Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 89331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Flora smiled. “I am so happy to hear that, Anwen.”
“I am more comfortable here as well,” another servant said.
“I have been comfortable here also but that moan—” The servant lad who had spoken up shook his head.
“It is frightening to hear, and instinct has you running. Your reaction is only logical,” Flora said. “But now you know there is no ghost, no giant that haunts this place. There is a reasonable explanation for it and once all repairs are made, we will hear it no more.”
Heads bobbed and all drifted off to return to their chores.
Flora summoned Anwen with a wave. “It delights me to know you use reason rather than fear to guide you.”
Anwen smiled softly. “It was your knowledge and guidance that taught me, my lady.”
Torin was proud of his wife. She had not only brought the keep back to life, but she had also brought life back to the clan with her talkative and inquisitive nature.
Flora graciously accepted the compliment. “That is generous of you to say, Anwen. And now for today’s chores. I went over things with Verena in the kitchen and there are two storage rooms that badly need attention, and the kitchen is long overdue for a thorough cleaning. The upper floors can wait for another day.”
“Aye, my lady,” Anwen said and hurried off, summoning the servants with a wave of her hand as she went.
“You are being generous having the servants avoid the upper floors since they remain somewhat fearful,” Torin said.
Flora leaned in closer to her husband to whisper, “I have a more selfish reason. I want the upper floors left for us alone today.”
He chuckled. “Don’t want to have to stifle your screams of pleasure?”
Her eyes rounded. “Do I scream that loud? Do you think they hear me? I must be more aware of that, though it is all your fault.”
His chuckle turned louder. “Aye, I accept it is my fault for I am proud I bring my wife so much pleasure.”
Flora sighed and rested her brow against her husband’s. “Endless pleasure.”
“You do the same for me, wife.”
She eased her head back to look at him, his dark, intense eyes capturing her heart as they always did. “I do not disappoint you?”
“Never and it would be my fault if you did since I teach you. Though I must admit, you need no lessons from me. Instinct and curiosity have you taking the lead and learning much yourself.”
“You do not mind that I do that?”
“Nay, wife,” he said with a broad smile. “I do not mind that at all. Now I think we should go tour the keep and maybe find one of those nooks or crannies I wanted to show you.”
Flora hurried to her feet, taking quick hold of her husband’s hand. “Let us waste no time.”
He followed along with her, looking forward to the pleasure that would soon be theirs.
They found their way just outside a small room that Flora had yet to have the servants clean. It contained several chests, benches, scarred wooden shields, baskets, and more.
“What was this room used for?” Flora asked, remaining on the outskirts of the room since it was bathed in darkness.
“I truly don’t know,” Torin said. “With this floor just below the tower room and ordered since I was young to keep my distance, I never came here. Sad to say, I even avoided it after my da died, having no reason to come up here.”
“You never came here, not once?”
“You do not order a young lad to stay away from a particular area in his home, for that is like giving him permission to go find out why he is not permitted there.”
“So, you snuck up here,” Flora said with a whisper as if taking no chance his secret would be revealed.
Torin grinned. “Guilty.”
“And what did you find?”
He shook his head. “Nothing but disappointment.” He rested his hand at her waist. “Though, I do recall this little nook I hid in when I thought I heard someone on the stairs.”
“Show me,” she encouraged, not that he needed it. He was quick to take her there.
There was just enough light from a torch in a wall bracket to cast a bit of light on the nook.
“This is small,” Flora said, peering into the confined space. “Whatever was its purpose?”
“I do not know or care since whatever it was, we are going to make better use of it,” Torin said, his arm hooking at her waist to step them within the small space and plant his lips on hers before she could utter a word.
Flora’s arms went around his neck, any thoughts on what the use of the nook may have been fading rapidly, replaced with a jolt of passion her husband’s kisses always aroused in her.
“I can never seem to get enough of you,” Torin said, resting his brow to hers after ending the kiss, which left him aching for more.