Chapter Ten

Birmingham

Seven days later

Caledonia had traveled this route many a time, but never like this.

Never like this.

When she had been quite young, she had traveled this road from Edingale to London with her family because of the London properties they held. Her father tended to like London in the spring and also in the autumn because the weather tended to be good. Summer in London was a sticky affair, with the humidity rising off the river that flowed gently through the city, and winters could be particularly brutal. Her father liked his own hearth and his own bed at Edingale during the winters because he was a man of creature comforts as he grew older.

Caledonia remembered traveling with her parents between London and Tamworth, never particularly exciting affairs, but simply something they did from time to time. They passed through a dozen villages that looked the same, with people that looked the same and cottages that were arranged mostly the same way, and none of them had ever stood out in her mind. She considered the route to be unspectacular, and even when she married Robert and they would sometimes travel to London, she still considered the road between Stafford and London to be boring at best.

But this time, it was different.

This time, she was traveling with Thor. He had borrowed a small carriage from the royal livery so that she didn’t have to ride on horseback for several days. Caledonia had only actually ridden in a carriage when she was a child because Robert wouldn’t entertain the thought of providing any comfort for his wife when it came to travel, so as an adult, the only way she’d ever made the journey had been on the back of a horse.

Not this time.

Traveling with someone she actually wanted to be with was a different experience altogether. Somehow, the bumpy road didn’t seem so bumpy and the drab villages didn’t seem so drab. The food that they ate seemed to have more flavor and the daytime passed slowly while the nights passed too quickly. Since their wedding, Caledonia had spent every subsequent evening exploring him as she had on that first night. The day she married him was the day her life completely changed, and something she had once viewed as an unpleasant duty was now something she looked forward to.

Her duty in the bedchamber.

And Thor was the reason.

He really was too good to be true. In her opinion, there wasn’t one thing about him that was imperfect. His manner, his appearance, his character… All of it was perfect as far as she was concerned. And she clearly wasn’t the only one who thought so, because everyone he encountered, and everyone he worked with, seemed to have the highest regard for him. He was well liked by those who knew him, including his own wife, who even now was leaning her head out of the carriage to try to catch a glimpse of him toward the front of the escort. It wasn’t as if he wasn’t straining to catch a glimpse of her, also, because every time she sought him out, he seemed to be looking in her direction.

She waved, and he waved, and all was right in the world.

As this flirtation was going on, day after day, it was also true that Caledonia wasn’t alone in the carriage. Nicola had somehow managed to attach herself to the escort heading to Stafford. As Thor had explained it, he felt that his sister could be a great deal of help, as they had discussed on their wedding night, to the new Lady de Reyne, and Nicola seemed more than willing to accompany her brother and his new wife to their new life. Caledonia had to admit that she was very glad because she genuinely liked Nicola, but it didn’t take her long to figure out that she wasn’t the young woman’s focus.

A certain handsome knight was.

It took Nicola less than a day to confess that her father had given permission for her to marry Darius, but they were not going to announce it until after her sister’s wedding. They didn’t want to steal attention away. But given the fact that Nicola liked to talk, Caledonia suspected that everyone would know about the betrothal well in advance of the sister’s marriage. In fact, all Nicola could talk about was Darius and their wedding—she spoke of where they would live and how they would live, and what names they would give their children. She had her whole life planned out, which Caledonia thought was rather sweet. She had spent an entire week listening to Nicola plan out her future.

It certainly was a different way of life than what she was used to.

Spending so much time with Nicola had taken her back to the days at Prudhoe Castle and her friends that she had been so attached to. That had been a good time in her life, so the memories were pleasant and she was feeling happier than she had been in a very long time. In fact, she could never remember being quite so happy, which was completely foreign to her. But she also knew that she was about to face something at Stafford Castle that she wasn’t sure she was ready to face.

Three little girls who thought she was a monster thanks to a certain nun.

