Welcome to Bow Street

[Abigail Brinton]

The air was rancid and dirty. Abigail, even from behind her carriage, could see the poor, straggly wrenches that lived in such filthy conditions, and longed to take pity on them…but in the same instance she was too terrified she might get robbed if she so much as stopped the great gilded carriage that carried her through a wicked part of London. She never would have commanded the driver to go this way, but it was already late, and she had a tea to go to, and if she had a problem showing up, most certainly her name would be tarnished – which was something she could not stand for.

The market place around her swarmed with life of all degrees, making it hard for such a fine carriage to get through unscathed. In fact, just when she thought that they were finally past the worst of it, she heard a sharp cracking noise, and the carriage jerked.

“Please do not be broken,” she thought to herself, “Please, please, please!” She had on her finest outfit today, and new silken slippers, and if she had to walk through mud to get to Mrs. Whenninton’s house….well the results would not be good. She tried to look out the window, but it was dusty. Sighing in irritation, Abby took one of her dark green gloves and wiped it off as gently as she could to make a peep hole for herself. She could not hear anything, but she could certainly see, and what she saw was not good.

The driver had stopped, and was both trying to inspect the damage as well as calm the horses, who were quite claustrophobic. Meanwhile, the poor had spotted the Brinton’s carriage, and knew it to be a notable name. They now clambered about, scrabbling over each other, trying to get to Abigail herself, to beg for money. What it would be used on was probably not best to think about, and Abby then drew back from the cushioned, blue velvet wall.

“Now, now, child. They are out there, and we are in here. The doors are firmly locked I assure you. There is no way –” Her chaperone began, but just then it seemed a horrid clicking sound was heard.

“Oh dear Christ they are picking the lock!” Abby muttered, and glanced at her chaperone. “Whatever are we to do now?” But the question hung in the air, unanswered…

[Sabine Weisz]

Passing through this part of town never bothered Sabine, the dirt, activity, and excitement always intrigued her. The poor people of the city far more free than she and she wondered if the finery was enough compensation for being bound by social expectations, prejudice, and the neat and tidy laid out path that she must follow. The only choices she had were small and she could only tweak here and there, nothing could be changed drastically, she would never own a shop of her own or control large aspects of her life, especially when her farce was up and her father died.

She looked out of her carriage, almost longing for the freedom that the people around her had, thinking of jumping out of the carriage and disappearing into the masses, running from her station, responsibilities, and the pressure of finding a husband to take over the business she had worked so hard to maintain. Jolted out of her thoughts by the sound of a cracking and then masses of people, she sat up and looked around and saw where the commotion was coming from. Through the other side of her carriage window she sighted a broken down carriage looking as it was about to be ravaged.

“Driver!” Sabine called, “Jacob.” She looked at her escort, “We have to help them.” Jacob, a bleeding heart himself, with hardly any brains, did as told. The tall, thin escort jumped up, “Driver,” he said, “Stop.” The driver shook his head, “Are you kidding?” he asked, incredulously. Jacob was not one to give up, “You will be out of a job if you don’t do as I say.” He threatened.

The driver sighed and pulled the experienced sorrel horse team closer to the scene, drawing some of the crowd as well. The horses were used to the crowds of London and barely shied away from the people, stamping in agitation, but not bolting. It took some doing, but Jacob and the two drivers, were able to disperse the crowd enough to offer the inhabitants of the other carriage sanctuary in Sabine’s carriage.

“Good day,” Sabine greeted them both, “Are you alright?” she wanted to know before any introductions. It must seem awkward; here was this obviously wealthy converted Jewish woman not wearing the styles of the day, but her own preferences in brightly colored exotic silks, “I think we should drive on unless it is your wish to stay with the broken carriage.” She said, politely, but bluntly, “I think once the people realize that it is only a driver there now, they will leave him be.”

[Abigail Brinton]

The day had, actually, started out quite nicely. She had risen from bed with a stretch, feeling the warm sun filter through her curtains on her...

Abby smiled and rose, and her maid instantly was there to help her dress and give a pot of warm tea. Abby let Alice dress her, not watching her, but cooperating in an unthinking manner. She stared out at the window, which was slightly open, and inhaled the breeze. Ah, it was a perfect day for an outing. Perhaps she could go on a picnic, or a trip to the beach with her little brother, Ben? The day was so full of possibilities!

"Miss, you look simply beautiful! That color brings out your eyes, for sure!" Alice cooed, and helped her with her hair, and Abby nodded, turning her face from the window to inspect herself. Yes, she did look pretty, with her tall frame and her curves, her light blond hair swept up to the side, and a necklace to top it off. The necklace matched the gown's emerald green color.

