The next day, Minnie had put together a trip to the town for all of the ladies to go dress shopping while Samual and Nathaniel handle urgent business. The harvest moon festival was another opportunity for everyone to dress up and buy new clothes. Minnie wouldn't allow any of them to wear clothes other's had already seen or were out of season to the harvest festival in case they end up being the talk of the festival.
Aurora was glad Minnie had stuck to her word and allowed her to come along for dress shopping. Though she had to wear a cape to cover her odd hair color, she was more than happy to if it meant being outside.
"Lend me some of your excitement. As much as I love the festival I am not excited to be trying on countless dresses today. How are we supposed to move around to the different stalls if those heavy dresses are weighing us down?" Regina questioned with folded arms.
"That's why we're going to choose the lightest ones today," Aurora whispered so Minnie and Rachel would not be able to hear. She did agree with Regina that the dresses were sometimes too heavy and felt like it was made to keep her in one place.
Regina sighed, resting her head against Aurora's shoulder. "I'm so glad we get to have sister time today and I can take a break from all of my classes. If I have to hear one more lesson about being a good wife I am going to kill myself."
"Regina!" Rachel scolded her daughter for saying such a thing. Even after the amount of money they spent to turn her into a fine young lady, the words which came out of her mouth were foul. She was hanging around too many bad influences. "You need to prepare for being a good wife. Be grateful that your grandmother and I are helping you. One day you'll help a daughter of your own and realize why it is so important."
"The way I see it, you're going to push me to marry someone I don't love as long as they are wealthy. Doesn't matter anyway because I will poison him before we can consummate the marriage. Then you could take the money and leave me alone," Regina replied.
Rachel gasped hearing the words coming out of her daughter's mouth. She turned to look at Minnie for help as they sat side by side while Aurora and Regina sat together. However, Minnie was unaffected by her granddaughter's ways. She knew this was just rebellious talk coming from Regina's mouth but when the time comes the girl will get married and find happiness after.
If she's lucky, she'll love one of the partners they choose before she gets married.
Aurora tapped Regina's hand while the other two people in the carriage were distracted to tell her sister not to push her mother. Aurora knew Regina did not want to get married to just anyone and had a crush on someone. Unfortunately, it was up to their father to accept who Regina wants to marry or she would have to run away.
Aurora looked out the carriage enjoying the rare scenery outside their home. She figured Minnie was trying to make up for something by allowing her to go outside for shopping. She thought the dressmaker would come to their home instead.
Approaching the busy town, she was excited to see others starting to put together their stalls for the harvest moon festival. Time was approaching for the awaited festival where a lot of memories will be made. She fixed her coat to hide all of her hair because it was soon time for them to get out. Her white hair was not something to be seen.
"Here," Regina said, helping Aurora hide her hair. In her opinion, it was so stupid they made Aurora do things like this instead of just letting her be free. Why bring her out in society just to hide her all over again? Who cares about the circumstances of her birth? Just let her go out and be herself. Regina never once felt shame being around Aurora nor cared about what anyone said about Aurora.
Point the fingers at their father as Regina always said. She saw the excitement in Aurora's eyes to be outside again and wanted to make that last. Regina wanted to make this shopping time fun even if she hated it just to make Aurora happy.
"Thank you," Aurora smiled, thanking her younger sister.
Minnie quietly watched the interaction between the two girls knowing nothing good would come out of it in the future but allowed the girls to remain close for now. When the time comes, she knows what to do. "Be on your best behavior when we leave the carriage girls. Do not forget the manners which were taught to you. And Regina, no speaking of killing husbands on the outside. That's something you plot alone in the bedroom."
Regina chuckled thinking her grandmother was joking but Aurora didn't find it to be a joke like she would in the past. Considering their grandfather was dead, anything was possible in this family with all their secrets.
The carriage stopped close to the dressmaker's shop and the coachman went to Minnie's side of the carriage to help her out first. A worker for the dressmaker came to Aurora's side to help the young ladies out.
Aurora took his hand and stepped out of the carriage. "Thank you."
She moved to the side to allow Regina to have room to step out whilst fixing her hair to make sure none of it was showing. More focused on fixing her cape and not watching where she was going she accidentally bumped into someone. "I'm sorry," she apologized, turning to find it was a man she had bumped into.
He was wearing a hat with his black locks of hair peeking out hiding most of his face. He tilted his hat and bowed, accepting her apology before leaving.
"Are you okay?" Regina questioned after seeing her sister in a daze staring at the back of the man she walked into.