Chapter 96 - Better Daughter

Abigail pov contd.

"I did not want a heavy dress to get attention. I want that simple blue dress." I instructed looking at all the four dresses on the mannequins.

After getting dressed up, I walked towards the garden with a big smile on my lips. Now I have to wait till lunch break and as promised Nickolas would take me to the tea house. I have to check it and so does the jewelry store nearby and raw materials for making a good dress too. Once again it was a long list to do. But soon I would have staff and allies to support me.

With that thought I smiled, soon I would have a big army to support. I sat under the gazebo as I looked around. It was the most peaceful place of the palace. It is used to organise big parties and feast but rest of the time no one comes here since we all have our personal garden attached to our chambers.

I looked around as I sipped my tea, eating all the delicious food with peace when I heard footsteps. I turned to see Isabella was coming towards me with something in her hands.

"Are you busy Abi?" she asked, looking at me and then at the food.

"Of course not. I am having breakfast. Would you like to join me?'' I offered and she hesitated but nodded her head.

"I am thankful for yesterday. You not only saved me but also gave me courage to face the situation and behaved as a sister should do. In fact, more than that.'' Though her words were simple, her voice had sincerity.

"As you said, that is what a sister should do. As I have said to you before, I am trying to mend our relationship, Bella. I know that I have pranked and tormented you, but you have passed comments and tried to create troubles for me too. Can we not let the past go, and be good sisters?" I asked and she finally raised her eyes and looked at me.

Her eyes were watery as if I had bullied her but her face had that innocent smile, "I would love to have a big sister and a good friend in you." she nodded her head and then passed me a box.

I raised a brow but she just forwarded further. I took it in my hands and opened it. It has a small locket on which i NIA was written. 

"It is the initials of all of us." she added when she looked confused on my face.

"You can wear it in a chain or even add it to your bracelet. I have used the soft gold and mixed a bit of silver to give it strength. And look at the stones. It has turquoise for N, because of Nickolas's turquoise green eyes, emerald for you, and amber for my initials because of my amber eyes.`` She kept explaining it thinking that I didn't like it, but I was silent because I thought even when it was just the initials of our name, It was designed so beautifully that I could not believe at all that she had made it herself in less than a day.

I never knew that she was so well versed in jewels making at this small age. I suddenly felt embarrassed as I was sure I did not know anything else except making trouble at that age.

"How did you make it yourself?'' I asked, finally breaking my silence and finally stopping her from continuing her lecture as to why she had chosen this gift as a start.

"Huh?"

"I mean, we have not been in good terms before yesterday, then when did you get time to make it and how did you make it?'' I asked again and she looked at me hesitantly.

Why was she feeling like that? Should she not be proud or did she not want me to tell her secrets!

"If you did not want to share your secrets, then it is fine. I was just mesmerised by it. I have never thought that you are so talented. In fact, you should start working on it, who knows you could start your own store in a year." i praised her to make her feel better not because we were on good terms now but it was genuinely a design worth praising.

"Umm, you really did not know?" she finally spoke with hesitation and i blinked.

'Should I know? Has she told me before? Darn! Due to my hazy memories I could not even be sure what she was talking about!' looking at my lost face she sighed,

"My late father, baron Smington, who died while trying to save your mother, he was a jewel maker. I used to go with him to his store when I was four. He used to show me all the work areas and how he made jewels. I had a good time there. Even when my mother married here, I did not stop going to the store until it was sold 3 years ago." her eyes were looking at the distance and she was looking lost.

"Why was the store sold 3 years ago?" if it was there for such a long time why did it close so suddenly?

"Sigh, no one was there to take care of it so it was not working efficiently. Mother had kept it to give me on my marriage as this was the only thing she had. But she is not good at business. Moreover after the duties as a duchess, she never gets the time to spend on the small store. When it suffered too much loss, my mother decided to keep the jewels for me instead and close it.

So I have a lot of jewels and metals, and other equipment too. Whenever she is not paying attention I go there and practice the art of making jewels. It is the only thing that kept me connected to my father." her voice turned low and distant at the end and i felt she was a much better daughter than me.