They would be reaching Stafford Castle tomorrow, so tonight was their last night on the road and Thor had called a halt to the escort in Birmingham, which was about a day’s ride south of Stafford. Caledonia knew Birmingham well, because both Stafford and Tamworth conducted their business there, including the bankers, so she was well acquainted with the city. She recommended they stop at Ye Olde Oak, a very old tavern that was quite well known and quite large. It was single-storied, but spread out in a group of cottages with a large common area in the middle where drink and food were served in any weather. It could accommodate many. There was also an enormous barn that had been converted into the tavern’s common room and could easily shelter a few hundred people.

Thor sent Truett ahead to secure chambers for the night while he and Clayne headed back to the carriage where the ladies were riding. Caledonia stuck her head out just in time to see her husband approach.

“We’ll settle in at Birmingham for the night,” Thor said. “I’ve sent True ahead to secure rooms.”

Caledonia smiled up at him as he rode atop his dark brown horse with the gray mane. He was in full battle regalia, from the top of his helmed head to the bottom of his booted feet, a big man bearing big weapons. She recalled seeing him like this the moment they’d met in the darkness at Gomorrah and how frightening he’d been.

Fortunately for them both, she no longer found him frightening these days.

“Have you been to Birmingham often?” she asked.

Thor shook his head. “Nay,” he said. “I think I have only been here twice, and that was passing through.”

Caledonia looked up ahead, shielding her eyes from the afternoon sun. “It has an excellent market on Thursdays,” she said. “And there is a large merchant district. People travel from all over to attend it.”

“Good,” he said. “So shall we.”

She looked at him. “What do you mean?”

He gestured at what she was wearing, yet another borrowed dress from Nicola because her clothing was plain and she wanted to put some thought into her appearance for her new husband. He seemed pleased when she did.

“Because we can purchase fabric for you to have more dresses made,” he said. “Is there a seamstress in town? Mayhap we should pay her a visit.”

Caledonia nodded reluctantly. “There is a seamstress,” she said. “A few that I know of, but…”

She trailed off and he lifted a dark eyebrow. “But what?”

She sighed, looking at her lap. “But the expense of all of this,” she said. “Fine dresses are not inexpensive, angel.”

Angel. She’d gone from calling him Blue Eyes or simply Blue to angel. It wasn’t exactly a term of endearment for a man, but she thought it summed him up perfectly and he wasn’t going to argue with her. He liked hearing her call him by a pet name, something that was a new experience for him. It made him feel special and adored.

Loved, even.

He’d been responding to it for days now.

“We have been over this,” he said patiently. “You cannot go on wearing my sister’s clothing for the rest of your life. More than that, you are my wife. I should like you finely dressed. What you wear is a direct reflection on my ability to provide for you.”

She chuckled softly. She never could hold out long against his wishes. “Very well,” she said. “If you are going to cry about it, I will have some new clothing made.”

“I want to go!” Nicola leaned over, pressing on Caledonia as she looked at her brother. “I want to help pick the fabric.”

Thor turned his head, looking on ahead as Birmingham loomed. “Speak with my wife,” he said. “It is her decision whether or not she wants your help. But do not pester her if she does not.”

“Of course I do,” Caledonia said, smiling at Nicola. “I need your help. I have never had much of an eye for clothing.”

“And jewelry,” Nicola said, knowing her brother could hear her. “The Countess of Tamworth and Stafford should have magnificent jewelry. Darius said that Tamworth is wildly rich and you should look the part, don’t you think? Make my brother buy you jewelry.”

Thor did look at the carriage then. “And I am going to sew your lips shut and make you walk home,” he said. “Do not push her if she does not want to.”

“Who says she does not want to?”

They started to argue, and Caledonia threw up a hand to stop them. “Jewelry would be very nice,” she said to Nicola. Then she looked at Thor. “But I do not wish for you to spend too much. I would not get much use out of coffers full of jewels.”

He flipped up his visor, smiling sweetly. “You should,” he said. “If any woman in England could do them justice, it would be you.”

Caledonia grinned like a silly fool at his compliment before glancing at Nicola. “Is he always like this?” she asked.

