Chapter 38: Bad guy (2)

"Our family has a reputation of being extremely wealthy for generations. If I was Minnie, I would probably burn all the articles which mention this. There is a possibility this could have been written as gossip out of boredom. It isn't the first time someone has done it to us." The Hamiltons had an influential reputation in the town and Minnie was the leader of many women who still ran their households but like everyone else, they had a handful of people who despised them.

"That's true but this paper is worth remembering. Do you think there is a possibility they are going broke again and that is why they are trying to rush me into marriage? That's the only explanation I will accept," Regina said, closing back the box of articles the way she had found it. "I'm not finding anything remotely interesting."

"We came here with the understanding we wouldn't be able to do anything and now we can confirm it. As you said, that article is something worth remembering. I think we're fine because of the lavish things Minnie, father, and stepmother all continue to buy." If they knew they were going broke, Aurora believed they would cut back their spending unless they wanted to keep up appearances and solve it on the low. And Minnie was just talking about her friend who had lost all her wealth because of poor investment decisions. She was confident enough that it wouldn't happen to her.

To Aurora, Minnie keeping all the articles was just her being focused on the family business. She didn't have the time to focus on this article right now but only on her background. "I think the best thing to do right now is leave and go back to my room before we get caught by anyone. I will personally ask the wolf about everything else."

"Sounds like a good idea because I am starving. Let's make a run for the kitchen," Regina said, ready to leave Minnie's room and get something to eat. Her stomach was talking to her and it was not happy.

Aurora nodded, feeling a tad bit hungry. She exited the room with Regina and locked it back just as they had first found it.

Five hours later, Minnie and Rachel had returned with large grins on their faces. It was apparent something happened at the party in their favor. They hadn't spoken about it but Aurora knew it wouldn't take long for the word to get around about what happened.

The day quickly began turning dark symbolizing that it was time for dinner. Everyone got dressed to come downstairs to the dining room as they did every day.

"Regina, Aurora, how was your day of fun without us here? I'm surprised Gilbert did not report to me anything bad. Tell me what you did today," Minnie said, taking the seat at the head of the table.

Rachel eyed that position with envy wanting it to belong to her. "Apparently she got a hold of the treats in the kitchen. Your dresses aren't going to fit you if you keep this up and we won't be able to shop at the most spectacular places if you are too big. No one wants to marry a woman they can't wrap their arms around."

"Rachel, I believe I have told you to lead by example when you are talking about her weight. Do not forget I remember what you looked like when we first approached you. If what you say about weight is true my son would've never considered you as a candidate. Regina is already smaller than what you were back then and now. Leave her alone," Minnie warned her daughter-in-law. She was becoming increasingly bored with Rachel. The woman had no redeeming quality.

Rachel frowned and kicked her husband under the table to do something about his mother. Unfortunately, Nathaniel briefly looked up from his paper and said, "I don't like getting in the women's talk. Please leave me out of it." He knew it was a death trap for him to comment on anyone's weight.

'You could at least compliment how I looked in the past, you moron. Why on earth did I get stuck with a man who has no backbone?' Rachel thought. She took her frustration out in slicing her meat.

"To survive you need a sharp tongue Rachel. You didn't have a good response to what I said and even worse, you looked to my son for help. How dreadful." Minnie was now considering the option of having her son remarried to a more refined young lady. She saw many options at the party today. Some are a little bit younger than Nathaniel and some his age. Being remarried won't harm his reputation but for Rachel on the other hand, she'll be the talk of the town for days and Minnie would make sure of it.

The only problem was it might affect Regina's reputation and Minnie did not want that. It would work better for Rachel if she just sat quietly.

"It is a husband's job to stick up for his wife when needed. You were once married or has becoming a widow changed your views?" Rachel asked not caring how rude it came off. She had been putting up with Minnie's crap for too many years.

"Would you like to be without a husband, Rachel? I can arrange it for you if you don't watch that mouth of yours." There was an underlined threat in Minnie's words which she wasn't joking about.

The tension between Rachel and Minnie had caused Samuel, Regina, and Aurora to be in an awkward situation. None of them wanted to speak up in case they might be brought into this conversation. How did it go from what Region did today to losing their husband?

Samuel kept his head down focusing on his food while Aurora and Regina were both happy the conversation had drifted from what Regina did today.

"We have a guest at the door," Gilbert announced entering the dining room.

Already annoyed with one person, Minnie asked, "Who is it?"

"Mister Seth Roberts."