"Thank you, Alice." She said softly, smiling at the maid. "I do think it tis a pretty thing. Mother shall be most proud of me for wearing it. Perhaps it will soothe her temper." She muttered to herself. Ah yes, Emily was still a bit angry at Abigail for refusing her latest suitor, but Abby herself couldn't bear him! The man made a pig look attractive!

"Yes, well, when you go to that prop'a tea today, I'm sure she'll be right proud a you." Alice said, but then paled when Abby stiffened and turned to her, confusion in those emerald eyes.

"Tea?" She inquired, and Alice blushed.

"I assumed she told ya miss." Alice managed, and Abby humph-ed softly.

"No, she did not, but thank you, Alice, for your honesty." Abby told her, and then dismissed her. Another bloody tea! So, her mother had anticipated she might refuse Fredrick, did she, and had come up with a back up plan! Well, two could play at that game. Abby would go to that tea alright, but perhaps she would make it sound as if she had accepted the gentleman Fredrick's proposal when she had not...and that way both men would be fooled...

And this is how Abby had gotten herself into trouble. Because she didn't want to go, and had waited to the last second to leave...and when she got to the main road, she saw it was closed, and they had to go through the market, and then the wheel broke, and everything went down hill. Now however, she felt her guardian patting her arm with her meaty, plump, sweaty hand.

"Miss Brinton, help is coming!" She said, and Abby saw it was true. The other carriage had stopped and then the drivers seemed to be dispersing the people, trying to get rid of them, thankfully, and she felt hope flood her heart.

“Good day,” Another woman greeted them both, “Are you alright?”

"Yes, but I would not be without you!" Abigail said, relief in her eyes. "My name is Miss Brinton, who are you, and how may we reward you for your generosity? For without you, I fear we may have been ravaged!" Fear was still in her heart, though less now, and she could feel her chest throb.

“I think we should drive on unless it is your wish to stay with the broken carriage.” She said, “I think once the people realize that it is only a driver there now, they will leave him be.”

"Yes, I think you are right." Abby replied. "Where are you off to?" She hoped it was near the Pennington's...

[Sabine Weisz]

The carriage jolted a little, as if to prove that driving off really was a wise decision, because the somewhat dispersed crowd had now begun to surround the working carriage. The driver didn't hesitate, unwilling to be in the same position as Abigail's driver and clicked his tongue and flicked the reins. The two horses, somewhat spooked, had no issues with vacating the market and trotted quickly away from the crowd.

The road suddenly got smoother as they left the market and the bustle of people and the two sorrel steeds calmed and slowed, making the ride far more comfortable.

Thanking the quick-thinking driver and her escort with a nod, Sabine again turned to her passengers, "I'm glad we were able to help, We certainly did not do it to recieve a reward," Sabine began, making her intentions more obvious, "Perhaps the pleasure of your company this afternoon will suffice.", she ended with a smile.

Now was a much more proper time for introductions, she thought, "I am Sabine Weisz, and this is Jacob Stein. It is a pleasure to meet you, however dramatic it might have been at first," she said with a twinkle in her eyes and an amused smile.

"I was just headed home from a meeting, but would much more enjoy having tea with you, if you are not busy." she offered. The unsucessful meeting had frustrated her and it played in her head again. The dealer, who had an even more potent prejudice against doing business with a woman than many other men she dealt with, insisted that he meet with her father. It was obvious that her ploy was coming to a close and her time of running the business was growing shorter. She could only put off meetings with her father for so long before the dealers either got used to her or became frustrated. It hadn't ended well and there was no way to actually produce her father at a meeting. his mind grew weaker by the day. Putting these thoughts out of her mind, she looked at her guest once again.

"Otherwise, we would be happy to take you to another destination. Where is it that you were headed?" she asked politely, hoping that inviting her to tea hadn't been to brazen and an offer of a ride to her choice of places would make up for any potential rudeness.

[Abigail Brinton]

She was really quite glad to get out of the market place, and blushed at her own stupidity. She should have never taken such a route, and knew it firmly in her own head, yet dared to do it because it was supposed to be quicker. Of course she hadn't tested the theory, but her logic at the time seemed flawless.

"Flawless indeed." She thought to herself. "Well that's the last time I do anything without having it tested first!" And so it was the first in a long line of lessons she would learn throughout her lifetime...

"I'm glad we were able to help, We certainly did not do it to recieve a reward," Her rescuer began, and Abigail smiled, "Perhaps the pleasure of your company this afternoon will suffice."

