Drifa was appalled, but not by the bathing pool or massage area. “These men could come out at any time and witness what you ... what I ...”
He smiled. “Your modesty is safe, Drifa. Those doors are locked, at my request.”
Thank the gods!
“The men know I am entertaining a lady, but not whom.”
Oh good gods!
“However, Ivar standing guard in the outside corridor might be a clue to some.”
There was naught she could do about that. Ivar would not budge without her, she knew that sure as sin ... the sin she was about to commit.
“This is a good life you have here,” she remarked, sipping at the wine. Unlike Sidroc’s reason for giving her the wine, she needed it for courage. “Are you sure you want to give up all this luxury?”
“For a certainty. Finn and I had a conversation on this very subject recently. Vikings are not meant for such a soft life. It weakens us.”
She nodded her understanding. “My father always says that the coldness of the north hardens a man’s muscles.”
“And other body parts,” he commented dryly.
If circumstances were different, she might have laughed with him.
“Don’t you feel guilty betraying Ianthe?”
“Nice try, Drifa, but you cannot make me feel guilty. Ianthe and I did not have that kind of relationship. In fact, we have none now, except for being friends.” She must have gazed at him doubtfully because he added, “Are you looking for fidelity from me, Drifa?”
“Nay, that is not what I meant.”
As if she hadn’t spoken, he said, “Well, you have it. Yours will be the only bed furs I share until I leave this country.”
“Even Ianthe?”
“Even Ianthe,” he agreed. Then laughed. “Guess who is visiting her this evening?”
“Who?”
“Alrek, your clumsy Viking.”
This was news to her, though she shouldn’t be surprised. Alrek had talked about nothing but Ianthe since the emperor’s feast. “Visiting? Do you mean that in a carnal sense?”
“I doubt it, but not for lack of the young man’s wanting. ’Twould seem he has fallen in love with my former mistress, or so he claims.”
“And how does Ianthe feel about that?”
He shrugged. “Mostly she is amused, I think. He is quite a few years younger than she is.”
“And you don’t care that Ianthe would be with another man so soon?”
“Nay. We are friends and always will be. I wish her joy in her life, wherever it comes from, or whomever it comes from.”
That was amazing to Drifa. I wonder if he will care so little about me once he ends this game of his. Will he discard me like stale ale because, in truth, we are not even friends?
Sidroc sat down on a low bench near the pool, his long legs extended and crossed at the ankles. “Take off your gown, Drifa, so I may see what I have ‘bought.’ ”
And so we begin. “You have not bought me, knave. We are equal in this bargain.”
“Take it off, Drifa.”