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)
“Your wife read it. What was her thought on it?” Kinnell asked.
“She agreed that having the cleric bless the keep was a wise decision, but she has yet to agree that a ghost actually resides in the keep.” His voice grew lower, thinking he heard someone approach. “She feels more proof is needed. Though, she says that if the ghost is not heard from after the blessing, then the problem is solved.”
Kinnell did not bother to keep his voice to a whisper. “You both seem to have it well in hand.”
“What does Lord Torin and his wife have well in hand?”
Kinnell jumped startled, not so Torin.
“You need to listen more closely, Kinnell,” Iona scolded. “I frightened you but not so Lord Torin. He heard my footfalls.”
“You tread far too softly,” Kinnell scolded.
“Nonsense,” Iona shot back. “You fail to listen well enough.”
While the two continued to fling accusations, Torin quietly took his leave and made his way to the cottage. The snap and pop of the flickering hearth flames greeted him when he stepped inside. Kinnell knew him too well when he questioned him about avoiding his wife at night. He had thought to entice her and have her change her mind, but after giving it thought, he found it would not be fair to her. He had given his word and he would keep it. He wanted her to know that she could trust him since she appeared to have no problem trusting him. She shared her thoughts most willingly and discussed things endlessly with him. The strange part was that he was beginning to enjoy it.
He had tried to sleep in his shirt, but he was far too accustomed in sleeping naked to adapt to it. It was another reason he avoided his bed before his wife fell asleep. He was certain that her curiosity would lead to him breaking his word to her.
He gently untangled the covers from around her and slipped into bed and she did what she had done since he first got in bed with her, she turned and wrapped herself around him. This was when he thanked the heavens that she wore a nightdress.
With her head on his chest, her soft hair tickled at his nose and her fresh, sweet scent intoxicated. Bloody hell, he feared he would never be able to keep his hands off her. It was a pleasant surprise to realize how much he was attracted to his wife and a relief. It would make marriage much more pleasurable.
He forced himself to close his eyes and think on something else since his shaft would be at full attention soon if he didn’t. He thought on the scroll, but his wife entered that thought as well, the image of her backside up in the air as she hunted through the merchant’s cart flashing in his mind. His thoughts hopped from one thing to the next until finally exhausted, he fell asleep.
“Flora! Flora! Help us! Help us!”
“Where are you, Mum? I cannot see you,” Flora called out in panic hearing her mum begging desperately for help.
“Please, Flora! Please!”
“I cannot see through the fog, Mum,” Flora said, glancing around, not able to see past the thick fog that surrounded her.
“Listen for me and your da,” her mum called out. “You must help us to…”
Her mum’s voice faded off as she strained to hear her. “Mum. Da. I am here. I will help you.” Her eyes caught a shadow lurking amongst the fog. “Mum! Da! Is that you?” She got no response, so she tried again. “Mum! Da!” her shouts went unanswered.
The shadow appeared as if it was creeping closer. Flora scrunched her eyes to see if she could make out who it was, but she saw nothing more than a dark gray blob that continued to approach her. An unease washed over her, and she got the urge to flee, but for some reason her legs would not budge.
The shadow got closer and closer when suddenly it struck, a heavy warm wind or was it a huge breath? It knocked her over and she felt herself falling, down, down, down she fell. She did the only thing she could, she screamed.
“TORIN!”
“I’ve got you. I’ve got you. You’re safe, Flora,” Torin said, holding her tight in his arms, his heart beating madly. He had barely gotten his eyes open, her restlessness having woken him, when she screamed out his name, her arms flailing. His heart felt as if it had slammed against his chest, her screams were filled with such fear.
She burrowed against him as if she could somehow slip inside him.
“It was a nightmare, nothing more than a nightmare, mo ghràdh,” he soothed, stroking her back firmly. He would have her tell him about it, but he did not want to make her relive the fear. She would tell him in her own time. Right now, he only cared about soothing her and assuring her that she was safe. “It’s over. You have nothing to fear.”