Never Not Married

The Not So Welcoming Lady

Abigail sets her eyes on the road as she swings the rope to control the carriage.Quite the opposite of a decent lady everybody wants her to be.She hadn’t come home in years so everywhere feels distant to her.Though she had preferred to stay in England,she just wants to explore her hometown maybe for months before heading back to where really felt like home to her.

She had heard of the arrival of Edward.Though they hadn’t been close but she will be glad to see him again after the thought of never seeing him again.

She got hold of her hat which the wind blew off.She had worn many layers of clothings to avoid the cold but still her body was fragile enough to not stop shaking.

It was just dawn so everywhere wasn’t clear for her to see.Just as she entered the town,she accidentally knocked down a someone who might have been blinded by the darkness like she was.

“Oh my goodness”she muttered to herself and get off the carriage.She couldn’t see the stranger’s face but she was sure it was a man.

“Were you planning to kill someone when you are driving in a town market with only a little lightening up the sky”The man said rudely while getting up.

“Am so sorry I should have looked better”Abigail said while helping the man up.

“Or maybe you shouldn’t have driven to town this early in the morning”The man said without considering the driver’s apology.The man was Richard who had sneaked out of his mistress’s home to escape to his.

Abigail wasn’t the type to stay mute when it was time for her to talk.

“You weren’t blind nor deaf to see or hear the carriage coming,we should both have looked better”Abigail said.Richard had want to retort but realized it was a woman who had driven the carriage.

“What is a woman doing so early in the morning with no one with her..driving a carriage”Richard had said the last part with obvious surprise.

Abigail had always want to hide the fact that she was a woman whenever she travels late cause of many lustful men she might come across.She decides to go back to her carriage and drive on but the man held her shoulder which was indecent to do to a woman.For she had learned defense in England,she decides to teach the man a lesson.With a twitch of an eye,Richard found himself on the bare floor yet again.

“Oh..”Richard moan out of pain.

Abigail used the chance to escape from the man but he found consciousness and stood in front of the carriage to block her way.

Then,the sky had lit enough for them to see each other’s faces.Abigail was irritated to find that a young decent looking man like him had tried to make a move on her while Richard could see the pale skinned lady on the carriage,finding her to sort his taste but her violence is disturbing.

“Stop right now”Abigail’s only aim was to get away so she didn’t hesitate to hurt him.Richard quickly get away from the road when he realized the lady wasn’t planning to stop.After she had left,he watches the carriage disappear into the depth of the town.

Helena was restless all night after what happened the night before.Was her husband gaining interest in her for him to care about her so called rules? The answer for her might be impossible to find.

She stood up from her bed and paces around her room.Anxiety building in her,she was getting anxious to see her husband.Though she doesn’t understand the feeling but it felt wrong.

She decides to open her window to take a lookout and then she sights someone coming down from a carriage.Looks like they have yet another unwanted visitor cause everyone that comes to the mansion seems unwanted to Edward.

She prepares to act accordingly like Edward would want for him to be pleased with her.

“Oh my goodness Lady Abigail”Iris said with surprise when she sees the visitor who had knocked.Iris hugged Abigail as they both were happy to see each other in a long time.

“Do I still look like a lady for you to address me as one”Abigail said after they had dissembled from their embrace.

“Lord Edward and Lady Helena would be so pleased to see you”Iris said.

“Lady Helena?”Abigail questions totally forgetting that Edward had gotten married.

“Oh yes..you are yet to meet her..She’s Lord Edward’s wife”Iris said while closing the door.Abigail then remembered Arnold had mentioned Edward’s marriage in his last sent letter.

“Oh..Arnold had said so but I had forgotten for a moment”Abigail said while taking off her hat.

Mrs Dougenis appears from the trail of her room.Knowing the woman,Abigail wasn’t annoyed with her facial expression when she saw her.She had always been cold from the very start she had known her.

“Hello Mrs Dougenis”Abigail said.

“What a surprise Lady Abigail”Mrs Dougenis has simply said.

“I shall inform Lord Edward of your arrival”Iris said before exiting upstairs.

Mrs Dougenis looked Abigail from head to toe.She finds it tasteful for a decent lady to dress the way she had.Abigail knew exactly what the woman was thinking about so she defended herself.

“I had simply worn this to keep away from the cold”Abigail said.Mrs Dougenis just nods as a response.

“Very well then,you should set a good example to the new lady of the house,she needs one”Abigail knew Mrs Dougenis had always found the wrong in people.She doesn’t appreciate anyone except being loyal to her Lord so she wasn’t surprised to know Mrs Dougenis finds Edward’s wife displeasing.

Abigail gaze up to see Edward coming down the stairs.To her,he is handsome as always and a more grown up than she remembered.

“Sister..what are surprise”Edward said.He is pleased to see her back after so many years though he had left first.

“Here I was thinking I would never see you again”She said.It felt they had been close in the past but they weren’t.They were just kind and good to each other.

Edward chuckles to her words.

“Arnold had made mention of your coming,it’s really good to see you..Have you been well?”Edward said.

“Better than living under this roof”She chuckles a little.

“Iris had gone to fetch my wife but before she gets here,you might as well go to your room,it must have been a long drive”Abigail did what Edward said.Truly she was tired and exhausted.She needed to get off her clothings and take a long warm refreshing bath.

When she got to her room,everywhere is clean without no trace of cobwebs.If a stranger had been the one to come in,they would have thought she was just gone for a day but it had been over 5 years since she stepped foot in the room.

She got off her coat and dumps it on her bed.Her things was still in place just like she had left them.She looks at herself in the mirror where she had always formed a smile.She smiles to herself once more before falling on her bed.The warm comfort of her room is better than any man’s embrace.She didn’t bother using covers till she drifts to sleep.

Iris had informed Helena of who the guest was.Helena had never seen Iris so happy to talk about someone.To her,that meant Edward’s sister wouldn’t be a problem to her.Iris couldn’t stop talking about Abigail.She had even tightened Helena’s corset being distracted with her excitement.

“You would be so pleased after you meet her”Iris said while beaming.

After dressing her up,Iris excused herself to go attend to their guest.

Helena sits on her bed wondering if Edward would have good relationship with his so called sister too.To her,his family is messed up just like hers.

She finally decides to go downstairs for breakfast.She met Edward alone at the dining table.She greets him and tries to avoid a face contact with him.

After half an hour,Abigail joins them at the dining space.She exchanges pleasantries with Helena.Helena was astonished with her beauty.Was she the only one that was born ugly? She had silently chuckle to her own thought.Looks like everyone in her husband’s family is born with a godlike look.

They chatted,each of them careful of what to say.

After they had eaten,Edward excused himself to go to work and that left Helena with Abigail.Abigail wasn’t so social so she excused herself to her room too.Helena found nothing else to do than go back to her room to continue the texts she had busied herself with.

But then she got tired of reading alone without no one to chat with.She had missed Alice’s presence.She laid on her bed counting the ceilings till time keeps passing by.