Chapter Two: Aunt May

Rosie comes to a stop outside the partly closed parlor door. She tucks some strands of her hair behind her ears and tries to smooth the rest of the tangled, braided mess. She quickly glances over her clothes before knocking on the door.

"Enter," comes the slightly muffled, but clear order.

Rosie hesitates slightly, gulps nervously before pushing the door open, and steps into the room. The open windows invite the wind to enter the room. A fire roars in the fireplace – though Rosie notes that it will soon need more wood. Above the mantel hang four paintings: one each of Lily Cotton, May Cotton, Wilcome Cotton, and Rosemary Cotton. Four chairs and a small couch are in various places of the room. A small table is next to one that is closest to the fireplace.

Sitting in the chair by the fireplace is Aunt May. She is short and a little pump. Her nose is upturned slightly. Her cheeks are flabby. Her large grey eyes shoot fire when she is angry. Her high forehead has wrinkles from nearly always frowning. And her raven black hair – always pulled back in a bun – has wisps of silver in it. Being in her late fifties, she still has, many say, some of her unusual beauty from her youth. But she also is a very stern and sneaky woman.

Rosie stops a few feet from the chair and drops a curtsy, as she does with all her family.

"You called me, Aunt May."

The only sound in the room is the crackling flames of the fire as May Cotton looks her niece up and down before her grey eyes bore into Rosie's soft brown ones. Rosie holds her aunt's gaze. Aunt May shifts in her chair.

"Yes, Cinders" she says finally, slowly. "I wish to reemphasize that you are forbidden to write to your brothers…or anyone else for that matter."

Her voice is low and calm but has a dangerous edge to it, and her eyes are starting to become full of fire. Rosie winces inwardly. My attempt to send the letter must have been discovered, she thought grimly.

"I trust I will not have to remind you again…." Aunt May's voice interrupts her train of thought. The trailing off of her voice leaves the rest of the warning unsaid. Rosie understands.

"Yes, Aunt May," she answers humbly.

Aunt May nods, then returns gazing into the fire. Another long silence stretches between them. Rosie shifts her weight from one foot to the other uncomfortably, wondering if the conversation is over. Brown and grey pools clash once again.

"Lily told me she requested over an hour ago that you mend her best dress for tomorrow's night dance. And it is still on her bed, untouched." The ice along with the words drops heavily from Aunt May's mouth.

Rosie does her best not to shudder under her aunt's gaze.

"No, ma'am –"

"And why is that?"

"I have yet to complete all the chores you told me to do before afternoon tea. I have rewashed the kitchen floor as you requested. Then I did the washing and hung the laundry. And I still have to clean your room. I just finished hanging the laundry when you called," Rosie answers timidly, her eyes lowered.

Aunt May presses her lips together in a straight line. The wrinkles on her forehead deepen. Her expression is thoughtful, and then relaxed: a solution has been found.

"From now on, when either Rosemary or Lily need something, you will drop everything to do as they bid," Aunt May decides.

"Even if it means my ceasing to do something that you told me to do, not just my regular chores?" Rosie asks for clarification.

Aunt May ponders for a moment, then nods. "Yes. It is important that my two flowers are happy," she adds more to herself than her niece.

Rosie does not comment, only nods with a "Yes, ma'am."

With a wave of her hand, Aunt May signifies the conversation over and dismisses Rosie. She curtsies once more and turns, taking her leave.

"Oh, and Cinders."

Rosie stops in the doorway and looks back at her aunt.

"When Lily is finished with you, prepare afternoon tea for the three of us."

Rosie silently nods and leaves the room.


Author's Note: Thank you all for your reviews encouraging me to keep writing this story. I hope this chapter was all right, I know its lacking a bit in plot. But there will be a lot more of plot in upcoming chapters. Please continue to let me know what you think.