"Not at all," Abby replied, shaking her head. "I- when I was ten, my sister and my parents and I all fell ill. There was a sickness that spread through the town- not the Grey Death, but it was just as scary because we didn't know who would live or who would die. My parents sent Eleanore and me away when we got better, to live with an uncle in a nearby village. I never saw them again- I imagine they passed away as well. When we reached the village, we found that my uncle and his family had already passed away from the illness as well, so Eleanore and I made our way in the direction of Greenville." Molly might have already known this much of the story, or at least pieced it together.
"Eleanore and I were separated on the way. I looked for her, but couldn't find her, and eventually found myself in Greenville. It was early morning, and I made my way to the first building that had lights on inside- they took me in and let me stay with them as long as I earned my keep. I didn't know at the time what the place was, though. It turned out that I had ended up in the town brothel." Abby reached for her water and took another sip. "I was still living there when I met Thomas. I had just turned sixteen, and he pulled me out of the way of a fast moving cart. We fell in love, and some months later, I found myself pregnant with Bridget."
"The Madame who ran the brothel didn't like it. It was a difficult pregnancy and I was so young, and I couldn't leave very often. When Bridget was born, I fell ill, and she gave Thomas the baby, telling him I'd passed away and he was never welcome there again. When I awoke and began to feel better, I was told that my child had died and Thomas wanted nothing to do with me. And as soon as I was better, I had to earn my keep as more than just a simple maid. I had to earn it like every other woman who lived there. So no, Molly, I can't hate you for living with a family who loves you. It may not be entirely conventional, but I think it's better, maybe, than living somewhere that you're ill-treated."