Nicola was giggling, too. “Always like what?” she said. “Like a stabbing pain in my backside? But aye, he is always like that. He can get around our mother with sweet words and smiles, just like he does with you.”

Caledonia broke down laughing. “I meant to ask if he is always so kind.”

Nicola eyed her brother, who was smirking at her, waiting for a typical sister’s answer when it came to a brother.

“Aye,” she said begrudgingly. “He is always so kind. I have several brothers, you see. Brian is the eldest and he looks like Thor, except that he had an accident several years ago, so he walks with a limp. He does not fight. Did Thor tell you that?”

Caledonia shook her head, looking at Thor. “Nay,” she said. “We’ve not spoken much about his siblings, so I did not know.”

“Brian can still fight,” Thor said. “He broke his leg in battle and it never healed correctly. He is not agile in a fight, but he is an excellent commander.”

“And this is your twin?” Caledonia asked.

“Aye,” Thor said. “My mother said that I was holding on to Brian’s foot when we were born. It is only by fate that he was born first.”

“If you were holding on to his foot, it seems that you were trying to hold him back.”

Thor snorted. “Probably,” he said. “But he is my brother. I adore him.”

“We have other brothers, too,” Nicola said. “Taite serves with the de Winters of Narborough Castle, but John and Hart serve at Ashington with our father.”

“You have five brothers?” Caledonia asked.

“Six,” Nicola said. “Keats is the youngest brother and is a trainer at Kenilworth Castle. He is Blackchurch trained, like Thor and Taite, and commands a high price as a trainer. Papa is very proud of him.”

Caledonia looked at her curiously. “Blackchurch?” she repeated. “I do not know what that is.”

“A training guild for elite knights,” Thor said. “They only train the best of the best. I was trained there along with Taite and Keats, but John and Hart did not make it. Brian’s injury prevented him from the intense training of Blackchurch.”

“What do you mean, John and Hart did not make it?”

“They failed. If you fail at Blackchurch, they banish you.”

“Is it terribly difficult?”

Thor nodded. “Blackchurch knights command a very high price because they have been so intensely trained,” he said. “We can withstand anything. We know everything. We can accomplish anything. Why do you think I was so successful as a mercenary?”

On the road ahead, someone was shouting that that took Thor’s attention. Caledonia watched him charge up to the front of the escort, unable to take her eyes off him. She had no idea that, beside her, Nicola was watching her. When she felt Thor’s sister grasp her hand, the spell was broken and she looked at Nicola only to see that the woman was grinning at her.

“I think you are starting to look at my brother the way I look at Darius,” Nicola said.

Caledonia cocked her head. “How is that?”

“You look at him as if you adore him.”

Caledonia’s cheeks flamed in an instant and she lowered her gaze, away from Nicola’s probing eyes. “He… he is one of the only people in my life who has ever been truly kind to me,” she said. “Sometimes I still cannot believe he is real.”

“He is real.”

“And you are not just saying that because he is your brother?”

Nicola giggled. “What would you have me say?” she said. “Do you want to know the truth? I was born when Thor was twenty years of age. I was a very late baby for my parents and my mother told me that I was attached to Thor, even as an infant. Of course, he was training and doing things that knights do, so he was not home a good deal of the time, but when he was, he and I were inseparable. I love all of my brothers, but Thor has always been my favorite. You ask if he is real… He is very real. And very kind. But I will warn you—it takes a good deal to anger him, but when his temper is unleashed, you do not want to be anywhere near him. He is positively terrifying.”

Caledonia tried to catch another glimpse of him. “He has had ample opportunity to become enraged at me, but he has not,” she said. “The man has the patience of a saint.”

“He does,” Nicola agreed. “But he does not for people who cross him. Or his enemies. I have heard my father tell tales of El Martillo.”

“He told me about his life as a mercenary.”

Nicola didn’t reply. She fell silent as Caledonia continued to peer from the window, catching sight of Thor up near the front of the escort in conversation with another knight. But the few moments of silence were broken by Nicola’s soft voice.

