This was different. Not a bad different, because it was welcomed to feel genuine caring from the Queen, but still different. Something about her still screamed Sirmian, which always had Maria a bit on her guard; one wrong move and things could start for the worse all over again. But here, in this moment? The Queen was asking her to call her “mother”, and was hugging her, was looking her over with warmth and it had the smile on her own lips becoming more genuine.<span style="font-style: italic">Maybe this won’t be so bad after all…</span>she thought, nodding to the Queen’s request, and waiting for Abby to say whatever it was that she was going to.<br/><br/>And then, anger.<br/><br/>How did she know?! She was bluffing. There was no way that she could know about Brádach, nor could she know that there was more going on. Though her face didn’t show it, it had her suddenly on edge, the smile on her lips not faltering as she laughed off the next remark, which had Simprina raising a brow though remaining silent. No, it wasn’t her place to say anything, but something told her there was more to that exchange than met her careful eye.<br/><br/>As she settled into the chair, her own dress managed to do as the Queen’s did, fanning out in such a fashion that there was no worry of wrinkles nor creases. The dress would be in as pristine condition as it’d been when she put it on. What for? She hadn’t the slightest idea, but it would be the one day she lacked a care for it that she’d be needed. “I thank you for the worry and the want to speak with me and just…spend time with me. It’s like you’re the mother I didn’t have, and as I never had a mother to speak of this with, I’d not really known what to expect.” Resisting the urge to shrug, she glanced at Simprina who rushed over and started preparing her a cup of tea. “I’d just not expected how tired I’d be. The morning sickness was a nightmare, and I just felt so…tired. But, I’ve been feeling better and handling it better than I had thanks to the wonderful midwives I have, along with Simprina’s care, so I’m hopeful that it’ll be smooth sailing from here on out.”<br/><br/>The small cup was held out in front of her, which she accepted with a quiet “thank you”, a sip taken before she continued. “So, with the rest of the family gone, what will we speak of? Or do? I’m not sure I’m the best company to entertain you both but I’ll certainly try my best.”<br/><br/>In the back of her mind, she was entertaining herself with the notion of choking Abigail with her bare hands, or throwing her out of the window Brád continually climbed up through when he’d visit her during the night. There was a mental note to leave a note with Simprina for him when he got back, but that was the least of her concerns. She had to gauge what Abby knew and what she didn’t.<br/><br/>“And you? What has my sister of mine been up to? I see you least of all the family members,” she asked, the smile on her face still as genuine as before, thankful for her practice at saving face no matter the circumstance.