A Woman's Reputation
Myshuno Prompt: "I have found I am more capable of rising to challenges than I ever suspected" ~ Trahearne, Guild Wars 2 peasant007
Characters: Lora Davies, Evelyn Norrington, Abigail Finch
Notes: BIG Spoilers
Word Count: 1141
It was a fine Summer morning that found Mrs. Evelyn Norrington and her daughter Mrs. Lora Davies at the residence of the eldest Norrington daughter, Mrs. Abigail Finch. A lovely day for calling in anyone's opinion, only theirs was not a friendly errand.
“Now Lora, I needn't remind you to be mindful of what you say. I imagine your sister is feeling quite fragile.”
Lora glanced at her mother in surprise. “Of course Mama. We are here to offer comfort. I'll not say anything to upset Abby... not after everything that's happened. How can you suggest otherwise?”
“I know you're intentions are kind dearest,” Evelyn conceded with a sad smile. “Simply, tread lightly.”
There was no answer at the door and no life to be seen nor heard from the draped windows. “She must be here.” Lora walked along the great porch and tried to peer through a dusty pane of glass. “No one has seen hide or hair of her since Barrington quit town.”
“You don't suppose Miss Johnson has left their employ?” Evelyn seemed alarmed at the prospect.
Lora shrugged painfully. “It is possible Abby sent her away. What with Barrington leaving, I can't imagine she wants anyone to witness her shame.”
At that Evelyn gave a determined grunt and let herself in the unlocked door, forcing a slightly scandalized Lora to follow. The house was dark and silent, the air heavy with dust motes. The atmosphere was stale as though no one had moved about in days. The two women shared a distressed look before taking the stairs up to the silent floor above.
The doors to the childrens rooms were open and there was evidence of a hasty departure. The nursery was quiet and forlorn, toys scattered on the floor. The absence of her grandchildren was nearly enough to make Evelyn sob. She called out to her daughter instead.
“Abby? Abigail dearest?”
They found her in the master bed chamber, curled up on the settee in front of a cold grate. The bed clothes were wrapped around her shivering frame and it was obvious she hadn't changed her nightdress in days. Pale streaks of light crept through the shutters to reveal her normally beautiful dark hair had become a stringy mess atop her bowed head. At the sound of her name, Abby's pale tear streaked face glanced up from her nest.
“Mama?”
“Oh my darling.” Lora watched her mother rush to the settee and wrap her arms around her crying sister. “It will be alright. Mother's here. Everything is going to be alright.”
Lora took the opportunity to look around at the sad state of the room. Clearly Abby had sent Miss Johnson away the morning Barrington and the children had left. A layer of dust coated everything, including the dry bed of the water basin by the door. Well that would never do. Leaving her mother to sort out Abby's tears, Lora left to fill the basin with warm water. She returned to find Evelyn whispering gentle nonsense and helped herself to the wardrobe. Despite needing a decent airing, she found a serviceable gown and went to open the curtains. Both Evelyn and Abby cringed at the sudden brightness.
“Come sister dear,” Lora said cheerfully. “I've brought you fresh water. You'll feel much better once you've cleaned and changed. Then we may go downstairs and have tea in a more civilized setting.”
“Yes dear,” Evelyn agreed. “It's exactly what you need.”
“I don't want to.” Abby moaned. “There's no use in anything anymore. He's gone. He's taken my children!” The last became a wail as Abby retreated back into her blankets.
Evelyn gave Lora a helpless look. Lora's blue eyes narrowed. “But of course he means nothing by it. He's simply throwing a tantrum. All men are want to from time to time. Your dalliance with Mr. Akuma was the very thing to question his manhood and this is his way of punishing you.”
“There was no dalliance!” Came Abby's muffled protest.
“Men are like children that way.” Lora ignored both her sister's cry and her mother's warning look as she tied the drapes on the bed back to the posts. “All sweetness and light until their feelings get hurt. Then they puff out their chests, stomp their feet and wail all manner of cruel things until you pacify them with a sweety. Barrington's no different. He's left you to the cruel judgement of the outside world until he's certain you feel as badly as he does about your infidelity.”
