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“Oh, aye, several times. Seems like my husband rushes off every chance he gets,” she said.
“And who is yer husband?” Olivia asked.
“Roger, the lead stable man,” she answered. “I’m Molly, by the way. I’ve only met ye once before. Normally I’m in the kitchen.”
“So ye’ve managed to work yer way up to a new position,” Olivia said with a smile. “Come, sit wit’ me a moment. Help to take my mind off my troubles for a moment.”
Molly glanced around a moment with concern on her face before she inched closer to Olivia.
“I’ll nae bite,” Olivia said with a smile. “And ye need nae worry about the house keeper. If she comes in, I’ll have a nice chat wit’ her too.”
Taking the empty seat next to Olivia, Molly brushed her hands on her apron and flashed an awkward smile.
“Is it true yer wit’ child?” Molly blurted. It was such an innocent question, but one that was easily answered.
“Aye,” Olivia stated. “Tagger thinks I’m carryin’ a boy.”
“A boy, that is somethin’,” Molly said as she batted her eyes. “If I ever have a family, I’ll want all boys.”
“And why is that?” Olivia asked, trying to keep the conversation going. After all, she knew the moment they stopped talking was the moment all her worries for Conner would come rolling back like the tide.
“So I have someone to dae housework when I’m older. Oh, sure, girls are fine, but it is the boys that keep things runnin’ after the faither passes. I’d want a bunch of them so that I could go from house to house and son to son in my old age.”
Olivia couldn’t help but giggle at the thought of an old withered woman traveling great distances between the family. Catching Molly’s eye, Olivia coughed to mask her giggles until she could get herself under control.
“And what about ye, mistress, were ye hopin’ for a boy?” Molly asked as Olivia noticed her eyes shifting to the doorway.
“Makes nay difference to me,” Olivia answered as the hairs on the back of her neck rose. Olivia’s stomach dropped as if she had fallen from great heights. “I’ll love them nay matter what.”
“But between the two of us, surely ye would have preferred one over the other,” Molly continued as the ever increasing tension weighed heavily on Olivia’s chest and shoulders.
“Nay,” Olivia answered as her skin crawled. Rising to her feet, Olivia set the book down on the table and cleared her throat.
“Yer nae lookin’ so well, mistress, is everythin’ alright?” Molly asked, a glint of mischief flashing through her eyes.
“Just a bit dizzy,” Olivia lied. “I think I shall go to the kitchen for a bit to eat. Maybe that will help.”
Turning on her heel, Olivia moved swiftly to the door only to hear the patter of Molly’s steps close behind her. Olivia didn’t have to turn around to know the young woman was directly behind her, stalking her every move.
Olivia moved swiftly down the hallway making certain she caught the eye of every servant she passed. The uneasiness grew in her and for a moment she wondered if her instincts were wrong. After all, she was with child now and her mind seemed to drift easily. But as she passed Conner’s study, she caught a glimpse of Molly’s shadow. Olivia couldn’t shake the feeling something bad was about to happen.
“Is there a reason yer followin’ me?” Olivia asked as she turned to confront Molly. The servant stopped in her tracks and pulled in a deep breath.
“Nay, mistress,” Molly answered in a sing-song voice that grated on Olivia’s nerves. “I was just seein’ ye to the kitchen is all. Ye looked a bit under the weather and I thought I’d make sure ye didnae need help.”
Olivia wanted to smack herself for being so foolish and paranoid. Exhaling, she looked at Molly and tilted her head. “That is mighty kind of ye to think about me. But I am well to move about alone.”
“Of course ye are,” Molly said, her attention drifting off Olivia as they heard mutterings coming down the hallway. The tension Olivia felt rose the moment she caught glimpse of Sionn coming down the hallway. The clattering of his cane on the stone floor rattled her nerves.
The hair on the back of Olivia’s neck rose as she shivered at the sight of him. It was as if there was a dark cloud hanging over him.
“Fine day is it nae?” Sionn asks as he caught up to Olivia and Molly. In the corner of her eye, Olivia thought she spied Sionn flash Molly a wink. But it happened so suddenly, she couldn’t be certain of what she saw.
“And where are ye headed?” Sionn asked Olivia.
“The kitchen,” Olivia answered as she glanced around hunting for the threat that was growing in the back of her mind.
“Of course,” Sionn said. “And how is that workin’ out for ye? Bein’ wit’ child and all?”
