Chapter 2

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Rose's Siblings Ages- Anne- Almost 10. The twins- 8 1/2
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The day after. I never really had any kind of parental figure in my life. I had my father, but he was more the authoritarian type, only being a parent when I'd done something wrong. After my mother died, I had to raise myself, take care of myself. I never had my father to look after me. Only to punish me. My father doted on my 8 year old younger sister, Lily, and her twin brother, Henry. Lily was his little girl, his angel whereas Henry was his heir. My almost 10 year old sister Anne was the family misfit. I was the intelligent eldest child, Henry was the treasured heir, Lily the doted on airhead, and Anne the family misfit. Anne looked exactly like my mothers cousin, the second wife of The King, Anne Boleyn, once had. She had been executed for adultery, and my father had despised her. My mother had named Anne after the first Anne, not knowing how much Anne would resemble her. Anne had been sent away to France, like the first Anne had, and was due to return on her 10th birthday, in 2 months. I remembered suddenly that I was meant to be in my fathers chambers, so he could play happy families and say snide comments about my studying. I picked up my Latin book, and my fountain pen, and began to walk the walk of dread towards the door to my fathers rooms. I went in, curtsied, and surveyed the scene. Lily was being dandled on my fathers lap, when she was meant to be studying. Henry was lazing around on the rug, at my fathers feet.
"Rose." He said coldly.
"Father." I said, equally cool. He rolled his eyes, and gestured to the armchair, in front of Henry. I collapsed into it.
"Ladies should sit gracefully." He said, cuddling Lily close. I rolled my eyes.
"Don't give me that disrespect." He hissed."Do your Latin." My temper flared.
"No." I said. I got up, and threw my Latin book at the wall, anger coursing through my veins. Lily began to cry into Father's chest. I glared at them all.
"What did you just do?" My father yelled.
"I think it's obvious, Father dearest." I sniped sarcastically. He stood up, gently pushed Lily into the armchair, and walked towards me.
"You are my daughter, when I ask you to do your Latin, you do it!" He yelled. I rolled my eyes, and placed my hands on my hips. The blood drained out of the face. He grabbed my wrist and forced my chin up so I was looking straight into his eyes.
"You got that temper off the whore, you know. Your whore of a mother."
"How come it is only me you resent for being my mothers child?" I cried. "Henry and Lily are her children too."
"They don't act like her. It's you and Anne that act like her. And you look like her. Anne looks like the traitor, the Boleyn Girl, and you look like your awful mother." He hissed. "God dammit, I should've sent you to France too." I snorted at his petty spite.
"Yes, well she's coming back, on her 10th birthday. So, she'll be here soon." I shouted.
"I'm extending it. She's staying there until her 11th. And.." He said, trailing off and looking at me with a kind of curiosity. I backed away. He gave me a twisted smile. "No... I can't send you away. You are of marriageable age. I want you married here. Sit." I sat.
"Your mother was a slut, just like you." He hissed.
"She wasn't a slut." I said quietly.
"How would you know? She died when you were very young. You barely remember her. Not like I do. I had to put up with that whore in my bed for years."
"You chose to marry her. You're a man, you had a choice. She was a woman, she had no choice."
"She was bloody spirited, your mother. Did exactly as she pleased. The only way I could get her obey me was to warm her back with my riding whip." I flinched at the thought, remembering my many past beatings, many involving a belt or a whip. He laughed shortly at the look on my face. He walked forward and gently fondled my cheek.
"She was a shit wife. And I know that, unless I train you to be a good one, you'll will be one too."
"Train me? What do you mean?" My voice shook.
"Beat your spirit out of you. Just like I attempted to do to your mother. Never worked." He said bitterly. His face brightened. "But don't worry my poor darling. You shall be married soon." He has a glint in his eye which I knew all too well.
CarmenAlvarado229

Rose Brandon- Her Mother's Daughter.Where stories live. Discover now