Page 49 of Viking in Love

Amicia, his cook, whispered something in Breanne’s ear that sounded like, “Do not slice the lout, seduce him.”

Seduce? Seduce whom?

Breanne’s shoulders slumped. Then she straightened and turned, fluttering her eyelashes at him. “Wouldst care to walk in the garden with me?”

Oh, nay! She could not mean to seduce me. Never in a million years! Although… “What garden?”

“The rose garden.”

“I have a rose garden?”

“Forget the bloody garden.”

Progress! I got the wench to swear.

“Dost want to walk or not?” As if an idea had come to her belatedly, she fluttered her eyelashes at him.

With any other woman, he would think she was flirting. With Breanne, he had to assume she had soot in her eyes.

“We will walk,” he said, standing suddenly and holding his arm out for her. He was intrigued to know what she was up to.

She stood and ignored his arm, swanning ahead of him to the end of the dais and across the great hall. He had to admit that she did have a nice bottom, which swayed from side to side. Just then, he glanced back and saw Geoff and Wulf watching him watch her backside. They grinned and gave him salutes of encouragement.

He caught up with her halfway and grabbed her hand, twining her fingers with his. She tugged, but he would not release her.

He led her then, not outside to any garden, but instead up to the wall walk on the ramparts, which were pleasant this time of night.

“Before we go any farther, there is something I must tell you,” Breanne said.

“Oh, God! Not another secret.” If she killed another person, I swear I will kill her.

“Not exactly a secret. Not my secret, anyhow. “Tis about your son Hugh.”

He stopped in his tracks, displeasure heating his blood. “You have no right to interfere with my family.”

“I must speak up since he will not tell you himself. You are punishing him unjustly.”

“The boy ran away from his fostering.”

“Do you know why?”

Woman, you overstep yourself. “Of course I do. Earl Graystone told me that he could not accept discipline.”

“Pfff! One of Earl Graystone’s hersirs was trying to abuse your son.”

Shock swiftly turned his displeasure to white-hot anger, mostly at the wench who dared to suggest such. “Mayhap he put a switch to his arse when he turned laggard in his duties.”

“Oh, Caedmon! Do I have to speak explicitly? ’Twas not a switch the hersir wanted to put to Hugh’s arse.”

It took a long moment for her suggestion to sink in. Nay! Nay, nay, nay! It cannot be so! “Are you saying that some man tried to sodomize my son?”

She ducked her head with embarrassment at his blunt words, but then she raised her chin with defiance. “Yea.”

“Did he succeed?” His shoulders slumped.

“Nay, Hugh ran away first.”

Thank you, God! “Why would Hugh not come to me?”