The Forbidden Letters (The Regency Series Book 1)

Chapter 1- At The Dressmaker's

One Month Later

March 15th, 1810

"Augusta! Augusta, do wake up!" screeched Aunt Theodosia. "Today is a day of utmost importance. It is critical to landing you a decent husband. If you knew what was good for you, you would get up right this very instant, you ungrateful, horrid little-"

"Yes, my dear Aunt? What is all this racket?" Augusta said with a straight face as she walked into her shabby bedroom, doing her best not to burst out laughing. Theodosia reddened, meaning Augusta would be retaliated against sometime soon. In that moment she knew she had gone too far, emboldened by the idea of upcoming freedom.

"Where in the heavens have you been, pesky child?" Theodosia said, glaring at the poor girl from beneath her small gold spectacles. 

 "I was merely taking a walk around the little garden. The fresh air always helps me," Augusta said demurely. She had just walked in from a walk in the little garden in the back of their London house; it was unkempt, but better than nothing. Over the years, she had made efforts to plant flowers, yet they were always overtaken by the weeds in the end. But there is one flower that remains strong and which the weeds do not choke- Augusta often liked to think she was like that flower. Despite the harsh nature of the Seton family, Augusta did her best to thrive. Theodosia may well think she has conquered her, but she does not know Augusta's mind and soul. 

"Goodness knows you need all the help you can get. The fresh air has made you look like a farm girl. Your hair is such a rat's nest. Brush it out immediately. And tidy your appearance to the standard of a proper lady, such as myself," she said nastily, flouncing out of the room. 

The "day of utmost importance" was finally upon Augusta- her dress fitting for the season. Today she was going to have her measurements taken for her dresses to wear to balls and other social events and choose some colors and fabrics. It was all quite mundane, but her aunt decided she would make a large fuss out of it. 

Augusta finished brushing her hair with the usual hundred strokes. She coiled it and tucked it neatly under a much-mended bonnet. Today she wore a simple blue cotton dress and jacket, in which her aunt could hardly have taken offense. But, somehow, she did. 

"Augusta, what is the meaning of this? I told you to put on something presentable, yet you come to me looking like a servant girl. What will society think of you?" said Theodosia, her mouth puckered as if she bit into a sour lemon. "That dress is most distasteful. You must wear your cream with the pink rose print."

Augusta sighed, and trudged back to her drafty room to change. It would be so much easier if she had a maid. As it was, she did everything for herself. In fact, she sewed most of her own clothes. Her aunt and uncle were so stingy that they didn't bother to pay a dressmaker; Augusta was quite proficient at sewing due to her work not only for herself, but also for her aunt and uncle. On occasion, they even gave out her finished items as gifts to their friends. Many times they had sold her handicrafts, including embroidery. Mr. Anthony Stinson, she recalled, had recently bought a cravat. She was almost positive that Aunt Theodosia and Uncle Randall had made money off of taking her in. 

The rose print dress was lovely, but it needed to be lengthened a bit. Augusta's ankles peeked out from under the hem. Augusta wondered if short dresses would be fashionable that summer, with a twist of her mouth. She slid on the rose dress and switched her bonnet to the pink one with lace trim, hurrying to get back downstairs.  

"Augusta- you have made us late! Make haste to the carriage. Your delay is unseemly," said Theodosia, glaring at me again. 

"But I only changed because you-" started Augusta, before being interrupted.