He smiled, her knowing innocence filling his heart. He traced his fingers over her thighs. “And I you. We belong to each other now.”
She smiled and made a noise that sounded like a kitten purring.
He rose from the bed. He wet a linen cloth with water from the ewer and brought it to her, aware that she watched him. His wife’s unabashed interest in his naked body elated him. “This will be cold,” he said as he gently wiped the blood from her thighs and her woman’s cleft.
“But your touch warms me,” she murmured, holding out her hand. “Give me the cloth so I may cleanse you now.”
He lay back and gazed at the rafters, clasping his hands behind his head as she washed him. Despite his best efforts to remain unaffected, his pik soon stood erect. Through half-lidded eyes he saw a grin on his wife’s face. “My mother described how a man’s shaft grew, but I never fully understood what she meant, until now. You want me again!” she laughed.
He sat up quickly, overwhelmed with joy at his good fortune in finding this unusual woman. The years ahead held the promise of great love and intimate physical fulfillment. He took her into his embrace. “I have only to look at you to want you,” he breathed.
“Me too,” she replied.
She leaned away from him and brushed her thumbs over his nipples, sending more blood rushing to his loins. “I remember the first time I saw you. I had never seen such a broad chest!”
He feigned indignation, clamping his hands around her wrists. “And how many men’s chests had you seen before, young lady?”
Her sky-blue eyes sparkled with mischief. “Many,” she lied.
He bent to swirl his tongue over her pouting nipples. “You lie, but I speak truly when I say that I have seen many women’s breasts, but nothing prepared me for the sight of your magnificent globes when I first discovered you were not a boy!”
She snorted. “I can well imagine! Hmmm! Many women, you say? You will have to be punished for that.”
She quickly came to her knees and tickled him, digging her fingers into his ribs.
He was lost. Soon their cries of fulfillment echoed once more around the chamber.
EPILOGUE
A brisk wind gusted across the jetty, lifting Ragna’s unbound hair. She handed a carefully wrapped bundle to Dieter. She was relieved to honour her mother’s wishes, but would miss having the dagger as her talisman. “Tell Blythe I send all my love with this gift.”
Reider tightened his grip on her waist. “Not all. Most of it is staying here with me.”
Everyone chuckled, easing some of the uncomfortable sadness of the farewell. Dieter was the first to speak. “Blythe will be disappointed not to see you, but will be elated to have the dagger and know you are happily wed. Perhaps someday soon you will both journey to Wolfenberg?”
He tucked the package away safely in a carved sea chest Reider had given him as a token of thanks for Ragna’s rescue. He embraced Ragna and shook Reider’s hand, then boarded Captain Ivar’s vessel for the journey back to Hamburg.
Ivar bellowed orders to his crew, removed his woollen cap and bowed. Reider helped shove the boat off. Ragna’s heart pounded loudly at the sight of the bulging muscles of her husband’s thighs and broad back. It pulsed in her throat, making it difficult to catch her breath. This beautiful man was hers. She had already learned a lot about his body, what pleased him, but her mouth watered at the promise of undiscovered delights. There were some things in her mother’s arsenal she had not tried yet!
The boat slipped away, the wind readily filling the sails once it cleared the dock. The newly-weds raised their hands in salute until the knarr was out of sight, Reider’s free arm around her shoulder. He turned her to face him, his hands on her waist. “You are alone now with your wicked Viking.”
She pretended to shudder, then smiled. “I’m not afraid, and I have Thor.”
He frowned, brushing his lips on hers. “Sometimes you are more afraid than you want anyone to see.”
She felt her face redden. “You know me too well. I am a little afraid.”
He pulled her into his embrace. “Fear can be a good thing, Ragna. You and I are embarking on a voyage full of unknowns. Life is like the sea, and our love is the boat. It won’t always be smooth sailing, but love will keep us afloat in troubled waters. We have witnessed that life can be full of unpleasant surprises, and have much to learn from each other. With Freyja’s blessings we’ll live an untroubled life here on Strand and sire many healthy children. But we will travel. To England, to Saxony. Vikings love to wander far and wide.”
She snuggled into him, relishing the warmth of his big body seeping into her. “I am your lady, Reider, until the rivers all run dry.”
He kissed her forehead. “And I am your man until the stars no longer shine.”
