Chapter 44: Choice (2)

Regina had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. Something off about her brother and the fact that he came from meeting with their father just now. She wanted to go back and give Aurora a heads up but her mother wanted her and the last thing Regina wanted was for her mother to go to Aurora's room looking for her. Hopefully, this chat with her mother would end quickly so she could visit Aurora before they all need to go to sleep.

Regina pushed aside whatever Samuel had going on and decided to focus on whatever her mother wanted. She already had an idea what this might be about as the man had just left a little while ago after speaking to Minnie.

She walked further past her father's office and stopped in front of a large white door. Regina knocked and waited for her mother to allow her in. She wasn't too happy to see Sarah open her mother's door with a large smile on her face.

"If you're going to smile that big, make sure all of your teeth are white. And do not forget how much I know about you maid," Regina softly spoke gracefully walking past the woman she detested. This was already off to a bad start. If her mother brought up anything about the attic, she was going to take Sarah down with her. "You called for me, mother? What have I done for you to call me here?"

"You started off so well but that attitude you have started to get in. Come have a seat with your poor mother. Sarah, step outside and do not let anyone enter even if it is my husband. He is also getting on my nerves these days by not being enough of a man." Rachel rubbed her head to release the tension that was building up.

"Yes ma'am," Sarah bowed and backed away to leave the two alone. She was upset she could not stay and listen to the conversation. Sarah just had to hope Regina wouldn't bring up her trying on her mother's clothes.

Rachel stared at her beautiful daughter who would be the star of all the parties if only she listened to her mother. Regina was one of the prospects for marriage among the young men but she had to fix her attitude first. Being a Hamilton won't mean much in the long run because men did not like women who spoke up too much with the things Regina said. "What do you think about Seth Roberts? He's a handsome young man and seems to be all about his business."

"I'm sure everyone he has met can say he is handsome. I'm aware of how good-looking he is." Regina wasn't going to lie when the man was indeed handsome. What she wasn't going to do was play her mother's game of matchmaking. "But he is not the man I envisioned to be my husband, mother. Please don't let this night get in your head and try to push us together. He likes Aurora if your eyes failed you tonight."

The sound of Rachel's palm connecting to her daughter's cheek echoed in the silent room. Regina was shocked her mother had struck her but then got over it and looked at the fuming woman.

"I am tired of you speaking this way to me. I am your mother and you must talk to me with respect. Do you have any idea how many opportunities you are letting fly by all because of that girl? You will have no future if you keep this. I have invested a lot of my time and my money making you perfect so that you may pick the best man to be your husband-"

"I don't want to be dolled up and docile for a man to pick me as his silent wife. I don't want there to be tension when it's time for the family to gather at dinner. I'm not against getting married but I see so much more than just money. I want to marry someone for love. I don't want to end up like you, mother. In this house, you are told to be mute and Minnie warns you of how easy it is to have you replaced with a younger woman. If father loved you, Minnie would know her place."

"Love," Rachel repeated, chuckling because of her daughter's innocence. "No one around here is marrying for love, you silly girl. We marry thinking about our future and then we can find love afterward. Love cannot keep a roof over your head and your children fed. I always thought you were a smart girl but this is ridiculous. Get the thought of love out of your head and think about the more important things."

"Because you thought about other things, you're stuck in a house you cannot leave because everything you have comes from father. If father decides he no longer wants you, what will have, mother? What will these other important things have for you in the long run? You know how good Minnie is at ruining reputations," said Regina. She planned not to live like her mother in the future. To be in a household where she would be bossed around.

Rachel sighed hurt by Regina's words but knew it was the truth. However, she wasn't concerned about herself anymore. She wanted her children to live and make better choices than she did. Their society was cruel and she experienced that cruelness before marrying Nathaniel. She wanted Regina to be safe from women like Minnie by having a strong husband to back her.

"Regina, you might not like the things I do and say but one day you'll realize how hard the world is for women. You have to start securing your place in this world by getting married to a good man so that your future daughters can have a chance at a better life. When men like Seth come around, you have to seize that opportunity and not let someone like Aurora steal him away. It's time for you to make a choice. Is it your sister or a good future that you want?"