Ragni had her stand by him at the feast while his guests from a nearby settlement were on either side of them. She caught the way their gazes followed her and she felt as though insects were crawling all over her. She felt bare and vulnerable in her elegant gown. Much like she had with Thorarin. She glanced at the empty seat. What could he be doing? She should never have allowed him to touch her, not a man like him. Aye, he was different. He had kissed her with a gentleness she could never have expected from a Viking. Had even looked at her with something akin to awe. But he had secrets. Why was he spending his time hidden away at the farmstead and what had the cloth across his face been for? She tried to imagine it was to do with his woodwork. To protect him perhaps. But the thought made no sense. A man like Thorarin didn’t need protection after all. It had hidden his features—a disguise, she was sure of it. Whatever his secrets, it was too risky to let him kiss her.
