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)
His wife was laying claim to every room, and he wondered if it was to show the ghost that he no longer belonged here.
The next room proved empty as well, thick dust covering most of it and once again his wife made a point of saying she would see to it being cleaned out.
“There is nothing more to see,” Torin said.
“The tower,” she reminded.
“It is not accessible,” he said.
The moan sounded again, though more faintly.
Flora pointed above her head. “It comes from above.”
The night would be completely ruined if he did not take her up there so she could see for herself, and so he climbed the stairs to satisfy her curiosity.
Flora stood staring at the door to the tower room that was now nothing but stone. “There must be a reason it was sealed off with stone.”
“I imagine there is, but I was told when asked that it mattered not and it was to always remain sealed, inaccessible,” Torin said.
“Are you not curious as to why the door was permanently sealed with stones?”
“I was but after a while I came to accept it and to follow what those had done before me… not access the room.”
Flora went to respond when a moan swept over them with a gust of wind so overpowering and cold that it had Flora turning to seek shelter against her husband. He was already reaching out to her, wrapping her tight against him, fighting against the wind that seemed to grow stronger until it blew with such force it sent them both tumbling… right down the stairs.
CHAPTER 16
Flora was silent the next morning as she ate breakfast with her husband and not because something disturbed her. It was the deep scowl on her husband’s face that kept her from speaking. He was still upset with her over last night.
They had argued. Torin wanted to leave the keep and sleep in the cottage until the matter of the ghost could be settled. Flora had refused, insisting that if they left it would be unlikely that she could get any of the servants to return to the keep and pointed out other numerous problems that their departure from the keep would cause.
Finally, she had gotten into bed and refused to move, and she also claimed she was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to sleep. She had not been sure if she would sleep, but she had been sure that whatever pleasure she had looked forward to with her husband had vanished with their exchange of harsh words. Furthermore, she found herself upset over their altercation and how it had left her feeling. Her heart had pained her in an unusual way, something she had never felt before that moment and she did not want to feel again.
He had climbed into bed but kept his distance from her and surprisingly she had drifted off to sleep not long after. She had not been surprised when she woke to find herself in bed alone or to find her husband still annoyed with her when she had joined him for breakfast.
Arguments were not something Flora had experience with, debates being more to her liking. They made more sense and gave each party a chance to present their opinion along with facts. It made for a much easier solution. Her da and mum had never fought, they debated, and Flora had not been surprised that her mum often won. Her mum had always presented a far more logical opinion than her da, or at least that had been Flora’s conclusion.
This silence from her husband would not do and she finally turned to him. “I am sorry you did not see reason last night but remaining here was the wisest thing to do.”
Torin dropped back in his chair and glared at her. “That is not the apology I expected, wife.”
“It is not an apology. I have nothing to apologize for. I simply speak the truth since you are having a difficult time seeing it for yourself.”
He shook his head and tapped his chest repeatedly. “I am your husband. You are to obey me.”
Flora leaned closer to him, keeping her voice low to avoid any nearby servants from hearing them. “What kind of wife would I be if I did not point out your foolishness?”
He leaned closer to her as well. “Foolish or not, I am your husband and my word rules.”
She stared at his lips, recalling his kisses and felt a tiny tingle rush over her. Curiosity had her running her finger over his lips. “I do so enjoy your kisses.”
His shaft sprung to full alert, and he silently cursed it. “We are discussing foolishness, not kisses.”
“We are all foolish one time or another. I would expect you to tell me when I am foolish so that I may correct my mistake, learn from it, and hopefully not make it again. And another thing, Torin, I will not tolerate arguing with you.”