Page 21 of Alliance Bride
“Not that it’s any of your business,” Aevar said dryly, “but I slept on the floor. I will not force her to be a wife. If I’m going to be married, I want it to be pleasant for both of us at the very least.”
He had seen the panic on her face last night and the way she’d fought to resign herself. Even if he’d wanted to, he couldn’t have ignored it. Other men might not care they were strangers, but he did. And if he was honest, part of him would have felt unfaithful even if only to a memory. Judging by the way his chest still ached, that wouldn’t change any time soon.
Braan bumped Erik with his elbow. “Look at that, our little brother has wisdom.”
Heida appeared behind him. Aevar hadn’t noticed her approach, as usual. She had an uncanny way of slipping in without anyone ever seeing her coming. An ability he suspected was natural more than learned.
She leaned into Braan’s shoulder. “Something you could learn from.”
Braan glanced up at her, then leveled Aevar with a cool stare. “Yes, dear.”
Aevar smirked, but his attention returned to Heida as she slid onto the bench beside Braan.
“You’re doing right by her, Aevar,” she said, her voice lowernow. “It’s not easy leaving everything you’ve ever known behind. It will take her time. She doesn’t just have to learn to trust you; she has to trust all of us.”
Eadlyn startled awake, blinking against the light that filtered through the window above her. Beyond the door, muffled voices drifted across the room. Laughter. A child’s shriek. The sounds of a family already deep into their day.
She sat up and looked to the corner of the room. Aevar’s bed of furs lay empty. She let a slow breath seep out and sat there a moment longer, the coolness of the air biting against her skin. Today was the first day of her new life. Not as a guest, but as part of this household, somehow. She had to find her place here, and she could not do that by hiding.
Shivering, she slipped out of bed and lit a lamp, the small flame flickering. She rummaged through her packs. There wasn’t much. Far less than she would have brought had she known she would not return to Kenwich. Edward had promised to send more of her belongings, but that might take weeks, perhaps months. For now, she had to make do.
She pulled out a red gown; one Aevar had not yet seen her wear. Not that it mattered. Until her things arrived, she would have to cycle through the couple of gowns she had.
Once she’d laced up the dress, she brushed out her hair. She wasn’t sure what more to do with it beyond pulling some of it back. Ranvi and Inga wore their hair braided into beautiful, intricatestyles, but that was a skill she had never learned. This was one small moment she wished Mildred were here to help.
Tucking the rest of her clothing back into her pack, she ran her fingers over the bundle of Scriptures at the bottom. She hesitated. There had been no time for reading on the journey. It tugged at her now, a longing for the familiar comfort of the words. But she didn’t know the household’s routines yet, nor the hour. She didn’t want to keep anyone waiting on her.
Instead, she closed it away again and bowed her head for a brief prayer. She thanked God for His grace last night with Aevar and for the kindness shown to her here. When she whisperedamen, she blew out the lamp and walked to the door.
Stepping into the hall, the central hearth drew her attention. A bright fire crackled there, the smoke curling up to the smoke hole in the roof. Voices rang more clearly now. She turned toward the tables and found Aevar’s family gathered, their laughter and conversation filling the space.
Aevar straddled a bench, laughing as little Trygg clung to his back. The boy shouted something triumphant and wrapped his arms around Aevar’s neck like he was trying to wrestle him to the ground. Aevar twisted, feigning a struggle, and a grin lit up his face, wide and unguarded. She had never seen him like that—truly smiling, eyes bright and full of life.
A knot of uncertainty tightened low in her stomach. Everyone was kind to her yesterday, but kindness to a stranger was easy. Where did she fit once the novelty wore off? She lingered near the doorway, unsure whether she should approach or wait. Aevar looked up, catching her eye. He was hard to read, as always, except for last night, when he’d let something real slip through.
“Good morning.”
The simple words caught the others’ attention. A handful of cheerful greetings followed, and just like that, they drew her into their circle.
Inga and Ranvi bustled near the hearth alongside the other women, who were tending a large pot.
“I hope I haven’t kept you waiting,” Eadlyn said, her voice a little too formal in her own ears.
“No, we are just finishing,” Inga assured her.
The woman turned to give the children quick instructions. Trygg hopped up from where he was still half-hanging off Aevar. Then, rather than walking around, he scrambled over the tabletop, earning a scolding word from Erik.
Aevar’s brother sent an apologetic glance toward Eadlyn. “Excuse him. He can be a bit wild.”
“Like his father at that age.” Inga sent him a wry smile as she set the pot on the table.
Erik shook his head, sighing. “As you so often remind me.”
Laughter rippled as everyone settled into their seats.
Eadlyn slipped onto the bench beside Aevar, accepting a bowl of porridge and berries he passed to her.
“Did you sleep well?” he asked.
