God had mercy, for Jarvik was unconscious.
She stripped him gently, mentally thanking whoever had had the sense to cut off his hauberk. The belly wound was shallow but already showed signs of pus. Dirt and leaves formed a crust in the center. The graze on his shoulder would heal within days. The paleness of his skin and the yellow tinge to the whites of his eyes when she checked beneath his lids worried her, but all in all… Relief surged through her veins. She had to take a good few deep breaths to steady her nerves.
“How is he?” Torsten stood in the doorway. “The room is ready and I will carry him for you.”
“’Tis not as bad as I feared, but there is infection, and he is already feverish. There is a Scottish firewater, whiskey, brewed in the Highlands. I would have as much of it as you can find. It cleanses wounds and scours infection. Send some to gather sea moss and weed.” Elaina paused when Torsten gently gathered Jarvik into his arms. She kept a hand on Jarvik’s arm as they walked.
Torsten laid Jarvik down on a straw mattress in a well-aired room with a fireplace and corner windows. It smelled of soap and the brine of the sea. “The maids are drying the sheets and blankets afore the kitchen’s fires. They will bring them soon. The wound is badly infected?”
“I have seen much worse. I will need you here for the cleaning in case he awakes. I will have to cut away some of the skin. I need a bowl, and I want a cauldron with water boiling in the fire at all times.”
“I will arrange all that.”
Elaina flinched at the thought of taking a knife to Jarvik’s skin. Though it had to be done, and she had had to do far worse in the past, ’twas the first time since her mother that she nursed someone she loved. A faint shuffling noise drew her attention to the open doorway, and her shoulders slumped in relief. “Deidra. Thank the lord.”
“I have all the herbs and supplies we will need, and the firewater. You bathe him and clean his wounds. I will see to all else.” Deidra strode into the room and handed Elaina a sack. “Scissors, knives, needles, thread, dried pig guts, all you will need. I have the spices for the poultices in the kitchen and will begin making them.”
She nigh on burst into tears so glad was she to have Deidra’s support. “I thank you with all my heart. I have not just realized that I love the knave to lose him to such a small wound.”
Deidra hugged Elaina, and said, “Worry only about your husband. We will all take care of everything else. Torsten, do not dare argue with her. She will heal him.”
For two days and two nights, Elaina worked tirelessly to rid Jarvik of the infection that had set in. She dared not sew his wound closed until all the pus was gone and the cut bled pure, red blood. One the third day, had she not been tired beyond her bones, she would have jumped for joy for the infection had been beaten.
Jarvik had only regained consciousness fitfully during the two days, and she prayed he would remain asleep until she finished stitching him. Elaina felt rather than heard Deidra’s entrance, but she could not afford to lose her concentration and tied off the last stitch before looking up.
Deidra made the sign of the cross. “Thank the Lord. The wound is clean?”
“Aye. And the whites of his eyes are no longer yellow. The fever should break soon.”
“Then, ’tis time you had a bath and a rest.” Deidra squeezed Elaina’s shoulder. “Kateri and Kitti need to see you too. Though they are too busy to miss you right now.”
“Too busy?” Elaina dampened a cloth and cleaned a drop of blood pearling at the edge of the last stitch on Jarvik’s belly.
“Aye. Catriona had the notion to assign Ainslin’s twins, Rob and Brom, to organize the nursery. Mother Mary, that woman should have been a warrior. We have not heard a peep from the children. Not a single quarrel. And you should hear your girls. Talk, talk, talk. They repeat all they hear. Up now. I have had the maids prepare a bath for you in the master’s chamber. They will bring you food and then the girls. Then you are to sleep.’
Too weary to argue, Elaina did as she was told. Kateri and Kitti visited while she ate. The babes seemed to have become little girls overnight. They scrambled food from her trenchers, then walked around the room naming objects, looking to her for approval. Her last thought before she fell asleep was that they were growing too quickly.
“Elaina.”
