They both turned hearing footfalls coming up the stairs.
A servant stopped at the open door and bobbed his head. “Pardon, my lord, but I was sent to tell you that your warriors await you.”
“I will be right there,” Torin said.
Flora turned a generous smile on the young lad. “Thank you, Mather. Are the treats ready for the servants?”
The lad smiled broadly as he bobbed his head. “Aye, my lady. I have already enjoyed one.”
“One sweet treat is not enough. Go have one or two more. I told Verena to make certain there was a generous amount for all.”
“Aye, my lady and there is plenty for all, and we are very appreciative.”
“Wonderful. Now go and enjoy,” Flora said playfully, shooing him off.
“Do you know all the servants’ names?” Torin asked.
“Of course,” Flora said, struck with a hint of surprise that he should ask. “It would be rude of me not to. How can I see and work with them every day and not refer to them by name.” She shook her head. “That would not be at all proper or courteous.” Her brow scrunched as she asked, “Do you not know the servants’ names?”
“Not all of them,” he said, feeling the need to defend himself.
“I will help you learn them,” she offered.
He almost shook his head but stopped. He felt the need to be defensive while she offered no judgment, only help. More and more he was finding his chatty wife appealing.
He hooked her quickly around the waist and planted a hasty kiss on her lips. “Later, wife, you are all mine, and I have plans for you.”
“And I for you, husband,” she said, a gleam of desire dancing in her dark eyes.
This time Torin shook his head. “Do you know what you do to me when you say something like that?”
“Something good I hope,” she said joyfully.
He took hold of her hand and placed it against the bulge at his plaid.
“Oh!” she said with excitement. “I learned something new… I can arouse you with mere words. That is good to know, and I am so looking forward to touching your shaft tonight and seeing how it responds so I can learn what pleasures you.”
Torin groaned, shook his head, and went to leave the room, his wife’s hand on his arm stopping him.
“Where do you go with your warriors?” she asked.
“We are going to scout the woods on the other side of the bridge to see if we can find a campsite where the dead man or Walsh may have camped.”
“And to see if others might have been with either of them,” she said, throwing out the suggestion. “I will join you.”
“Absolutely not, and besides, you have much to finish here for all to be ready for tonight,” he reminded.
Flora debated silently with herself and the thought of experiencing intimacy with her husband won out.
“You will tell me what you find?” she asked.
“You have my word on it,” he said, having found he enjoyed discussing things with her and hearing her perspective on the various issues.
She kissed his cheek. “Later, husband.”
“On that you have my word as well,” he said with a wicked smile that Flora returned in kind.
She spent a few moments taking stock of the room and making a mental list of small things she wanted done before tonight. She passed on the list to Anwen, who was enjoying a sweet treat in the Great Hall.