“Callie,” she said quietly, “we have spent a week together and I like you a great deal. But the truth is that I do not know you well. I have never seen my brother so happy, so I will say this to you—thank you for making him so. Thank you for bringing joy into his life because he deserves it. I pray that the two of you always know this happiness. But I swear, by all that his holy, if you betray him or hurt him in any way, I will kill you myself.”

Caledonia looked at her, sharply, only to see that she was completely serious. It was a hard expression, something Caledonia had never seen on Nicola’s face before. Rather than become offended by her statement, however, she was touched by it. She knew it was from the heart, from a sister who loved her brother, so she took it very seriously.

“I have made mistakes in my life,” she said softly. “I have not been as kind as I could have been, or attentive, or even thoughtful. You know that my life has been… difficult, and I will not explain things to you again, but suffice it to say that I would not knowingly hurt Thor. Not when he has shown me a side to life that I did not know to exist. I will always try to make him happy, I promise. I hope you believe me, because it is true.”

Nicola smiled weakly. “I believe you,” she said. “But I had to say it. My brother means a good deal to me.”

“And to me.”

“I can tell.”

Caledonia smiled bashfully. “Mayhap you can, but can he?”

Nicola laughed. “Have you not seen the way he looks at you?” she said. “Callie, he is positively smitten. He is probably already in love with you.”

Those words hit Caledonia hard. He is probably already in love with you. No one had ever been in love with her before. To her knowledge, no one had ever loved her before except for Constantine. And maybe her mother.

But no one else.

She wasn’t sure there was anything about her to love.

“How would you know that?” she asked in surprise. “We’ve only known each other a matter of days. How is it possible to know you love someone in so short a time?”

Nicola shrugged. “Think about it,” she said. “Does he fill your every waking thought?”

“Aye.”

“Do you long for the sound of his voice?”

“Aye.”

“Would you do anything for him, anything in the world?”

“Anything he asked and more.”

“Then mayhap you are in love with him, too.”

Caledonia’s eyes widened. That was something that had never occurred to her—and having never been in love, she had no idea what it would feel like. But she did know that her heart skipped a beat when she saw Thor and that she craved the man’s touch. She craved the sight and smell and sound of him. Was it love?

It was certainly something.

She was distracted from her thoughts as Thor rode up to the carriage again, indicating the city up ahead.

“The crowds on the street of the merchants are starting to wane,” he said. “They are planning on closing their shops soon, so if we are going to purchase goods, we must go now.”

With that, he instructed the soldier driving the carriage to pull it forward at a brisk pace. The conversation between them was forgotten while Caledonia and Nicola held on as the carriage lurched over the road, making a right turn into the city. They passed through the gates, and immediately the bustle of the city came into view.

And what a city it was.

Birmingham had big buildings, both businesses and residences, built from classic wattle and daub or the occasional stone. Caledonia felt at home here, a city she’d been in many times. She had good memories here, of going to market with her mother and of the relatively carefree life she led as a child. She remembered Constantine buying her sweets here. Birmingham was one of the few places that didn’t harbor any difficult memories for her, so she wasn’t distressed as the carriage came to a halt and the door opened.

Darius was standing there, smiling at Nicola.

The woman practically jumped into his arms, and Caledonia chuckled as Darius tried to peel Nicola off him for propriety’s sake. She could see Thor standing behind Darius, giving his sister a deeply disapproving expression as Darius was trying desperately to force her to behave properly. But Nicola wasn’t listening to Darius and didn’t care what her brother thought. She ended up winding her arms around Darius’ left arm and sticking to him like glue as he pulled her away from the carriage so Thor could remove Caledonia. When he stepped up to the cab door, Caledonia paused before exiting.

“Should I jump on you like Nica did to Darius?” she asked. “I want to make sure I understand your expectations.”

She was jesting. Thor rolled his eyes. “It would be more appropriate than what she just did,” he said, eyeing his sister unhappily. “Christ, that girl has no sense of decorum at all. You’d think she was the only woman in the world who had ever been betrothed.”

