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)
“Did you ever see him anywhere other than with my da?” Flora asked.
Henry shook his head. “His kind would not be tolerated in the presence of those we know.”
“You mean Highlanders?” Torin asked, anger flaring in his eyes.
“I should take my leave,” Henry said. “It has been a tiring day.” He hurried off without saying another word.
Torin sat beside his wife and reached out for her hand, and she grasped it tight. “Are you all right?”
“I fear for Iona’s life and for my own since whoever wishes me dead is here among us.”
“And may have just arrived,” Torin said.
“Or could have always been here and with his opponents dispatched, he can now finish the job without interference and claim the bounty.”
Flora woke in her husband’s arms the next morning and with a nightdress on. She had woken from a dream shivering and he had insisted she put it on to get warm. She argued but, in the end, he had won, having gotten it himself and more forced than helped her into it.
“I should take this off,” she said, eager to feel the heat of his body against hers.
He was quick to shake his head. “Nay, it is cold, leave it on.”
She tilted her head up at him. “You are usually eager to have me naked.”
“I am but there is so much going on now it is not the time for either of us to be distracted.”
She smiled. “I distract you?”
“All the time,” he said, his smile broad and teasing.
Her hand roamed over his chest, always enjoying the feel of his hard muscles, then drifted farther down.
He grabbed her wrist, stopping her. “I do not want to start something we may not be able to finish, or my thoughts will be distracted all day.”
“Why wouldn’t we be able to finish?” she asked, itching to touch him.
A rap at the door had Torin saying, “Interruptions. We have suffered enough of them.”
“My lord and lady, Iona is awake and asking for you both,” Anwen called out.
“We will be right there,” Flora called back then pulled her wrist free and took a quick hold of his aroused manhood and gave it a squeeze. “We finish this later, husband.”
“I won’t argue with that,” he said and slipped out of bed along with his wife.
They were dressed and down in the Great Hall quickly, both eager to see Iona.
Torin tucked his wife’s hood up low over her head once they stepped outside and the wind hit them.
“I would not be surprised if more than one moan rips through the keep today,” Flora said as she tucked herself close against her husband’s side to combat the bone-chilling wind.
“I never thought I would appreciate the ghostly moan, but I quite enjoy the private time it affords us,” he admitted, doing his best to block the wind from whipping at his wife.
Flora’s cheeks were stung red by the time they entered Iona’s cottage. She was glad to see the woman sitting up in bed, but looking worn and tired, not something usually seen on her. Kinnell sat in a chair close to the bed.
“Don’t even think about getting out of bed to greet them,” Kinnell ordered.
“I wasn’t going to,” Iona said.
“And I was going to make sure you didn’t,” Kinnell fired back.
“Be grateful you did not lose her last night, for I am grateful she saved my wife’s life by drinking that brew,” Torin said.
“Black henbane. It is used by many healers for a variety of things, but with great care for it can poison fatally in copious quantities. I was not sure how much I had ingested. I knew forced sleep would claim me but did not know if I would ever wake again.”
“Fate had other plans for you,” Flora said and glanced from Iona to Kinnell.
Iona smiled. “An easier solution would have worked for me, but nonetheless I appreciate fate’s plan.”
“What plan?” Kinnell demanded. “It better include me because I am not letting you go. You are mine now.”
Iona’s smile broadened and reached her hand out to Kinnell.
He took it and held it tight.
“I woke hours ago, thankfully. When the fog that engulfed me finally dissipated, I had Kinnell get me the pouch of suspected leaves. The henbane is mixed in with leaves that cause no harm.”
“I will see it is disposed of so it can do no further harm,” Torin said.
“I would prefer to keep it, my lord,” Iona said. “It could offer help in certain situations if care and knowledge is taken when using it. It is not easy to come by, growing by the sea and in sandy soil.”
“So, whoever had this henbane had to have spent time by the sea,” Torin said.
“Unless someone had given it to the person,” Flora said, “and he also would have had to have good reason to visit the kitchen.”