Page 52 of When the Merchant Met the Orc

I just nod, still whirling. Nate’s schooling is paid for. I hate it, but I also feel immense relief. I can’t possibly accept that gift from Osric. But am I being proud to the detriment of my son if I make Osric take his money back from Ivydowns?

Osric pats my arm and rises. “I’ll see you soon, or I won’t. It’s all right either way. Have a lovely Nocturne, Rychell.”

“You’re too kind by half, Osric.”

He waves and strides off, and I’m left alone on the bench. I stare at the empty spot. Have I ruined my chance to have a safe companion in life, someone to sit with me, to talk with me about business, to share meals with?

I don’t know when he walked up, but I lift my head to see Halvard. His costume antlers bump into one of the floating, flickering dusk hollows. The heat of his body chases the night’s chill away.

“Care to dance?” He holds out one of his huge green hands.

My gaze goes to his muscular thighs; they’re right in front of my face. My mind decides to stop thinking about Osric and instead imagines Halvard’s thighs between mine.

I take a shaky breath and stand. I don’t want to be alone on this bench with my thoughts.

“I can leave you alone if you need space,” Halvard says, dropping his hand. His lips curve into an understanding smile over his tusks.

I envision him leaving and how cold it will be here by myself again. I stand and take his hand.

“I’ll dance.”

His brow furrows as he clasps my fingers. My hand basically disappears into his.

“Does this acceptance mean anything, or are we dancing as friends?”

It’s sensible that he wants clarification, but honestly, I don’t know which end is up right now.

“Can we talk?”

Halvard immediately sits. My hands are still in his as I sit back down. I tell him about how Osric paid for Ivydowns and my mixed emotions about it. He listens without interrupting, so I go on about Osric's business with Grumlin. I don’t mention that paying for Ivydowns was one of my top reasons for considering a marriage to Osric, but I bet Halvard infers that easily. His mind is quick.

“Maybe you’d feel better about the gift if you turned it into a business deal,” Halvard says.

“How?”

“Perhaps you could sign a contract to purchase spices only from him. You could also offer a reference for Osric with regard to his deal with Grumlin.”

My lips tuck up on one side. “You are starting to sound like me. Contracts. Business dealings.”

“That’s the best compliment I’ve ever received.”

I shake my head, and my cheeks heat. “Well, I will need to think about this.”

“Of course. Want to do something thinking while we dance?”

“Actually, I was eyeing the leftover bespelled brooms over there.” I point to two brooms hovering a foot above the cobblestones.

Halvard rubs his hands together. “Oh, now that does sound like more fun than dancing.”

“Think they can handle our size?”

“Tully made them for younglings, but some of the orc lads are as big as me, so I sayyes.”

I chuckle and let me lead me toward the brooms.

Chapter 28

Halvard