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“Well, thanks fer listenin’ tae me, Sofia. I’ll think about what ye’ve said,” he told her at last, grateful for her advice. Nevertheless, he decided to talk it over further with Haldor later.

“All right,” she said, smiling at him and giving his arm a little squeeze before she turned away to Thorsten’s door. “I’m goin’ in tae say goodnight tae the lad, so I’ll see ye later, at dinner.” She opened the door and disappeared inside.

He stood there, glancing down the hall at Raven’s door, wondering what she was doing, what she was thinking, if she was all right. He was frustrated with himself for caring about her. But deep down, he knew he had never stopped.

Haldor came up the stairs then and along the hallway towards him. “Are ye all right there, Braither?” the laird asked solicitously.

“Aye, I’m all right. ’Tis everythin’ else that’s wrong.”

“Oh?”

He explained to his brother how things had gone with Raven and Thorsten and his conversation with Sofia.

“Sofia said she broke down once she was in her chamber,” he finished, feeling increasingly bad for the harsh way he had treated Raven. “What’s worryin’ me now is what happens if those MacDonalds come back. Are they gonnae drag her away back tae her husband?” For some reason, the idea made him angry yet hurt at the same time.

“We can only guess at what might happen, but one thing’s certain: if Raven is Thorsten’s maither, which I have nae reason tae disbelieve, then whatever ye feel about it, she’s family. As long as she’s in this castle, ’tis me responsibility tae keep her safe.”

“Ye really intend tae treat her as family?” Arne asked, still unconvinced he could trust her to stay around.

“Aye, I do, because she is. And if there’s a chance that Thorsten can have his maither in his life, then ye need tae make that happen.”

“Even if that’s what I want, how dae I make it happen?”

“That’s up tae ye, Arne. Dae somethin’ tae encourage them tae spend time together. Let them get tae ken each other gradually. If those MacDonald men come back, we’ll cross that bridge if we come tae it. In the meantime, let yer son get tae ken his maither. If it makes any difference, I’ve sent a scout tae track those men, tae see where they go.”

“Good. Thank ye, braither.”

“And if ye agree, I thought I’d make some discreet enquiries about the state of play with the MacNeils, tae check her story is true.”

Arne was alarmed. “But she told me it was her faither who sent her off at seventeen tae marry this man who’s huntin’ for her. What if her faither alerts him?”

“I saiddiscreetenquires, Arne.”

“Sorry, me mind’s in a whirl right now.”

“Aye, I’m sure it is. Go and have a wee rest. I notice ye’re limpin’, so ye must have hurt yer leg.”

“Aye, I had an argument with a tree.”

Haldor laughed. “Ye’ll have tae tell me that story later. We’ll talk some more at dinner, eh?”

“Aye, all right.” Once Haldor had gone inside, Arne went to his chamber, pausing as he went inside to look over at Raven’s door. He was tempted to knock and see if she was awake. It was stupid, he knew, but after what Haldor and Sofia had said, he was trying to look at her actions in a new light and felt like talking to her. But then he recalled that Sofia was going back to sit with her, so he went into his chamber and shut the door.

When he went down to have some dinner later, Sofia told him that Raven was resting and was having her dinner in her room. He found himself strangely disappointed.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Raven sat in her room, on the bed, picking at the tray of food that had been brought up for her. She had no appetite. Sofia had been so kind to her, but she still felt mortified about the way she had broken down after coming out of Thorsten’s room. She was only relieved that it had not happened in front of Arne, who would have probably accused her of being dramatic.

But nothing could take away from the fact she had seen Thorsten. She had touched him, talked to him. She had played with her son. She had even kissed him goodnight, for the first time in three years! It seemed like a miracle, and she told herself she would never ask for more happiness than that, however long it lasted. It made up for all the suffering she had been through. It made life worthwhile again.

She thought about Thorsten, day dreaming about all the things they would do together. She was only startled from her reverie by the arrival of a young maid, who introduced herself as Laurel. She was barely visible above a pile of gowns and other feminine paraphernalia she was clutching on her arms.

“Goodness, what is all that for?” Raven asked, rushing to help her with her burden. They laid the clothing over the end of the bed.

“Thank ye, melady,” Laurel said, clearly pleased to be out from under the pile of clothing. “Lady Sofia sent me up with these fer ye. She said ye lost all yer things in boat wreck,” Laurel explained, starting to put the things away in the large wardrobe to the left of the bed.

“That’s very kind of her,” Raven said, starting to feel emotional again at Sofia and Haldor’s incredible kindness. If only Arne could find it in his heart to show her a little of the same, she was sure she would have been almost completely happy.