She opened her eyes to find Deidra hovering. Worry had Elaina shooting to a sitting position. “What is it? Has the infection returned?”
“Nay. Jarvik is awake and roaring at everyone because he cannot see you.”
Elaina braced against the wall for support. “Thank the Lord. Pass me my cyrtel, I must make haste.”
“Nay. Take your time. ’Twill not harm him to wait a few more moments.” Deidra picked up a comb. “You slept for a day and a half.”
Elaina flew to her feet. “Nay. How could you let me sleep for so long?” She scrambled for her chemise, tugged the garment over her head, then stepped into her cyrtel.
“’Twas naught else you could do. And you will need the rest, for I fear your husband will not be easy to care for.” Deidra waved a hand. “You are not to be angry with me.”
“I am nay angry. Worried.” She sat on the bed and donned her slippers. The mattress dipped when Deidra joined her. “You said he is roaring?”
“Aye. All warriors are dense when injured. I am convinced of it. Magnus is so as well. Jarvik believes himself healed.” Deidra drew the comb through Elaina’s hair. “Now, pinch your cheeks, and let me tighten your laces to plump your breasts. For if Jarvik is like Magnus, naught will speed his recovery more than the thought of tupping you again.”
“Deidra. Never have I heard you speak of such. And you don’t even blush.” Elaina couldn’t repress a grin.
“Ah, but I have discovered that all that you spoke of is more than true. ’Tis the greatest pleasure indeed to learn a warrior through touch, smell, mouth, tongue, and teeth. I am indeed fortunate to be wed to such a lusty man. And such a handsome one. I swear, ’tis over a year we are wed, and I never cease to sigh when I look at him.”
Elaina suffered Deidra’s primping for only a few more moments before leaping off the bed and racing to Jarvik’s sick room. Deliberately slowing her steps, she took a deep breath, folded her hands at her waist, and entered the chamber. The unoccupied chamber. “Where is he?”
“I have needs other than you, woman.” Jarvik’s voice came from behind.
She whirled around and ran to him. “Why are you standing?”
“How else am I to visit the garderobe?”
Elaina locked one arm around his waist, set his hand on her shoulder, and ordered, “Lean on me. Who let you walk unassisted? I will tear them apart. Slowly, my lord.”
“Jarvik, wife. You owe me at least six score kisses and I will have them all as soon as I lay my head on that bed.” He was panting, and Elaina knew the trip to the privy had tired him out.
After getting him situated on the mattress, she turned to gather her cleaning cloths, but he snatched her hand. “Lay with me, Elaina. I need to hold you for a while.”
Carefully, she eased onto the bed, and he pulled her down beside. He kissed her forehead and draped his uninjured arm over her shoulder urging her head to his chest. She breathed in his unique scent. Even though he had been in a sick bed for days, he stilled smelled of the outdoors.
“Sweetling.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “You and the girls are safe now.”
She stroked his jaw and smiled at the feel of the soft hairs lining his chin. “’Tis the strangest thing. From the very start I have always felt safe with you. Even as a girl begging for kisses, I never thought you would do me harm. And in the pond. I should have been screaming. Me, naked in a warrior’s arms. Lusty arms, I might add. And though I urged my body to flee, my mind said nay, you have found haven.”
“You unman me with your words, wife. But I will treasure them always as I will you.” He thumbed the seam of her lip. “My eager cock is only too willing to show you how much, but I fear the rest of me is not yet up to a thorough swiving.”
She smiled.
Jarvik hissed.
“Why do you that?”
“I well know that siren smile. So does my lusty fellow and my stones.”
“’Twould seem a torn belly does not hinder the workings of your sex.” She touched her chin to his chest. “I will have them move you to our chamber today. And this eve, I will alleviate the suffering of your both your eager cock and his twin globes.”
Chapter Seven
Three sennights later, Jarvik was nigh ready to order everyone gone. He wanted his wife and girls to himself.
