Molly       *gets to the top of the stairs, pushing the                   door in to the servants quaters*
Morgan            *Morgan jumps the first few steps, trying                    to catch up* "Molly, wait girl"
Molly       *she stops suddenly* "yes?"
Morgan            "He means no harm. He's caught up in his                   own little struggle with his feelings right now"
Molly         "I wasn't upset or hurt at all. I know,                   deep in my heart, that although marrying a noble is a fine dream, it doesn't happen to girls                   like me."Morgan    "It happens for girls exactly like you. I                   myself know seamstress that married an Eisen noble
Molly  " Wow, really?! She must have been really beautiful... and slim" *Molly blushes, aware that she is hardly either*
11/05/2008  23:05:23  Morgan "As I recall, she had the figure a woman should have. Curves. Still, that was a long time ago, but it just shows that it happens"
11/05/2008  23:05:59  Molly  *Sh subconciously pulls in her stomach and pushes her chest out*
11/05/2008  23:06:09  Molly  "maybe there's hope yet then"
11/05/2008  23:07:12  Morgan "Molly, do you not have family in Tawstock?"
11/05/2008  23:08:01  Molly  *Molly looks him in the eyes, trying to figure out if there's any hidden trick there*
11/05/2008  23:08:21  Molly  "Umm... yes, my parents still live there"
11/05/2008  23:08:55  Morgan "Do you not wish to see them? It occured to me that you had the perfect chance while in the village
11/05/2008  23:08:58  Morgan "
11/05/2008  23:09:20  Molly  *Molly bites her lower lip as tears come to her eyes*
11/05/2008  23:09:36  Molly  "I'm sorry... I can't... please excuse me"
11/05/2008  23:09:50  Molly  *she turns and goes through the door at a near run*
11/05/2008  23:10:53  Morgan *Morgan shoves his way through the door, chasing Molly* "You stop right there young lady!"
11/05/2008  23:12:04  Molly  *She is torn, not wanting him to see her red and patchy face, tears streaming down her rosy cheeks* "Please, just let me go"
11/05/2008  23:12:50  Morgan "I think, blossom, you've got some explaining to do. I understand you're upset, but I wont have this house disrupted uneccessarily"
11/05/2008  23:13:43  Molly  *Molly sags down, the window ledge catching her ample behind before it hits the floor, and she sits, looking at the carpet, huge tears falling in to her lap*
11/05/2008  23:14:07  Molly  "I can't tell you, because you'll hate me, and call me a dirty whore like the others"
11/05/2008  23:15:11  Morgan *Morgan crouches beside her, smoothing her hair with one hand* "Why on Theah would I call you such a thing?"
11/05/2008  23:16:39  Molly  *She struggles to catch her breath, feeling comfort, and a strange tingling in her scalp from his hand* "you won't tell anyone?" *She looks up to meet his gaze*
11/05/2008  23:17:11  Morgan "My girl, if you knew half the secrets I kept, you wouldn't even need to ask"
11/05/2008  23:18:18  Molly  "Bet yours aren't enough to get you disowned by your parents and shamed in the village though"
11/05/2008  23:19:40  Morgan *Morgan fights the urge to collapse into hysterical laughter* "You may be right... you may be wrong. I still dont see why I'd call you a whore, though"
11/05/2008  23:22:34  Molly  *She sniffles, enjoying him being so close, even though she doesnt want to feel that way* It started the summer before last... My father decided that he wanted to rise in the community, and made lucky matches with local gentleman to marry their daughters to my brothers. In an effort to get higher, he arranged a match for me with Sir Dagget's son John."
11/05/2008  23:22:55  Molly  *She waits to see if the name rings a bell, looking in to his big blue eyes*
11/05/2008  23:23:58  Morgan *Morgans eyes narrow, recollection of a face coming to mind* "Dagget... arrogant swine if I remember rightly, though I hear his son was quite the gentleman"
11/05/2008  23:26:06  Molly  *She smiles through the tears* "Yes, John was lovely... we spent many pleasant days together, in the village and on long walks, talking about the future... our own house, a couple of horses, babies... we would have been very happy together. The wedding was planned for June last year, not long before my eighteenth birthday"
11/05/2008  23:26:45  Morgan *Morgan waits, unspeaking*
11/05/2008  23:27:27  Molly  *She hesitates, knowing she's going to have to say things to him that no man should hear, except from his own wife*
11/05/2008  23:30:24  Molly  "In february, I started to get very tired, being sick in the mornings " *she takes a deep breath, and says quietly, avoiding his glance* "... and I missed my courses. My mother was suspicious from then, though she told me that it was not unusual to miss one, and I would be fine. I became iller and iller, unable to leave the house, fever and tiredness driving me to remain in my bed."