"Still, to put yourself in the midst of danger for our benefit...surely there is something we can do to thank you?" Abigail asked in a kind way, brushing a blonde curl out of her green eyes as she did so. Oh the infurnal things! She was trying to have a civil conversation, and her hair was having a mind of its own!

"I am Sabine Weisz, and this is Jacob Stein. It is a pleasure to meet you, however dramatic it might have been at first," she said with a twinkle in her eyes and Abby sensed this woman was, somehow, very much like herself.

"A pleasure to meet you. I am Miss Abigail Brinton, as I said, and this is my chaperone, Mrs. Elisbath Crosse, a kind widow who has devoted herself to me and my family." And Mrs. Crosse beamed, her plump and aged face now happy to be safe from the 'ruffians' on the street.

"I was just headed home from a meeting, but would much more enjoy having tea with you, if you are not busy." she offered. "Otherwise, we would be happy to take you to another destination. Where is it that you were headed?" she asked.

"Well, I was on my way to the Penningtons, but after such an incident," her eyes twinkled with mischeif now, "I am hardly in a mind to meet their son, Robert." A curve to her mouth in a little smile would let her new aquaintance know her independant spirit, without giving to much away to anyone else listening. "Therefore I would be most pleased to take tea with you, if of course, you shall promise to come over and have tea with me." She offered back politely but genuinely, pleased to have possibly made a new friend.

[Sabine Weisz]

Sabine put up a hand, once again refusing any sort of payment for their deed, “You are quite welcome to our assistance. What kind of citizens would we be if we had left you to fend for yourselves?"

"A pleasure to meet you. I am Miss Abigail Brinton, as I said, and this is my chaperone, Mrs. Elisbath Crosse, a kind widow who has devoted herself to me and my family."

Sabine nodded in greeting as the introductions were made, liking them both instantly. She had fairly good instincts about people and hoped to become better acquainted.

“I certainly would feel awful if I kept you from a social engagement.” Sabine said, obviously understanding that she would rather skip it anyway, "But, I’m afraid that you are in our debt and all debts must be paid,” she said with a knowing smile, “And you are welcome to blame your absence to your other host on me, I won’t mind.” The twinkle of mischief increased as she spoke, “You have an adventurous story to go with your excuse, how could anyone be upset?"

Sabine motioned for the driver to drive home and not to Penningtons and turned back to Abigail, “I make so many deals with my father’s line of work, but never have I made one where I felt like both parties could come out happily and equally. Business is so harsh and selfish, but I believe that our terms will be far more delightful. I will be sure to attend tea at your home at your request, Miss Brinton.”

The carriage stopped outside a London apartment, “Here we are." Jacob Stein helped all three ladies out of the carriage, and led them inside, “I will make sure everything is prepared.” He said, before leaving them.

“It’s such a lovely and rare day out, let’s have tea on the balcony, shall we?" Sabine suggested, waiting for Abigail’s agreement.

[Abigail Brinton]

“You are quite welcome to our assistance. What kind of citizens would we be if we had left you to fend for yourselves?"

"Many would not be as kind as you." Abigail said sweetly. "Tis often the simplest of kindnesses that takes the most character." Her eyes twinkled playfully and she added, "A pleasure to meet you. I am Miss Abigail Brinton, as I said, and this is my chaperone, Mrs. Elisbath Crosse, a kind widow who has devoted herself to me and my family."

Sabine nodded and replied, “I certainly would feel awful if I kept you from a social engagement.” Sabine said, "But, I’m afraid that you are in our debt and all debts must be paid,” she said and Abigail liked her instantly, “And you are welcome to blame your absence to your other host on me, I won’t mind. You have an adventurous story to go with your excuse, how could anyone be upset?"

"That is true. This was quite the morning for me!" She laughed freely now, nerves calming. "I assure you not all mornings are ever so dramatic..." She added.

“I make so many deals with my father’s line of work, but never have I made one where I felt like both parties could come out happily and equally. Business is so harsh and selfish, but I believe that our terms will be far more delightful. I will be sure to attend tea at your home at your request, Miss Brinton.”

"You are in business with your father?" The statement took her a back for a moment. She didn't let it show on her face, but she had mixed feelings about this. One half of her wanted to follow her mother's belief, that all women belonged in the home, but the other...the other half of her, the secret half, wished jealously to have such an oppurtunity. After all, many had said if she were born a boy, she could have been running her father's business by now. Some said even better than he could! "That is ambitious. I am delighted for you." She finished sweetly, smiling now, not wishing to give her the wrong impression.

“Here we are." Jacob Stein helped everyone out of the carriage, Abby looked about politely when they went inside. “I will make sure everything is prepared.” He said, and then left.

