Page 50 of Her Dark Viking
"Calmer than I, for once, but I can tell he is worried also."
"Of course. He must be. And Njal?"
"He is crying for his aunt. The poor lad lost his mother not so long ago, and now Brynhild. Ulfric's bed-slave is helping to care for him."
"Fiona? Is she...?"
"Relieved that her adversary is gone?" He shook his head. "She would have cause to wish harm on Brynhild, and had Ulfric not been with her the entire night I would have suspected her of being involved. But Fiona had no opportunity, and seems genuinely upset by the entire business. Ulfric insists she is innocent, and I know of no reason to disagree other than the ill feeling which existed between them – and was mostly on Brynhild's part in truth. I am glad the boy has someone to care for him. And Ulfric."
"Njal could come here, perhaps he might enjoy spending some time with Donald."
Gunnar nodded. "I will suggest it, the next time I see my brother."
"So, what happens now? About Brynhild?"
Gunnar shook his head. "I wish I knew, sweetheart. I wish I knew."
"Willyou take a bath with me, wife?"
"A bath? You mean in our chamber?"
Gunnar watched as Mairead laid aside the basket she had been using to collect sprigs of wild garlic ready to crush, no doubt for use in an infusion to aid digestion. He had been right to bring the Saxon wench into their household in order to lighten his new wife’s work about the longhouse. Mairead now found much more time to devote to developing her range of herbal remedies and medicines. The settlement was glad of her skillsand she was often sought out by those with ailments to treat. He was pleased to see his wife happy and so obviously content. She had found her niche and settled into it effortlessly.
And now, he must shatter her peace, it seemed. He cursed inwardly but knew he could not shirk the coming unpleasantness.
Seven-month-old Tyra sat on a rug at Mairead's feet. The baby had only just started to sit up and was fascinated with the expanded view of her surroundings this new skill offered. He could not help grinning when the little one held out her arms and chuntered incoherently at him. He stooped to pluck her from the ground.
"No, in the hot spring. We shall have it to ourselves." He managed a tight smile for his wife, despite the blackness of his mood.
"How so?” Mairead settled her basket on the ground, ready to accompany him. "Where is everyone today?" She glanced about her, scanning the wild meadow for the nearest servant. "I shall summon Edyth to care for Tyra, unless it is your intention that we should take her with us?"
Edyth, the wench he had acquired in Hafrsfjord, had settled in well. Gunnar had known she would. The girl was quick-witted and good with the children. She was also blossoming into a real beauty now that the haunted look of terror had dissipated from her features, a fact not lost on any of the males in his settlement. Which brought him back to his present predicament...
"I would prefer to have you to myself, Mairead. There is a matter I need to discuss with you. Edyth is ... indisposed at present and Aigneis is busy so we will leave Tyra with Weylin."
"Indisposed? Why was I not told? I should see to her. Perhaps I?—"
"Aigneis is with her." Gunnar glanced up as Weylin appeared, striding across the grassy hillside toward them. The man offered him an almost imperceptible nod as he drew near.
"What is happening? Something is wrong, I know it." Mairead looked from Gunnar to Weylin, her expression wary now.
"I will explain. Come." Gunnar handed the squirming baby to his servant. "See that we are not disturbed."
"Aye, Jarl," promised Weylin. He eyed his new charge with dismay. "Please... do not be long."
Gunnar bestowed an exasperated glower on the man and took Mairead by the hand. He towed her from the meadow before she could utter her next barrage of questions.
Although it was only a little after mid-day and the weather was unusually clement, the settlement lay eerily quiet as he strode though the outskirts of the village. Mairead could not fail to notice. He led her around the perimeter of his settlement in the direction of the wooded outcrop where their closest hot spring was located. It was a pleasant enough spot, secluded and a great favourite among his people. The proximity of the spring was one of the factors which had led him to select this precise place to build his home, and he was glad of it now. Difficult business was always best transacted in convivial surroundings.
They heard the water before they saw it. The hot spring at Gunnarsholm was located at the foot of a waterfall, creating an odd mix of freezing water cascading from above ground to meet the balmy current from beneath the earth. It was invigorating, inspiring, a truly unique sensation and one he always loved.
Gunnar released Mairead's hand and started to disrobe. In seconds he was naked and striding into the effervescent pool. He sank his shoulders under the water and leaned his head back to allow the frigid waters from the torrent above to pour over hishair. He slicked the dripping locks back and watched her from under lowered brows.
Mairead stood beside the pool, wringing her hands as she regarded him warily. "Have I displeased you, my husband?"
"No, not at all. Come, join me..." He extended his hand and forced a smile to his lips. "Please."
He watched as she undressed, the sight never failing to arouse him. His cock hardened as she stepped forward, picking her way with care across the flat rocks which surrounded the pool. As soon as she was close enough she grasped his outstretched hand and allowed him to assist her into the waters.
