Author's Note: These introductory chapters hopefully won't be too tedious for you readers. I'm laying the foundations of my OC's life and hopefully the story will pick up afterwards. I'm trying to improve my writing skills. Hopefully, I'll do a good fic that can be enjoyed by people.
Chapter One - Rosamund
Rosamund Spencer gasped as her laces of her corset were tightened, forcing her breath from her chest. She clutched at herself and looked up at her reflection in the mirror in front of her. Her brown sausage curls bouncing with each yank.
"You're not the Skinny-Minnie your sister is, but you have it where it counts, Dove." Hannah, her maid, teased.
Rosamund smirked back and narrowed her eyes, trying to force down a smile. Any other servant would be discouraged from speaking to her charges that way. But in Rosamund's eyes the woman who diapered her and her sisters deserved to do all the teasing she pleased.
"Thank you, Hannah." she replied sarcastically after inhaling and exhaling a beat.
"What shall we be wearing today, my Dove?" Hannah asked looking over her shoulder as she walked to the closet Rosamund shared with her youngest sister, Joanna.
"Alice wants everyone in the family to wear blue." Rosamund replied while arranging her hair in the mirror.
"Of course, her favorite color." Hannah smirked.
"Well, it is an important day." Rosamund smiled as she clipped on her pearl earrings.
"Imagine. Our Alice marrying. Marrying a Colonel, no less! Oh little Alice isn't so little anymore." Hannah said as she rummaged through the frocks and skirts that were hanging up. "But, at the same time neither are you, Dove." She said as she pulled out two blue dresses for Rosamund to choose from. One a light periwinkle, the other a deep blue.
"Does your sister have a preference as to what shade of blue she wants you to wear?" Hannah asked.
"No, luckily. She wants the whole party to be swimming in all shades and hues of blue. I think it will look very beautiful. Like the sea." Rosamund tried to imagine every kind of blue possible, then she looked back at her choices. "I've never been one for light colors. I'll wear the dark blue."
"Good choice, it matches your complexion." Hannah agreed.
Rosamund stared at her reflection as Hannah dressed her. The dress was a very nice dark blue with tiny lace sticking up from the round neck. Darker colors defiantly suited her better than pastels. "But mother always wants me to wear light colors. She says it doesn't draw too much attention to oneself and is more becoming on any lady no matter what her complexion be." Rosamund frowned a little but her mind was made up. Today she was going to look however she pleased. A little rebellious streak quivered inside her chest.
As Rosamund was putting the finishing touches to her outfit, she heard her youngest sister, Joanna, bounding up the stairs. She burst into the room out of breath. Rosamund was about to scold her for running wild while wearing nice clothes only to turn and find she wasn't in her nice clothes.
"Joanna Spencer! What are you doing running around still in your everyday frock? Where have you been? The ceremony is going to begin in an hour! I'm already running late myself." Rosamund raised her voice only to feel a little light-headed. She must guard herself against such over-exertion while wearing a corset this tight.
"I lost track of time, no time to explain! You must help me! If I am late for everything today I'll be perfectly desolated! Uncle Jay is downstairs!" Joanna cried while trying to catch her breath. Their father's younger brother, Uncle Jay was sent to fetch the girls and he probably been waiting awhile.
"I thought you were getting ready with Alice and Mother." Rosamund's voice was stern as she marched Joanna to the closet. Hannah busily began dressing her young mistress. Rosamund pulled out a dusky blue gown.
"Honestly Joanna, I don't know how you managed to escape all this commotion. Likely dwadling at the stables no doubt-" Rosamund felt irritation rising within her when she suddenly felt convicted. Today their sister was getting married. This was a happy day. Rosamund regained her composure and softened her expression.
"Well, I think with Hannah and I working full speed we will quickly transfigure you."
Joanna smiled a little, her cheeks still pink from shame.
After a few more reprimands and coaxing, Joanna was fully dressed as if she had spent hours primping.
"Rosamund and Joanna Spencer if you two are not ready by the time I count to ten I'll be leaving without you!"
"We're coming, Uncle!" Rosamund hollered, very unladylike, down the stair well.
"One, two, three…"
"My fan, my fan!" Rosamund began to rummaged around on her vanity.
She looked up as Hannah tossed it to her half-way across the room. Catching it with her right hand, Rosamund smiled as her and Joanna rushed out the bedroom door. "It's probably unladylike to have your fan tossed to you." Rosamund thought to herself.
"Six, Seven…well, well they do appear." Rosamund's Uncle Jay quipped half joking- half serious.
The girls took a few deep breaths to regain their composure. They remembered to 'step lightly and keep a pleasant look about their faces' as their Mother instructed them whenever going out into public. They couldn't arrive to the church all flushed.
The climbed into their Uncle's carriage and were soon at St. George's Church.
Their Mother was bustling about with other female members of the family getting Alice ready.
"Where have you been?" Their Mother asked breathlessly. She looked down at Rosamund's dress she gave her a look obviously annoyed with her daughter's choice. Without giving them time to respond she turned her attention towards Alice who was standing stunning in her bridal attire.
"Oh, Alice." Rosamund's jaw dropped a little. She was never able to compete with Alice on looks. Alice had the perfect figure and complexion. Her hair a brilliant blonde. Beautiful blue saucer eyes. While Rosamund had to settle for brown.
"Oh, Alice." She said again.
Alice turned beaming at her younger sisters.
"You look like divinity!" Joanna said swooningly.
"Joanna don't hug Alice around the neck, you'll crease her veil."Mother chided.
"No matter, Mother." Alice said without looking away from Joanna. Mother's expression softened.
"Rosamund." The two sisters kissed each other on the cheek.
"The Colonel will be amazed. He might faint before Great-Aunt Goldie does." Rosamund put her hand over her mouth, embarrassed.
"Rosamund." Mother scolded. Great-Aunt Goldie was falling asleep in a chair in the corner. She was as deaf as a post but Rosamund knew she had been discourteous.
Alice smiled at her sister which made her feel better.
"Girls, we need to take our places." Mother said. "You'll see your sister soon."
"Yes but she will be Missus Colonel Winchell." Rosamund thought to herself. The feeling that she was losing a sister had been rising up within her for several weeks. She had been able to push it down, but in that moment leaving the small room to walk to their pew, realizing after this things will change forever. She felt that feeling and many more manifest with her. She blinked twice to stop tears. She was successful then but when it was all over she knew she was going to have to steal some time alone to cry.
Rosamund saw Colonel Winchell standing with the Minister. Heavy music from the church organ punctured the silence in the sanctuary. Rosamund felt the music swelling through her body. Father gave Alice away and sat with the family. As the ceremony continued Rosamund, as many young girls do, thought about her wedding day. She had no suitors. She did not despair at this. She was content for now.
Author's Note: Hopefully this wasn't to boring introducing these characters that nobody knows about. Next Chapter things should start picking up!