Abigail

---16---

I pinned the linen shirt to the washing line with the wooden peg, the laundry needed doing and I couldn't turn down something that reminded me of home, as silly as it sounded I found it comforting that I was still doing laundry over 100 years later, if I even existed there anymore. There was a sudden drop in my stomach at the thought of my timeline being completely erased from history. My mum never having me, my sister never knowing me, my mistakes never made. Its an odd feeling knowing that you're responsible for a change like that.

Ruth yapped on beside me, explaining to me how the others were believing her story of a husband who worked away, she still had some time left before her bump would begin to show, and I knew that when it did the pair of us would be lying through our teeth in order to keep her reputation in tact. I wished I could tell her that it was a common thing where I came from, that my own mother was unmarried, but I feared that she would start questioning where I was from, and I still didn't have a suitable answer.

It had been a few days since the confusion with Mr Ridley, and I had made a conscious effort to avoid him, I knew he wasn't all that interested in talking to me or apologising because he hadn't come to find me and I knew that he knew exactly where I was.    

"I think that's  all of it." Ruth said almost joyously patting her wet hands on her apron before tucking some fallen pieces of hair behind her ears. 

"Wonderful, now if you don't mind I think I should like to go and read for a while." I smiled and she nodded, I took it as permission to leave the laundry room. I untied the apron and and hung it on the hook on the door before making my way back upstairs. 

I walked straight past the drawing room, I knew that's where everyone was but the genuine thought of joining them made me want to fall asleep. The sun was shining through the huge windows, the dust from the heavy curtains floating around in the light. It was bright and warm, almost midday. 

"Lady Abigail!" The shrill tone of her voice bringing a small smile to my face. 

"Hello Lady Catherine." I turned to see her walking quickly down the hall, not running, obviously. 

"Abigail, I saw you walking past but when you didn't come in I decided to come out and see you." She smiled, linking her arm with mine. "Can we do something, maybe go into the city?" She asked hopefully. I hadn't been out of the palace since the night of the murder, my gut began to shift causing a slight sickness to come apparent. 

"Yes, that sounds lovely." I replied with a false smile. 

It was later in the day and the sun was still beating down, I was thankful that I had chosen to wear a dress made of lighter material today, I'm not sure how I would of coped if I had chosen to wear something heavier. Catherine had been in an odd mood since we left the palace, it was as if something was on her mind.

"Is everything alright Catherine?" I asked, my hands holding the hat box from 2 stores ago. 

"I haven't been entirely honest with you Abigail, I asked you out here today for a reason." She paused and looked at me, her eyes teasing me for a response.

"I see." I shifted the box around in my hands to distract myself, I could sense the uneasiness in my own voice. 

"For some time now, I haven't questioned you, I've lied for you, I gave you somewhere to stay, a life here in London, Who are you Abigail?" Her tone was both harsh and nervous, if that's even possible. She was however right, without Catherine I can't say I'd still be alive.  

"I appreciate that you haven't asked, but I can't tell you. " I said quietly, focusing on the monochrome stripes that decorated the hat box, chewing on my lip.

"Well why not?" She sounded more impatient than before, and when I looked up the frown that was etched on her face made me gulp. 

"You wouldn't believe me." I stated simply.

"How do you know I wouldn't, you haven't asked me. " 

I was stumped now, she was right, although I'd be lying if I said it didn't give me great satisfaction that women themselves never really changed, just the way they were treated. A woman will catch you out, always.  

"Come on tell me!" She whined, nudging my side with her elbow "Please, I know you aren't from London just from what you were wearing." 

"Well I am from London." I suddenly felt hot, and sweaty, why I didn't say I was from somewhere else I don't know, because I was so obviously not from this London. 

"You didn't look like you were from London, plus you told me you were lost, and you were on the outskirts of London, and you'd just fallen down a hill. " 

I gaped at her, wishing I hadn't asked her what was wrong, I could see no way out of this, she had analysed it all. I could try to lie my way out of it, but I knew I wasn't a very good liar, I had never been, perhaps if I was I wouldn't be where I am now. 

"I hit my head when I fell, I couldn't remember anything, I still don't, it's all fuzzy before that day." I avoided her eye, gulping down the rising bile and hoped she wouldn't doubt me, I hoped she was a trusting person, or that she could see I didn't want to say. 

Her eyes tried to trap mine in a stare, she wanted to test my story.

"If you don't remember anything, how would you remember you were from London?" She raised an eyebrow at me, as if to silently say 'nice try'. I bit my lip and looked at her, my eyes pleading for her to leave this whole topic in the past. 

"Now I know you have something to hide, it's in your best interest to tell me the truth Abigail, I can promise you that." Her voice was quiet and low, slightly threatening and it sent a shiver down my spine. 

A/N: 

Word count: 1081

SO SORRY THAT IT IS SO LATE!! I'm not sure how i feel about this chapter so i'll probably end up rewriting it (I'll end up rewriting the whole book lets be real) but anyway, enjoy and thank you for being patient. If you see any mistakes, let me know so I can fix them, thanks. 

- D.W :)