Viking Honor by Darlene Mindrup

Author:Darlene Mindrup
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2013-08-19T00:00:00+00:00

Seven

Through a painful haze, Disa saw Thorvald approach Erik. How had she ever gotten herself into this? She would lay no blame on her mother, for Halgerd had never shown her anything but love and kindness. What had started out as Halgerd’s expression of love had turned into Disa’s foolish mistakes. She should have sent Thorvald on his way in the beginning instead of even considering his words. She should never have agreed to their partnership in the first place.

Erik glanced her way and then at Agnes, his face sober. He nodded his head at Thorvald. Erik then mingled with the crowd and soon the whispers started. When looks turned her way, Disa wondered what Thorvald had told the older man.

Thorvald returned to her side and reached out a hand to help her to her feet. She was in no state to refuse him. Besides, with all eyes watching, she didn’t dare.

“Have no fear,” Thorvald whispered into her ear, sending shivers down her spine. “I have convinced Erik that due to your and Agnes’s status among the people, it would be best not to undress you here.”

Disa closed her eyes in relief. She had been dreading this part of the ceremony that would symbolize a sexual union. So much of her people’s pagan practices were a familiar part of her life, and at times, she had no idea what would please the Lord. Sometimes her soul cried out to her that an action was wrong, but at other times, she wasn’t as certain. Would she ever truly know what God thought was wrong and right? If only she could have access to the Word of God as Agnes had. How she envied the younger woman. She glanced up at Thorvald, noting his sardonic smile.

Thjohilde approached their table and smiled. “Agnes will stay with me tonight,” she told them.

Disa felt real panic. She and Thorvald alone. The thought brought a metallic taste of fear to her mouth.

“Thank you,” Thorvald answered for her. In truth, Disa couldn’t have spoken if she had tried.

Holding out her hand, Thjohilde smiled reassuringly at Disa. “Come. Agnes and I together will prepare you.”

Disa locked eyes with Thorvald, swallowing hard at the look she found in his. She quickly turned away to join Thjohilde. It was good of the woman to act in her mother’s place, and she was thankful; but right now, Disa wanted nothing more than to be alone. The ability to keep her confident mask in place was deteriorating by the minute.

She followed the other two women to Disa’s house. Since her land was in reality Leif’s, her farm was much closer to Brattahlid than most farms. In this instance, she could have wished it much farther away, though then she would probably have been required to be Erik’s guest. That thought caused her to hurry her feet onward.

What exactly would Thorvald expect of her on this, their wedding night? He had given her until winter before they would consummate their marriage, but would he hold to that promise? In the next instant, she realized that Thorvald was a man of honor.

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