Chapter Sixteen #2
‘You love me?’ She shook her head in wonderment. He wanted her for herself? ‘But you said your heart was buried. You told me not to expect or hope for anything other than simple regard.’
‘I’ve said many stupid things in my time, but none as foolish as that.
How the angels, saints and even the Norns of my youth must have laughed at my words.
’ He caught her hand and raised it to his lips.
‘I want to live fully, Svanna, but to do that, I must know that you want this sort of marriage as much as I do. You need that choice because no one else has given you one.’
‘A long time ago, you were a fantasy, something that I clung to in times of trouble, but then you came into my life, and I discovered that the reality of you was much better.’ She cupped his face with her hands.
‘I love your daughter, Rand, as if she were mine but, most of all, I love you. You make my heart soar. You give me hope for tomorrow. Yes, I want a true marriage with you.’
‘We agree. Good.’
‘Sometimes, Rand, you talk too much.’ She lifted her mouth to meet his and for a long time neither spoke.
‘Excuse me?’ a quarrelsome voice sounded behind them. ‘Why is no one paying me any attention?’
Svanna jumped and saw a dishevelled woman leading a horse with a body slung over its back.
A man leaning on a stick was walking a few steps behind.
Her heart sank. Rand and she seemed destined to be interrupted.
She pasted her best smile on her face and stepped out of Rand’s arms. ‘You must be the missing Rhiannon. How wonderful that you are finally here.’
The younger woman wrinkled her nose as if to say Svanna was beneath her notice and ignored her outstretched hand. ‘Did you tell your new wife, Rand, that we were bringing a valuable hostage for ensuring peace? One of the fabled sons of Drengr.’
‘Never be rude to my wife again.’
Rhiannon blinked her eyes slowly several times. ‘I’ve travelled a long way.’
‘Svanna will tell you that the only hostages worth anything are the ones who are alive.’ Rand inclined his head. ‘Turgeis and his other brother are now in our custody, waiting for your father’s judgement.’
Rhiannon opened and shut her mouth. ‘When my father hears of this… You forced me to bring this corpse.’
‘Go in and speak to him now.’
‘He is here?’ Rhiannon shrank back. ‘Thorarinn…he’s here.’
Thorarinn turned pale, but he attempted to stand straighter. ‘We will face him together, Rhiannon.’
‘Take your husband to the priest. He’ll heal him,’ Svanna said, taking pity on them both. ‘Then go into the hall. Your father longs to greet you. Beg his forgiveness. He came here because he was worried and is a romantic at heart.’
‘You are truly generous. It’s far more than we deserve, Rhiannon,’ Thorarinn said. ‘Let’s take her advice.’
‘You must do what you like,’ Rand said. ‘But my wife and I will leave you here.’
‘Why?’
‘Because I am taking her to bed, where she can have a well-deserved rest, away from other people’s demands.
Someone must look after the weaver of the peace as she refuses to.
’ Without waiting for an answer, he bent down and picked Svanna up.
‘We are most definitely not to be disturbed for a long time.’
Svanna put her hands about his neck. ‘One of your better ideas.’
‘You wait, my lady fair, I have many more where that one came from,’ Rand said against her ear in a voice full of promise.
Islay. Eight weeks later
‘Our mother looks the loveliest bride of all,’ Maer said, linking her arm with Svanna’s as the cacophony of getting the bridegroom settled with the bride resounded. ‘It appears the entire island has turned out for the wedding.’
‘Thankfully, our mother knows how to plan a feast.’
‘I think she had some help from you…’
Svanna inclined her head, acknowledging the fact.
Svanna and Rand, along with Birdie, had arrived over a week ago on the island in preparation for Astrid and Sigmund’s wedding, but Maer, her husband and two young children, had only arrived on the tide before the wedding.
Maer looked more serene than ever. Being Queen suited her.
And she and her husband appeared to be very much in love.
Maer had genuinely been delighted to see Rand again. They’d both agreed that they had had a lucky escape from each other.
‘I did what I could,’ Svanna said modestly. ‘You know how she is.’
‘You are the only one she’ll listen to in these matters.’
Svanna laughed. Maer was giving her far too much credit. ‘Our mother had it all in hand. The women here adore her.’
‘Isn’t it funny how it all turned out? We three all found the loves of our lives, even if it took some of us time to realise it.’ Maer nodded towards where their mother stood with Sigmund receiving congratulations.
‘But all is right with the world now.’ Svanna paused, thinking how they’d received word from Tara before they’d left that somehow Turgeis and his remaining brother had managed to meet with what was being called a fatal accident.
Svanna wasn’t tempted to enquire too closely about the details.
‘I was sorry to hear about Tippi. She lived far longer than anyone could have hoped for. Hopefully, one day, I will get Birdie a dog like her. A companion for all the seasons of her life.’
‘Then I hope you will take this little one as a small token of my gratitude.’ Maer signalled to her husband, who was standing chatting to the swineherd. ‘Time, darling.’
‘Time for what?’ Svanna asked.
Maer accepted a large basket from her husband. The basket emitted a few yips and made a scratching sound.
‘I knew when Tippi’s great-granddaughter had a litter of puppies that one of them had to be destined for a special person.’
Svanna gingerly lifted the cover. A little black nose touched her hand. ‘A puppy? She looks like Tippi. Maer, I could not have asked for a kinder present.’
‘A little girl puppy. Hopefully for you and your little girl. I know how much joy and comfort Tippi brought to you.’ Maer smiled. ‘I thought you could use a familiar face as a belated wedding present.’
Svanna took the puppy from the basket. The puppy licked her face.
She was instantly transported back to that day when her world had fallen apart and her only comfort was a small dog nuzzling her palm, promising all would be well.
Now, another small dog had entered it, asking for no more than a little love and affection.
‘What do you have there, Svanna?’ Rand asked, slipping an arm about her waist while Maer and her husband went off to greet old friends. ‘That puppy seems to be a lively thing.’
Tippi lunged out and licked his fingers.
‘Maer’s private gift to celebrate our marriage. Tippi the Younger.’
‘She is perfect. She will be the right sort of companion for our daughter to go exploring with.’
‘I love how you say our daughter. Birdie truly has become the daughter of my heart.’
‘You are her Mor Svanna, the lady who saved her and became her real mother, like she wished on the moon for.’
‘Birdie and her notions,’ Svanna said, laughing.
‘And she is very excited. Apparently, the saga of the usurper King of Agthir will be sung tonight and she will get to hear how her mother saved everyone’s life.’
‘You know that story has been altered.’
‘But you saved lives, including mine. Why allow the truth to get in the way of a good story?’
‘Why, indeed?’
Rand gestured towards where Birdie was excitedly speaking with Sigmund. ‘Now shall we go and show her the newest member of our family?’
Tippi the Younger gave another excited yip and Svanna knew she had the family that she’d always longed for.
* * * * *
If you enjoyed this story, then you’re going to love Michelle Styles’s latest historical romances
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And why not pick up her Vows and Vikings miniseries
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Keep reading for an excerpt from Snowbound Regency Christmas by Carla Kelly.