For the past three days, their conversations had mostly revolved around the flowers, books they had both read, and it seemed they shared reading interests. They had spoken about art, travels, faraway lands, adventures, as well as the serenity of a cup of tea in the garden on a sunny afternoon.
The truth was, Keira had grown to care about this woman in such a short time as she had slowly gotten to know her. She felt that Elspeth somehow sensed, as mothers always did, that therewas something more between her and her son, and with Violet present, she had reacted in a way that was to be expected.
Now, with Violet gone, something Keira still could not understand, as she had not spoken to Raphael and she dared not ask Elspeth, things were different. They were pleasant. They were calm. And she found herself wishing that the two weeks would not expire quickly.
As it turned out, this was the day that Elspeth decided to open up about her son, a topic that so easily segued from the conversation regarding the castle’s garden.
“We used to work in the garden together, me son and I,” Elspeth revealed, then she looked at her hands. “But these old hands arenae what they used to be anymore, and me son is too busy with his duties as a laird. Fortunately, we managed to find a good man to tend to the garden now that we dinnae have so much time for it. I remember those leisurely afternoons in the garden with such fondness.”
“I can only imagine how wonderful it must have been for you two to spend that time together.” Keira smiled, her heart filled with warmth. “I just can’t imagine Raphael tending to flowers. It just doesn’t seem like him.”
Elspeth nodded. “Since he became a laird, he had to give up many a thing he enjoys. It is simply how these things go, me dear. But Raphael… he is a remarkable man,” she said, her eyes reflecting a mother’s pride. “It is just that he bears burdens, hidden beneath his composed exterior.”
Elspeth paused for a moment, but Keira could sense that she wanted to continue, so she allowed her to do so in her own time.
The two ladies continued to walk languidly, enjoying the fragrances around them, the splendid beauty of nature.
“Ye ken, Raphael has always been a thoughtful son,” Elspeth continued, lowering herself to smell a red rose. A pleased smile appeared on her lips. “Even as a child, he would lose himself in books, dreamin’ of adventures beyond our lands. He still carries that dreamer’s heart within him.”
“I’ve noticed it.” Keira smiled back at her. “I cannot imagine what he must have been like as a little boy. And still carrying it inside of him… It is beautiful to see that part of him alive.”
She had to admit that she had seen glimpses of this adventurous Raphael, and she had loved every moment of it.
“But it comes at a cost,” Elspeth confessed. “He has faced trials, perhaps more than I would wish upon anyone. The weight of our family’s legacy rests on his shoulders, and sometimes, I fear it’s too much for him.” The concern in her eyes was evident.
Keira felt a pang of empathy for the struggles that lay beneath Raphael’s calm facade. “I can imagine the burden he carries.”
“He bears it well, though,” Elspeth continued. “Yet, I hope for him to find happiness, to be freed from the shadows of the past.”
“You mean his late wife?” Keira dared to ask.
The moment Elspeth heard that question, she stopped and looked directly at Keira, who stammered, realizing that she had crossed the line.
“Oh, I am sorry… I shouldn’t pry. It is none of my business.”
Elspeth sighed, a heavy smile on her face, but it was hiding deep sorrow that would need healing. “Everyone knows the story, lass. I dinnae suppose he could keep it a secret even if he wanted to. Eleanor died, the poor thing, while she was with child. Fell down the stairs.
At first, we all thought it was an accident, but Raphael refused to believe it. Later, they found evidence that there reallywassomeone in the castle that night. Oh, it still makes me shiver to think of it, that we all could have been killed.”
“Goodness!” Keira gasped, pressing her hand to her lips. “Who was it?”
“I dinnae ken,” Elspeth said simply, almost as if she had lost the ability to speak. Or she was simply mentally exhausted from this story, which was what Keira believed.
It was a difficult thing to talk about, even after some time. It was true that some wounds never healed.
That was yet another reason why Keira felt she had to talk to him. There were so many questions left unanswered, so many loose ends untied. When she finally faced him, she wanted to know all the questions, and she wanted to demand all the answers. Not only that, but she wanted to know all the answers he would demand of her, which she did not have now. She did not have a single one.
“That is why I was so happy when Violet’s parents suggested for them to marry,” Elspeth admitted as the two ladies continued to stroll.
It was easier to talk about these things while in motion, Keira realized. When standing or sitting, there was nothing to do but focus on the heaviness and difficulty of the topic at hand. Walking required focus on something else as well.
“But I suppose that has been thrown into the wind as well.” Elspeth sighed.
Keira felt sympathy for this woman because all she wanted was for her son to be happy. There was nothing else a mother would want for her child.
“Do you think that Violet would have made him happy?” Keira dared to ask.
For a moment, she felt generous enough to leave this place if Elspeth truly believed that Raphael and Violet were meant for each other.