“Infidelity?!” At this Abby literally leaped to her feet, the bedclothes forgotten around her as she glared at her sister in anger and disbelief.
Lora continued in a chiding tone. “And really Abby, you ought to know better. No one can blame you for growing bored but a woman must be discreet. How could you have such little care for your own reputation?”
“Lora!” Evelyn scolded as Abby marched over to her sister.
“How. Dare. You!” She yelled, eyes wide and red rimmed. “I love my husband! I would never consider being unfaithful to him! There's nothing of note between Mr. Akuma and myself. It's all a terrible misunderstanding! Mr. Akuma took liberties upon my person and Barrington believes the worst of me because his heart is broken! I can not blame him but I am a woman wronged!”
Lora gave her sister a satisfied smirk. “Good. You're going to need that pretty philosophy because people are cruel and these next few months are going to be very difficult for you. Who knows how long it's going to take for Barrington to remember that you're the woman who loves him and has stood by him and raised his children all these years. Or how long after that it will take him to admit his folly. You need to hold you head high.” She placed firm but gentle hands on her sisters slumped shoulders. “You're no good to your children if you fall apart now.”
Abby sighed shakily and nodded. “You are right.” She whispered. “I mustn't give them any more fuel than they already have to tear me down.”
Evelyn joined her girls and held Abby. “We will get through this. You are not alone love.”
“No,” Abby whispered. “But I am with child and Barrington will never believe it's his.”
There was silence as Lora and Evelyn shared a look of alarm. Lora frowned before kissing her sister's forehead. “All the more reason to keep you healthy. Now I'm going down to make tea and I expect you dressed and down in the parlor to drink it with me. Jilted though you may be, we are not reduced to barbarism.”
“Lora,” Evelyn chided gently while Abby gave a pained little laugh.
“Yes sister.”
With a wink, Lora left her mother and sister to her ablutions.
Characters: Lora Davies, Evelyn Norrington, Abigail Finch
Notes: BIG Spoilers
Word Count: 1141
It was a fine Summer morning that found Mrs. Evelyn Norrington and her daughter Mrs. Lora Davies at the residence of the eldest Norrington daughter, Mrs. Abigail Finch. A lovely day for calling in anyone's opinion, only theirs was not a friendly errand.
“Now Lora, I needn't remind you to be mindful of what you say. I imagine your sister is feeling quite fragile.”
Lora glanced at her mother in surprise. “Of course Mama. We are here to offer comfort. I'll not say anything to upset Abby... not after everything that's happened. How can you suggest otherwise?”
“I know you're intentions are kind dearest,” Evelyn conceded with a sad smile. “Simply, tread lightly.”
There was no answer at the door and no life to be seen nor heard from the draped windows. “She must be here.” Lora walked along the great porch and tried to peer through a dusty pane of glass. “No one has seen hide or hair of her since Barrington quit town.”
“You don't suppose Miss Johnson has left their employ?” Evelyn seemed alarmed at the prospect.
Lora shrugged painfully. “It is possible Abby sent her away. What with Barrington leaving, I can't imagine she wants anyone to witness her shame.”
At that Evelyn gave a determined grunt and let herself in the unlocked door, forcing a slightly scandalized Lora to follow. The house was dark and silent, the air heavy with dust motes. The atmosphere was stale as though no one had moved about in days. The two women shared a distressed look before taking the stairs up to the silent floor above.
The doors to the childrens rooms were open and there was evidence of a hasty departure. The nursery was quiet and forlorn, toys scattered on the floor. The absence of her grandchildren was nearly enough to make Evelyn sob. She called out to her daughter instead.
“Abby? Abigail dearest?”
