Torin raced to her and caught her around the waist to swing her away from the falling bench and out of danger.
His heart beat madly in his chest, having feared he would not reach her in time when she had screamed out his name. Fearful of what she might get into if he let her go, he kept his arm firm around her waist.
“Bloody hell, woman, what were you doing on top of those benches?” he demanded.
“Investigating,” she said as if it was obvious, keeping her hand on his arm, a bit shaky from her near fall.
“Why did you not run with the others when the giant made himself known?” he asked and grew annoyed that his thought was to kiss her, grateful she had not been harmed. What was it about this woman he found so appealing when she had caused him nothing but problems since arriving home?
“It was no giant, no ghost, nothing more than the wind whipping through the Great Hall,” Flora said and pointed to the window. “It is why the shutter broke. The wind tore at it and no doubt served to make the sound appear more like an anguished howl then a simple shot of cold wind.”
Kinnell righted one bench and climbed up on it easily reaching the broken window shutter to examine it. “She could be right about that.”
“It would explain today’s ghostly roar and worth consideration as I continue to investigate,” Flora said.
Kinnell yanked the broken shutter free and smiled. “I will go see this gets repaired.”
“That would be wonderful,” Flora said. “There are other shutters that require repairs as well, but I do not think anyone will return to the keep today. The rest can wait until tomorrow.”
Kinnell chuckled beneath his breath as he left the pair.
“I should fetch my cloak,” Flora said, her husband’s arm still around her waist and her hand still resting upon it.
“I will go with you. Where did you leave it?” Torin dropped his arm from around her with reluctance. He liked the feel of her locked in his arm safe and sound since there was no telling what she might get into. But in his arms, he could keep her protected, keep her safe, keep her his wife.
“Your bedchamber,” she said, catching with curiosity the way his eyes had settled over her in an almost possessive way.
“Ourbedchamber,” he corrected.
“How could it be ours when you have had other women there?” she asked as she headed to the stairs.
He was struck by the way she did not accuse, but instead simply stated a fact, a fact she attempted to make sense of, and he did not know how to respond to her and yet he did, his unexpected words shocking him.
“Would you prefer to choose another bedchamber for us?”
Flora stopped abruptly and turned to him. “I believe that would suit me much better. I can sleep there, and you can remain in your bedchamber until we decide what to do about consummating our vows.”
He took hold of her chin. “You are my wife, and we will not now nor ever sleep in separate beds.”
“I learned that noble husband and wives have separate bedchambers. That is not a practice in the Highlands?” she asked and went right on talking. “My mum and da always shared a bedchamber. I do not recall them ever not sleeping together.”
“My parents did not share a bedchamber. My da had his and my mum had hers. After she gave birth to me, they never slept together again,” he said as they proceeded up the stairs and Torin wondered why he had shared that bit of information about himself with her. How was it that he talked so easily with her when he never did so with any woman?
“They did not love each other?” Flora asked, a sadness creeping in her heart for him. If his da and mum did not love each other, how could their son know and learn what love was like between a husband and wife?
“Nay, there was no love between them,” he said and realized it was the first time he had ever spoken aloud what he knew to be true. In a strange way, he felt relieved to have openly admitted it.
“How very sad for them and for you,” Flora said and felt her husband take hold of her hand as they reached the floor of his bedchamber.
“It is dark, you need to be careful. I will not see you harmed.”
She smiled and leaned against him to say, “You have kept me safe twice now. You are a good husband.”
“And yet you do not obey me,” he scolded though lightly as he entered his bedchamber, tugging her along. He halted once inside, bringing her to a halt as well. “What did you mean by how sad for me that my parents did not love each other?”
She eagerly explained. “How could you learn what love is between a husband and wife if you never got to see it? You only saw indifference between your parents and most likely obedience from your mum since it is something you demand from me. And you certainly never experienced love with the women you have coupled with. Anwen remarked about love being rare and that lust is what most people share and once gone there is nothing left. She is wiser than she knows but then she was lucky to have found love and understands its importance.”
“Every day is a struggle to survive in the Highlands. There is no time to think on such nonsensical things. A wife is needed for many reasons, love being the least of them. “Give me what I need, and I will give you what you need, a husband who can keep you safe and protected.”