Caledonia grinned. “She is very happy,” she said. “I’ve been listening it to it for seven days now. I can tell you exactly how happy she is.”

“I have no doubt that you can,” Thor said. “But my question would be how happy are you?”

Caledonia’s smile faded as she gazed into those bright blue eyes. “Can you not tell?”

A smile tugged the corners of his mouth. “I never want to assume.”

“You can assume,” she said. “If I do not look happy, then I will tell you plainly. This week with you has been the happiest week of my life. I feel as if I am living in a dream.”

He reached out and took her hand. “No more thoughts of running off to Gomorrah?”

“I cannot even remember the place.”

“Are you sure?”

“I am.”

With a grin, he lifted her hand, kissed it, and tucked it into the crook of his elbow.

Proudly, Thor led his wife through the column, picking up Darius and Nicola as they went. Clayne joined also, leaving Truett in charge of the escort now that the man had returned from securing rooms for the night. As the group headed toward the long but narrow street of the merchants, Clayne began sniffing the air.

“Smell it?” he said. “The roasting meat. The bakers’ ovens are roasting beef for suppers all over the city.”

It wasn’t uncommon for the ovens of the bakers to be used for things other than bread. They roasted meat for families who didn’t have the ovens or facilities to do it, and at this time of day, the ovens were going full steam for families all over the city.

“It smells like venison,” Caledonia said. “Slightly sweet.”

Thor looked at her. “How do you know that?”

“Because I like venison.”

Clayne took up pace on her other side. “It is beef,” he insisted. “I would know that smell anywhere. When I was young, my mother would make a mixture of finely chopped beef, spices, and mushrooms and bake it in a pie. Then she would cover it with gravy. My brothers and I would have to fight my father for it, but I always won. No one beats me when it comes to food.”

He was grinning as he said it, and Thor chimed in. “His mother is my mother’s sister,” he told Caledonia. “His father was a knight sworn to my father, many years ago. A fiercer man you will never meet.”

“Then you are telling me that he is family,” she said seriously.

“He is,” Thor said. “We call him Bully. It is a long story, but suffice it to say that his father is known as Bull and Clayne is just like his father. Little Bull.”

She understood. “And I am free to treat Bully like family?”

Thor suspected she had something in mind from the way she asked the question so he nodded, a smile playing on his lips. “I wish you would.”

With a playful glance at her husband, Caledonia turned her attention to Clayne, who didn’t look anything like her beauteous husband. He was fair, muscular, and short, and he had an aggressive manner about him, so she thought the name Bully suited him. She hadn’t spent much time around him during their journey because he was usually busy carrying out Thor’s commands, but she’d seen enough to know that the man was stubborn, loud, and easy with his laughter.

Truth be told, he reminded her a good deal of Constantine.

“I will make you a wager,” she said to Clayne. “I will bet you that my nose is sharper than yours. It is venison and it is coming from the next street over. Go and see for yourself if you do not believe me.”

Clayne frowned. “Beef!”

“Venison.”

“Go and find out,” Thor told his cousin irritably. “Buy some while you are at it. I am hungry.”

That was enough to send Clayne through the alleyway between the main streets, heading for the bakers and the smell of beef. Or venison. That left Caledonia and Thor, with Nicola and Darius following, on the street of merchants that was quite vast.

It was a small city unto itself.

It was less crowded at this time of day because most people had already done their shopping, so they were able to find a shop that carried fabric. A seamstress was next door and had pre-made garments, loosely basted, to be finished when a lady purchased them. Thor and Nicola were particularly interested in those while Caledonia wasn’t entirely sure about them. She didn’t really know fashion, although Nicola had done her best during their week of travel to educate her. Still, Caledonia hung back, looking at the tables of silk scarves, as Nicola made contact with the merchant.

The pre-made dresses began to come off their pegs.

