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ahead of her, as strange as it was that this would be her life- that she would be a lady of the house, that she would be able to buy fine silks.  After I get through my training, and the wedding of course. 
    Would Owen come to the wedding?
    “Have you written your family?” Tom asked.
    Owen pulled her closer to him, a soft kiss touched her cheek.
     
     
    One Year Later
    Abby laughed softly as he and her husband walked into their home.  She blew out a deep breath.
    “That was…. dreadful.”
    Tom laughed pulling her into his arms.  “You did amazing.”  He reassured her.
    “That doesn’t make me feel any better.  I have no clue how you’ve done this your entire life.”
    They were newly married, and as far as anyone was concerned they were a happy couple.  They were happy, that much was true, but they weren’t so much a couple.  At least not the type that everyone thought they were.
    “How does your stomach feel?”
    Abby touched her belly, looking down at it.  She’d just realized last week that she was expecting.
    “I’m alright.” She admitted.  She hadn’t wanted to be sick at all during dinner- that was a victory, right? Abby closed her eyes.  She wasn’t sure if she was ready to be a mother, but she knew that there was nowhere else she’d rather bring a baby into this world than in this home.
    “Hello.”
    A soft voice spoke behind Abby, she turned to see a blonde haired man walk past her, pulling her husband into his arms.  Their lips touched for a fraction of a second.  Abby’s heart skipped a beat seeing the happiness in her husbands eyes as he pulled his partner into a deep kiss that only lasted a couple of seconds.
    He pulled away and looked John up and down. “Hi.” Their lips touched for a fraction of a second again.  Abby felt arms tighten around her hips.  She rested against Owen’s strong chest, closing her eyes.
    “How was the dinner?” He asked.
    “Dreadful.” Both Abby and Tom said in unison.  It wasn’t that they didn’t enjoy being a couple, it was everything else that was part of dinners like this.  Talking with the wives, buttering up the right people, and of course Abby’s mother in law watching every second of it.
    Over the past months Abby had grown to feel at home here, but not just that she’d found a best friend in the man who had bought her to be his wife.  He had been there for her in more ways than most husbands could be, and although it was strange at first, they’d been able to open up to each other about their relationships.  In each other they’d found someone who they could truly count on.
    Not that Abby couldn’t count on the man who held her right now.
    She pulled away, a yawn passing through her lips. “I think I’ve been tried out for the night. I’m going to head to bed.”
    “Allow me to escort you.” Owen stepped to her side and offered his arm to her.  Abby gladly took it with a smile of thanks.
    As they passed Tom she stopped just long enough to place a quick kiss on her husband’s cheek.  His eyes sparkled as he returned it.
    “Goodnight, my wife.” He whispered against her.
    “See you tomorrow, my husband.” Abby’s eyes sparkled as she walked away, Own leading her down the hallway.
    At this hour the servants’ weren’t around, expect for those who had come to great their lovers.
    “Was it really that bad?” Owen asked.
    Abby groaned. “The way his mother stares at me!” She shook her head. “I can’t even begin to put into words how it feels… I feel so out of place there.”
    “That’s because your place is by my side.” Owen spoke softly as he pushed the door open for Abby and she stepped inside her room, her lover following her.  The second the door closed Owen rushed to her, helping her remove her layers and layers of clothing.
    As Abby got her corset off she inhaled deeply, letting her body fill with air that she had not had for most of the night. She closed her eyes and allowed the feeling of