Chapter 10: A Mother's Love

"So, Lyall," Olivia said again. "How is the latest project coming?"

Olivia spoke with most of her words hidden; she was purposefully trying to exclude anyone who didn't immediately know what she was talking about. Obviously meant for Abigail, but it also excluded her mother. Though Charlotte didn't seem to mind it all that much.

"Quite well, I would say," Lyall answered her earnestly. His interest seemed more in the topic; he hadn't once glanced at Olivia's breasts overflowing from her dress.

Abigail thought that was very chivalrous of him. Olivia seemed to obviously disagree, straightening her position so every often, her breasts nearly falling out each time.

Olivia gave a dainty laugh, placing her hand in front of her mouth. "How long do you think it would take?" Oliva asked, and then immediately bit on her index finger, as though wondering. Her entire demeanor was nothing short of seduction of the highest order.

It was truly a sight to behold. And Abigail saw even Charlotte stare at her daughter with open disgust and outright disbelief.

Abigail didn't even feel disgusted, she just really felt that she and Charlotte and every other servant present should leave the room, since Olivia was so close to naked already, she felt they were already intruding on something.

Abigail truly wondered how long that dress would hold it together for, as Olivia leaned closer in her chair to Lyall.

"Hmmm," Lyall thought it over. "I'm not sure, actually. The last time Mr. Woodtriche and I spoke about it, Adam insinuated he might have to get some outside help in on it," Lyall glanced to Abigail, who was trying very hard to mind her own business. "Do you have any idea, Abigail?"

Abigail was about to speak, though she had no idea what she could say to turn Lyall's attention away from her and back to her sister who was shooting daggers at her for even being present in the room.

Abigail was saved from answering by a servant who came in carrying a tray.

"Is that treacle tart?" Lyall asked, excitedly.

Forgetting entirely about Abigail and Olivia altogether, he inched forward in his seat, as the waiter brought the tray right in front of him.

"It certainly is, sir," the servant told Lyall with a smile. "Miss Olivia told Carolee you'd be stopping by, and Miss Carolee started immediately without any further instruction."

True to his word, the serving boy opened the tray to reveal four treacle tarts, and both Olivia and Lyall helped themselves eagerly. Abigail took what the servant offered her gratefully, but Charlotte simply turned her nose and muttered under her breath about 'commoner desserts'.

They were each given a cup of coffee as well. This, Charlotte took, since there seemed to be no wealthy only substitute for coffee, Abigail supposed, Charlotte just had to make do drinking the same drink as the commoners.

The servant took away the tray, but another one came back in almost immediately.

Abigail blinked, sure she was seeing double. All of the servants looked so familiar, and all were different. Abigail struggled to remember their names and wondered if there even was a point, or if each servant simply did one task and was then replaced, never to be seen again.

"Mr. Lyall," one of the servants called to him, and the young man turned to the servant.

Abigail watched him with interest. He wasn't like her step-mother, or even father, with how he treated the servants. He interacted with them like they were living people in the same place as he was.

It seemed he treated them even better than Olivia did. But Abigail had long since excused her sister's behavior. Olivia was spoiled, and used to being the star of everything around her.

"Mr. Woodtriche is calling for you, sir. He's asked if he could borrow you for a moment." the servant continued. "He apologizes, knowing he didn't schedule a meeting with you, but he hopes you will be accommodating nonetheless."

Abigail saw a genuine smile across Lyall's face then. And she would know, she'd spent quite a bit of her time today seeing his charming one. His attachment to her father was genuine, then. Besides the obvious perks it all came with.

"Of course," Lyall said, buttoning his jacket and standing up.

"Shall I tell him that you're on your way, sir?" The servant asked.

And, Abigail noted, the servants seemed to have a fondness for Lyall too. She wondered how that had happened; he obviously had to be a staple in the household, for that degree of familiarity to be present between them.

"No, no need Trevor," Lyall assured the man. "I'll go to him directly. The office?"

"Yes, sir," Trevor nodded. "You can go right in, I'm sure he's waiting for you."

Even Abigail knew her father wasn't one to be refused, not even a polite request.

"Tell dad I said hi, won't you?" Olivia asked, smiling at Lyall, crossing her legs, her dress fell open at the slit so far up her thigh Abigail wondered that her sister's underwear didn't become exposed.

"Of course, Olivia," Lyall smiled at her, nodding politely. "I'll be sure to do so."

Abigail kept quiet, sure that her sister had put on enough of a show to suffice the both of them for the rest of their lives.

Without another word, Lyall left the room, dignified, but there was a notable excitement in his step. Abigail wondered how business deals could be that exciting, but she didn't dwell on it.

She'd been hoping to go back out into the garden today. She wasn't ready to admit the why to herself just yet, but she would admit that she wanted to go there.

As soon as Lyall was gone, Olivia immediately corrected her dress so that she was slightly more clothed than naked, and with a huff, left the room. Not once looking back at Abigail or her mother.

"Olivia can be a bit spiteful," Charlotte said suddenly. "She lacks taste when she is blinded. Though it is no excuse, she really should know better regardless."

And Abigail turned to her in shock. Had Charlotte really just criticized her own daughter?

"It's alright," Abigail told her. And really, it was. She was old enough that a few jabs wouldn't hurt her feelings, especially when she understood Olivia's mind and make-up.

What confused Abigail the most was Charlotte suddenly being so nice to her.

"Though she spoke only the truth, you are a bastard child with no hopes of attaining any real value in this world, and so cannot possible amount to anything," Charlotte said it so off-handedly Abigail almost didn't catch it for a moment. "She really should keep those words behind doors. It's so unseemly to speak them aloud in company."

Abigail took a deep breath, steadying herself, trying to calm her rising heartbeat. She felt her cheeks flush in anger.

"Though you are certainly worth Lyall's attentions," Charlotte said again. "He has no real worth without my husband backing him, an absolute pauper to be sure. So he's worth your attention. I have no idea why Charlotte flaunts herself in front of him."

Abigail closed her eyes, she would not give in to this woman's taunting. Though she definitely wouldn't stoop to her level.

"Have you no tongue?" Charlotte prodded Abigail. "You were perfectly fine to speak in front of Lyall, and now? Nothing to say to me?" Charlotte pressed. "Though it is right that you keep silent in my presence, of course. You are a stain on this family's pedigree. Your very existence harms my darling Olivia."

"Excuse me, Ma'am," Abigail said. "I think you have insulted me enough, and though I'm sure you still have so much more to say, I absolutely must leave now."

Abigail made to get up, and Charlotte fixed her with a death glare.

"Impudent little girl!" Charlotte spat, "Olivia will inherit the company," Charlotte told her. "There can be no other way."

This woman was a different kind of delusional. Abigail didn't want the company. She had her own hopes and dreams. Abigail was grateful to her father that she wasn't living in poverty any longer, that she didn't have to choose between food and tuition.

But she had no designs on her sister's inheritance.

And besides. Olivia had already resigned herself that she wouldn't be getting the company.

Abigail could think of nothing to say to Charlotte, this woman just seemed so out of touch with the reality around her. So she thought the only solution was to leave.

Gathering herself up, fighting back tears, Abigail forced herself to walk slowly out of the room. Charlotte would not get the satisfaction of getting to her.

Abigail held her head high, and walked straight out of the house, right to the garden by the overgrown bushes, by the unkept trees.

She climbed the boulder she'd seen Mark investigating, and allowed everything to wash over her, and just cried.