Ragna was wary about this, but in the end, not deeply anxious. She knew how Wilwulf felt about her and she was confident she could hold and keep his love. If she wanted to spend every night in his bed she would do so, and she would make sure he was happy about it.

She turned her steps toward the last of the three houses.

“That’s Wigelm’s place,” Gytha said, but this time she did not try to stop Ragna entering.

The interior of Wigelm’s home had a temporary look, and Ragna supposed he spent a lot of time at Combe, the town of which he was lord. But he was here now, sitting with three other young men around a jug of ale, throwing dice and betting silver pennies. He stood up when he saw Ragna. “Come in, come in,” he said. “The house suddenly seems warmer.”

She immediately regretted entering, but she was not willing to retreat hastily, as if scared. She was making a point of her right to go anywhere. She ignored Wigelm’s banter and said: “Aren’t you married?”

“My wife is at Combe, supervising the rebuilding of our home there after the Viking raid. But she will be here for your wedding.”

“What’s her name?”

“Mildburh, called Milly for short.”

“I look forward to meeting her.”

Wigelm came closer and lowered his voice to a more intimate tone. “Will you sit down and share a cup of ale with me? We’ll teach you to play at dice if you like.”

“Not today.”

Casually, he put his hands on her breasts and squeezed. “My, they really are big, aren’t they?”

Cat made an indignant noise.

Ragna stepped back and pushed his hands away. “But they’re not for you,” she said.

“I’m just checking the goods before my brother buys them.” He shot an arch look at his pals, and on cue, they burst out laughing.

Ragna glanced at Gytha and saw the trace of a smirk on her lips.

Ragna said: “Next time the Vikings raid, I hope you brave men will be there to meet them.”

Wigelm was silenced, unable to work out whether that was a compliment or a curse.

Ragna took the opportunity to make her exit.

A man could be fined for touching the breast of a woman, but Ragna was not going to make a court case out of the incident. However, she vowed to find a way to punish Wigelm.

Outside, she turned to Gytha and said: “So, Wilf has prepared a house for me?”

Her phrasing was deliberate. It was Wilwulf’s responsibility to make sure she was comfortable. He had probably left it to Gytha to make the arrangements, but Ragna would complain to him if dissatisfied, not Gytha, and she wanted Gytha to understand that from the start.

“This way,” said Gytha.

Next to Wigelm’s home was a cheaper house with draughty wattle-and-daub walls. Gytha walked in and Ragna followed.

It was adequately furnished, with a bed, a table with benches, several chests, and plenty of wooden cups and bowls. There was a stack of firewood by the hearth and a barrel that presumably contained ale. The place lacked any touch of luxury.