“I wondered if you knew anything about why the tower room was sealed with stone?” she asked. Having considered his age she thought there was a possibility that he would know not only when but why the room was sealed.
“I was far too young to know anything about it and my memory is not what it once was.”
“Who ruled when this happened?” Flora asked, though her husband had mentioned it, he had shared no knowledge of his great-grandfather.
“That would have been Lord Dermid, Lord Torin’s great-grandda.”
“Was he a good ruler?” Flora asked.
Philip hesitated. “He was a strong man and he ruled with strength. No one dared oppose him. He kept the clan safe.”
“So, Lord Dermid was a tyrant,” she said, his remark painting the man more clearly than he intended.
“I-I-I did not say that, my lady,” Philip said anxiously.
She realized she had upset him and hurried to reassure him. “Nay, you did not. I assumed it since if a person is rarely opposed it is usually out of fear.”
“That is true, my lady,” Philip said, nodding and confirming her suspicion without actually admitting it.
“How was Lord Hamish as a ruler?”
Philip broke out in a smile. “He was a good and fair ruler much like his grandson, Lord Torin. His grandfather taught him well.”
“Not so his da, Lord Evander?” she asked.
“Lord Evander was not well liked,” Philip said and offered no more.
“The people must have favored Lord Hamish.”
“Tears were shed freely the day he died, and hearts grieved.” He wiped away a couple of tears that fell from his eyes.
Flora saw that she had drudged up sorrowful memories for the elderly man and that was never her intention. She knew all too well how memories could hurt. Any more questions she had could wait for another day.
She stood and Philip hurried to stand as well. “Thank you so much, Philip. You have been extremely helpful, and I do appreciate it. We will talk again if you do not mind. I wish to learn all I can about the Highlands and Clan Norham, and with your aged-wisdom I believe there is much I can learn from you.”
“I do not mind at all, my lady. I would very much enjoy speaking with you again.”
“Wonderful, then I will visit with you again,” Flora said as she walked to the door.
Philip hurried to the door to open it for her.
“One thing, Philip,” Flora said, stopping at the door. “You say you were young at the time, but by any chance would you recall who made use of the tower room or what it was used for?”
Philip spoke barely above a whisper. “Torture, my lady. It was where Lord Dermid tortured people, or so rumors say.”
CHAPTER17
“Where have you been?” Torin demanded as Flora approached the keep. He did not wait for an answer, he turned to Kinnell. “Find out why the warriors failed to keep a watch on her.” He took brisk steps to his wife. “How can you just disappear in the village?”
“I was visiting with Philip,” she said, stopping when he got close to her.
“I have been looking for you, first in the keep, then at Iona’s, and after that you simply vanished. I feared you were snatched away from me,” he said, his arm going around her waist to hold on to her, fearing she might vanish again, and the thought terrified him.
“I did not mean to upset you, but I was curious to know what, if anything, Philip knew about the tower room. He is the oldest clan member that I am aware of, and I thought he might have some knowledge of the incident that caused the room to be closed off.” Before Torin could say anything, she went right on talking. “Did you know the tower room was the torture room?”
“The tower of torture is what some called it according to my da, who laughed when I learned of it and confronted him with the disturbing news. He told me it was nothing but gossip and all I needed to know was that the room was to be kept sealed.”
“Aren’t you curious as to what is behind that sealed door?” Flora asked.