11/05/2008  23:32:13  Molly  "John came calling, but he was turned away, assured that I was just under the weather. When march came and went with nothing, my mother told my father. I could here raised voices, but was too feverish to care. By then I was coughing up blood, and my chest burned with every breath. But no-one cared about that, they were all convinced I must be with child"
11/05/2008  23:32:33  Molly  *She looks at Morgan, waiting to see the inevitable judgement in his eyes*
11/05/2008  23:37:48  Morgan *Morgan looks at Molly earnestly* "but you weren't.." *Morgan made it sound more statement than question*
11/05/2008  23:39:43  Molly  *She smiles* "oh course not. I'm led to believe a woman can't get a baby on herself without help from a man... and I've never been that lucky" *She blushes a deep scarlet*
11/05/2008  23:41:35  Molly  "To be honest, I've never ever been properly kissed..."
11/05/2008  23:41:36  Morgan "Yes, I'm aware that it requires some help from a man. So, what was it caused the coughing and blood?"
11/05/2008  23:42:00  Morgan *Morgan almost chuckles* "Thats the second time in as many days I've been told that"
11/05/2008  23:42:40  Molly  *Molly looks away from him, knowing who must have said it*
11/05/2008  23:45:38  Molly  "I found out a few months later that I had consumption. My body had been using all the available energy to fight this losing battle to keep me well, and thats what caused all the other problems. By then I'd been thrown out, with only a few keepsakes and the clothes on my back. I stumbled to the port, too delierious to take in anything, and ended up in a lodging house there."
11/05/2008  23:48:22  Molly  "By my own good luck, a doctor and his wife and daughter were also staying in the lodgings. He had some experience in treating the condition, and he and his wife Adara, and Ilena, their daughter nursed me back. I dont remember those few weeks, apart form a feeling of intense loneliness, but day by day I became stronger, and eventually I was able to leave."
11/05/2008  23:49:57  Molly  "My mother had been paying my board, without my father's knowledge, and on the day I left, I received a note, which Ilena had to read to me. It said I would not be welcome, and should not contact my family anymore. I came here, and have kept my distance from them. So, that's why they call me a whore, and why I cant seek out my family."
11/05/2008  23:51:03  Molly  *She breathes a deep sigh, finally getting her secret off her chest after so long of suffering in silence. She feels his hand, unremoved, still on her hair, and fights to ignore the emotions that come with the touch*
11/05/2008  23:51:41  Morgan "You're a brave young woman to tell me, Molly"
11/05/2008  23:52:06  Molly  *she giggles* "To be honest, you gave me little choice"
11/05/2008  23:52:58  Morgan "There's always a choice. Be brave and stand, or run."
11/05/2008  23:53:43  Molly  "I had no choice when they made me leave, and when John decided I was no long fit to be his fiancee..."
11/05/2008  23:54:22  Morgan "At least it was his choice. Some people dont have the luxury of making the decision to leave, themselves"
11/05/2008  23:55:03  Molly  "Some people are born with choices, some aren't"
11/05/2008  23:56:40  Molly  "If I'd had the choice, we would have married, and been happy. Although I wasn't really in love with him, there wasn't a spark there like I've read and heard about, we would have been happy together"
11/05/2008  23:58:01  Morgan "You never know, Molly, perhaps someone will take a shine to you and you to them that wont care about social stature... trust me, there are men like that out there"
11/05/2008  23:59:35  Molly  "That would be nice. Just have to make sure they were deaf to the rumours about me." *She goes very pale* "Oh... perhaps that's why Horatio left without saying anything"
12/05/2008  00:00:25  Morgan "No, I'm sure that wasn't the reason. More likely he was afraid of my return"
12/05/2008  00:01:17  Molly  *She giggles again* "perhaps... you do come across as a little ummm... ferocious sometimes you know?"