~~~
HISTORICAL POSTSCRIPT
The Danish island of Strand covered approximately 210 square miles prior to 1634. That fateful year, a disastrous storm tide tore the island apart. 6000 people drowned. Perhaps some of them were descendants of Reider and Ragna Torfinnsen.
One island became three, Nordstrand, Pellworm and Hallegin.
Nordstrand today is a peninsula, linked to the mainland by the Beltringerharder, a polder of land reclaimed from the sea. All three islands now belong to Germany.
Thank you for reading Wild Viking Princess. If you enjoyed this book, I would appreciate your help in having others enjoy it too. Recommend it to friends, readers’ groups and discussion boards. Tweet about it. Review it. Please tell other readers why you liked this book by reviewing it at the following websites: Amazon and Goodreads. Some readers have kindly told me they couldn’t put my books down, often reading until well past their bedtime. My goal in a nutshell!
If you would like to learn more about Ragna’s sister, Blythe and how she met Dieter, you’ll enjoy Carried Away.
Ragna’s brother Aidan does indeed know a lot about collecting honey and making mead, but he learned the hard way. Sweet Taste of Love is his story.
You’ll perhaps agree that Ragna and her siblings are children to be proud of. Enjoy their parents’ love story in A Man of Value.
LATEST RELEASE
He is a warrior stricken by a crippling affliction; she is the daughter of a king.
Where there is great love, there are always miracles
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anna Markland is a Canadian author who writes medieval romance about family honour, ancestry and roots. Her novels are intimate love stories full of passion and adventure. Following a successful career in teaching, Anna transformed her love of writing and history into engaging works of fiction. One of the things she enjoys most about writing historical romance is the in-depth research required to provide the reader with an authentic medieval experience.
Born in England, Anna has lived most of her life in Canada. Besides creating intimate stories that revolve around the lives and loves of her characters, her other passion is genealogy, and she has written histories of many of the families she has researched. This has had a big influence on her fiction writing.
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GLOSSARY
A complete glossary for Ms. Markland’s novels.
CP=Conquering Passion (Montbryce Legacy, Book I) © Anna Markland 2011
AMOV=A Man of Value (Montbryce Legacy, Book II) © Anna Markland 2011
ILDE=If Love Dares Enough (Montbryce Legacy, Book III) © Anna Markland 2012
PIB=Passion in the Blood (Montbryce Legacy, Book IV) © Anna Markland 2012
DP=Defiant Passion (Sons of Rhodri, Book I) © Anna Markland 2012
DB=Dark and Bright (Sons of Rhodri, Book II) © Anna Markland 2012
WTH=The Winds of th
e Heavens (Sons of Rhodri, Book III) © Anna Markland 2012
CA=Carried Away (FitzRam Family, Book I) © Anna Markland 2012
STL=Sweet Taste of Love (FitzRam Family, Book II) © Anna Markland 2012
WVP=Wild Viking Princess (FitzRam Family, book III) © Anna Markland 2012
Abbaye aux Dames—An abbey for women built in Caen by William the Conqueror ILDE, PIB
Abbaye aux Hommes—An abbey for men built in Caen by William the Conqueror ILDE, PIB
Abbey—Agneta’s mare in AMOV
Abbot—Caedmon’s roan stallion in AMOV
Adam de Montbryce—Son of Antoine and Sybilla PIB
Adelaide—Daughter of King Henry I; married Holy Roman Emperor, Henry V CA
Aediva Melton—Sister of the Saxon heroine in ILDE
Agnes—Norman scullery maid at Domfort Castle in ILDE
Agneta Kirkthwaite—English Heroine of Danish and Saxon descent in AMOV
Aidan Branton FitzRam—Son of Caedmon and Agneta, twin of Blythe; named for Agneta’s brothers who were slain at Bolton. AMOV, CA; hero of STL
Alexandre de Montbryce—Eldest son of Robert and Dorianne. Heir to the title Comte de Montbryce. Born in Caen during his father’s incarceration PIB
Alnwick—Located in Northumbria. Site of a battle in 1093 between Roger de Mowbray, Earl of Northumbria, and Malcolm, King of Scotland. Malcolm and his son were killed. Agneta rescues Caedmon from the battlefield and tends his injuries. AMOV
Andras ap Rhys—Welshman—Friend and comrade of Rhodri ap Owain in CP and DP
Aneurin ap Norweg—Welshman—Friend and comrade of Rhodri ap Owain in CP and DP
Angeline Hugo—Norman peasant, rape victim of Arnulf de Valtesse CP
Anjou—Geographic area of France south of Normandy. Its people are called Angevins. Normans and Angevins were traditional enemies. ILDE
Anna—Dieter’s housekeeper, CA
Annalise de Vymont—Heroine of DB. Niece of the Earl of Chester.
