I am unable to work my land. And the scutage is too high. This is a small estate, compared to others, and in a remote, undesirable location, so close to the borders, but even so, I have to be careful not to gain attention.”

“If it is all about money…or at least partly…why not wed again to some wealthy heiress?”

He grinned. “Like you?”

“Nay! Of course not. I have no interest in marriage.”

“Nor have I.”

“You are not even tempted?”

“Oh, I am tempted, m’lady, but not by your coins.” He waggled his eyebrows at her. “By the by, I would imagine that horseback riding is a good time for doing your exercises.”

“You will ne’er let me hear the end of that, will you?”

“M’lady, that mind picture of you with a candle will be in my head forever.”

And mine, as well. “Why do you resist marriage so much?”

“I have traveled that path twice, and both were agonizing. I will not willingly undertake that torture again, not for any amount of wealth.”

“Geoff is doing so, for land, is he not?”

“Yea, but Geoff has ne’er been wed afore. He will learn.”

“You have a jaded view of marriage. Were you never in love?”

He snorted.

“Could be that your marriages were unhappy because you did not love your wives. Nay, before you scoff, know this: There are men and women who fall in love and wed because they cannot live without that other person.”

“You know such as those?” He was clearly unconvinced.

She nodded. “I do. My sister Tyra and her husband, Adam. Lord Eirik of Ravenshire and his wife, Eadyth. Eirik’s brother Tykir and his wife, Alinor. Just to name a few.”

He shrugged. “If you say so. Still, ’tis not for me.”

“Nor me.”

“Why? A woman’s place is in the marriage bed, big with child, keeping her husband’s household.”

“Is that so, lunkhead?”

He grinned, and she knew he was teasing her.

“Why have I ne’er wed? I will tell you why. I am not beautiful, like my sisters, and—”

“I think you are beautiful.”