Page 32 of The Highlander's Dangerous Bride

Thorsten looked up at her, his bright blue eyes shining like silver sixpences against his pale, flawless skin. His shy smile tore at Raven’s aching heart. She had to stop herself from grabbing him and squeezing him tightly to her breast as he said in his childish lisp, “Hello, I’m Thorsten. Pleased tae meet ye.” He held out his hand for hers.

Hardly able to believe the moment she had imagined for so long was actually here, Raven slowly extended her hand and enfolded his small, warm pudgy paw in hers. The touch sent a whirlwind of emotions rushing through her, and it took a great effort for her to stay collected.

Smiles came unbidden to her lips as she bent down, and they shook hands, her and her son, for the first time in three long years. She tried to stop her voice from shaking as she said, “Hello, Thorsten. Me name is Raven. I’m very pleased tae meet ye too.”

She did not immediately let go of his hand, loath to relinquish the touch of her boy’s skin, proud of the sturdy, handsome little lad he had grown into. He continued smiling up at her, as bright as a button, almost as if he sensed something of great import was taking place. Finally, he squeezed her hand and let go, turning back to his father.

“Would ye like tae show Lady Raven some of yer favorite toys?” Arne asked Thorsten as they went further into the chamber. He sat down by the table and leaned his elbow upon it, smiling at their son in encouragement.

“Aye!” The little boy said with enthusiasm, looking at Raven with his miniature eyebrows cocked, just like his father. Pure laughter bubbled from Raven’s lips as she nodded, while trying to chase away the tear threatening to fall down her cheeks. “I’d love that.”

“Here, look,” the boy said, running across to a large cupboard and throwing open the door. Raven saw it was full of toys and books, all neatly stacked. Thorsten bent down the bottom shelf and with some effort lifted out a large object. Grinning, he carried it over to her and placed it carefully on the floor. “This is me Noah’s ark,” he said, beaming with pride as he presented it to her.

Without a thought, Raven sat down cross-legged on the rug, rucking her skirts around her legs. “Why, ’tis marvelous. What is it made of?” she asked, watching every move her son made with a mixture of pride and anguish.

“’Tis made of wood, just like Noah’s boat was, and it floats. I’ve sailed it on the lake many times with me Da” he turned back to Arne for validation. “And she’s nae sank.”

“Aye lad, she’s a sturdy craft all right,” Arne agreed with a nod, showing the gentle side to his nature that warmed Raven’s heart towards him.

“Well, I hope I can get tae see her sailin’ one day,” Raven said.

The child smiled up at her, a picture of innocence. “Of course ye can, if ye stay here with us.”

She thought she might burst into tears there and then at his childish earnestness, but she was determined not to upset him. Making an effort to keep her voice light and steady, she said playfully, “Now, if this is Noah’s ark, then I suppose I can guess what’s inside.”

Thorsten giggled,

“Is it sailors?”

“Nay!” he burst out laughingly.

“Is it soldiers then?”

Thorsten sat down on his behind with a thump and rolled about clutching his heels with merriment. “Nay! Again!”

“Och, now, let me think.” She paused, pretending to be deep in thought. “Ah! I think I have it. ’Tis… animals.”

Thorsten rolled around with delight before getting to his knees. “Aye, animals! They all went in two by two, ye ken. Look, when I open up the roof,” he lifted the hinged roof, “ye can see them all inside. I think they’re asleep now though.”

Raven leaned forward, her head close to his as they peered inside the ark. “I think ye’re right, Thorsten, they look fast asleep. Can ye show me which ones are which without wakin’ them up?”

“Oh, they like wakin’ up because they like tae play with me,” he assured her, lifting out the pairs of delicately carved animals and presenting them to her on his small palm. “Look, here are the lions, they’re me favorites because they roar.” He handed them to her.

“Are ye sure they willnae bite me?” she asked, pretending to be scared.

“Dinnae worry, I’ll nae let them bite ye,” he promised, his little body shaking with mirth. He smelled of soap, and she longed to take him in her arms and cuddle him. He took the lions, held them close to his lips, and whispered to them, “She’s our friend, so nae bitin’ her, all right?”

The lions apparently obeyed, for she took them into her hands and examined the delicate carving without incident. Two by two, he introduced her to his fleet of wooden animals: bears, monkeys, birds, even a pair of salmon, lifting them out carefully and handing them to her.

It was so wonderful to her to be playing with her son that she soon became immersed in the pleasure of his company and started to forget where she was. Until a pretty young woman with long, dark hair and dark eyes stepped in from an ante-room. She smiled at the scene in front of her as she dried her hands on a cloth.

“I thought I heard yer Da’s voice,” she said pleasantly, and Raven knew instantly that this was Muriel, Thorsten’s nursemaid and possibly, Arne’s new love. Unable to control it, Raven was seized by hot jealousy again.

“Muriel, this is Lady Raven, a friend I brought tae meet Thorsten,” Arne explained as the young woman came further into the room and stood by him, watching Raven and Thorsten where they were playing.

“How d’ye dae, melady. ’Tis a pleasure tae meet ye. We love tae have visitors, eh, Thorsten?”

“Aye, I like new friends,” the boy said, handing Raven a pair of wooden geese. “This is the sound they make,” he told her, hissing and honking.

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