Antoine de Montbryce—Norman hero of ILDE; brother of Rambaud and Hugh
ap Owain—Welsh patronymic—son of Owain
Arnulf de Valtesse—Norman half brother of Mabelle de Montbryce, heroine of CP. Bastard son of Guillaume de Valtesse. Murdered in CP by Simon Hugo
Ascha (Bronson) Woolgar—Saxon mother of Caedmon; in CP and AMOV
Barat Cormant—Norman steward brought to England by the Montbryces for Sussex properties; ILDE; son of Michel, brother of Théo.
Baudoin de Montbryce—Norman born in England; second son of Ram and Mabelle de Montbryce; becomes 2nd Earl of Ellesmere; marries Carys verch Rhodri; appears in CP, AMOV, DP and PIB.
Beal—coastal village in Northumbria close to Holy Island STL
Bemia Melton—Saxon sister of heroine of ILDE
Bernard Chauvelin—Norman soldier at Montbryce Castle PIB
Bernard de Montbryce—Father of Ram, Antoine and Hugh. Dies in 1066 while his sons are fighting in England.
Bernhardt—Dieter’s valet, CA
Bileaud—Norman steward at Domfort Castle ILDE
Blythe Lacey FitzRam—Daughter of Caedmon and Agneta, twin of Aidan. Born in AMOV. Heroine of CA
Boden—English mastiff in ILDE
Bolton—Village in Northumbria; location of Kirkthwaite Hall
Bonhomme—Normans; family name of the stewards of Montbryce and Ellesmere.
Brigantia—English mastiff in ILDE
Brindis—Ram de Montbryce’s horse in CP
Brother Christian—religious name given to Aidan when he enters the monastery STL
Brother Tristan—Cellarer in charge of mead making at Lindisfarne STL
Caedmon Brice (Woolgar) FitzRam—Illegitimate son of Ram de Montbryce and Ascha Woolgar. Appears in CP, PIB & CA; hero of AMOV
Caryl Penarth—Welsh healer; appears in CP and DP
Carys verch Rhodri—Welsh; healer; daughter of Rhodri and wife of Baudoin de Montbryce. Becomes 2nd Countess of Ellesmere. Appears in PIB, DP and DB
Catherine de Montbryce—Daughter of Robert and Dorianne PIB
Commote—A Welsh area of administration, similar to a county.
Cormant—Normans; family name of stewards at Alensonne in CP and at East Preston in ILDE
Coventina Brightmore—Saxon; friend of hero and heroine in AMOV; marries Leofric Deacon
Curia regis—Latin for King’s Court ILDE
Dagfinn Alfredsen…Dane; ally of Reider in WVP
Dagfrid—Dane; cousin of Kjartan in WVP
Dda—Welsh surname of Rhonwen and Myfanwy; CP and DP and DB
de Valtesse—Maiden surname of heroine of CP
Denis de Sancerre—Angevin; son of Sybilla and adopted son of Antoine de Montbryce; dwarf ILDE & PIB
Devona Melton—Saxon; heroine of ILDE; marries Hugh de Montbryce
Dieter Von Wolfenberg—German hero of CA; marries Blythe FitzRam; appears in WVP
Dorianne de Giroux—Norman heroine of PIB; marries Robert de Montbryce
Earl of Chester—Hugh d’Avranches. Historical figure. Known by the Welsh as Hugh Vras (the Fat) PIB, DB
Edgar the Aetheling—Saxon; historical figure. Claimant to throne of England taken by William the Conqueror. Aetheling is a Saxon term for “next in line”; appears in CP and AMOV
Edwin FitzRam—English; brother of Blythe, Aidan and Ragna; son of Caedmon and Agneta STL
Elenor de Giroux—Norman; mother of Dorianne de Giroux; wife of Francois. PIB
Ellesmere—Location of castle given to Ram as a reward by William the Conqueror. Ram and Mabelle eventually turn a derelict Anglo-Saxon earthwork into a vibrant, thriving castle.