“What ails you?” Magnus swung a blunted blade at Jarvik’s side.
Jarvik parried the blow. “’Tis time you all depart.”
“Nay.” Magnus came in fast.
Jarvik hopped backwards and barely avoided Magnus’s sword smashing his knee.
“Aye. Eógan and his men are dead.” He swiped the sweat dripping down his face with one hand. “Máel Coluim has claimed Strathclyde’s crown. Cnut and Coluim have agreed to sign a treaty. I am well enough to train with you. ’Tis time you depart.”
“You have regained your strength quicker than I expected. I fear when your wife hears we have been training, she will pummel me.” Magnus holstered his sword. “I like this cove.”
So did Jarvik. He had fond memories of taking Elaina here. He scanned the secluded bay bounded by high black cliffs on each end. Waves crashed onto the sandy beach, leaving dappled foam that fizzled under the sun’s rays.
“Are you not anxious to return to your own keep?” Jarvik set his scabbarded sword on a large rock and shucked his boots and breeches.
Magnus had already shed his shoes and clothes. “Aye. But Deidra will not leave until her new pet is healed.”
Jarvik grinned before diving into a cresting wave. Deidra had befriended a wounded seal much to Magnus’s dismay. It had not been easy building a sheltered pool fed by the sea so the injured creature could be nursed.
He broke the surface of the water and rolled onto his back. Though the sun shone brightly and the days were still long, the sea held the chill of portending winter.
“Njal should arrive today.” Magnus treaded water next to him. “’Twill be a relief to know that the treaty has been signed.”
“Aye.” Jarvik began paddling to the shore. “Though I fear we will have only a few seasons of peace. Already war has torn apart the Norse kingdom. There will be many seeking new lands. ’Tis a relief to have Torsten here with us and Njal’s scheming has been fruitful.” His feet touched sand, and he stood.
Magnus had long been walking through the surf. He squeezed Jarvik’s uninjured shoulder. “What better position could we all be in if war comes? Our lands back each other’s. What coastline there is easily defended from invasion. Valan the Viper’s lands ride our borders and he will not take arms against us.”
“Nay, not with Deidra’s twin as his wife. How you can tell one twin from the other I know not. But, ’tis the same with Brom and Rob. They fool us all the time, but Ainslin and Torsten know who is who immediately.”
Magnus lay on the flat portion of a boulder. “Mayhap ’tis love that makes the differences obvious.”
“Ne’er thought I that I would hear you speak of love.” Jarvik sat on the same rock and lifted his face to the sun. “Speak you of it easily with Deidra?”
“Aye. Though I will nay speak of it more with you.” Magnus had always been the silent one, but Deidra coaxed words from him constantly.
Jarvik would have the words from Elaina soon.
“Though I will tell you what your wife told Deidra when we arrived.” Magnus rose on his forearms, and shot him a crooked grin. “She said that she had not just discovered she loved the knave to lose him to such a small wound.”
Jarvik’s heart sang and the blood in his veins rang with elation. He had the need to repay Magnus for such wondrous tidings. Elaina loved him. “’Tis not easy for me to tell you, but I found your wife crying this morn.”
Magnus leapt off the rock. “When this morn? What madness prevented you from saying so before?”
Jarvik shrugged. “She made me promise not to tell you. And truly, she assured me ’twas naught.”
“Naught! Naught!” Magnus dressed as he roared. “And what if I had found Elaina crying? You are indeed an oaf and a lout!”
Oaf, lout.
The words brought back memories of Elaina and the pond. Lord Patrick had made cert all knew of Jarvik’s first meeting with Elaina in the pond and had managed to spin the tale so Jarvik looked a court jester. But, Jarvik had had his revenge. For he and Garek had scattered dried nettle leaves on Patrick’s pallet. Messengers from
Laufsblað Fj
ë
llóttr
had detailed the lord’s sufferings, and Magnus had read them to Jarvik during the long days he’d lain in bed.