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Raven pretended to look around her in surprise. “What was that? I thought I heard some real geese in the room,” she declared, trying to banish her jealous thoughts over Muriel and enjoy her son.

“That was me, silly!” Thorsten cried, clearly tickled by her charade. “We dinnae let the geese indoors. They live in the farm yard with the other animals.”

“That’s very sensible, fer we’d all be in a muddy mess if we let them in here, eh?” she answered. They continued playing with the animals, and Raven could not help but feel resentful of Muriel’s watchful eye upon them.

“Well, Thorsten, I’m afraid ’tis time fer ye tae start gettin’ ready fer bed,” the nursemaid finally announced.

“Ach, can I nae stay up a bit longer tae play with me friend please? I like playin’ with her. She’s funny,” the boy protested, screwing up his little face, leaving Raven not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

“Five more minutes, then, and maybe melady will help ye tae tidy away yer animals, eh? They need their sleep as well, ye ken.”

Thorsten looked at Raven and rolled his eyes. “We have tae clear up. I have tae go tae bed soon. But will ye come and play with me again?”

“I’d love to. We’ll play tomorrow, eh?” she told him, her heart aching as she helped him tidy away the ark. Then she was forced to watch Muriel lavish all the care on her boy that she should have been. It was like being made to swallow bitter gall. When she saw the nursemaid changing him into his night attire and he clambered into bed, she could have wept with frustration and jealousy.

“Sweet dreams, lad,” Arne told Thorsten as he bent over him and planted a goodnight kiss on his forehead.

“Good night, Da. I want Lady Raven tae give me a kiss as well,” Thorsten piped up, smiling across at her and she looked toward Arne for permission.

“All right.” Arne turned to look at her. Filled with a mixture of elation and pain, she summoned a smile and went over to the bed. She looked down on him, putting all the love she had inside her into her eyes as she bent and pressed her lips to his smooth, soft forehead.

“Night night, me darlin;” she breathed. “Sweet dreams.”

“Night night, Lady Raven,” he whispered back. “’Tis a shame I have tae go tae sleep now, but we’ll play together again tomorrow.” He put his little arms around her and hugged her. Raven almost broke down, but she forced herself to smile at him and move away from the bed, hiding her face from Arne and Muriel as she secretly dashed a tear from her cheek.

Seeing Thorsten with his mother made Arne feel as though his heart really was breaking all over again. Raven had been so emotional, he could easily see how she was holding it all in and putting on a cheerful face for Thorsten’s sake.

And the way Thorsten seemed to have taken to her so quickly seemed almost uncanny. Was it possible the boy could sense their close connection? He knew it was not, but he had to wonder, for he had never known Thorsten to bond with a stranger so quickly.

As they said good night to Thorsten and he led Raven out into the hallway, he was in such a confused state, he was glad to see Sofia approaching them. He needed a chance to be alone or talk things over with someone else and try to make some sense of his thoughts and feelings.

“Ah, there ye are,” Sofia said, smiling as she came up to greet them. “Am I in time tae say goodnight tae Thorsten?” she asked.

“Aye, he’s only just got intae bed,” Arne replied. “Before ye go in there, Sofia, would ye be kind enough tae take Raven tae her chamber? I’m nae sure which one’s ye’ve prepared for her.”

“Of course, gladly,” Sofia said beaming at Raven, and linking her arm with hers, she drew her further along the hallway and stopped outside a door. Arne listened as Sofia opened it, saying, “I’ve put ye in here, Raven, so ye’ll be close tae Thorsten.” She pointed down the hall. “Me and Haldor are further down tae the left, and the door opposite ours is Ivar and Catalina’s chambers—they’re away just now for a wee trip tae her home, but ye’ll meet them very soon. Catalina is a lot of fun. And the door opposite this one is Arne’s.”

The two women disappeared inside the room, leaving Arne to his thoughts. He felt emotionally drained but also rather put out. It appeared that Haldor and Sofia were prepared to accept Raven as part of their family without even consulting him about his feelings.

Would it nae be best to keep her at a distance? How is it they can trust her when I cannae?

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

He was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard a door shutting nearby. He looked around and saw Sofia coming back. He waited until she had come right up to him and stopped. He noticed right away that she looked worried.

“Is she settled in then?” he asked.

“She’s very upset. I think seein’ Thorsten was a bit much for her. She just broke down when we went into the room.”

“Ye mean she’s cryin’?” Arne asked, his stomach trying itself in knots, though he was not sure way.

“Aye, sobbin’ her heart out she was.”

“Should I go and talk tae her?”

“Nay, she says she wants tae rest. I think she’ll be all right. I’ve tried tae comfort her as best I can. I’ll send Laurel up tae see if she needs anythin’ in a wee while. Now, ye must excuse me while I go and say goodnight tae Thorsten.”

“Aye, thank ye, Sofia,” Arne said, grateful for her help. He did not know what he would have said to Raven with both of them in such an emotional state.