AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“For starters, I think we could move those awful deer heads, daenae ye think? Poor things look like they have been doin’ nothin’ but collectin’ dust. We’ll take them down and have them cleaned proper.”
Ana’s eyes popped as her attention darted to the severed heads lining the walls. “Suppose. Does the Laird ken yer plannin’ on doin’ this though?”
“Never ye mind the laird,” Olivia answered. “He’s given me permission to make this place my home, and that is exactly what I intend to dae. If I cannae find comfort in my husband, I’ll be certain to find it in my home.”
“Beg yer pardon?” Ana asked as she cocked her head to the right.
Flashing the servant girl a smile, Olivia waved her hand at the girl dismissively. “Tis nothin’. Let us get some men in here to help, aye? I doubt ye or I could carry any of them out of here on our own.”
“And just what are ye plans to dae wit’ them once they are down?” Ana asked as she crossed her arms over her chest, looking at the heads with dread.
“They will go in the laird’s study. If he finds them so appealin’ then he can have them stare at him while he works. As for me, I find them a distraction from the books. Now, please, go fetch John or Albert. I’m certain we daenae have much time before the laird returns from wherever he’s gone. And if these heads are to go into the laird’s study, then, we need to get them in there when he is nae.”
Ana gave a sharp nod before turning on her heels and marching out of the library. The moment the servant left, Olivia dropped her shoulders. Although she still very much felt the prick of rejection stabbing her obsessively, she knew only work would help her to get the doubts out of her mind.
Pulling in a deep breath, Olivia moved around the room counting the heads on the wall. She pursed her lips together as she glanced back to the window. Frustrated by her lack of self-control, she shook her head and stormed out of the study.
“M’Lady?” Ana’s voice called to her as Olivia moved down the hallway. Turning, Olivia spied two men walking beside Ana as they moved to the library.
“Go and start wit’ that room,” Olivia said. “I’ll be in the drawin’ room.”
“Would ye like me to come too?” Ana asked as the men disappeared into the library.
“Actually, that would be most helpful,” Olivia answered.
“And just how much of the castle are ye plannin’ to go through?”
“All of it,” Olivia said as she batted her eyes. “Nae unless ye think the rooms are well suited for guests and such.”
“I wouldnae ken,” Ana said. “Such things are beyond me. But…”
“Aye?” Olivia’s ears perked as she heard the hesitation in Ana’s voice. “Go on.”
“If there is one room I’d make up…” Ana said chewing her lower lip. Olivia could see the nervousness in Ana’s face as the girl’s eyes shifted to the floor.
“Aye, which room dae ye think needs a woman’s touch?”
“Yers,” Ana mumbled. Pulling in a deep breath, Olivia knew Ana was right. There was something out of place with her room. But seeing as how new memories now haunted that room, Olivia was a bit hesitant to enter it any time soon.
“We’ll get to it,” Olivia said with a whisper of a smile. “First, the library. Then the drawing room. Perhaps we’ll even spruce up the dinin’ room a bit. It seems to be a bit out of style.”
“Aye, M’Lady,” Ana said as she fluttered to Olivia’s side.
Olivia moved with purpose. The sound of her footsteps bounced through the hallway as they marched to the drawing room. Olivia gasped when they passed Conner’s study. Suddenly, the whole world seemed to go sideways as she glanced through the open doors.
She pulled in a long deep breath, taking in the scents that flowed out of the open doors. The smell of musk and oak wood flowed freely into Olivia’s nose, assaulting her with fresh memories of last night. The aroma reminded her so explicitly of Conner they made her want to cry.
The warmth of Ana’s hand on Olivia’s shoulder caused Olivia to shutter.
“Ye alright?” Ana asked.
“Aye,” Olivia said more to herself than to Ana. “Why wouldnae I be?”
Ana’s mouth parted a bit as if to answer her, but suddenly snapped shut. The tightness in Olivia’s chest sucked the air from her lungs. As her hands started to tremble, Olivia reached for the fabric of her skirt to steady herself.
“May I ask a question?” Ana said with her lips curled at the corners. Giving a sharp nod, Olivia braced herself for whatever question Ana had for her.
“Dae ye love the laird?”