“It’s such a lovely and rare day out, let’s have tea on the balcony, shall we?" Sabine said, and Abigail nodded.

"You have a balcony as well? So do I!" She said happily. "I love to sit out there and draw, think, or write." She smiled easily. "And of course sew." She added, in case any one was listening, but her eyes were filled with mischief and happiness, and she knew somehow she and Sabine were going to get along wonderfully.

[Sabine Weisz]

Sabine nervously pushed a dark curl out of her face, realizing that she may have said too much, but already thinking of a way out of it, "I'm sorry, I was not very clear in my words. My father has some health problems, and because of this, he has a difficult time meeting his business clients since he is bed ridden some days. He tells me about the business and the deals he wishes to make and I relay the information." she took a relieved breath, but didn't show that she had been nervous for a single moment, used to having to keep her cool under tense situations.

One business deal, the client was so upset that he was to deal with a woman rather than her father, that he ended up throwing his chair across the room. Sabine had stayed perfectly still and calm the entire time, only reacting to wish him a good day and leave.

"A small tour is needed, of course," she said, smiling as they arrived and made their way inside, "This is the sitting room," she said as they came upon a small, but elegantly decorated room in golds and mahoganies, "My father's library," they walked past the room decorated in blues with books lining every shelf and a fireplace with lavish arm chairs placed around it, "And what I like to call the sun room," they entered a room decorated in a pale and fresh green and linen colors. The windows of the balcony let the room bask in the sunshine and it was lit up in warm yellow tones as the afternoon sun bathed the linen colors in its light.

Linen curtains led out to the balcony and Sabine pulled them back by a tie and offered a seat to Abigail on a wooden folding chair at a table covered in a sage cloth, ready for a tea setting, "Tea time is one of my favorite British traditions. I had nothing like it at home, but I appreciate the small moment in the day for relaxtion and conversation."

Sabine's hazel eyes grew horrified, "What a terrible hostess I am turing out to be. I promise you a delightful visit with tea and here I am going on about myself with out allowing you to get a word in. Please, Miss Brinton, tell me a bit about yourself. Anything you like, hobbies, experiences, adventures; save the one you experienced this day," She added with a tone of amusement, "Prospective husbands, siblings, parents, anything you would like to talk about." Sabine finished just as the tea arrived, the squat maid setting down the cups and treats, and asking Abigail how she liked her tea.

[Abigail Brinton]

She seemed nervous, as though she had told Abby too much, and Abby blushed. Had she come off as condescending? Lord she hoped not. She would never say it aloud, but she was very much a supporter of female ambition and education. She wanted much more than to be a simple housewife, no matter how extensive the pleasures of being said housewife may be.

"I'm sorry, I was not very clear in my words. My father has some health problems, and because of this, he has a difficult time meeting his business clients since he is bed ridden some days. He tells me about the business and the deals he wishes to make and I relay the information." she said and Abigail placed a hand gently on hers, politely.

“No need to explain. I understood you very well.” She informed her, completely serious. “And may God bless your father – I am terribly sorry to hear that he is sickly. I do hope that he shall prevail in his endeavors.” She added warmly, a sympathetic nod given then. “He is lucky to have you. You communicate your thoughts quite clearly.”

"A small tour is needed, of course," she said, smiling as they walked and she smiled back, nerves easing away now, "This is the sitting room," she said, "My father's library," she added, and oh did Abigail long to go in and explore every nook of it, but she with strained herself, "And what I like to call the sun room," they entered a room that was pale green.

“Oh it tis lovely!” She exclaimed, clapping her gloved hands softly. “I adore it! Do you spend time in here often?” If it were her house, she would be in here every day, drawing, sewing, and (most belovedly,) reading with her cat, Maurice.

"Tea time is one of my favorite British traditions. I had nothing like it at home, but I appreciate the small moment in the day for relaxtion and conversation."

“At home?” She tipped her head. “Tell me again where you came from? I am sure you have the most delightful stories…” but then Sabine's hazel eyes grew large, and Abigail stopped herself. “Whatever is the matter, Miss Weisz?”

"What a terrible hostess I am turing out to be. I promise you a delightful visit with tea and here I am going on about myself with out allowing you to get a word in. Please, Miss Brinton, tell me a bit about yourself. Anything you like, hobbies, experiences, adventures; save the one you experienced this day," She added and Abby grinned. "Prospective husbands, siblings, parents, anything you would like to talk about."

