Chapter 13.
A Bothersome Cousin.

Abigail and David both turned to face George. Abigail caught a flash of annoyance in David's eyes. It mirrored her own. Not that she minded George. He was a good-natured fellow, and, unlike her aunt, he was nice to her.

What annoyed her was the fact that he shattered a beautiful moment with David, one that she was enjoying a great deal.

"What are the odds that I would catch the two of you together," George said as he walked up to the couple. "Abigail, my dear cousin, be sure that Mother doesn't find out you are keeping company with David here. There is a lot of bad blood between us."

"What are you doing here?" David demanded, making no effort to hide his unhappiness at seeing George.

"Is that a way to greet an old friend, David Righton," was George's reply. "You and I were thick as thieves in Oxford and now?"

"If I remember correctly, George, it was you who broke all contact with me. In the past four years, you have not tried to contact me once."

"Yes, well, thank your dear brother for that. I understand he was not pleased with Abigail here, her being a poor orphan with no family or money to speak of, but there was no need to insult my family while he was disapproving of her."

His words were spoken in good humor, but Abigail didn't like them. How dare he come about and belittle her like this. Of course, of them knew about the forturne she inherited from Uncle Max, but even if they thought her poor and orphaned, that was no excuse to speak of her like that. Especially since they were cousins related by blood.

"I have money to my name, thank you very much," she snapped at George.

"One hundred pounds a year is not money to a Marquess, Cousin Abigail," George replied.

She crossed her arms and glared at him. "If you've just come here to belittle me, Cousin George, then I shall bid you a good evening and be off. I do not appreciate being mocked in public."

George walked over to her and took her arm. "There, there, don't be cross, I meant no harm. I have nothing against David here. You are the ones who share a very awkward history..."

"George, you really have no idea of what tactfullness is, do you?" It was David now who was on the verge of losing his temper. "You have not yet answered my question of what you are doing in London."

"Business brought me here, and I thought I would look in on my cousin. Now that I caught you as well, I simply insist that we all dine somewhere together. Allow it to be my treat. What do you say?"

Abigail exchanged glances with David.

"Come along," George tugged at her arm in truly juvenile fashion.

"Very well, but not for long," Abigail relented. "I have lessons to prepare, and I know Mr. Righton has a long day in court tomorrow."

"Do you now?" George asked as he guided them down the street.

"There is an interseting murder trial going on, and I am going to take notes," David replied.

"I see you have truly given up writing poetry. No hope of your brother helping you get published."

"Richard hates poetry."

They came to a place that George assured them had the best food in all of London and found a table. Once the order had been made, they settled for the wait. George made conversation with David for a long while, asking him all about what he had been up to in the past four years. Abigail just sat back and was listening. It was clear as day that David was not at all happy talking to George. His answers were simple and flat and lacked any colorful details.

He must have really taken offense at George for breaking their friendship. Thought it's not like George was to blame. Aunt Imogen is a force to be reckoned with. If she said to end the friendship, George really would have no choice. According to the story that both George and David told, David had offered to elope with her, and she had refused, most likely out of fear of her aunt. Or maybe she had been smart enough to understand that eloping with a man who, at that time, held no profession and was wholly dependent on his brother, was just not a good idea.

So, in the end, it really is David's fault that it all ended the way it did, both with me and George.

"And what of you, Abby?"

Abigail was brought out of her thoughts by George, finally turning his attention to her. "I have neither seen nor heard from you since Christmas. How have you been? Are you still part of that Reform Society?"

"Yes, of course. We are as busy as ever. Parlimant is so slow in bringing about the much needed reform. If it weren't for people like us, I don't think they'd ever bother with anything. I have been well, thank you, George. Nothing exciting has really happened... except," Abigail remembered the man she had seen yesterday. "I feel like someone is following me. I spotted a man tailing me twice already."

Her words had both George and David half rising from their seats. David's eyes filled with concern, George's eyes were more angry and alarmed.

"What? Again?" David asked.

