Isabel

"Do us proud."

January, 1559.
Isabel is 14...

I lay in my chamber, watching the snowflakes slowly dance outside my window, the frost forming on my window pane. It was the morning of my 14th birthday. I wasnt expecting much from my parents. I never did. My parents did not love me. I was the ugly child. The underachiver. The burden. My twin sister, Grace, was the opposite. She had emerald eyes, a small nose, pale complection, and long, raven hair that flowed down her back. My eyes were too big for my face, and they were muddy, not emerald. My face was spotty and red, and my hair was straw like and brown. 
A sudden banging on the door to my chamber broke my trance. It was Alice, my maid.
"The Lord and they Lady wish to see you, Isabel. Get up." she said
"Alice! Do you know what day it is?" I answered back, knowing she would remember. Alice smiled.
"Indeed I do, Issy. Happy Birthday, sweet." Alice was the only one who had ever prefered me to Grace. I let her call me Issy as a token of my love. "Now, up!"
I smoothed my hair back into a braid, banishing the abundance of curls it usually was. Then I put an old dress and went downstairs.
The walls of Stonepole mannor were crumbling. My whole life, i had lived in fear of persucution from 'Bloody Mary.' Mother always said our family upset her long ago. A dusty shadow on the wall replaced a portrairt, gotten rid of long before i was born. I never knew whose it was, though. All i was told was that it belonged to some one "we wish to forget." Now, i see we were not placed at the stake because we were a forgotten, disgraced family. A symbol of the bad old days.

"Happy birthday, sister." said Grace, waiting at the entrance of the hall. "You too." i replied. Suddenly, the doors opened, revealing mother and father by the fireplace. Rarely was i allowed in the hall. It was cold and obselte.
"Grace! Isabel! Today is a good day." greeted father. Never had i seen him so happy.
"You are to serve the queen!" blurted mother, barley able to contain herself " You leave in a month."
"Leave here?" i asked, upset and shocked.
Mothers happy tone flipped
"It is your duty, Isabel. Do you not want to please your parents?" said father in an icy tone.
"Indeed we do. This is wonderful news" piped Grace, a smug grin on her face. She reveld in any oppotunity to show me up.
"Good girl, my dear Grace. Happy birthday. Isabel, watch your tounge. Now, leave us. Do us proud."