“On the contrary, I find you to be a most charming hostess!” Abigail said encouragingly. “I feel most welcomed, and I cannot thank you enough for your earlier assistance.” She wanted to say more, but then she laughed. Mrs. Elisbath Crosse, her chaperone, said little the entire time, but was content to sit. Now, in fact, the plump elderly woman was in danger of tipping over in her chair. “Forgive me,” Abby said then, and moved to fix Mrs. Crosse, a chuckle on her lips. “She is a dear one, to me…” Her eyes were tender for the hunched over old lady, whose whiskery cheeks were fat and puffed out slightly in sleep.

Turning back to Sabine, Abigail said, “Now about myself…my father is Richard Brinton and my mother Emily Brinton. Father is a businessman, and my mother runs the household most of the time. I have one sister, Catherine, and a brother, Ben. Hobby wise I like what most young women would, although I do like to read quite a bit more than they do.” Her eyes sparkled, and she sipped her tea. Ah this was turning out to be a lovely day after all!

[Sabine Weisz]

Abigail’s warm hand on hers was a surprise, but Sabine had no wish to pull away. In truth, Abigail may be the first pleasant conversation she had since moving to London, it was an odd feeling to have a friend again, she hadn’t had one since childhood. Her young life was so riddled with a strict education and formal rules. She remembered the Indian children that she had befriended, but the memory seemed too long ago, only business and her father’s health seemed fresh in her mind having been worried about it for so long.

“No need to explain. I understood you very well. And may God bless your father – I am terribly sorry to hear that he is sickly. I do hope that he shall prevail in his endeavors. He is lucky to have you. You communicate your thoughts quite clearly.”

Sabine knew that her father was probably beyond any help that even God was willing to provide, but she nodded, “Thank you.” she said, sincerely, this being one of the first sincere blessings someone had bestowed upon her in years.

When she led Abigail to the sun room, she was delighted that someone might appreciate it as much as she, “Oh it tis lovely!” Abigail had said, “I adore it! Do you spend time in here often?”

“It’s my quiet place where anything can happen.” She said, hoping that her new friend would understand, “Sometimes an epic adventure happens when I read a book in here and other times it becomes a grand symphony when I play music. On more boring occasions, I must write out business letters for my father, but it’s a place where I never take business clients. Only friends are allowed or it will ruin the sentiment of the room.” Sabine smiled sadly, realizing that no one had had ever been invited into her sun room before, only proving further that she had no one with whom she enjoyed spending time.

“On the contrary, I find you to be a most charming hostess! I feel most welcomed, and I cannot thank you enough for your earlier assistance.” Abigail said, and Sabine couldn’t help but blush, “It is not often that I am a hostess for any sort of social visit, and I find myself having to talk circles around clients or else my father may be stuck paying a thousand pounds for poor delivery or receive diluted gold for our jewel settings.”

Sabine shared a laugh with Abigail as her chaperone slept in her chair; it was an odd but pleasant feeling of a shared experience of enjoyment. Suddenly remembering her Indian friends Palak and Wamil, she realized the occasion where they had found a spring together and swam all day was the last time she had laughed with a friend. This was only a few days before Christmas and Sabine pushed the rest of the memories away, not wanting to relive them, “She is quite welcome to sleep. I dare say she would be doing so at the social engagement that you were originally headed for.”

“We were forced to read the dreariest volumes as children, but I thank my father for it now.” She said, about Abigail reading more books than most young ladies, “As dull as they were sometimes, they taught us a lot, but I do enjoy a good work of fiction every so often. There are things to learn from those as well, but my father never believed that. I learned quite a bit about British culture from reading fictional stories.” She explained, “To answer your previous question, I am from Russia, but spent quite a bit of time in India where my father had an operation that he needed to oversee.”

“It must be delightful to have a sister. I only had brothers.” She said, suddenly missing them, “What are Catherine and Ben like?”

[Abigail Brinton]

She knew that perhaps reaching out to her - literally - had been a mistake, and at first she was nervous Sabine would pull back, but then she didn't and Abby smiled. She had a great deal of friendly aquaintances, but she had very few true friends she could count on. She wondered in that moment if Sabine would become such.

Then they went to a new room. “It’s my quiet place where anything can happen.” She said, “Sometimes an epic adventure happens when I read a book in here and other times it becomes a grand symphony when I play music. On more boring occasions, I must write out business letters for my father, but it’s a place where I never take business clients. Only friends are allowed or it will ruin the sentiment of the room.” Sabine smiled and Abby smiled back brightly.

"I am honored you would consider me such a friend." She said, a happy sparkle to her eyes. "Tis the same sentiment I carry towards you." When Sabine said she wasn't a good hostess however, Abigail was quick to jump in.