Beautiful surcoats and complete dresses made from elaborate fabric were laid out on one of the merchant tables. In some cases, the dresses were quite detailed, with different types of fabrics on the bottom of the surcoat than on the top. There were embroidered bodices, silk panels, and brocade skirts. Then there were simpler gowns made from linen or lamb’s wool or fabrics from faraway lands. There were many to choose from, many that Nicola pored over, and Thor eventually brought Caledonia over to the table to look.

“Well?” he said. “Nica has picked these out. Do you like any of them?”

Caledonia was uncomfortable selecting clothing like this. Nicola had spent time at court so she knew what was popular and fashionable, but Caledonia knew nothing.

“They are all very pretty,” she said hesitantly. “It is difficult to choose.”

Nicola held up a ruby-red silk, putting it against Caledonia to see how it would look on her. “This is very pretty,” she said. “Do you like the color, Callie?”

Caledonia looked down at it. The dress was magnificent with gold thread, but it was so unlike anything she ever wore. As she tried to think of something kind to say to Nicola, who was genuinely trying to help, Thor could see her reluctance. She didn’t seem particularly at ease.

“Nica,” he said. “Put that dress aside and find something blue. I like blue.”

As Nicola turned around and went in search of a blue garment, Thor grasped Caledonia by the arm and gently pulled her back over to the scarf table, away from his sister and the merchant as they pawed over the clothing.

“What is wrong?” he asked softly. “Why do you not seem excited about this?”

Caledonia took a deep breath, forcing a smile. “It is not that I am not excited,” she said. “But those dresses…”

“What about them?”

Caledonia was reluctant to say, so she tried to be tactful. “I have never had elaborate dresses like that in my life,” she said. “I am not comfortable dressing like a queen. I am sorry to say that because I know you liked to see me well dressed, but I would much prefer something simpler.”

Thor well remembered what she was wearing when he met her. He knew that all of her clothing was like that, so much so that she’d been borrowing gowns from his sister so she could be more properly dressed. But he’d come to see over the past week that, in spite of her incredible beauty, Caledonia had rather simple tastes. She didn’t like to spend money, didn’t want to wear fine silks or jewelry or even pretty lady’s slippers. She dressed very nearly like a peasant and was happy that way.

He could see that this was going to be a delicate dance with her.

“I would be very happy to find you simple clothing,” he said. “But will you at least honor your husband’s wishes by choosing simple clothing with finer fabrics? Truly, Caledonia, you are far too beautiful to wear broadcloth. You were made for gorgeous clothing and it does my heart good to see you dressed well. Will you at least consider it?”

Caledonia nodded, but reluctantly. “If it will make you happy, I will,” she said. “And I will even select an elaborate gown for those times when the situation calls for it.”

“Good,” he said, kissing her. “Thank you. Would you like me to help you pick them out?”

“Do you want to?”

He shrugged. “To be honest, I know nothing about fine clothing other than whether or not I like the color.”

Caledonia could see, in that moment, that he wasn’t any more comfortable picking out dresses than she was. Probably less so. It must have been emasculating for him to be in the merchant stall, but he was doing it for her, so she took pity on him.

“Go,” she said. “Your sister will help me. Why not go and find your cousin? Make sure he does not cheat by telling me the roasting meat we all smelled was beef and not venison.”

Thor lifted his eyebrows in agreement. “Knowing him, he would try to sew cow hide on the venison just to prove a point.”

“Then you must save my honor.”

He smiled at her, leaning down to kiss her sweetly. “Always,” he whispered.

With a wink, he was gone, heading out of the merchant stall as Caledonia stood there and grinned.

Does he fill your every waking thought?

Do you long for the sound of his voice?

Would you do anything for him, anything in the world?

Those were the questions Nicola had asked of her as the definition of love. They were like listing the symptoms of a disease—did she have all of them? She was fairly certain she did.

And it didn’t distress her in the least.

Still smiling, she turned back to the garments.

