“I am glad you are here,” Iona called out as they approached her cottage.
Annoyance poked at Torin. He had hoped his wife would finally share her dream, though more a nightmare, with him, but at least now he knew that she had experienced more than the one he knew about and that they concerned her parents.
“I was with an ill bairn when the incident took place, but Kinnell made sure I learned about it. Do you suffer any pain?” Iona asked.
Torin answered, “Her back.”
“Let me have a look and I will see what can be done,” Iona said and reached out to take Flora’s arm while dismissing Torin with a wave of her hand. “We need no help from you, my lord.”
“Help or not, I will see for myself what she suffers,” Torin ordered to Iona’s surprise.
Iona bobbed her head. “As you wish, my lord.”
Flora’s eyes went wide as soon as she stepped into Iona’s cottage. Crocks sat on tabletops, dried plants hung from the ceiling, and a large mortar and pestle sat on the table in front of the hearth, a bunch of dried leaves lying next to it waiting to be crushed.
A plethora of scents struck Flora’s nose and questions slipped over her tongue eager to be asked. Unfortunately, her husband was quick to stop her.
“Do not think to ask Iona endless questions. You are here for her to see to your care, nothing else,” Torin ordered.
“Another time, Iona,” Flora said.
Iona nodded. “Whenever you wish, my lady. Now tell me what pains you.”
Torin listened to his wife detail her pain and even offer an explanation for it. He then watched as Iona pressed along the areas that Flora pointed out to her. He winced when his wife did as if he felt her pain.
Iona handed a small crock to Torin. “My lady probably suffered a bruise. Rub this on the spot for a couple of days. It will help heal her.”
Torin took it with a nod, thinking about the control he would need when he applied the slave to his wife’s naked skin.
“I took a quick look at the dead man. No bruises. I would say that his life ended quickly without much of a fight,” Iona said.
Torin nodded. “That is good to know.”
Flora waited until they stepped outside to say, “If there was not much of a fight would that mean Walsh caught the man unaware and did not wait to kill him. But why? The only reasonable explanation would be to silence him, which would mean Walsh knew why the man was there in the first place.”
CHAPTER13
Early evening found Torin staring at the crock of salve on the table, though it was more like the crock of salve stared at him, taunting, poking, teasing him. He and Flora had discussed Walsh and the incident while they ate supper. They had also discussed how things were going in the keep and all the while the crock tormented him.
Flora stretched herself off the chair, her arms spreading wide before she winced and reached behind her to rub just above her right hip and winced again. She lowered her arms, yawned, then snatched up the small crock.
Torin sprung forward in his chair. “I can see to that for you.”
“Not necessary. I can do it myself,” Flora said, wanting to be done with it so she could seek the bed and sleep, the day having exhausted her.
All the teasing and tormenting that bloody crock had caused him only to now be disappointed stirred Torin’s ire. He was itching to touch his wife more intimately and the crock had given him the perfect excuse to do so. Though maybe it was better he kept his hands off her for now. He had given her his word and while he thought now and again on tempting her, it always came back to his word. If a man could not stand by his word, then he was not a man. Besides, it was only two days before they moved into the keep. He could wait two days.
Flora removed her tunic, folded it, then placed it on top of the chair. She went and sat on the bed to lean over and remove her shoes and grimaced, her hand shooting to her back.
Torin bolted out of his chair and went to her, dropping down on his haunches in front of her. “I’ll see to it for you.”
“I can do—”
He pushed her hand gently away. “You’re tired and your back pains you.”
Flora yawned again. “I will not deny nor argue with that.”
After he got both shoes off, he eased her to her feet. “You should sleep in your stockings tonight. It’s cold.”And it will help me keep my hands off you,he thought, though was not sure if the stockings would serve as a sufficient shield.