“Of course they were. You were never other than kind to me, and to my children. I would never lift a hand against you.”
“Yet you kept that man’s secrets, knowing what he plotted.” He could not in those moments have explained to her the depth of his disappointment.
“I believed him powerless. He could never have harmed you without my aid?—“
“Or that of another.” Gunnar was baffled by her naivety if she truly believed the discontented thrall would be deterred simply because she refused to help him. “If Ferris sought to conspire with you, why not with others? He would likely have found an accomplice eventually.”
Mairead’s eyes widened as the truth of his words sank in.
“Oh God,“ she moaned and buried her face in her hands. “I was a fool. You must hate me.”
“Hate you? I am angry with you, more bloody angry than I can find words for right now, but I could never hate you. You are my wife, and I love you. Have we not already established that?”
“But, what about Ferris?”
“He will get what he deserves,“ growled Gunnar. And for himself he would find the entire business rather less distasteful than he had imagined. Ferris would come to bitterly regret his conduct here at Gunnarsholm.
Neither spoke for several minutes. Mairead’s sobs subsided, as did Gunnar’s temper, to be replaced by a deep sense of relief. Matters could have gone very differently, though Edyth might not share his satisfaction with the outcome.
Apparently Mairead thought so too. "Thank the sweet Saviour that Steinn and Weylin were close by and able to rescue poor Edyth. You are quite certain she will recover from her injuries?
“Aye, I believe so, though she is very shocked and distressed.”
“That is to be expected.”
“Steinn wants her. Even now. I gather he has always wanted the lass but has been uncharacteristically slow to make his desires known. It might be best if they were to wed…”
“But, what if she does not feel as he does? Especially after…this.”
“She would find safety in marriage. He is a good man.”
“But she is still very young. And after such a dreadful experience… It is too soon, surely.”
Gunnar shrugged.
“You would not force the issue? That would be cruel, and?—“
“I have little interest in arranging marriages, apart from my own naturally, though I do believe it would be a good solution here. But I will not force anything. I leave that to you, my love. You shall decide what is best for the girl, and when. How does that suit?”
She craned her neck to regard her husband’s deceptively fierce visage. “That would suit very well, Jarl. Thank you. And now, I must go to her. Perhaps I might help..."
She made as though to scramble from the pool but he tightened his arms about her. "Edyth will be glad of your ointments and such, I daresay. Right now, she is sleeping and Aigneis will remain with her until you return to the longhouse."
"I see... And Ferris? Where is he?"
"He is in the stocks at the back of the forge. He is going nowhere, at least, not yet."
"Not yet? What do you mean to do with him?"
"I would be within my rights to hang him, and I daresay the women of this land would be safer if I did so. Having heard what you have to say I might yet erect a scaffold."
"But you said he was to be whipped...?"
"Yes. Twenty lashes. That was the sentence he should have had last time but I curtailed it as he declared himself truly contrite. I will not be merciful again."
"No, I understand that. Rape... it is very serious."
Gunnar was no longer certain this was the worst of Ferris’ crimes, but it was what seemed to most concern Mairead and hecould hardly blame her. Women were vulnerable to the violence of men, and he knew enough of her past to realise she had faced her share.
