Free Web NovelChapter 175: Desires (3)
"Motivate you to do what? Do you honestly think things will go your way, Regina? Whatever it is you desire from taking that shop away from your brother, it will not happen. I have been trying to set you up for a good life but you keep messing it up. You know what Regina, you get your wish. I will leave you alone," Rachel sighed, no longer determined to help her daughter.
If she helped Regina marry into a good family, the girl might just embarrass her. Soon enough Regina will regret her choices and come begging her mother for help.
"When all your peers are married and start creating a family of their own, do not come to me, Regina. I have done everything in my power to help you and you disappointed me each time. There is nothing that I can do for you. I have to focus on the only child looking to do something with their life."
"Isn’t that what you have always been doing? Do we really need to have this conversation again, mother?" Regina sighed, annoyed that she had to go through this again. You would think after she poured her heart out to her mother, the woman would show a little compassion. "I don’t care if you don’t want to help me anymore? Did you think I was going to cry or get down on my knees and beg you?"
"Sorry to say but I am going to rejoice that you aren’t helping me. No more crappy lessons, countless trying on dresses, and smiling in front of your friends. Thank you, mother."
"There is something seriously wrong with you," Rachel shook her head at her daughter. "Where did I go wrong?"
"From the beginning," Regina replied.
"We aren’t having dinner at home tonight. We are going to a party. It was supposed to be a chance for you to find a suitor but I rather not embarrass this family. Get dressed in an hour’s time and meet all of us down here." With this said, Rachel walked away to be by herself since Samuel locked himself in his room and Nathaniel wasn’t speaking to her.
"Great. I can’t even rest."
Regina hurried up to her room before the next person to stop would be Minnie. There was no doubt the woman would be nosy and want to see what she was carrying. She successfully made it back to her bedroom and locked the door.
"I’m too tired to even read this book now. I need to sleep and read it when I come back from the party. Where can I hide this in case the people here get too nosy?" She tapped her chin looking around her large room. "I haven’t used you in so long," she grinned remembering a spot she used to hide books that her mother wouldn’t like her reading.
There was a small hole in her walk-in closet covered by a piece of a board like the rest of the closet. You wouldn’t be able to tell the whole was there because it was covered well. The only reason Regina found it was because she and Aurora were playing around and accidentally hit the wall. The wood falling down had startled the two of them but then they immediately thought of it as a good hiding place.
To keep it more secure, they stole nails from a worker and made the board harder to fall out. It was a difficult task for two young girls who had never done such a thing in their lives but they made it work.
Regina went into her closet right to the spot with the board. She placed the book and the stick to the side while she tried her best to pull the board out of the spot it was slightly nailed into. It was much easier when there were two people but her determination to hide her things helped her.
Regina flew backward when the board came loose. "That scared me," she muttered in shock. Once she gathered herself she pushed the book and stuck it down the hole then placed the board back over it. The tool to hammer it back in place was kept in her bedroom. "Maybe I should get into the business of building houses. It might take me a few years to get the house up but I can do it."
"Done. I’m too tired to walk to my bed," Regina said, collapsing to the carpeted floor of her bedroom. She’ll cringe about this later but right now, all she wanted to do was sleep.
Thirty minutes later, she was awoken by the sound of someone knocking on her door.
"I hope that’s not you again Esmeralda," Regina whispered, rolling on her other side to get more comfortable.
"Why am I getting blamed for someone else’s actions? I don’t know if it’s cute or disgusting that you are sleeping on the floor. You worked yourself too hard today. By the way," Esmeralda poked Regina’s cheek but it had no effect on her. "Your mother gave you the wrong time to be ready. You will be blamed if you arrive downstairs late. You have ten minutes left."
"What?" Regina jumped up at this news.
"Revenge for getting her son hurt?"
Regina banged her fists down on the floor. "Who is at the door?"
"A maid ready to dress you," said Esmeralda.
Regina quickly got up from the floor, rushing to the door to let the maid in. As soon as she opened the door she told the maid, "If you get me ready in seven minutes I will pay you with gold coins."
The maid’s eyes widened at the thought of receiving gold coins instead of the silver she was normally paid with. She nodded her head accepting the deal. "Please forgive me for this young miss," she said because she would have to get a little rough with Regina. She turned Regina around to undo her dress while they walked to the bathroom.
Meanwhile, Rachel and Nathaniel were already dressed downstairs but the couple was not speaking to each other. Rachel tried a few times but her husband did not respond. He should at least acknowledge her so no one would talk about their relationship. His mother will enjoy seeing that they are not getting along. Minnie had been patiently waiting to separate the two.
Minnie was the next to come downstairs to leave for the party. "What is the matter with the two of you? Are you arguing?" She was always able to pick up on things like this.
"No mother," Nathaniel answered to avoid causing problems. He knew his mother wouldn’t let anything go if she was to know what happened today. That could all be discussed after they returned home. Right now, they needed to act like a happy family that wasn’t affected by the rumors about Minnie and her butler.
"You can never lie to me, son. I can tell when you are lying but sooner or later, I will learn what happened. What is taking those children so long? I am going out to sit in the carriage. Rachel, go get your children," Minnie ordered the woman while she told Nathaniel, "Come with me in the carriage."
"Yes mother," Nathaniel replied, taking his mother’s hand to lead her out to the carriage.
Rachel gritted her teeth wishing that on their way out Minnie would trip and fall. Hopefully, it would result in her death. "I’m going to enjoy the day that woman dies," she said.
"Who are you talking about, mother? Don’t tell me you are still plotting Minnie’s death? Doesn’t that get boring?" Samuel asked his mother as he came downstairs.
Rachel placed her finger on her lips to shush her son. He should be smart to know this house had ears listening all over. It wasn’t wise to ask her who she meant and state the person’s name. "We mustn’t call names Samuel"
"Anyone would still know who you are referring to. There is only one person you wish to see dead in this world more than anything. I will grant that wish for you soon mother," he whispered the last part in her ear.
Rachel smiled seeing Samuel’s determination to make her proud. She knew out of her two children, her son would always make her proud. "You have to get back close to your father during this party. He won’t be able to stay angry at you all night long when he sees you talking with his peers. Don’t stutter or look afraid in front of anyone. You are Samuel Hamilton."
"Yes, mother."
"Ha, ha," Regina chuckled while coming down the stairs. "It’s like Minnie and father all over again. Surprised to see me, mother? The maid got me dressed in eight minutes instead of seven minutes but I still applauded her. Everyone is ready much earlier than you told me. Isn’t that weird?"
"Regina, we need to talk," Samuel told his sister. He wasn’t holding onto his father punishing him for slapping her because he deserved it but they had other things to speak about. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
"I don’t think so Samuel," Regina replied, walking past the both of them. "I’ve said enough to the both of you."
