3- Pranks

Emma and Victoria trudged back to the garden, Emma seething with anger evident in her every step. Turning to Victoria with a furrowed brow, she demanded, "Why were you so nice to Aunt Adele in there? Why did you suddenly become peacemaker ? There's got to be an ulterior motive behind it."

Victoria, couldn't contain her amusement. With a chuckle, she replied "Family comes first, dear. Maintaining family love and bonding is crucial."

Emma shot Victoria a puzzled glance, but before she could protest further, Victoria burst out laughing and motioned for her to come closer. Leaning in, Victoria whispered conspiratorially, hinting at a grand plan she had concocted. The intrigue in Emma's eyes matched the mischievous glint in Victoria's as they huddled together, plotting their next move.

As Emma and Victoria tiptoed down the hallway towards Adele and Julianne's room, they held their breath, every creak of the floorboards beneath their feet making their hearts race. The mansion was eerily silent, except for the faint hum of distant conversation from the parlour downstairs.

Suddenly, a door at the end of the corridor swung open, and the sound of footsteps echoed towards them. Panic seized Emma and Victoria as they scrambled to find cover. They ducked into an alcove just in time to avoid being seen by a passing maid, who hurried past with a basket of freshly laundered linens.

Breathing a sigh of relief, they waited until the coast was clear before continuing their mission. Once they reached Adele and Julianne's door, Victoria took her position as lookout while Emma carefully turned the doorknob. With bated breath, she entered the room, the thrill of their clandestine adventure coursing through their veins.

Inside, Emma moved quickly and quietly, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of movement. Victoria stood guard by the door, her senses on high alert for any approaching footsteps. Meanwhile, Emma approached the closet, where Adele and Julianne's elegant dresses hung in a row.

Just as Emma reached out to sprinkle the itching powder onto the delicate fabrics, a sudden noise from the hallway froze them in their tracks. They exchanged a panicked glance, knowing that they were running out of time. With adrenaline coursing through their veins, they worked even faster, determined to complete their prank before they were caught.

But luck was on their side, and the noise outside soon faded away. With a sigh of relief, Emma finished dusting the itching powder onto the dresses, making sure to cover them thoroughly. With their mission accomplished, they hastily made their way towards the door, eager to make their escape before anyone discovered their mischief.

As they crept back into the hallway, they held their breath, listening for any signs of movement. The mansion remained silent, the only sound the faint rustle of their own footsteps on the polished floorboards. With a final glance back at Adele and Julianne's room, Emma and Victoria exchanged triumphant smiles before disappearing into the shadows, leaving behind only the faint scent of itching powder as evidence of their prank.

Emma and Victoria descended the grand staircase hand in hand, their footsteps muffled by the rich carpeting that lined the stairs. As they reached the bottom, they found themselves in the midst of a bustling scene. The men were gathered around a mahogany table, deep in discussion about matters of the council, their voices hushed as they discussed matters of the council.

Meanwhile, the women had settled into plush armchairs, their conversation animated as they exchanged the latest gossip and news from the world outside the mansion's walls. Elvira and the other ladies leaned in eagerly, their eyes sparkling with intrigue as they shared stories and tidbits of information,their laughter filling the air.

Ignoring the adult chatter, Emma and Victoria made their way to a group of children who were playing near the hearth, their laughter mingling with the crackle of the fire. They quickly became engrossed in a game of charades, their imaginations running wild as they acted out scenes from their favorite stories. Soon, Emma and Victoria were caught up in the whirlwind of play, their laughter mingling with the joyful shouts of their companions.

But just as they were engrossed in a game of tag, a piercing scream echoed through the mansion, shattering the atmosphere and causing everyone to freeze in their tracks. The room fell silent as all eyes turned towards the staircase, hearts pounding with fear and confusion.

Emma and Victoria exchanged a knowing look, their lips curling into cunning smiles as they anticipated the drama about to unfold. 

As the chaos and confusion gripped the room, Emma and Victoria's expressions quickly shifted from anticipation to excitement as Adele and Julian burst onto the scene. Their bodies were covered in angry red rashes, and they scratched frantically at their skin, their cries of pain and distress filling the air.

Elvira's heart sank as she watched her sisters-in-law suffer, their agony evident in every frantic movement. Without a second thought, she rushed to their side, her hands reaching out in a desperate attempt to offer comfort.

"Are you okay?" She asked, her voice filled with concern as she surveyed their inflamed skin.

But Adele and Julian glared at her and whimpered in response, their cries muffled by the intensity of their itching. Elivra felt a surge of helplessness wash over her as she watched them suffer.

As the chaos unfolded and everyone scrambled to figure out how to help Adele and Julian, the two afflicted cousins were filled with a mixture of pain and rage. Their skin inflamed and their nerves on edge, they lashed out at the nearest targets, the maids who had come to their aid.

"Pack our luggage immediately!" Adele commanded, her voice sharp with frustration as she scratched at her irritated skin.

Julian echoed her sentiments, her tone equally harsh as she barked orders at the trembling servants. The maids hurried to comply, their hands trembling as they gathered Adele and Julian's belongings and loaded them into the waiting carriage.

Meanwhile, Paul attempted to intervene, his voice laced with concern as he pleaded with his sisters to reconsider. But his words fell on deaf ears as Adele and Julian brushed him off " Out of the way you disgusting fool" their anger consuming them completely.

With a final promise never to set foot in the mansion again, Adele and Julian stormed off to their carriage, their faces twisted with rage as they climbed inside and slammed the door shut. The carriage lurched into motion, disappearing into the distance as they left the mansion behind them for good.

As the dust settled and the sound of the carriage faded into the distance, Elvera turned to her two daughters, her eyes narrowed with suspicion. Emma and Victoria exchanged a secret glance, their lips twitching with suppressed laughter as they shared a silent understanding.

Elvera's intuition told her that her daughters had played a part in the incident with the itching powder, and though they maintained their innocence, she couldn't shake the feeling that they were hiding something.

With a heavy heart, Elvera watched as her daughters shared a secret joke, knowing that their mischievous antics had caused more trouble than they could ever imagine. But despite the frustration and disappointment, she couldn't help but feel a glimmer of pride in their unbreakable bond, even if it did sometimes lead them astray.