Later that night, as they climbed into bed, Flora said on a yawn, “I need practice in curbing my tongue.”
Torin laughed, unable to stop… until his wife kissed him.
CHAPTER26
“More stones crumble and will collapse if something isn’t done,” Flora said, her eyes on the sealed tower room door. “I know you are unsure, but your decision cannot wait much longer.”
Torin shook his head, amazed at how other stones showed signs of rapid decay since the last time he had stood before the sealed door. His wife voiced his troubling thought.
“One would think something was eating at it from the inside.”
Torin had paid little heed to the matter, more critical issues, like his wife’s safety, taking priority. But seeing this, he realized he had little choice but to decide what was to be done.
“What say you, wife?” he asked, valuing her opinion.
“I have no history with this room like your family. My curiosity would drive my decision, so I would unseal the room.”
He loved that his wife presented an honest opinion, admitting she viewed the decision far differently than he did.
“What if it was your family history? What then would your decision be?” he asked.
Flora thought a moment, continuing to stare at the crumbling stones. “I would think the crumbling stones had chosen for me. Something wants to be freed after all these years and I do not think whatever it is means harm. I believe it simply wishes to be freed.”
“Oddly enough, wife, I agree. It is time for the past to be freed and the present to start anew,” Torin said.
Flora turned a generous smile on her husband. “A wise choice made by a knowledgeable man.”
Torin gathered her in a hug. “I am glad that is finally settled. I will see it done in the next few days, since I do not know how many would willingly take on the task.”
“Lord Torin,” Anwen yelled up from the floor below. “You are needed in the Great Hall. A troop of Strathearn warriors approaches the bridge.”
“I will be right there,” Torin called back.
“My uncle is here?” Flora asked, her brow scrunching in question. “I do hope it is not unwelcome news and that all is well with Tavia and Fia as well.
“We will soon find out,” Torin said, heading to the Great Hall with his wife.
With almost a week gone by since they had discovered that Mordred had withdrawn from the area, there had been no attempts on Flora’s life and no campsites had been found in the woods. Torin still waited word on the men who had followed Mordred. So, he had yet to hear if what he thought might be the reason for the mercenary’s departure… the bounty no longer viable. Though what a Strathearn troop was doing here was puzzling.
Torin draped a cloak over his wife’s shoulders before donning one himself and leaving the keep to greet their visitors. He was surprised to see a small troop, no more than a dozen warriors, and no sight of Chieftain Newlin.
He did notice the look of surprise on his wife’s face when her eyes settled on one of the men in the troop. She hurried down the stairs before he could stop her. He rushed after her to hear her words clearly when the troop stopped.
“Henry, whatever are you doing here?” Flora asked, bewildered.
“I have come to collect my wife,” the plain-featured, tall, slim man said.
“Wife?” Flora asked, puzzled.
“Aye, Flora,” Henry said firmly. “You are my wife.”
Torin stepped forward, fury in his eyes. “Flora is my wife.”
Henry more slid off his horse than dismounted and faced Torin with a lift of his chin. “As well as you may believe that… it is not so. Flora’s da wed her to me in a proxy marriage before he left on his journey, worried he might not return. He wanted her well-cared for and knew I would see to that. He was aware we are well-suited for each other, and she would not object once she saw the reasonableness of it. He planned on telling her when he returned. Unfortunately, I only recently returned home from a lengthy journey and discovered her parents had died and that she was sent to live with her uncle in the Highlands. So, you see, our marriage preceded yours. Flora is my wife and I have come to take her home.”
Torin took hold of Flora’s arm and pulled her against him. “Flora is my wife, and she stays here with me.”
“I have documents to prove what I say, and I intend to see she leaves here with me,” Henry said with authority.