“It is not often that I am a hostess for any sort of social visit, and I find myself having to talk circles around clients or else my father may be stuck paying a thousand pounds for poor delivery or receive diluted gold for our jewel settings.”

"Well we shall have to correct that, shan't we?" She said with a grin. Yes, there were many adventures she could see herself and Sabine going on. She saw they really were cut from the same cloth...

Then they chuckled over Mrs. Crosse's falling asleep. “She is quite welcome to sleep. I dare say she would be doing so at the social engagement that you were originally headed for.”

"Quite." Abby confided. "My mother does enjoy sending me on little visits to find a husband...and Mrs. Crosse is excellent about going with me, sometimes several times a day." She joked, but there was a touch of truth behind it. She really had gone to see two or three families a day sometimes...

“We were forced to read the dreariest volumes as children, but I thank my father for it now.” She said, and Abby chewed on her lip, wishing she could read more, “As dull as they were sometimes, they taught us a lot, but I do enjoy a good work of fiction every so often. There are things to learn from those as well, but my father never believed that. I learned quite a bit about British culture from reading fictional stories.” She explained, “To answer your previous question, I am from Russia, but spent quite a bit of time in India where my father had an operation that he needed to oversee.”

"That sounds exciting. Surely your childhood must have been filled with such interesting tales. My father was a merchant who worked himself up into gentleman status...he traveled and still travels much. As a child, I longed to go with him. Sometimes I still want to." She dared to tell her.

“It must be delightful to have a sister. I only had brothers.” She said, “What are Catherine and Ben like?”

"Catherine is more...traditional. She likes to go to parties, gentleman's attention, and abhors reading and learning. She believes women shouldn't be educated." She sighed. "She can be sweet, but she wants to be like the young women around her, where as I am not satisfied with such a role..." She shook her head. "And Ben? Being five, he is absolutely adorable, but very mischevious. He likes to learn, he is very curious, and he will have you wrapped around his little finger with a look of those little brown eyes, if you let him." She warned playfully.

[Sabine Weisz]

"I am honored you would consider me such a friend." Abigail said, looking as though she truly meant it, "Tis the same sentiment I carry towards you."

The sincerity of the simple words touched Sabine more than she would reveal and she gave her new friend a meaningful smile, "Well, what we would have thought as misfourtune today has become a blessing to both of us. I suppose it would sound odd to anyone else to say that I was glad you ran into trouble today on your way to a social engagement." She said, her smile growing when Abigail told her that being a hostess would become more common now that they knew eachother.

She wondered how appropriate it would seem for a Christian lady to be seen with one of Jewish decent. For business purposes, her father had the whole family convert, but in private, it was a different matter. Sabine stood somewhere in the middle and tried not to think of it much.

"My mother does enjoy sending me on little visits to find a husband...and Mrs. Crosse is excellent about going with me, sometimes several times a day." Sabine blinked in surprise, a little jealous and a little sympathetic. There was no one to watch out for her well being enough to try and find her a husband, she did everything on her own, but the thought of visiting strangers with an obvious mission to try and get your daughter married seemed awfully restrictive. Freedom was hard work, but well worth it.

"Hopefully, to save you from any other instances like today, you will find a husband the suits your tastes. I have little time for social engagements that would lead to a potential match and my father has even less time to arrange such visits. Although, I dare say, it should be done soon since I am the only heir to his busines and he would wish to find someone for me who could run it when he retires." She had to control the words from coming out bitter, knowing full well that she already ran the business and ran it well and a man would only be for appearances. Sabine had little hope of finding a compatible partner and would probably have to settle for a puppet under her control.

The worst of it was, that when she did marry and have to announce her father's retirement, she knew she would lose some respect of those who wished to do business with a Weisz and the business would suffer. If only she could reveal that she was the one behind all the business decisions and just keep Weisz Diamonds running by herself. Perhaps, if the clients knew that they had been working with her the whole time and realized that business ran smoothly that way, they would accept it. She put such foolish notions aside, knowing that such a thing would never come to pass and that life had served her a bad turn and she must handle things with what she was given.

"That sounds exciting. Surely your childhood must have been filled with such interesting tales. My father was a merchant who worked himself up into gentleman status...he traveled and still travels much. As a child, I longed to go with him. Sometimes I still want to." Abigail seemed to confide.

"Traveling as we did so often has it disadvatages as well," Sabine pointed out, "We rarely had enough time to make good friends. We left our friends in Russia and when we would come back, it just wasn't the same. We would leave for months and sometimes years and my friends had changed and grown without me while I changed to fit the culture in which I was emersed. So, I would alway have to start over only to be moved again."

