Aurora didn't like the idea of Gilbert walking around the home so casually and she knew Minnie did not like it either. She was taught to be respectful to all of their guests but Gilbert was a foul man when it came to women. He had been married four times and although it wasn't rare, his reasoning for marrying so much was because his wives lost their youth and beauty so he needed to marry another younger one. The man wasn't easy on the eyes but he had money which made him a prime candidate amongst father's looking for a rich son-in-law
Aurora prayed that she nor Regina would never be on his list as a future wife but she doubted her family would even consider him a candidate. They had enough money not to need to grab onto an old pervert like Gilbert. At least she hoped that much.
Regina was a legitimate daughter in the marriage between Rachel and her father Nathaniel. Aurora on the other hand could be married off for business. She knew it wasn't uncommon to use the children from mistresses in exchange for money or a business partner.
"I would rather marry a dog than Gilbert," Aurora softly spoke, making her way back to her bedroom. For the short time Gilbert was here she wanted to stay out of his sight.
On her way back, she saw Conner the head gardener. He was bringing in lilies and more of the other purple flowers. He was the perfect person to remind her of their name.
"Mister Conner!" She called out to him and ran to catch up to him before he could enter the garden. She hoped Minnie had not yet informed him she was not supposed to go into the garden anymore.
"Miss Aurora. How can I help you? Do you need more flowers for your room?" He questioned seeing that it was Aurora who called for him. He hadn't seen anyone with a silver spoon in their mouth who enjoyed the garden as much as her. The women always talked about the bugs and dirt getting on their clothes but he saw Aurora and sometimes her sister, laying on the garden floor.
"No. The ones you gave me before are still doing great. I saw that you are bringing out more flowers. What are these ones called again?" She pointed to the flowers she saw all of the workers filling the house with.
"Oh, these. Your family uses these flowers a lot. I'm surprised you don't know the name."
"Really?" She didn't see these flowers around many times other than being in vases around the house or small patches in the garden. Aurora never thought they were special.
"My father was the gardener before me and this flower was on the list of the important ones I needed to plant. Your family even grows a field of these and I go there to bring them back to the house. This is the only flower they grow themselves. Growing up, I thought it was a symbol for the household but it turned out your family just liked having it around. I don't know why because it's said to be poisonous but I'm just following my orders. Be careful around it," Connor explained.
This was the first time Aurora learned they had a field to grow this flower and if it was so poisonous, why place so many of them around the home? No wonder Conner was handling it with care. Aurora was glad she disliked the plant and never touched it. "What is the name?"
"Oh yes, pardon me for getting sidetracked. It's called aconitum. Remember the name and how it looks to stay away from it though it will be hard because of how many Minnie ordered us to plant today."
Aurora nodded and looked down at the plant in his hands.
"I recall there was also another name for it. Oh yes, I remember. Wolf's bane," Conner said happily as he still knew the other name.
Aurora's eyes went wide hearing the other name for the flower. "Wolf's bane? Why?"
Conner looked around and made sure not many people were around because he was sure the Hamiltons wouldn't like their daughter knowing this. He leaned closer and whispered, "It was rumored to be used by hunters to kill werewolves. They would make a potion from the plant and place it on the weapons to kill the beast. With so many around your home, such a creature would never enter. You are safe and sound inside here, miss."
From the smile on Conner's face, she knew he was just joking about it but Aurora took this new information very seriously. Before meeting the wolf in what she believed was a dream. Aurora would've believed what Connor said to be a myth but now she did not.
"Thank goodness for that. I don't want to keep you away from doing your job. Thank you for talking to me," Aurora said.
"Any time." Conner enjoyed talking with Aurora because she shared his love for flowers and because the young woman was nice, talking to him as though they were equal. Not like how many of his employers treated him like he was not even human because he was merely a gardener.
If her family allowed her to be out more in society, he knew she would blossom to the top amongst other young ladies. Aurora had a charm to her that drew you into her and made you feel happy. He heard many of the other workers talking about it.
"Good day," she bid farewell and continued on to her room while thinking about the wolf's bane. This was not a simple coincidence in her mind. Minnie had placed these flowers out in hopes it would keep the werewolf coming for Aurora away.
From a young girl, Minnie always told her stories of how a bad beast would come and take her away to scare her. But there was more to the story of why the beast wanted to come for Aurora. The history between the werewolf and her family was something that she needed to uncover but how could she when Minnie wanted to keep it a secret?