"You SAW someone tailing you?" George echoed.

"It all started on Boxing Day last year." Abigail recounted what she saw in December and before telling of what she saw yesterday. "I am convinced it is the same man," she concluded. "I spent much of last night trying to come up with a reason of why someone would follow me. George himself said that I am not a wealthy woman, I hardly earn anything from my teaching work and live off the one hundred a year that my father left me. I have no property to my name and lead a most modist lifestyle."

"I maintain my opinion that it is someone who is upset with all the trouble you stir with your reform ideas," David stated.

"You think?" Abigail argued. "I don't think I make much of a sensation. You create more drama than I do, and you have only been in the society for two months."

"What? David, you are now a member of Abigail's reform society?"

"That is hardly important now!" David snapped at George. "Your cousin is in danger. There is a strange man following her about. We don't know what his intentions are, and until we catch him, Miss Havisham is not safe. Miss Havisham," he turned to Abigail, "I really must insist that you go to the police."

"Did you get a good view of the man?" George question.

"Not really, I never saw his face. I only know him by his figure and the clothes he wears."

"You could still give a description to the police and they could do a drawing. That will help them keep an eye out. He doesn't know that you have seen him, so we could catch him unprepared. Come, let us go right now."

"But what about our meal?"

"George Smith! How can you think of food when your cousin has a man following her."

Abigail was trying not to smile. A thought had come to her that David looked cute all riled up the way he was. It was also nice to see how much he cared for her safety. And to think that back in December, she had been convinced that he was the one following her. At the same time, she was hungry. "Mr. Righton, we have already ordered and look, the food has already been brought here. Why don't we eat and then head off to the police station. I don't think half an hour delay will bring about any great change to the situation. As you said, the man doesn't know that I have spotted him, so whether we go now or after we eat, it will be the same."

"Listen to my cousin," George agreed. "We will eat, and then I shall takecousinusin to the police station and help her sort this all out. You head . There is no need for you to come along."

"Why not?"

"Why not? David Righton, who are you to my cousin? You are not a relation nor are you her husband. The two of you share an embarrassing past, and should my mother, or worse, your brother find out, all of hell will break loose. Let's not let the mistakes of the past repeat themselves."

"I am a lawyer, I think I am the best person to take along in cases like this."

"Don't be silly. Abigail and I are like brother and sister, I stand in place of her father at the moment. She is my responsibility, and I will handle this. Won't I, Abby?"

Abigail looked at the two men. "I am no one responsibility, thank you very much. But really, Mr. Righton, do not trouble yourself. You have a busy day tomorrow, and you have not had much time to prepare. George and I will handle the issue. But I promise I will keep you posted on all that happens."

There was nothing left for David to do but agree. He wasn't happy with the arrangement and ate his food in silence. George tried to keep the conversation going, and Abigail did her part, but the evenign was ruined for David Righton, and he left as soon as he finished his meal.

He can't be jealous of Cousin George, can he? Abigail mused as she watched him depart through the window. Jealousy is not a quality I admire in a man, especially seeing that George is a cousin who is like a brother to me. There is no competition here at all. But then, I suppose everyone has their imperfections. Still, David has such an easygoing nature, I never thought he could be the jealous sort.

Abigail shrugged and turned back to her cousin. "Shall we head to the police station then? I need to get this done and over with, as I have lots to prepare before tomorrow."

George nodded and, after paying the bill, rose and offered Abigail his arm. "Don't worry, we'll be in and out in a jiffy. There's not much that can be done at this point anyway. Just state the case, give a detailed description of the man, and let the police officer know where and how he can reach you. Perhaps this man isn't actually following you. You live on a busy street, maybe he lives there as well."

He did have a point. Perhaps she was overreacting. The street had several boarding houses and people came and went all the time. "Maybe I should wait a bit and see if he comes back?"

"Better to err on the side of caution," George advised. "Come along. It is already twilight. I should like to send you back home before the darkness really settles in."