Captive Heart Read Online Free

been injured. She was probably only fooling herself, she realized suddenly; regardless of the extent of his injuries he would be a Viking still, so what chance was there his heart would be a kind one? Pushing her mistress away gently, Celiese turned their conversation to the practical aspects of their plan. “We must prepare identical gowns, Olgrethe. If your father sees you clearly the morning of the journey to the Vandahls’ home, he will not think it odd that we cover our heads in his ship. The wind would disturb you greatly, and you would not want to appear in front of his crew in full view.” Celiese smiled slyly as she saw her mistress nod with approval. “We can trade places at the last possible moment. I will wear a veil for the ceremony, and it will be too late by the time your father realizes what we have done—I will be Mylan’s bride by then, and he will never tell his enemy he has been tricked so completely. He will have to keep the secret as well as we do, for his own reputation will be at stake.”
    “Yes, that is the perfect plan.” Olgrethe was so delighted to avoid such a disastrous marriage that she would have agreed to anything. “I will go to Helga’s for a while, for a long visit, and if ever I do decide to marry people can be told my father had two daughters rather than only one, and none will dare dispute him!”
    “That is true!” Celiese hugged Olgrethe this time, certain their plan would save both of them from fates they would not freely have chosen. They made their preparations carefully, considering each and every detail, every aspect of the deception, and they were far too clever to miss any necessary step. Olgrethe would be expected to be attended by her own maid for her wedding, but then she would simply send the servant back to her father’s home when the guests departed, and then it would be Celiese who had wed Mylan and Olgrethe who returned to the home of the Torgvalds. They hoped that all would go well for both of them. Then one afternoon Olgrethe was summoned and told she was to become the bride of Aldred’s eldest son, but that she would be sent to his home alone, without the company of her slave. She accepted her father’s order demurely and returned to her room to give Celiese the startling news.
    “He says you must be left behind, Celiese. He gave me no reason for his decision—as if I would not know it!”
    “Then we will simply change places before the voyage rather than after. Our original plan will still work for us,” Celiese insisted, certain it was far too late to change their minds about so important a matter now. “You will wear my cloak and I’ll wear yours when I bid you good-bye. Surely the confusion at the beginning of such a voyage will make the switch easy to effect.”
    Badly frightened, Olgrethe clung to her friend. “It must, it simply must, Celiese, for if we are caught I dare not even imagine what my father will do to us!”
    Knowing only too well exactly what Raktor would do to her, Celiese turned their conversation to Olgrethe’s wardrobe, distracting the pretty young woman as well as herself from the fear that gripped them both. They retired early, escaping their fright in dreams, but Celiese was awakened at midnight, lifted from the large bed so quietly that Olgrethe did not stir as her faithful maid was carried away. Oluf’s hold did not slacken; he held Celiese firmly, his right hand over her mouth to silence her screams as he shoved her inside Raktor’s room.
    “You must not be so rough with the girl; we want no bruises marring her lovely skin when she becomes Mylan’s bride tomorrow,” Raktor said.
    Celiese wiped her lips on the back of her hand, disgusted by the man’s touch. None of Raktor’s sons were kind, but Oluf was not only mean but crude as well. He reeked of beer and his tunic was covered with grease stains from the evening meal. That he’d brought her to his father rather than carrying her straight to his own room