"I have some wonderful dresses for the young ladies picked out in the back to try out. The dresses you requested for yourselves miss Minnie and Rachel are already on their way to your manor. Thank you for always trusting me with your dresses," Madame Eloise said. She clapped her hands for her workers to come and take Aurora and Regina into the dress rooms. "I will take care of helping the young ladies."
Forgetting about Seth for now, Aurora was excited to have a new dress for the harvest moon festival. She also enjoyed seeing the dresses Madame Eloise made just like everyone else in the town. She followed Madame Eloise and a worker behind a large curtain that held dressing rooms behind it.
"I have a variety of colors picked out for both of you. Pick what suits your taste and I will have it altered to fit you. Regina, you are on the right, and Aurora, you are on the left."
Aurora stepped into her private dressing room filled with dresses and immediately ran her hands along the fabric feeling the softness. There were many colors of green, blue, white, yellow, and more from her to choose from. Immediately, her choice went to a red dress which reminded her of a rose. This was the dress she wanted to wear to the harvest festival, no questions asked. Coincidentally, Aurora had a red coat with which she could cover her hair to match the dress if she was not allowed to show her hair.
Aurora began to take off the dress she was currently wearing. She had made sure to choose a dress from home which would be easy to take off and put back on. The dress she chose to wear to the harvest festival was an off-shoulder red dress with gold designs around the bust and waist areas. The material looked heavy but it was surprisingly light when she held it.
It took her around three minutes to put on the dress herself and to smooth it. She took one deep breath after the task of putting it on was over with. "Finally. Let's see it," she went up to the mirror placed in the dressing room and fell in love with the dress all over again. "This is it. I hope Minnie doesn't think it's too much red."
Aurora left the mirror to open the dressing room door to show Madame Eloise and Minnie the dress she liked. She found Madam Eloise waiting outside of Regina's door with another dress in her hands. "I like this one," she informed the madame.
"Really-"
Madame Eloise was interrupted by Regina yelling, "It's too tight!"
Madame Eloise sighed knowing it will be a long day finding a dress for the young hamilton girl. Regina did not like the dresses she picked out for her because they were too heavy or too long but that was what everyone was wearing now. "Please ask your grandmother about the dress and I will get back to you. I need to help your sister if you don't mind."
"It's fine," Aurora replied. She had an idea of why Regina shouted out it was too tight. Rachel sometimes ordered Regina's dresses a size too small and made her go on diets to fit into them. Clearly, Rachel did it here again.
As Madame Eloise had her hands full, Aurora started to walk towards Minnie and Rachel to show them the dress but stopped when she heard the two of them in a heated argument.
"At some point, you have to stop pretending. You've lied to her long enough but in the end, I am always the bad person in my children's eyes. I did not sign to explain to others that my husband had a mistress. Why didn't you say she was a distant relative or something?" Rachel argued and from the tone of her voice, she had reached a breaking point with Minnie.
"Watch your voice! The girls are not too far away and can come out at any moment. I warned you to never speak of things you learned from my family. Shut up and enjoy the luxury you live in. If the girls hear of anything you spoke of I will not hesitate to kill you this time," Minnie warned her.
"You watch them become close over the years, what will happen when Regina learns the truth? You know how much she loves who she believes is her sister and will retaliate against what you are doing," stated Rachel. This was why she tried her best to keep Regina away from Aurora but the two still managed to become close. She did not want her daughter caring for Aurora only to be hurt later in the future.
"It is your job to make sure Regina is married by then and know that her true family comes first. As of right now, Aurora is a Hamilton and she will stay that way until I have changed my word. Why do you care what will happen to Aurora? The entire time you've been married to Nathaniel, you never cared to like her."
"It's hard for me to sit by and love a child I know will be put to rest sooner or later," Rachel replied, placing her hand on her chest feeling torn inside. She knew Aurora's fate in their household and like her daughter, she did not want to become close to Aurora only to watch what will happen to the young lady. Regina needed to get married right now and away from this family.
"You are not the one who has to do it so why are you getting so emotional? You should be listening to all my commands diligently. Although you came from a good family, your father was finding it hard to marry you off. I proposed Nathaniel marry you so he would have someone quiet by his side. So do that. Be quiet and forget everything you know or you will end up in the papers tomorrow." Minnie regretted pushing her son to marry Rachel but her family had a good business that was beneficial to her.
Minnie continued to say, "Aurora will come back like normal in the end. I need her under my eyes to make sure the family business remains normal. Aurora is the heart of our household and I will not let her go because someone like you can't keep their mouth shut.