She decided to give the conversation a happier note after speaking of the disadvatages, "Other than that, traveling as often as we did, I have memories and experiences and an understanding of the world that I would not trade. In India, the children were quite talented and did things we had never seen before. One could walk on his hands, others juggled, and they taught my brothers and I so much in the few years we were there. It was the place we stayed the longest, so it almost feels like I am speaking about home. I do miss it. And here I am in London, one of the more widely known cultures and I am lost." She said with a humorous laugh.

When Abigail spoke of her siblings, Sabine got a little heartsick for her own. They were the only people that she had stayed with for long enough to get to know them very well and she missed the closeness and understanding of shared experiences. She smiled across to Abigail, getting the same sort of close feeling because they were sharing something.

"Catherine is more...traditional. She likes to go to parties, gentleman's attention, and abhors reading and learning. She believes women shouldn't be educated." Abigail sighed. "She can be sweet, but she wants to be like the young women around her, where as I am not satisfied with such a role..."

Sabine had not known a world where education was not a top priority and so the idea was foriegn to her, "I cannot imagine purposely keeping myself ignorant, but perhaps those young ladies are happier for it." She said, then stopped herself not wanting to offend Abigail's sister, "We were never given the choice, education was a part of our everyday lives, which I do not regret."

Sabine smiled when Abigail described Ben. "And Ben? Being five, he is absolutely adorable, but very mischevious. He likes to learn, he is very curious, and he will have you wrapped around his little finger with a look of those little brown eyes, if you let him."

"When we had free time to join the Indian children in play, the older children were always responsible to watch out for the younger ones, and there was a young boy there that sounds very much like your Ben." She observed, "I would very much like to meet your family sometime. There is no family in this place, so it can be quite dull and a little lonely at times." She said, observing the lack of warmth in her home with only her senile father, the occassional doctor and a few family friends who would visit.

[Abigail Brinton]

"Well, what we would have thought as misfourtune today has become a blessing to both of us. I suppose it would sound odd to anyone else to say that I was glad you ran into trouble today on your way to a social engagement."

Abby smiled when she heard these words. “You are most witty, Miss Weisz, and I like that. Yes, most would think I had gone through a great misfortune, but with your help I have recovered nicely, and I think it safe to say I am enjoying your company quite nicely. You prove to be a most excellent hostess and an even better friend – that I can already see.” She said, sipping her tea gently, mmm-ing to herself. Her father worked with teas, and Abigail was used to tasting them, but there was something rather nice about this one. “This tea is delightful! Might I inquire the flavor?” She then asked politely, and then explained, “My father works with teas, and I am sure he would be fascinated to know.”

Then she went on to speak to her about her mother, joking about how she liked to send her all over, but behind all the joking there was a hidden touch of sincerity, and sadness for a lack of freedom. Sabine seemed to pick up on that.

"Hopefully, to save you from any other instances like today, you will find a husband the suits your tastes. I have little time for social engagements that would lead to a potential match and my father has even less time to arrange such visits. Although, I dare say, it should be done soon since I am the only heir to his busines and he would wish to find someone for me who could run it when he retires."

In that moment, Abigail sensed her bitterness somehow and longed to tell her the truth: that she had a father who would not let her control the business, when many said had Abby been a boy, surely she would have increased the business thricefold. Still she kept quiet because she did not know if her intuitions were correct – after all, she had just met Miss Weisz – and did not wish anyone. Her green eyes flickered with thought, and she nodded. “You are lucky you are kept so busy.” She merely murmured gently, smiling. "That sounds exciting. Surely your childhood must have been filled with such interesting tales. My father was a merchant who worked himself up into gentleman status...he traveled and still travels much. As a child, I longed to go with him. Sometimes I still want to." Abigail then told her.

"Traveling as we did so often has it disadvatages as well," Sabine pointed out, "We rarely had enough time to make good friends. We left our friends in Russia and when we would come back, it just wasn't the same. We would leave for months and sometimes years and my friends had changed and grown without me while I changed to fit the culture in which I was emersed. So, I would alway have to start over only to be moved again."

“I suppose so, yes.” She said, trying her best to understand, but it was hard for Abigail. She had always had comfort and kindness in her life. She had no knowledge of her parents interesting history and how they actually wound up together, nor did she think about those underprivileged. It wasn’t so much as that she was a snob as much as she was ignorant. She had her training as a female, and she tried to think about the world in wider terms, but it was difficult.

"Other than that, traveling as often as we did, I have memories and experiences and an understanding of the world that I would not trade. In India, the children were quite talented and did things we had never seen before. One could walk on his hands, others juggled, and they taught my brothers and I so much in the few years we were there. It was the place we stayed the longest, so it almost feels like I am speaking about home. I do miss it. And here I am in London, one of the more widely known cultures and I am lost." She said laughing.