They found her in the master bed chamber, curled up on the settee in front of a cold grate. The bed clothes were wrapped around her shivering frame and it was obvious she hadn't changed her nightdress in days. Pale streaks of light crept through the shutters to reveal her normally beautiful dark hair had become a stringy mess atop her bowed head. At the sound of her name, Abby's pale tear streaked face glanced up from her nest.
“Mama?”
“Oh my darling.” Lora watched her mother rush to the settee and wrap her arms around her crying sister. “It will be alright. Mother's here. Everything is going to be alright.”
Lora took the opportunity to look around at the sad state of the room. Clearly Abby had sent Miss Johnson away the morning Barrington and the children had left. A layer of dust coated everything, including the dry bed of the water basin by the door. Well that would never do. Leaving her mother to sort out Abby's tears, Lora left to fill the basin with warm water. She returned to find Evelyn whispering gentle nonsense and helped herself to the wardrobe. Despite needing a decent airing, she found a serviceable gown and went to open the curtains. Both Evelyn and Abby cringed at the sudden brightness.
“Come sister dear,” Lora said cheerfully. “I've brought you fresh water. You'll feel much better once you've cleaned and changed. Then we may go downstairs and have tea in a more civilized setting.”
“Yes dear,” Evelyn agreed. “It's exactly what you need.”
“I don't want to.” Abby moaned. “There's no use in anything anymore. He's gone. He's taken my children!” The last became a wail as Abby retreated back into her blankets.
Evelyn gave Lora a helpless look. Lora's blue eyes narrowed. “But of course he means nothing by it. He's simply throwing a tantrum. All men are want to from time to time. Your dalliance with Mr. Akuma was the very thing to question his manhood and this is his way of punishing you.”
“There was no dalliance!” Came Abby's muffled protest.
“Men are like children that way.” Lora ignored both her sister's cry and her mother's warning look as she tied the drapes on the bed back to the posts. “All sweetness and light until their feelings get hurt. Then they puff out their chests, stomp their feet and wail all manner of cruel things until you pacify them with a sweety. Barrington's no different. He's left you to the cruel judgement of the outside world until he's certain you feel as badly as he does about your infidelity.”
“Infidelity?!” At this Abby literally leaped to her feet, the bedclothes forgotten around her as she glared at her sister in anger and disbelief.
Lora continued in a chiding tone. “And really Abby, you ought to know better. No one can blame you for growing bored but a woman must be discreet. How could you have such little care for your own reputation?”
“Lora!” Evelyn scolded as Abby marched over to her sister.
“How. Dare. You!” She yelled, eyes wide and red rimmed. “I love my husband! I would never consider being unfaithful to him! There's nothing of note between Mr. Akuma and myself. It's all a terrible misunderstanding! Mr. Akuma took liberties upon my person and Barrington believes the worst of me because his heart is broken! I can not blame him but I am a woman wronged!”
Lora gave her sister a satisfied smirk. “Good. You're going to need that pretty philosophy because people are cruel and these next few months are going to be very difficult for you. Who knows how long it's going to take for Barrington to remember that you're the woman who loves him and has stood by him and raised his children all these years. Or how long after that it will take him to admit his folly. You need to hold you head high.” She placed firm but gentle hands on her sisters slumped shoulders. “You're no good to your children if you fall apart now.”
Abby sighed shakily and nodded. “You are right.” She whispered. “I mustn't give them any more fuel than they already have to tear me down.”
Evelyn joined her girls and held Abby. “We will get through this. You are not alone love.”
“No,” Abby whispered. “But I am with child and Barrington will never believe it's his.”
There was silence as Lora and Evelyn shared a look of alarm. Lora frowned before kissing her sister's forehead. “All the more reason to keep you healthy. Now I'm going down to make tea and I expect you dressed and down in the parlor to drink it with me. Jilted though you may be, we are not reduced to barbarism.”
“Lora,” Evelyn chided gently while Abby gave a pained little laugh.
“Yes sister.”
With a wink, Lora left her mother and sister to her ablutions.