12/05/2008  00:02:29  Morgan *Morgan looks to the floor and sighs* "Overreaction to make up for past failings, I'm afraid"
12/05/2008  00:04:42  Molly  *Molly closes her eyes slowly* be bold or run away, thats what he said... *She gently touches his chin, tilting his head to meet his gaze* "You have never seemed anything other than a true hero and gentleman to me. I can't imagine you failing at anything"
12/05/2008  00:05:56  Morgan *Morgans eyes show some internal battle, a mixture of pain and regret*
12/05/2008  00:06:26  Molly  *Molly looks at him with deep compassion, unsure whether to ask or not*
12/05/2008  00:08:45  Molly  "Are you ok?"
12/05/2008  00:10:02  Morgan "As ok as I'll ever be, I expect"
12/05/2008  00:12:01  Molly  "I wish I knew some way to help you. You deserve to be happy, and it seems you now have an opportunity to have happiness" *This close to him, its hard for her to think of what is happening with him and Evie. She can't understand why now, after all these months, she finds his presence so special.*
12/05/2008  00:14:41  Morgan "I think that perhaps Lady Eiblinn is just confused. I've no doubt she'll find someone more suitable than I"
12/05/2008  00:16:39  Molly  *Molly bites her lip, unsure how bold to be* "She'd be a fool to give up your affections. What more could she want?" *Molly looks at his lips, and then drops her hand from his chin, looking at the floor to his right*
12/05/2008  00:17:46  Morgan "In truth, all she'll get by abiding with me is hurt... emotionally and most likely physically... her moving her affections elsewhere would also allieviate the feelings of guilt I have currently"
12/05/2008  00:18:52  Molly  *without hesitate to make sure she isnt speaking out of turn, Molly turns her blue eyes back to him* " Guilt? why?"
12/05/2008  00:20:13  Morgan *Morgan is somewhat taken aback by her boldness* "Guilt at my betrayal. I break a vow everytime I hold her, everytime I kiss her. "
12/05/2008  00:20:43  Molly  "Oh..."
12/05/2008  00:21:21  Morgan *Morgan scans Mollys eyes, trying to perceive the level of trust he could have in her*
12/05/2008  00:21:55  Molly  *There is a sadness in her eyes, but an openess there, an intimacy of friendship*
12/05/2008  00:22:22  Morgan "You remember I told you of a love I had in the past?"
12/05/2008  00:23:06  Molly  "Yes, I remember" How can I not, it was right before I started to feel out of control when near you...
12/05/2008  00:24:18  Morgan "She was more than someone I loved... I..." *He pauses, wondering at the wisdom of revealing himself further*
12/05/2008  00:24:57  Molly  *Molly hangs on his words, her head dropping slightly to encourage him it's safe to continue*
12/05/2008  00:25:13  Morgan "She was my wife"
12/05/2008  00:26:18  Molly  "Oh, I see" *She doesnt push the point, waiting to see if he'll reveal more*
12/05/2008  00:27:01  Morgan "No, I think you dont" damn. Watch your grammar man. "She died, in a fire."
12/05/2008  00:28:04  Molly  "Oh, Morgan, I'm so sorry" *Her arms reach out to embrace him, and then she realises her folly, pulling them back into her lap*
12/05/2008  00:29:42  Morgan "I made a vow on our wedding day to be with no other, and everything I do with Eiblinn *Morgan notes the lack of use of her familiar name* betrays that"
12/05/2008  00:33:17  Molly  *Molly looks at him tenderly, covering the jealousy that burns in her mind* "But you can't go back. I wouldn't think your wife would want you to be unhappy and alone. If she hadn't passed away, I imagine you would never have given Mistress Eiblinn a second thought, that she would always only be second best." And god knows, I'm so much a fool I'd give everything I own right now to be 3rd
12/05/2008  00:39:20  Morgan "Whether she'd want me to be happy or not, I still feel the guilt as keenly as if they were alive"
12/05/2008  00:41:07  Molly  *Molly notices the 'they', and pauses to see if theres an explanation coming*
12/05/2008  00:42:00  Morgan *Morgan looks to the floor, unsure if she'd caught his slipup*
12/05/2008  00:42:46  Molly  *She decides they've gone far enough for her to risk asking, softly, she says* "They?"
