Chapter Twenty-One #2
“Aye. We don’t have to like it, but to batter them with questions they are obliged not to answer only adds turmoil where there should be equanimity.
Our darling babe is sensitive to Finn’s moods and my own.
A happy home is what Finn and I both need, and if compromising on what I need to know lessens any discord, then that’s what I’ll do. ”
Eileen sensed Mollie was waiting for her to agree. Even though it went against what she thought, she did see her point. “I understand, but it won’t be easy to do the compromising all the time.”
Mollie’s smile was radiant when she confided, “The benefits of compromise can be many and varied.”
Intrigued, Eileen said, “Oh?”
Mollie’s face flushed delicately. “If you ever have any questions about the marriage bed, I’ll always answer honestly.”
Eileen had to ask, “I was surprised at first, but realize now that everything Fenton said or did was to ease…er, things.”
Mollie nodded. “He loves you and would never want to hurt you. If he… That is, most likely when he…”
When Mollie fell silent, Eileen said, “Don’t stop now. Finish what you are trying to say.”
“I know I just offered to answer any questions, but it’s the first time I’ve actually been asked to do so.”
Eileen watched Mollie’s color deepen. “Out with it!”
Mollie bit her bottom lip, then squared her shoulders. “If, or rather when, your husband kisses a path from your breasts to your belly—”
Now it was Eileen’s face that flushed just from her thinking of Flaherty’s kisses…there. She swallowed against the lump of emotion in her throat. “Yes?”
Mollie’s eyes got a faraway look in them before she snapped back to attention and replied, “Let him.”
“That’s it?” Eileen asked. “Let him?”
“Trust Flaherty. Has he already told you that if you say no, he would stop no matter what?”
“Well, yes, but—”
“Trust him, and he’ll take you to the stars.”
Eileen frowned. “But he already has.”
Mollie sighed. “There are so many different ways to make that journey.”
Exasperated, Eileen threw her hands up in the air. “You aren’t going to tell me?”
“And ruin the surprise? No, that’s half the fun.”
“Fun?” Eileen repeated.
Mollie glanced over to where her babe lay sleeping. “Oh, aye.”
A few hours later, when neither O’Malley nor Flaherty had returned, Eileen started pacing. “Are you certain this is normal for our husbands?”
Mollie replied, “You do get used to it.”
“I don’t like this… This not knowing if they were detained because of danger to the duke and his family,” Eileen murmured, “or a danger directed at them.”
Mollie’s expression was surprisingly stoic. “We aren’t helping Finn and Fenton if we’re pacing the floor waiting for them. Take it from me, it’s better to be busy and productive.”
Eileen snorted. “While my mind is in turmoil? I saved Flaherty’s life once. Now I have to wait, every day, for him to return unharmed, because the alternative would be waiting to find out that I’m already too late to save him.”
Mollie’s eyes flashed with temper, surprising Eileen, but not as much as her next words: “If you cannot think of the vows our husbands made to the duke, their dedication to duty, the physical strain of fighting to honor that vow—while healing from injuries already received in their bid to protect the duke and their vow—then kindly go brood in your bedchamber. I have work to do.” Finn’s wife turned her back on Eileen and continued to fold the linens that had been drying on the clothesline.
“Mollie, I’m sorry, it’s just that I—”
“Miss Mollie! Miss Eileen!”
The two women turned at the frantic tone of a little boy’s voice.
“Yes? What is it?” Mollie asked, rushing toward the lad.
“Is something wrong?” Eileen said, watching the boy’s flushed face fade to pale and pasty. “Please, sit down,” she urged, but the boy shook his head.
“O’Malley and Flaherty are hurt—bleeding! Hurry, I’ll show you where they are.”
Mollie started to rush from the room by the pantry where they’d been folding clothes, but Eileen grabbed hold of her arm. “No! You need to stay here. It’s almost time to feed your babe.”
Mollie started to struggle, but at the mention of her daughter, she stilled. “But you cannot go alone.” Turning back to the boy, she said, “Tell us where they are, so I can send two men and a wagon with Eileen. She may need help getting our husbands back to the manor house.”
The boy’s face was ashen now, beads of perspiration forming on his brow. Eileen sensed his fear as if it were a living, breathing thing. “I’ll go with you, if you tell me your name first.”
“I’m not supposed to tell anything, but what I was told to.” He held out a grubby hand to Eileen. “You have to come—if you don’t, they’ll…”
The boy looked as if he were about to pass out. Eileen knew she had to go with him, though she knew something wasn’t right. Either it was a trap, or the men were so badly injured that it had frightened the boy.
“I’ll come with you.” She called over her shoulder to Mollie, “Send one of the footmen or a stable lad—make that two—with the wagon. But you have to promise me you’ll stay here and take care of Boadicea.”
“I promise. Hurry back!”
Eileen raced after the boy who had already slammed the rear door of the manor house and was halfway to the stables. “Wait! I’m coming.”