In Aeternum (Actively Updating and Editing)

VI: Linens and Silk (10/25)

~ Hannah POV ~

She offered me to open the door and I walked into a red velvet and silk haven.

There was a gold filigree headboard and candle holders on the wall. Gold side tables and a vanity. On the other side of the wall was a matching dresser and, like all the other rooms except the Mum room, at the far end of the room across from the bed was a beautifully ornate fireplace. Everything about her house was beautiful and intricate.

"I wonder whose house this used to be, for it to be so noble and beautiful?"

Setting down her glass, she pointed at the ceiling.

Engraved into it with silver, silk and what looked like Ivory was her family crest. The same design was on her sketchbook.

I gasped.

This house had been her family's all along! She hadn't just moved in, her family moved back. In the back of my mind, I knew I should ask her why her last name was "Silvers", instead of "Aurelius". Something about "Aurelius" tugged at the back of my head, it was familiar somehow like I had heard it recently, but I was too wowed to even care.

Leading me over to a closet that took up an entire wall, she slid the door open all the way to reveal gorgeous Victorian gowns. All shapes and sizes, fabrics and designs. There were stands with jewelry and hooks with cloaks. Hats and scarves. Masks and bags, too. More beautiful than I had ever seen in the museums I visited.

"These are mine, a couple were from my mother, and some from my grandmother's leading all the way back to Victorian times. In the chest at the end of my bed, there is a lot more. You could say collecting things like this is a hobby of mine."

I couldn't stop myself from running over and throwing open the chest. Out tumbled petticoats, gloves, cloaks, jackets, corsets, and even silly lace undergarments.

"Oh my!"

After helping me put the clothes back in the trunk, she offered me her hand, "Let's get some more Merlot and I will show you the basement."

I nodded and grabbing my glass, I let her lead me down the steps. I could feel that the Merlot was getting to me, so I asked for water instead. She said that would be a good idea, considering that we would be having wine for dinner. So grabbing us a couple of bottles of water, she led me down the basement steps.

"This is where the servants used to live," she said softly, "We have transformed it into a more modern, "Party Space".

Once we got down the steps, I saw what she meant. There was a black-painted bar right next to the steps, and a soft plush carpet. On the other side of the steps was a laundry room. This led to a more laid-back living room with a flat-screen TV, comfy couches, and a couple of game systems. DVDs and everything to make this place look like a normal house these days.

Upstairs was beautiful, but this was more like what I was used to. I felt comfortable down here.

Another room had a black wood and dark purple velvet pool table. The table was old like the rest of the house, but I could tell they had just replaced the top. There were cabinets off to the side of the table that held the pool balls and a couple of extra sets, a set of four matching pool cues, and a couple of old board games. The cabinets on the other side held really old wines and glasses.

"It seems the farther we go back in your basement, the older things get," I chuckled.

Elsy gave me a sly grin, "You have no idea..."

I followed her into what looked like the storage room.

"What are we doing in here?" I asked, shaking nervously.

"You have to promise not to tell," she whispered.

I gave a slight nod and followed her behind the boiler. She placed her hand on the wood paneling and it slid open to reveal a hidden room.

"Not all the places in the basement have been remodeled..."

I ducked my head beneath the cobwebs and walked into the darkened room. She clicked a button on the side of the wall and the room was automatically illuminated with gas lamps. I choked on my gasps as I looked around.

I thought her room was full of beautiful clothing and jewels. In this room, down here in the basement, was the prettiest assortment of dresses and shoes and hats and gloves and anything you could possibly imagine. She ushered me farther into the room and told me to look around.

Upon opening the dressers and doors, I found jewels and cloaks with her family crest. Staves, canes, and a wall of swords and daggers. A beautifully hand-carved bow and arrows set with tiny diamonds at the end of the heads. Everything was beautiful, gorgeous, and amazing.

Two pieces stood in the middle of the room. Two beautifully tailored white dresses with gold trim. One was a more-modern looking wedding gown and the other was definitely Victorian-era; it had roses embroidered into the trim. In between the two dresses was a table and each dress had a table on its other side. I must have gotten so caught up, I hadn't noticed the two very obvious favourites.

"All these dresses, jewels and the swords and weapons that are on the wall, they are my family's legacy. The crowns in the farthest cabinet, are my family's as well. We were once a royal family, kings, and queens of the best! These two dresses... the more modern one was my mother's wedding gown, and the other's was my great grandmother's."

On the table in between the dresses was a beautiful silver and amethyst filigree tiara with matching earrings and necklace. Besides the wedding gown on that table was a veil wrapped neatly with the jewelry her mother no doubt wore on her wedding day. next to the other gown was a filigree white and gold mask with a fan that matched the dress and jewelry.

"I plan on wearing that dress when I get married," she said softly as if she was off in her own little world.

Before I could ask about the other one, she smiled, "Let's go upstairs. I could use some wine!"

I wasn't sure if she knew I could tell, but she was hiding something.

From the moment she said "my wedding day" her eyes got sad and turned a dark stormy grey.