Margit Sandemo - The Ice People 10 - Winter Storm

“Dominic,” she whispered weakly. “You’re here!”

“Yes. Didn’t you know that I would be coming?”

She woke up. “Yes, but ...”

How could she have forgotten it? How? Now that was a good question. Goodness, he was ever so handsome! His voice was deep and soft as velvet, his features masculine but still had a gentle expression. His beautiful eyes had a hint of sadness. To her despair, Villemo felt her old shyness towards Dominic return.

“Well, anyway. Welcome Dominic! You’ve grown since I saw you last time!” she exclaimed far too loudly and artificially.

“Yes, Auntie. I’m twenty-one and have lost all my milk teeth,” he lisped like a polite, little boy.

Villemo laughed nervously. “Will you be off again? I mean, how long will you be staying for?”

She had never been able to express herself clearly, let alone intelligently, in his presence.

“I may stay a week, if you can stand me for that long,” he smiled. “Actually, I’m just a courier for Gyldenloeve, Governor at Akershus. But, of course, I wanted to say hello to you all back home.”

Villemo was almost touched when she heard him say “back home.” Dominic had always had strong roots here, just like his dad, Mikael.

He went on, “We heard that there was a famine in this part of Norway and, of course, we were concerned. Mum and Dad send their love.”

Now she had even forgotten to enquire about them! Was there no end to her shame?

“Thank you, how are they doing?”

“Fine, thanks, and thank you for asking.”

“You’re too fast for me,” she said jokingly, twisting and turning and dangling her arms around her like a six-year-old who has been asked to perform in front of the family.

Her one thought was: thank God that he’s only staying for one week! She couldn’t stand his penetrating gaze.

“Well, little Villemo is now a young woman,” he said thoughtfully. “Not bad. Not bad at all!”

“That I’m now grown up?” she replied quickly. “Shouldn’t you be staying at Linden Avenue?”

“So I will. I’m only here to say hello. And afterwards I’ll continue to Elistrand.”

A slight irritation seized her because he had come to Irmelin first of all. But that made sense because Graastensholm was the first place on his route.

“I hear that Tristan’s here on a visit. I’m looking forward to meeting him. After all, he’s the smallest boy in the family.”

“The smallest? He’s almost grown over our heads.”

“Tristan? Unbelievable! Then I suppose you and I can go to your home afterwards? The horse can carry both of us.”

“You make it sound as if I weigh 200 pounds,” she exclaimed angrily. “What’s more, I don’t think I was made to sit on your horse ...”

“Of course, you can always sit on your backside behind me,” he laughed teasingly.

Villemo blushed heavily. It was the thought of sitting in front of him with his arms around her that had made her anxious.

“We’ll see,” she said and turned round. “Irmelin, I came to ask whether you’ll be going to church tomorrow. I thought of joining you.”

Irmelin stared at her in surprise. Villemo wasn’t exactly the most passionate churchgoer. “Yes, of course I will. Shall we meet there?”

“Fine,” nodded Villemo and she carefully avoided saying any more on the matter.

One hour later they rode home to Elistrand. Villemo was grateful to be sitting behind Dominic – this meant that she could avoid his searching gaze. It was as if he knew everything about her, which wasn’t a pleasant thought right now.

They only spoke about superficial matters. Villemo tried not to hold on to him too firmly. Her hands did all sorts of small movements, on the saddle, on the horse, on his cape, and with very light touches around his waist. This made him impatient in the end.

“Sit properly with a firm grip. And stop behaving like a nervous spider! You’d think you were afraid that I might seduce you!”

Villemo blushed again. “Now don’t think that I’m euphoric about sitting so close to you,” she answered, hot-headed.

That made Dominic chuckle. “Dear Villemo, I certainly don’t think that you yearn for me.”

The way he said it made it sound as if he knew what preoccupied her thoughts.

Kaleb greeted Dominic with enthusiasm and regretted that Gabriella wasn’t at home.

“What about Tristan then?” said Dominic. “Where’s he?”

“He’s not at home either,” said Kaleb. “He rode up to the Black Forest to get his woollen peasant’s coat, which he must have forgotten up there.”

“Did he really?” said Villemo sharply. “But I could have gone–”

She fell silent as she saw their inquisitive glances.

“Why should you pay for Tristan’s forgetfulness?” her dad asked.

“No, all I meant was just ... he’s so small.”

“He’s bigger and stronger than you.”

“Well young, then.”

“Honestly, Villemo. You’re not exactly grown up for your age either.”

During the whole conversation, Dominic had watched her amusedly with beaming, penetrating eyes and a smile at the corner of his mouth.

“You’re very much mistaken!” she cried at him as she rushed up the steps.

“Villemo,” bellowed her dad, but she didn’t stop. Kaleb ran after her and reached her by the door to her room. He grabbed her ear.

“Now you come down with me and say that you’re sorry to Dominic,” he hissed between his teeth. “What’s all this nonsense about?”

“Alright, I’ll do as I’m told,” she whispered back in a hiss. “But you mustn’t hold my ear because that’s too humiliating.”

“You’re being appallingly rude at the moment, Villemo,” said Kaleb on his way downstairs. “Can’t you behave a bit better now that I’ve got sole responsibility here?”

“Forgive me, dear Dad,” she said, repenting. “I don’t know why I’m acting this way either.”

They had come down and she humbly asked Dominic to forgive her behaviour. He accepted her apology with a smile, which was so explicitly empathic that she was on the verge of exploding once again.

“I’m leaving to talk to some peasants,” Kaleb said. “But I won’t be long. Can’t you show Dominic the alterations to your room while I’m gone, Villemo?”

“Of course,” she said eagerly.

Kaleb explained to Dominic, “Villemo got the crazy idea that her room was hopelessly old-fashioned, and she has bossed around cabinetmakers and other craftsmen all summer. I let her because craftsmen also need to keep the wolf from the door. But go up and take a look – it’s turned out well, in my opinion.”

Dominic turned towards Villemo. “Yes, if I’m allowed to step into the young lady’s bower.”

“Dominic, if only you’d stop insinuating things. It is a young lady’s bower.”

“I don’t doubt that.”

“Listen to that, Dad!” Villemo exclaimed in despair. “Now he makes it sound as if no nightly suitors would ever wish to take me on!”

Kaleb laughed. “How on earth did you get so outspoken? You didn’t get it from Gabriella or me, at any rate.”

“From Grandma Cecilie,” Villemo said quickly. “And, so they say, from Sol, the witch.”

“Heaven forbid,” shuddered Kaleb. “We’ll meet later. Offer Dominic something to eat, Villemo!”

“No, thank you,” Dominic said. “I’ve done nothing but eat ever since I came. If things continue like this, my horse will protest on the way home.”

Villemo proudly showed Dominic her room. Elistrand was designed according to Alexander Paladin’s instructions and without sparing anything. It was kept in baroque style, which suited Alexander the most, with solid carvings in the banister, heavy furniture and chubby cherubim floating under the ceiling.