*

Darius had beenstanding outside of the merchant stall when Thor emerged, for the man had flatly refused to enter or have anything to do with what he considered women’s duties. Thor left him at the mouth of the stall as a guard for his wife and sister as he headed back the way they’d come. His destination was the street of the bakers because he was quite hungry and, knowing him, Clayne would eat everything and forget to bring him something. Stomach rumbling, he headed down the avenue.

Nearing the end of the street, he happened to glance at the shop on the corner, which was small and cluttered, but in the open window he could see several exotic-looking daggers that were chained together and locked so no one could make off with them. Curious, he went to look at them, seeing that they were all shapes and sizes and clearly not forged in England. As he peered at a particularly large dagger with a metal blade that seemed to be discolored, the merchant came up on the other side of the window.

“Good day, my lord,” he said. “You are inspecting my Levant daggers.”

Thor glanced at him. “Is that where these are from?”

The merchant nodded as he unlocked the chain and pulled the larger dagger free. He handed it carefully to Thor.

“Damascus steel,” he said. “The most prized steel in the known world.”

Thor held it up in the light. The steel of the blade had wavy lines, beautifully mottled. “I’ve heard of it,” he said. “I’ve never seen it, though. Are all of these daggers like this?”

The merchant nodded and handed him another one. “I have four of them,” he said. “I went on a buying trip last year to Paris and Venice and Rome. I found them in Rome along with many ancient treasures. Would you like to see them?”

Thor shook his head. “Not now,” he said. “But I am very interested in the dagger. How much do you want for it?”

“Ten pounds.”

“That is a good deal of money.”

The merchant conceded the point. “It is, but it is an exquisite weapon,” he said. “That steel will cut through anything. It will cut flesh as easily as a knife through butter. Surely a knight such as you would want to have such a magnificent weapon at your side?”

Truthfully, Thor wanted it. Like a child wants a toy, he wanted the dagger. It really was beautiful. As he pondered the extravagant purchase, the merchant reached over to one of his nearby tables and brought forth a box filled with trinkets and jewelry.

“Buy the weapon and I will give you something for your wife,” he said. “You have a wife, do you not? A comely man like you should have a dozen.”

Thor gave him a half-grin. “I do not think my wife would let me,” he said, weakening as the man flashed the jewelry box at him. “What do you have for her?”

The merchant held up a gorgeous gold and citrine necklace. “I got this in Rome along with the daggers,” he said. “I was told that an empress wore this.”

“Lovely.”

“And this,” the merchant said, putting the citrine necklace aside as he picked up another with a long gold chain and what looked like a big jewel at the end of it. “I was told that a Roman Caesar gave this to his wife. It is a blue lapis lazuli and a star has been carved into it. See it? Under the star is the word Uxorious.”

Thor could see the star and the Roman letters. The lapis was surrounded by diamonds, uncut, but the entire necklace was quite beautiful.

“What does Uxorious mean?” he asked.

“It is the Roman word for glorious wife or revered wife,” the merchant said. “Give this to your wife and she will never become angry at you again.”

As Thor took the necklace from the man to inspect it, the merchant dug into the jewelry box again and came up with a gold ring. It had a row of diamonds in it, glistening in the light. There was scrollwork in the gold, making it a truly lovely ring. The merchant held it out to him.

“And this,” he said. “Would your wife like this? It is made for a beautiful woman. Does she not deserve it?”

The man was quite a salesman, and Thor finally snorted, taking the ring and both necklaces from him.

“Give me the dagger, too,” he said. “Ten pounds for everything.”

“Of course, my lord.”

“I need to get away from you before you sell me this entire shop.”

The merchant chuckled and scurried away, returning with a silk-lined box for the jewelry. Thor paid him his money and took his treasures, quite happy with the dagger. It was most impressive. But he was even happier with the jewelry. It wasn’t much, but it was well made and beautiful. He hadn’t thought of buying Caledonia a wedding ring until the merchant produced the gold band, and the necklace—Uxorious—was something he hoped she would like. It summed up how he felt about her, this woman he’d chased down, fought with, drank with, and made love with.

Glorious wife, indeed.

When he gave it to her, she wept.