“I am glad you got a chance to see all those foreign places, and yes it can be hard to get adjusted to life here. London can be overpowering, I know. I have lived here my whole life, and it seems no matter how long I am here and how much I think I know this city, there is always another corner to explore – another world I didn’t know, right inside this city.” She chuckled. “Once Mrs. Crosse and I were supposed to go down the main street, and our carriage driver got confused and took us down another lane completely. Luckily it was still in a safe part of London, and we even discovered the most curious little bakery…but had it been it a darker, more wicked spot in London and we certainly could have been killed.” She said with a grave nod.

Next however they brought up Catherine and education, "I cannot imagine purposely keeping myself ignorant, but perhaps those young ladies are happier for it." She said, "We were never given the choice, education was a part of our everyday lives, which I do not regret."

“Ah how wonderful that would be, to have such encouraging parents.” Abigail said softly, and then modified her statement. “I mean my parents are most supportive, make no mistake, but my curiosity about the world often drives even my father – a most intelligent man – wild with irritation.” And she blushed.

Sabine smiled when Abigail described Ben and said, “When we had free time to join the Indian children in play, the older children were always responsible to watch out for the younger ones, and there was a young boy there that sounds very much like your Ben." She then added, "I would very much like to meet your family sometime. There is no family in this place, so it can be quite dull and a little lonely at times."

“Well surely you will meet them! Perhaps you will even join Mrs. Crosse and I back to our home, so I may introduce you to my family and tell them of how you and your brave carriage saved us!” Abigail said with a smile. This would prove excellent!

[Sabine Weisz]

Sabine took the cue of silence to sip on her own tea, the aroma and taste bringing her right back to the Indian villiage.

“This tea is delightful! Might I inquire the flavor?” Abigai had asked after tasting it, “My father works with teas, and I am sure he would be fascinated to know.”

"It's imported from India. It reminds me of home, so it's one of the small comforts that I pay too much for." she said with a wink, "I believe the flavor is called Ceylon." she asnwered.

The mood switched over quickly as both women felt the sense of being somewhat trapped in the lot that life had given them. Without specific words saying so, they both seemed to feel it closing in at once. At least it seemed like a shared sense to Sabine. She gave her a sad smile, it wasn't the first time she felt trapped, but it was the first time she ever felt like she may not be alone in it.

When the subject turned back to travel, Sabine smiled, "It seems like whenever my father leaves one of the sites, everything slowly goes down hill, so he must visit again, so I am sure that travel will be in my near future yet again. If only I could find a director as good as my father, then we could stay put a little longer." She noticed her slip almost immediately, placing the responsibility of finding a competant director on her own shoulders instead of her father's. She never slipped up so much and realized that something about Abigail made her more open and less self concious.

“Once Mrs. Crosse and I were supposed to go down the main street, and our carriage driver got confused and took us down another lane completely. Luckily it was still in a safe part of London, and we even discovered the most curious little bakery…but had it been it a darker, more wicked spot in London and we certainly could have been killed.” Abigail had said with a grave nod.

Sabine listened intently, "I was quite surprised how dangerous London could be. Away from it, you only hear how wonderful it is, especially in places like India where they have so little. I know so little of London, perhaps you might show me around so that I could discover the best places to eat or buy goods; places like that bakery you mentioned. Places that are not dangerous." she finished with a coy smile.

Sabine almost laughed when Abigail praised her 'encouraging' parents, "If by encouraging you mean forceful and demanding, then I would agree. We were given very high expectations and there were no excuses for not being the best. Our parents even put their own children up against one another in acedemics, it was a difficult way to grow up, but we did our best." A lot of good it did my dead brothers, she added silently to herself, "But, it has made me who I am today."

“I mean my parents are most supportive, make no mistake, but my curiosity about the world often drives even my father – a most intelligent man – wild with irritation.” Abigail blushed.

"Perhaps your curiosity will take you places they never dreamed of. Perhaps we could arrange it so you could join one of our business trips. The business is not exciting, but I would make sure you saw the best of India." Sabine offered, hoping that it wasn't too forward. A friend to travel with would be far better than her lonely and stressful trips.

“Well surely you will meet them! Perhaps you will even join Mrs. Crosse and I back to our home, so I may introduce you to my family and tell them of how you and your brave carriage saved us!”

"Nothing else would make my day brighter, and I'm sure it would help prove your story and excuse for not making it to the social engagment that your mother organized for you." She said, finishing her tea.