Abby's POV
I ran for a very long time, tried to stop myself from crying. Failed miserably at it. Wandered aimlessly in the vast garden for a hour before returning to the southern wing of the palace. Abbott's part of the palace.
I realized I was all alone in this place. No allies, no friend and no family.
Abbott didn't come home that night too. I slept on an empty bed. Stared at the empty wall, counted seconds till daybreak when I would officially be a wife to an absentee husband.
The marriage ball was today. His majesty the king had insisted.
Now, I have to smile and pretend this marriage was anything but a bloody nightmare.
When I woke up, I went outside to take a walk and when I came back,I found a young girl placing a dress on my bed.
She was about my age in a plain dress and a brown bonnet on her head.
"Hello" I waved. It was good to see someone my age.
"My lady, my name is…." she stopped talking as her eyes gazed all over me like I was on display. "You went outside in your nightdress, my lady"
"Yes, I did. It is a beautiful day to go horse riding or swimming. Or murder trees" I grinned widely as I tried to cover up my sadness.
"I can see your ankle! And your lady parts too, my lady!" she whispered forcefully like she wouldn't dare say it out loud.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror that she wheeled to the middle of the room.
She must have done it not long after I went in search of Abbott because it certainly wasn't there when I woke up.
I stared at myself and I didn't see what the ruckus was all about.
My night dress was almost touching my knee and my lady part like she called it, was well concealed. Only things visible were my neck, my chest and…my arm.
Why is she having a fit?
I wear my night dress to breakfast at home.
Then it clicked. This wasn't home.
Here, there were rules and propriety to consider.
"Oh" I murmured before seeing the plate of food on the table.
"Is that for me?" I asked and ogled the bread.
"Yes milady. Our Master asked for a light breakfast to be sent up to you as you didn't eat dinner yesterday, milady"
"Abbott?"
"Yes"
I tried to hide a smile. So the devil cares.
He remembered breakfast.
"I drew you a bath, milady. Would you like to proceed?"
"A bath?" I asked her.
"Yes, milady"
"You don't have to call me that, I am Abby. What is your name?"
"Eve, milady….my name is Eve and i couldn't call you by your name, i am your servant"
"So is Mary and Nanny Josie yet I am Abigail to them. I need food, Evie…i am this close to fainting"
I sat on the chair the young girl pulled out for me, the first thing I touched was the chicken. I took a bite. It was heavenly.
"Do you want some, Evie?"
"No, milady…princesses don't share their food with their lady's maid"
"You should tell that to Mary. we used to wrestle for the biggest chicken legs and she is my maid" i chuckled. It was a good memory. "And i am not a princess. I'm just married to a prince. I will always be Abby Spencer"
When I looked at Evie, she looked like she would hurl over if I continued talking about the sacrilegious act of my former maid, it was when my eyes caught the bouquet of flowers by the corner.
"Did you bring me flowers, Evie?"
"Prince Abbott sent it, milady. It came with a request for her ladyship to join him for picnic this morning before the ball"
"Oh?" my eyes lowered. There weren't from Abbott. Abbott doesn't do picnic. He does occasional act of kindness and with a wrap of extreme violence.
It must be from Markle. He must be trying to lure me out for a picnic using Abbott's name because it was the only way I would meet him alone.
I reckoned he was having a bad time watching this whole damn ball unfold. Watching me marry another man.
"Master must be happy with my lady if he sent flowers"
Master didn't send flowers. I almost told her. Master hates me Evie. Master killed our tree.
"Congratulations, my Lady."
"On what, Eve"
"The ball. You should see the hall. The king spared no expensive. It's so beautiful!!!" She squealed like a school girl.
I blinked. I was hoping it would be a small gathering but king Aldous Raven had other plans, I guess.
Now, a whole lot of people will witness the fact that my husband doesn't want me. Everyone will see.