She sat with the quill poised in her hand, looking around at the other ladies inquiringly.
“Some colored paints might come in handy, glue if they have some so we willnae have to make it, and some of those pretty paper garlands as well,” Greta suggested.
“Very well, I’ll add those to the list.” Olivia duly noted them down. “Anythin’ else?”
“I expect we’ll think of somethin’ after ye’ve gone,” Greta joked. “That’s the usual way of things.”
The four of them shared a laugh, though Olivia could summon no real mirth. Finally, she rose to her feet.
“Very well, I had better be on me way. I shall try nae to be too long,” she said, taking her leave of them, looking forward to the solitary walk and having a few hours of shopping to distract herself.
Megan followed her out of the room and into her chambers.
“I’m comin’ with ye, Me Lady,” she said as they entered the room.
“There’s nay need, Megan. I’ll be all right by meself,” Olivia assured her, sitting down to put on her sturdiest walking boots.
There had been another heavy frost that night which still lingered out of doors, and she did not want to risk slipping and hurting herself.
“But ye’ll need another pair of hands, else how will ye carry everythin’?” Megan asked.
“What I cannae carry I’ll have delivered.”
“But ’tis nae safe for ye to go alone,” the maid protested, fetching Olivia’s marten fur cloak and some warm woolen gloves and laying them on the bed.
Olivia had to admire her persistence, but she was not about to relent.
“Whyever nae? I have been many times before on me own. Nobody will notice me, will they? I will just be another shopper among the crowd.”
She stood up and wiggled her toes to make sure her boots were comfortable. Satisfied, she crossed to the bed, fastened the cloak around her shoulders, and pulled on the gloves.
“Pass me that straw basket, would ye?” she asked, double-checking her pocket to make sure she had money and the shopping list.
Megan fetched the straw basket with a heavy sigh of frustration and handed it to her. “Let me come with ye, Me Lady, please. I just have a bad feelin’ about ye goin’ by yerself.”
“Ach, pish! Ye always have a bad feelin’ about somethin’ or other,” Olivia said with a dismissive laugh as she made for the door.
“But the bird, Me Lady. The one that flew into the window. I told ye, ’tis an omen,” the maid insisted, stepping in front of her, a pleading expression on her face.
“Thank ye for yer concern, Megan. ’Tis very touching, but will ye get out of me way, please? As for that blasted bird of yers, how do ye ken it didnae fly in one window and out the other? Now, move aside. I’m goin’.”
Megan sighed again and stepped aside with the greatest reluctance.
Olivia stepped out into the hall, but Megan followed her, and they were still bickering when, to Olivia’s surprise, Edan appeared on the landing and strode towards them. She immediately halted, feeling her cheeks heating up with embarrassment.
“What’s this? Arguin’, are ye?” he asked when he came up to them.
His piercing gaze settled on Olivia, who looked away, unable to meet his eyes.
Megan bobbed a respectful curtsey, as always, not looking at Edan directly. To Olivia’s annoyance, she blurted out, “Goodday, Me Laird. Lady Aberfeld is insistin’ on goin’ to the market by herself, and I dinnae think she should. ’Tis nae safe.”
“Megan!” Olivia hissed, her cheeks growing even hotter. “Will ye hold yer tongue?!”
“Quite right, lass. But ye need nae worry further. I’ll accompany Lady Aberfeld to the market,” Edan declared, taking Olivia completely by surprise. Not taking his eyes off her, he waved a dismissive hand at Megan. “Off ye go now and see to yer duties.”
“Aye, Me Laird,” Megan murmured, flashing Olivia a small smile before scuttling back to her chambers. Olivia glared at her indignantly as she went.
“It seems I arrived at the right time,” Edan said, acting as if nothing untoward had happened between them. “A trip to the market will be ideal for our second outing. What do ye say?”