Emrys—Cook at llys Powwydd. DB
Enid—Saxon maid of Ascha Woolgar. CP & AMOV
Espérance—Cat who brings solace to Robert de Montbryce during his solitary confinement. The word means ‘hope’. PIB
Etienne Robert de Montbryce—Second son of Baudoin and Carys; DB,STL
Fernand Bonhomme—Norman; second generation of his family to be steward of Montbryce Castle. Father of Mathieu and Honore. Married to Vangeline.
FitzRam—Norman patronymic surname bestowed on Caedmon by Ram. AMOV
Fleurie Mabelle de Montbryce—Daughter of Baudoin and Carys. Her mother almost dies giving birth to her. DB
Fortis—Black stallion; Ram’s favourite mount; saves his life at Hastings CP
François de Giroux—Norman father of Dorianne and Pierre de Giroux PIB; sworn enemy of the Montbryces ILDE
Frederika—Dieter’s first wife, CA
Freyja—Norse goddess of fertility;WVP
Gallien Rambaud de Montbryce—Eldest son of Baudoin and Carys DB, STL
Gareth Bronson—Saxon brother of Ascha Woolgar; takes Ascha to Scotland. CP & AMOV
Gawain Bronson—Saxon nephew of Ascha Woolgar; CP & AMOV
Gervais—Norman soldier; Ram’s second in command; CP & DP
Gerwint Isembart de Montbryce (Izzy)—Second son of Hugh and Devona. Named for his grandfather and great grandfather, and the rat catcher, Joubert. Prefers to be called Izzy.PIB
Gerwint Melton—ILDE Saxon grandfather of heroine
Gicotte—Norman soldier at Montbryce Castle; PIB
Giroux—Norman surname of the family sworn to avenge Guillaume de Valtesse's cruelty to their ancestor; CP, ILDE & PIB
Giselle—Norman maidservant who accompanies Mabelle to England and becomes chatelaine of Ellesmere; kidnapped with Mabelle; CP
Glain verch Llewelyn—Welsh bonesetter in DB
Gorm…villain of WVP; step brother of Reider
Grouchet—Anglo-Norman baron, villain of STL
Guillaume de Valtesse—Norman father of Mabelle; his cruelty begins the feud between the Valtesses and the Giroux family; CP
Hastings—Site in Southern England of a historic battle in 1066 that changed the history of England and Normandy CP
Heinrich—Historical figure; Holy Roman Emperor; CA
Hel—Norse word for Hell WVP
; Hélène de Fleury—Norman wife of friend of Montbryce brothers killed at Hastings. CP
Hugh de Montbryce—Norman-virgin hero of ILDE; brother of Antoine and Ram CP, PIB
Husembro—hidden cove on Danish coast WVP
Hylda—Christian name of Mabelle’s mother, purported to have been strangled by her husband, Mabelle’s father.
Hylda Rhonwen de Montbryce (Rhoni)—Daughter of Ram and Mabelle born in captivity in Wales; CP, AMOV
Ingram Maknab—Scot; son of Neyll. STL
Isembart Joubert—Rat catcher from Montbryce; instrumental in saving the lives of Hugh and Devona; ILDE
Isolda verch Llewelyn—Welsh healer, heroine of WTH
Ivar Sigurdsen—Dane; captain in WVP
Jennet—Northumbrian peasant woman STL
Johann Dieter Marius von Wolfenberg—Dieter’s son by his first marriage, CA
Joleyne—Norman mistress of Ram de Montbryce before he meets Mabelle; CP
King Harald Hardråda of Norway—Historical figure; pretender to the English throne; killed by King Harold’s army at Stamford Bridge; CP
King Harold II of England—Historical figure; Saxon brother-in-law of Edward the Confessor. Claimed the throne on Edward’s death; slain at Hastings by the Conqueror’s army; CP
King Henry I—Norman king of England; son of William the Conqueror; known as Henry Beauclerc; succeeded his brother William Rufus on the throne. Historical figure; PIB
King Malcolm Canmore of Scotland—Historical figure. CP & AMOV
King William I of England—William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandie. CP, ILDE; historical figure
King William Rufus—William II of England; son of the Conqueror; AMOV; historical figure
Kirkthwaite—Surname of Agneta’s family AMOV
Kirkthwaite Hall—Ancestral home of Agneta’s family, destroyed in a raid by the Scots AMOV
Kjartan Eldarsen…Danish…comrade of Reider in WVP