12/05/2008  00:43:34  Morgan damn, "Dietlinde and I had a daughter. She died in the same fire"
12/05/2008  00:46:54  Molly  *Molly grips her hands tightly, desperately wanting to take him in her arms and offer the little comfort she can* No, that job belongs to another , Molly, and he's made that very clear. "I'm so sorry, you have been incredibly unlucky. Dietlinde is a beautiful name... unusual for Avalon" hey, now wait a minute *Her mind begins to race, koertig, a seamstress, and an eisen noble*
12/05/2008  00:47:17  Molly  (what an innocent slip to get caught by :P)
12/05/2008  00:47:36  Morgan (I'm impressed)
12/05/2008  00:47:57  Molly  (muahahahaha, she was gonna figure it eventually, as for how she plays it..)
12/05/2008  00:48:52  Morgan *Morgan's heart suddenly races, wondering if he's been figured out. He decides to make the best of the situation* "It isn't Avalonian. Dietlinde was from Eisen"
12/05/2008  00:49:11  Morgan (He knows full well its too easy to get caught out in a lie... just gotta temper the truth)
12/05/2008  00:51:36  Molly  Yes, I'll bet she was...and a simple master-at-arms of an avolonian coastal estate would come in to contact with an Eisen immigrant how? *Molly smiles at him, her face a picture of innocence* "It's lovely, a much prettier name than Molly. Sometimes I think I'd prefer to be foreign, maybe a posh vodacce courtesan, a life full of fine clothes, food and gossip"
12/05/2008  00:52:12  Molly  (Molly may be a little too bright to fall for it, but a little too caught up in her interest in him to push it)
12/05/2008  00:52:54  Morgan "I'm given to understand the Vodacce courts are very... interesting"
12/05/2008  00:53:44  Molly  "All I know if from what I've read. I'd love to go some day, but if I can't afford a gown, I could hardly afford ship's passage" damn, didnt want him to know that.
12/05/2008  00:57:17  Morgan "Perhaps one day Lady Torrington will want to visit Vodacce, and no doubt she'll want maids with her. Personally, I'd rather not go, but I dont suspect I'll have any choice in the matter"
12/05/2008  00:59:00  Molly  "Perhaps... my life is full of perhapses" *She smiles at him, noticing his hand is still on her hair*
12/05/2008  01:00:35  Morgan "Everyones life is full of perhapses." perhaps I wont get found out. "Perhaps the people that come here will actually respect me, rather than fearing me"
12/05/2008  01:02:17  Molly  "I think some of them need that fear. Nothing tempers the desire to do wrong like a little fear of a strong man" and don't I bloody know it
12/05/2008  01:03:20  Morgan *Morgan laughs gently* "Unfortunately, those that need fear dont have it. They fear nor respect any man"
12/05/2008  01:04:26  Molly  *She smiles at him* "Respect, like food, is something every man needs I guess" and the other thing men need...well men, and women both I guess
12/05/2008  01:06:32  Molly  *she blushes at the pictures that form in her head, starting with the idea of his fingers weaving through her hair and pulling gently* Molly, he belongs to another, whats wrong with you?
12/05/2008  01:07:59  Morgan *Morgan smoothes her hair once more before standing up* "I think I need to finish my drink. Will you join me when you're ready?"
12/05/2008  01:10:22  Molly  *She looks away, knowing that these few minutes may be the only time she ever has his attention* "Yes, I'll be back to work presently" *she stands, and turns slightly from him, her heart begging him to do something to make her feel cared for, knowing that he won't*
12/05/2008  01:11:47  Morgan *Morgan places his hands on her shoulders, looking at her intently* "My dear girl, I didn't mean to work" *With this he embraces her, holding her tightly for a moment before letting her go* "When you're ready..." *He turns to walk back through the door*
12/05/2008  01:12:26  Molly  *Molly stands there, looking more shocked than if he'd slapped her*