Anwen took Flora up another flight of curving stairs and entered a room. It was not as big as Torin’s bedchamber, and the bed was smaller, but it was sizeable enough to fit Torin’s bed. The hearth was a decent size and there was room for a small table and a chair or two. Several chests also occupied the dusty room.
“Do you know what the chests contain?” Flora asked.
“Blankets and bedding that probably need cleaning,” Anwen said.
“What was she like?”
Anwen hesitated.
“She was a good woman, but distant,” Torin said.
Both women turned to see him standing in the doorway.
Flora wanted to know more and wisely dismissed Anwen. “Set the servants to cleaning Lord Torin’s chambers.” Once Anwen left, she said, “Tell me about your mum.”
Torin glanced around and from the look in his eyes it seemed to Flora that he was seeing the room for the first time.
“My mum traveled mostly to see her sister, though after she passed my mum traveled no more. She would walk alone in the woods often.” He stopped recalling the time he asked to join her, and she refused his request. He asked twice more after that and was denied both times, he asked no more. “She kept mostly to herself.”
Flora’s heart grew heavy for him. She could not imagine such a distant mum. She and her mum had spent much time together along with her da. Their deaths had devastated her. She had feared she would never be able to continue without them. It took time for her to realize that they would be sorely disappointed in her if she failed to carry on with her life and make the most of what she could of it. Like now, solving this mystery and bringing the keep back to life. She intended to be completely involved with her children as her parents had been with her.
“I will smother my children in hugs and kisses and talk endlessly with them,” she said smiling broadly.
Torin loved when she smiled. It wasn’t only her beauty that captivated him, but her enthusiasm when she spoke. One could not help but be drawn into it.
“Would it trouble you to reside in this bedchamber?” Flora asked. “I believe it might suit us well. It is a good size, more snug than large and your bed should fit here nicely.”
“If you prefer this bedchamber, I have no problem with it.” He truly didn’t and he preferred snug quarters that way he could keep her close. He would not have to close a long distance between them when he watched her disrobe, or when he scooped her up to carry her naked to their bed, and the room would stay warm for when he bent her naked over the edge of the bed and… he shook his head, forcing himself to ignore the delightfully wicked images invading his head. “Have it made ready no later than the end of the week.”
“You wish us to seal our vows here?” she asked.
“What better place for us to show all that we are not afraid of the ghost.”
“I cannot disagree with you on that, but how can you be so sure you will wish to keep me as your wife,” she asked.
“I told you there is no debate on that. You are my wife and will remain so. I but give you time to adjust.”
Flora scrunched her brow, wondering if she had decided the same since her thoughts, she had for her husband’s old room, suggested permanence.
Torin ran his thumb over the wrinkles between her eyes. “What troubles you?”
He touched her with such ease, an intimacy of sorts, and she was reminded of how her da would reach out and tuck stray strands of her mum’s hair behind her ear or stroke her cheek with the back of his hand or rest his cheek to hers to whisper in her ear causing her mum to smile. To Flora those were touches of love and yet her husband showed signs of doing the same. Did he have feelings for her? Or was he trying to find his way with her?
She certainly could not deny that she liked his touch, perhaps he would make her a good husband after all. She was not foolish enough to think she had other options so why had she suggested they wait when she knew there was nothing left for her but marriage to him?
A choice.
She wanted it to be her choice, not something forced on her. But that, unfortunately, was something she would never have.
“Tell me,” Flora,” he said gently when to his surprise she had lingered in silence.
She spoke honestly to him. “My thought was similar that this marriage was permanent, my use of your room making me see that.”
“Our marriage is permanent, and I will remind you of that again and again, if necessary, but what use can my old bedchamber be to you that would make you think that?”
“I want a room similar to my da’s study where he would go to record his findings, keep samples of various things of interest or things he felt might prove useful. A place that will help me not only learn about the Highlands but understand the area as well.”
“You have the keep to see to,” he reminded, though seeing how excited she was at the possibility he wanted to grant her request, but he held his tongue. He would not jump into any decision that concerned his wife.