Olive took the hair brush from Aella and, standing behind her, gently ran it through her childhood friend's long hair as she spoke her concerns. Olive had to hold her tongue as Aella defended her mother. She was sure Melora had someone's best interest in mind, but she wasn't sure that someone was Aella. Otherwise she'd never have let her daughter go on so long unmarried. Surely, if she'd been less 'picky', Aella could have been married to one of the heirs to a duchy that was, well, younger than Micah Coleridge.
But her last question made Olive stop, and for a moment she paused in brushing Aella's hair, making eye contact with her in the mirror. Oh, she couldn't really be so naive... For half a moment, Olive was tempted to tell her that surely of course he wouldn't, but what service would she be doing her?
Finally, she started brushing Aella's hair again and said, "I don't think a husband lies with his wife only to beget children." But then she shrugged and said, "But maybe at his age, he won't have the energy," she gave Aella a grin though the mirror, and added, only half-joking, "and you'll be able to find a younger man to share your bed. After all, like you said, he has children. His line is secure."