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night.”
    “I hear you all deserved it.” Abby smiled.
    Victoria blushed, not saying anything.  Abby grinned.  She had a feeling she was going to like Victoria.
    “I see you’ve gotten some more clothes.”
    “Yes! I’ll admit I haven’t gone through them much, but I’m hoping they will all be nice.”
    “I’m sure it will be.  The master of the house’s mother has good taste.”
    Abby saw the look.  The look of dislike.
    “I’m sure he does, but honestly… what is she like?”
    “She’s… a handful to say the last, ma’am.  And that’s about all I can say.” With that Victoria crossed over to the clothing and began to sort through it.
    “She doesn’t know, right?  About her son.”
    “No, she does not.”
    Victoria pulled out a dark brow dress.  It looked like it might be simple, but Abby wouldn’t know until they got it on her.  She took a deep breath and slipped fresh under clothes on.
    “I’ glad to see she bought you some new corsets.  It will be nice to have a few handy.”
    “Will I ever be able to do this all on my own?”  Abby asked as she moved, allowing Victoria to dress her.
    “Not likely.  There will be some things you can do, like tying your own corset, but something you will still need my help for.  Until fashion changes, that is.”
    “I’d like fashion to hurry up and change.”  Abby muttered.  Victoria laughed softly.
    When they finished Abby made her way to the dining room.
    She stopped in the doorway and swallowed hard.  Tom and Owen sat side by side, they looked deep in conversation. I can’t turn back.   She told herself.  Although, that was a lie and she knew it.  She could turn back, they probably hadn’t seen her.
    Instead she took a deep breath and forced one foot in front of the other. She made her way to the table and sat down.
    Both men turned to stare at her.
    “Hello!” Thomas smiled widely. “I trust you slept well.”
    “I did.  Thank you.”
    Abby reached out and took a slice of fruit.  She chewed softly, watching the two men, her eyes drafting to Owen. Her heart skipped a beat as his eyes locked on her, a grin spread over his face.
    “Do you have plans for the day?”
    “I… I must study.” It was hard for her to say, but she had to.  She knew she must do it.  She had to learn this world, a world that she never thought she’d be brought into.  She had to make sure that this was the life she could keep.  She needed to, for herself, for her family- and for Thomas. “But, I believe I could make some time, if you were hinting.”
    “I was not hinting.  I planned to be rather up front about it.”
    Abby’s heat skipped a beat.  She tried not to let the wide grin come across her face.  But she didn’t stop it as it spread across her face. 
    “I’ll expect you for lunch again?”
     
    Owen liked a girl who took charge.  He liked a woman showed an interest in him.  And knowing that Abby of all women wanted him, that she was willing to admit she wanted to see him again, and even pick the time.
    What more could he ask for.
    His eyes sparkled as he watched Tom and Abby speak to one another.  Get to know each other, and come to realize how much they truly had in common.  He couldn’t help the happiness in his eyes.  This will work. He thought.  They would work.  Them, as an odd little family, and eventually Abby would have a baby- it would be his but he would never be able to say so.  He’d never be able to admit it, he’d have to pretend that the child was Toms, and lucky for them they looked enough like each other that they would not have to worry.  At least Owen hoped as much.
     
    Abby was escorted out of the room with both Thomas and Owen, one man on either side of her and their arms escorting her along the hallways.  As much as she hated admitting it she still didn’t know the house as well as she would have liked to, but that did not mean she wouldn’t learn it.  Abby was excited about the life that was