Abby's POV
I blinked and refocused my gaze just as the door pushed open and an older woman marched in with no regards to the fact that I was half naked and barefooted.
Evie was the first to stand upright as she curtsied, me on the other hand was more preoccupied with my towel to safely secure my naked body.
I was beginning to realize that awfulness must run in this family.
"My lady, the dowager princess of Zurich" Evie murmured as a way of introduction.
I looked at my soon to be unofficial mother in law and I bowed like a proper lady or at least I mimicked exactly what Evie did.
"Your highness" I murmured before standing upright.
"Don't sludge, stand upright child! and introduce yourself"
Her voice reminded me of crickets, chirping away in the middle of the night.
I tried to straighten my posture but atlas, I was eighteen years too late to do that.
"I am honorable Abigail Spencer, my lady"
"A baron's daughter? you are quite ambitious, girl, aren't you? Trapping a Raven in marriage against his will"
"That's what I keep hearing" I chirped in before realizing it wasn't the tone to talk to one's future mother in law. "I mean…I am just lucky to have found favor in the eyes of his Majesty and second prince Abbott, my lady. I will do my best to be a good wife to your son, you need not worry, your highness"
She came closer to me and it made me want to run to the other end of the room. Where were heavy dresses when I needed them?
It would have acted as an armor.
"Leave at once, servant" Lady Beth ordered and Evie scurried off.
And I was left alone and nearly naked with this creature of a woman with pale skin and huge hairdo.
"You should know, little girl, that I would do anything to protect my son…his future. So, if you screw with his future or intervene in anyway, I will fucking end you. Do you understand?"
Her threat wasn't subtle but the hand tremor and the heart pounding I was experiencing certainly was.
The towel was my saving grace. It concealed how much her threat affected me.
Sweet mother of Zeus!
What was with this family and threat of bodily harm?!
And they did so well with such amazing perfection that one couldn't help but believe them.
I realized Lady Beth was a bully just like Abbott and so, I did what mama said to do when face to face with a foe of undetermined origin - make yourself tall and pray to God they don't see through the charade to the fear in Your heart because then you are truly fucked.
I took a step back and lowered my head slightly.
"Your concern for my marriage is noted, my future lady mother but you need not worry. Abbott's future is safe with me"
"I'm not talking about Abbott, you wench! Stay away from Markle. He is set to marry someone far more important than your measly self, child"
For some reason, it made me extremely sad. The question was who had Abbott's back? Who was fighting for his interest?
His father certainly wasn't. And now, the woman who raised him too.
"I am a married woman, Lady Beth..I assure you I have no interest in anyone who isn't Abbott Raven"
"Good" she looked around the room. "You wasted no time moving into his bedroom." She walked past me like she wanted to enter inside the inner chamber.
If she did, she would see that every trace of Abbott was gone. He had abandoned the room for me.
"Lady Beth" I called out, stopping her tracks. "I must dress. We don't want to keep the crown waiting, do we?" I asked her.
"Where is Abbott?" She asked me. "Do not tell me he has abandoned you already"
"No. We slept in the same bed. I wouldn't call that abandonment" I lied through my teeth.
Don't see through me!
Don't see through my charade!
Don't fucking see through me!
"Very well" she hissed. "You may resume, Miss Spencer"
She hovered around the door for a few minutes before she said
"I do hope he shows up for the ball or you my dear, will be the laughing stock of the entire hemisphere, Abigail" She looked at me and I held her gaze, I saw a thread of sincerity when she said "But he is not coming, is he? I think you already know that. My advice? Brace yourself for impact dear child. Being a Raven's wife is not for the faint hearted. Because when they are not frequenting whore houses or defiling your bed, they are off conquering the world. We are nothing more than child bearing tools for them."
"Abbott is not like that. He will show" I told her.
She smiled and walked out the door.
"Oh bloody hades!" I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding in.
Good.
This is good.
I am becoming very good at charade.
Now, I just need to find a bucket and puke my guts out!