Page 53 of The Viking’s Captive

CHAPTER NINE

Uh-oh! Why is everyone being so nice? …

Tyra’s sisters were acting mighty suspicious.

They had prepared a bath for her … in her own bedchamber, no less. The four of them had lugged the big brass tub all the way up the stairs, and then made three return trips each, carrying water.

“It’s the least we can do for you when you worked so hard in the exercise fields today,” Ingrith said.

And Drifa kept sprinkling those blasted rose petals in the water, “just to make you a tiny bit fragrant.” Tyra didn’t have the heart to tell her that she had no desire to smell like a rose. There is naught wrong with the scent of plain, clean skin, if you ask me, which nobody is doing.

Vana was soaping up Tyra’s hair right now … always a tedious task because the tresses were so long. “I’ve been thinking about cutting it all off,” Tyra mused aloud.

“Nay!” all four of her sisters cried, and Lady Alinor as well, who had just walked into the bedchamber carrying a message for Ingrith that she was needed in the kitchens. Apparently, there was some problem with a curdled custard. Plus, Alrek had announced his intention to go gather eggs from the chicken coop. Ingrith rushed off, making her apologies—as if Tyra needed her to continue her bath.

“So, what do you think of my nephew Adam?” Alinor asked of a sudden. It was hard to picture Alinor as Adam’s aunt, when she was only a few years older than he.

Her three remaining sisters cast chastising scowls at the lady, as if she’d asked an inappropriate question. Well, it was inappropriate, but then, Alinor was an outspoken woman. And, really, Tyra didn’t mind the question.

“He’s a toad.”

Alinor clapped her hands together as if Tyra had given the correct answer. “That’s exactly what I used to call Tykir, afore he became my husband. Well, actually, I still call him a toad on occasion. Toadliness is a male trait, you know. Right up there with excessive lustiness.”

Everyone smiled.

“I heard that you kidnapped Adam,” Alinor continued.

“Yea, I did, but ‘twas necessary because—”

Alinor waved a hand to indicate the cause mattered not. “Didst know that Tykir kidnapped me at one time?”

“He did?” all of them said.

Alinor nodded. “Yea, he did, the sweet toad.” She jiggled her eyebrows at them for emphasis.

They all smiled some more.

What an unusual lady she was. Tyra would like to get to know her better, but of course that would be impossible when she was in faraway Byzantium, serving with the Varangian Guard.

“I’d best be off, too, to help Ingrith,” Vana said.

“Me, too,” said Breanne. “Just let me pour in another bucket of hot water. Relax, why don’t you, sister? Dinner won’t be served for another hour.”

“Um-hmm.” Tyra was already closing her eyes sleepily as she sank down into the tub.

“My baby needs to be nursed soon,” Alinor added. To Tyra’s sisters she advised, “Let us pick up these wet linens and dirty clothes. Take them to the laundry yard. The buckets, too.”

Soon there was blissful silence. That did not happen often in Tyra’s life. Always she was surrounded by noise and people, whether they be her soldiers or sailors, servants or family members. She had not realized how much pleasure was to be had in mere quiet.

The plot thickens …

A short time later, the quiet of Tyra’s bedchamber was broken by a shrill scream of outrage. Hers.

“How could they? How could they?” She paced about her small room, stark naked, searching for her garments … her male garments. But the only item of apparel left there was a gown of crimson silk. Nor was this a Viking-style gown of modest chemise and over-apron. Nay, this was a form-fitting gown in the Frankish style with low neckline and cross-lacing that would make the gown fit snugly from under her breasts to her hips.

Desperately she searched for something else to cover herself. But her sisters and Alinor had not left even a bed linen. She had no choice. She would have to don the scandalous gown … one of her sister Breanne’s, she would guess, since she was taller than the rest.

Blessed Freyja! She would kill them all.