Flora approached the bed, glancing around as she did, seeing things that told her a story and left her with far too many questions.
“It is a woman in the bed, and she saved my life,” Flora said. She stepped closer to peer down at the skeleton and Henry. “I heard him trip. When he fell on her, her bones must have snapped at the wrist, sending her arm bone shooting up and into his neck.”
Kinnell shivered. “It looks more like she grabbed him and shoved the bone into him.”
“She is dead. That would not be possible,” Walsh said, continuing to stare at the strange scene.
“Maybe, but don’t tell me that it doesn’t look that way to you,” Kinnell argued.
Walsh ignored him, though his shudder responded for him.
“I wonder who she is and what she did to be sealed away,” Kinnell said.
“Whoever she is, she died here giving birth and this is her shrine,” Flora said.
“How do you know that?” Torin asked.
“Look around,” she said. “There is an empty cradle, the remnants of the wreath that once adorned her head crumbled and now mixed with what hair she has left on her head. Her arms have been folded over her chest and I would not be surprised to find remnants of flowers there once Henry’s body is removed. Whoever this woman was, she was well-loved, the man who loved her not letting her go even in death.”
“My great-grandda, Lord Dermid,” Torin said.
“It is time she is freed,” Flora said, “and properly buried.”
They all stood quiet a moment as if in respect to the woman in the bed.
Walsh was the first to speak. “So, Henry put the bounty on your head?”
“Nay,” Flora said, returning to her husband’s side. “It is quite a tale to tell… secrets, spies, poison, lies, and more.”
“I am eager to hear it all, wife,” Torin said, then looked to Walsh and Kinnell. “Can you both see that Henry is removed from here? I do not want anyone knowing what was found in this room just yet. “Lady Flora and I will await you both in my solar where we can hear the tale together.”
After assuring Anwen she was unharmed when she entered the Great Hall, Flora ordered food and drink brought to Torin’s solar and the servants returned to their duties in the keep.
Torin took his wife in his arms once they were alone in his solar. “Is there anything you wish to tell only me before the others join us?”
Flora was grateful her husband had considered she might not want to share all Henry had told her. There was one thing she wanted him to know before the others.
“I am wealthy,” she said.
Torin looked confused, his brow narrowing. “Wealthy?”
“Aye,” she said. “Lord Simon died and left me his wealth, that is the reason Henry lied about he and I being wed. He wanted my wealth. Simon left it to me so I would have the freedom denied to women… to live as I choose.”
Torin stepped away from her, a strange look on his face, then ran his hand through his hair, and shook his head. “Then choose.”
Flora appeared as confused as her husband. “Choose what?”
“Choose whether you wish to stay wed to me or to leave and live your life as you prefer. I will not hold you to a marriage that was chosen for you. Choose. Now.”
“You give me a choice?” she asked.
“Aye, I do,” he said. “You had no other option but to wed me when I offered marriage. You have a choice now. I want you to make it freely. I want to know you stay wed to me because you want to be wed to me. That it is your choice to be my wife. So, leave or stay. It is up to you.”
Flora stared at him a moment, then smiled. “That is noble of you, husband, giving me a choice and I do appreciate it. But I fear you are stuck with me since I love you far too much to ever walk away from you. Besides,” she said, her hand going to her stomach. “There is a chance I am with child.”
Torin’s eyes shot wide, and he once again gathered his wife in his arms. “But you told me you were taking something to prevent that.”
“I stopped not long after we first made love. I was that sure I wanted to stay with you, bear you many bairns, and continue to love you beyond life itself.”