Veni Vidi Vicious : A Viking Pride and Prejudice variation by Elin Eriksen

Author:Elin Eriksen [Eriksen, Elin]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2021-10-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

A Nidaros Wedding

Jane and Charles came riding into the yard in the afternoon, carrying lots of gifts. Jane had initially been miffed that Elizabeth had not sent for her when her labours started. Elizabeth had worried Jane would not make it and was loath to send her sister on a futile journey. As it had turned out, there would have been more than enough time but these things are not so easily predicted.

The festivities lasted well into the night but Elizabeth, who still had not recovered completely from the birth of her daughter, chose to retire when darkness fell upon them. Rest would be long in coming though, she was pacing back and forth in the loft, contemplating what she should have done. As there were no more vacant rooms left in the house, she had given Gyda and Audny’s chamber to Jane and Charles, leaving the frilles with no alternative as she did not know what to do.

Tyrne had been patient with her and taken the time to explain many things to Elizabeth. The position of a frille was one of them. A frille was to be regarded as a wife, not a mistress, and must be treated as such. She had Jane and Charles to consider as well, she could not place them with the boisterous Vikings.

Elizabeth heard the telltale signs of her husband’s return by the heavy sighs on the stairs. Another worry surfaced, that her husband might want to claim his husbandly rights. It was too soon but would he respect her rejection? She was still pacing their chamber when he entered with a chest under his arm.

“Cease that pacing and come here, I have something to show you.”

“Fitzwilliam, I cannot come to you.”

“Why not?”

“I am not fully healed yet, you know, from the birth.”

“I know. I am not such an ogre that I would ravish a woman who has just given birth. I have something for you but you will need more light to see it properly.” Elizabeth approached him with such reluctance that he grew impatient with her.

“Come. I should have given it to you when you first came to Nidaros, it is part of your heimanfylgja. It had escaped my mind until our discussion earlier today reminded me of it.”

The jarl led her outside with the chest still tucked under his arm and sat down on the threshold to open it and turn it so that Elizabeth could see. Inside were magnificent armbands shaped like snakes, necklaces, strings of pearls and glass beads, chunky silver and glittering gold. Some were decorated with rock crystals. There were earrings and rings for her fingers with matching earring beads and hairpins. Elizabeth was stunned by the sheer amount but also by the incredible wealth, as she fidgeted with a heavy gold bracelet shaped like a serpentine. Was it possible to forget such a treasure or had her husband withheld the gift until she had proven herself fertile?

“That one I inherited from my mother, other items I have bought or won.

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