Pearl sighed when she knew she didn't get through. Olivia would not yield, would not see that she had a problem that needed to be fixed. Pearl knew she could never fix her sister though, and she would not try to do that. The maid returned and defended her, and she said, "That will be all..." She fixed the maid with a tired stare that said she wasn't in trouble for her impertinence toward Livvie, but one that said she had better not step over that line.

When her sister said the last thing, she had to be sure she heard right and went over the words in her head once or twice before she said, "Oh, so you wish to be kidnapped and feel helpless while some dirty man knocks you around to keep you on the ground? You wish to have your life flash before your eyes thinking that you're going to die and there is nothing you can do about it?" She gave a coughing laugh of incredulity and then said, "I wouldn't wish that on anyone, let alone my own sister. How dare you even say such a vile thing? You never even bothered to ask what it has done to me, you only assume. Go on, go ahead and run away."

She had never been so blunt and downright brutally honest to her sister before, but since moving out it was like her voice was no longer being stifled by other voices. That and feeling like she was made her not give a damn about hurt feelings for being truthful. She didn't want to argue anymore, she wanted to go to bed and sleep the sleep of the dead for a time. But she was too weak to get up and climb stairs, so it felt like. Not that Olivia would stick around to help. Selfish wretch.

Olivia's tongue clicked sharply against the roof of her mouth at Pearl's words. The maid, thankfully, fell silent. Her sister's words did not merit a turning of her heels to face her once more. Instead, Olivia looked straight ahead. Her features were still tightened with something that bordered on disgust--not that she had any true reason to be disgusted with anyone but herself.

An exhausted huff of air parted her lips, but no words came. She would run if it meant numbing her own pain. Her entire world ended, and here she was being told that she needed to get over it. Part of her wanted to use that same argument in regards to Pearl's kidnapping, but she knew that would be unfair. Instead, she drew her shawl tightly around her shoulders and left, leaving her sister to her illness. Olivia, no doubt, was going to wet her whistle. After all, she was a selfish wretch.