“Who is she?” Ava asked, looking to where the couple now stood, their backs to them.
Flora shook her head. “I do not recognize her. They are too far away.”
“What is going on?” Eileen, the cook, walked out with a basket. “Who are we spying on?”
The older woman came to stand next to them and narrowed her eyes toward where Broden and the woman were. “Ah, yes, this is very interesting. I wonder what excuse she will give for abandoning him so long ago.”
“His wife?” Flora asked, her chest tightening. “Why did I not know? He kissed me...”
“His mother,” Eileen clarified. “She left him and his father when Broden was but a wee lad, perhaps five. She has returned now, over twenty years later, with a new husband and family. The nerve of the woman. Poor Broden’s been avoiding her, but she appeared this morning, insisting to speak to him.”
Just then, the woman reached for Broden and he took a step back, holding both hands up. Evidently, he didn’t seem to want anything to do with the woman.
“Who raised him then?” Flora asked, not taking her gaze from Broden.
“His father and aunt. Broden had a good childhood. He was a bright, well-liked boy.”
“Good,” Ava said, and then huffed. “We should ask that woman to leave.”
“We?” Flora and Eileen asked in unison.
Ava nodded. “I could send a guard to send her away.”
“That would be strange,” Flora mused. “Broden can take care of himself.”
“Did ye say he kissed ye?” Ava asked, and Flora swallowed.
Why had she blurted that out? In her distress, her tongue had loosened. “It was nothing, just that one night we found ourselves alone, in the corridor...I was caught off guard.”
“I bet,” Eileen said with a chuckle. “Accidently pressed yer lips to his in yer confusion?”
Ava giggled.
“We should go inside and give Broden his privacy,” Flora said, but then turned back to look.
Broden said something and stalked away. The woman’s head fell forward and she covered her face with both hands.
“Forgiveness is not so easy to get as some people would think,” Eileen mumbled and headed toward the woman.
Flora and Ava didn’t bother to hide. Instead, they stood side-by-side, watching as Eileen went up to the woman. Whatever the cook said made Broden’s mother nod. Then they walked closer.
Broden’s mother looked drawn and pale. Her reddened eyes flicked to Flora and Ava for only a moment before she pulled her shawl over her head and went to a cart. She climbed onto the bench and snapped the reins
The three of them watched as the woman rode out through the gates.
“What did ye tell her?” Ava asked.
“I told her she should leave, that unless Broden welcomed her, she was not to come here again.”
“Good,” Flora said.
Ava looked to Flora. “Ye should go find him. He may need someone to speak to.”
Flora found Broden in the area beside the stables. It was a place people often went when needing time alone. The space was blocked from view which gave privacy. There were only rain barrels and some benches that were pulled out when festivities occurred.
He stood looking out toward a field where sheep lazily grazed, his back straight, arms down at his sides.
“Broden,” Flora said, nearing. “Do ye need to talk?”
When he turned to her, Broden sighed. “I am not sure if I will be good company right now. It would be nice for ye to stay for a moment.”
Flora walked to stand next to him and looked out to the field. “It is easy to be envious of the obliviousness of animals.”
Broden remained silent but nodded.
“Do ye miss him?”
The question caught Flora by surprise. He spoke of her dead husband, of course. Instantly, the familiar stabbing of pain hit her. “Very much. Every day.”
“How do ye continue?” He gave her a curious look. “How are ye so strong?”
Flora smiled. “I have to be. I have a son and my mother to look after. Death and life are both realities we must deal with. Ye, too, have suffered a great loss. When yer mother left, she may as well have died.”
He swallowed. “It is not the same. Yer loss is much greater.”
“Loss cannot be measured. Ye continued, made yerself into a good man. Do not belittle it.” Without realizing it, Flora had taken his hand. When his fingers tightened around hers, she gasped.
“Thank ye,” Broden said, not releasing her hand.
There was open sincerity when he pinned her with a direct look. “I spoke with Lady Fraser about ye. I have been watching ye and find ye to be admirable. I know this is sudden, but I would like to ask that ye consider marrying me, Flora.”
Her eyes widened and she swallowed. After just admitting to missing her husband, how could Broden accept her knowing a large portion of her heart would never be his?
“I do wish to...” she began. “I find ye most attractive.”
His lips curved. Then, suddenly, he pulled her close. They kissed, not a gentle one of two people who’d only recently begun to explore possibilities. No, this was a kiss of two lonely souls finding one another.
Flora threaded her fingers through his hair, while pressing herself against the strong man. For months, she’d pretended not to need him, but no longer. It was time to admit what everyone had been telling her. She’d found love again. She was madly in love with Broden.
“I want ye, Flora. As my wife, as my lover.”
Flora pulled away and met his eyes with daring. “Take me then.”
He pushed her against the building and she clawed at his breeches, while he fumbled with her skirts. Both were desperate with want, need and passion.
Lifting her to wrap her legs around him, Broden drove into her, his
