Dress Shopping (3)

Aurora looked away from the back of the man she bumped into after hearing her sister's voice. She hadn't realized she was staring at him for so long until Regina asked what she was looking at. "Do you know that man I just bumped into?"

"I don't think so but then again, I couldn't see his face," Regina commented trying to find the same man amongst the crowd so she could hopefully get a glimpse of his face. "Did something happen? Want me to chase him down and defend your honor?"

Aurora chuckled hearing Regina's words. Of course, her sister would do such a thing. "As much as I would love to see these fighting skills you speak so highly of, I think it's best I spare the poor man from your wrath."

"He should be lucky to have such a guardian angel on his side. Now back to the reality for a day of torture. We have to make a promise to only try on things we absolutely love or we'll be in here the whole day and I don't know how my brain will handle that. Pinky promise me," Regina said, holding up her finger. She hadn't achieved that skill like Minnie and her mother where trying on clothes all day did not bother them.

"I promise," Aurora chuckled, making the deal with Regina. As much as she wanted to look for dresses, she also hoped it wouldn't take too long and she would be able to look around the town with Regina. It wasn't every day she got to come outside and spend time like this with her sister.

"I heard the important meeting father and Samuel are having is actually an arranged meeting with one of father's friends' daughters. Samuel is in for quite the shock."

"He hasn't thought of getting married yet but he is the heir and has to take over from father soon. They will start finding him a wife soon enough," Aurora replied walking up to the dressmaker's door with Regina beside her. Minnie and Rachel were not too far behind.

"He has so much weight on his shoulder you think they would invest more time in marrying him off and leave us alone. Thank you," Regina told the store attendant who opened the door for them.

"You mean to leave you alone. I don't think they have any plans of marrying me off," Aurora corrected her. It had always been evident by her younger sister being prepared for marriage while she remained at home with Minnie but she was older.

Regina opened her mouth to respond to Aurora but she was interrupted by Minnie's voice. "I'm happy to see this time you remembered not to have anyone in the store as I requested. It would be bad for you if someone were to steal our dress choices and wear them in public before we do. I really like this place."

Minnie had the connections to get rid of the store if they did not do as she asked and the owner knew it.

"The lady made sure to cancel all her appointments when your family requested a visit. She will be with you in a moment as she is still picking out the best of the best for your family. Would you care for cookies and tea?" The store attendant Emily said buttering up the family as her boss instructed her to. Madame Eloise, the dressmaker, loved money so a family like the Hamiltons were her favorite type of customer.

"No thank you. Just get the dresses out as quickly as you can. Girls, have a look around at the dresses she has on display for inspiration on what you want to wear," Minnie said, taking a seat to rest her tired feet. Rachel also did the same.

"How many dresses are we buying today?" Regina asked not because she cared to have too many but because it would give her an idea of how many parties she had to attend around the time of the harvest festival. One dress for each party was her mother's rule.

"Seven dresses for you and two for Aurora. You are to spend a lot of this time socializing with others to figure out who you want in your circle plus your husband. Close your mouth Regina or it will catch flies," Rachel scolded her daughter. She was serious when she said she wanted Regina to marry as soon as possible. Rachel also wanted her hanging around the right group of young women.

Aurora smiled seeing Regina's disbelieving face at the mere fact of needing seven dresses which meant seven different occasions. Aurora was happy she did not have to do this. The reason was, not many of those people had genuine friendships. Most of them attended the parties just to be associated with someone who could benefit them but they drop their friend off the moment they become useless like Minnie and her friend.

A quiet life surrounded by people she cared about and likewise was all Aurora wanted. Regina also wanted it too but as girls, they had little control over their lives. Her family had a lot of money but still seemed to want more.

"Do you want to start over there?" Aurora asked, pointing to a corner away from Minnie and Rachel so Regina could get away from them for a short period of time. She knew how much Regina disliked hearing all the marriage talk and having to socialize with people she did want to be friends with.

In Aurora's eyes, everyone marrying only for money was continuing the cycle of loveless marriages where parents would force their children to marry someone of their choice just like their parents did to them.

"Yes please," Regina sighed, walking over to the corner with Rachel. She wished she could turn back time to when she wasn't old enough to hear marriage talk.

"I'm sure you will find someone you will love for an eternity," Aurora reassured her. She wanted Regina to be with someone who loved her and wouldn't place so many rules for her to follow.

"I doubt it."

The store bell rang indicating that a new customer had entered.

"What is this? We said we wanted no other customers with us-Oh my!" Rachel gasped seeing that the person who entered was the man who was currently the talk of the town. "Mr.Robert, I did not know it was you."

Hearing Rachel speaking with someone, Aurora and Regina looked to the door. A man with dark hair and handsome features had come inside. While Regina admired his face, Aurora had an eerie feeling about him.