To Tempt A Viking by Michelle Willingham Page A

‘It’s a way I can be useful.’ She began sweeping out the old rushes and he helped her put the house back in order. When it was done, she washed the wooden cups and put them away.
    ‘There, now. That’s much better, isn’t it?’
    It was, even if he was certain his father would beat him for it. No one was supposed to touch the house or her things, like the broom. Seeing the clean interior made him remember the way his mother used to scrub the table and put out bundles of fragrant herbs upon his pillow at night. Ragnar’s eyes stung, but he bit back the pain of loss.
    ‘Will you come and walk with me?’ Elena asked, holding out her hand. ‘You shouldn’t stay inside on a day like this.’
    Her gesture was innocent, as though it were nothing to hold his hand. But when he moved in closer, he felt his throat closing up with no words to say. Her hair smelled like the herbs his mother had used—sage and rosemary—and the idea of holding her hand was too awkward to consider.
    Instead, he walked beside her, pretending as if he hadn’t seen the gesture. Outside, the sun was bright and he shielded his eyes. It was midsummer and the days were still long.
    ‘Where are we going?’ he asked.
    ‘To my parents’ house,’ she explained. Before he could repeat his protest, she put up a hand. ‘You’ve gotten too thin since your mother died and it’s not right.’
    ‘Elena, I can’t go. Not like this.’ He’d been living in dirt for weeks and the idea of entering her father’s house was impossible. Even if Ragnar scrubbed himself clean, her suggestion made him uncomfortable. Although his father was a freeman, Olaf had been little more than a farmer.
    ‘Are we friends or not?’ she demanded. ‘Because I always thought that friends should look after each other.’
    He didn’t know how to argue with that, without offending her. Friends should, ja , but this was more than that.
    ‘I want you to follow me,’ she insisted. ‘There’s someone else who will come with us.’
    She smiled at him and the warmth in her eyes caught him like a physical blow. Girls hardly ever paid him any attention at all. This was the first time one had singled him out, sympathising with his plight. He fumbled through the words caught in his throat, wanting to say something. Anything.
    Instead, he took her hand in his for the first time. The touch of her soft palm made his heartbeat quicken. Her hand squeezed his and when her smile didn’t fade, he dared to hope.
    Elena had come to him, offering him food. She wanted to bring him to her father’s table. Did that mean that she didn’t consider him beneath her? He straightened, wondering if this meant more than he thought. Was there another reason why she wanted him to dine with her family? He squeezed her hand in return, wishing he dared to do more than that.
    He’d never kissed a maiden and of all the girls he’d seen, Elena was the one who entranced him. Her mouth had a full upper lip that sometimes tightened when she was thinking.
    Before she could lead him further, he stopped walking. ‘Why do you want me to go to your parents’ house, Elena?’
    She shrugged. ‘I thought you might want to share a meal with us, that’s all.’
    He studied her, still suspicious that there was another reason. Elena took a deep breath and eyed him, adjusting her braid over one shoulder and pushing back a few stray hairs behind her ears. ‘Do I look all right?’
    ‘You always do,’ he said, then immediately wanted to take back the words. He should have told her she was beautiful. The prettiest girl he’d ever seen. Anything but the awkward words that had spilled out.
    She didn’t appear to notice, but said, ‘Good. Wait here.’
    Mystified, he obeyed, until he saw her walk over to Styr’s house. She knocked upon the door, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. Then she nervously touched her hair again.
    When his best friend came to the door, he saw the flush come over her face. Her