Rose Brandon- Her Mother's Daughter.

Chapter 5

I stood in front of a mirror, staring at my reflection. My dress was exactly as my father had wished, and I had diamond earrings so heavy they swelled my earlobes up. My father entered into the room.
"I have a necklace for you." He handed me a blue pendant which hung off some light blue pearls. I handed it back.
"I do not want it." I spat.
"It was your mothers. And my mothers. I handed it down to your mother and now I wish to hand it down to you."
"I will be wearing this." I brought a H pendant out of my pocket and clipped it round my neck. I smiled sweetly at my father, who scowled. The H stood for Howard, which had been my mothers maiden name. My father had hated that family. He shook his head mournfully and looked me up and down.
"Your mother would have been very proud to see you in your wedding dress. It is nothing like hers though, she came to our wedding dressed all in black." He chuckled slightly, resting a hand on my shoulder.
"Father.." Tears spilled down my cheeks. "Please do not make me do this." His gaze hardened.
"He will take good care of you as long as you obey him."
He grabbed my shoulder and led me out of the room and down the aisle. I saw Northumberland standing at the end, clothed all in silver. My father kissed my cheek, and then coldly gestured for me to stand next to the duke. We made our vows, and then the Duke pressed his cold lips against mine. We turned round, and faced the crowd as a married couple. I saw the King, Edward VI, sat in the front row, clapping wearily. My father sat near him, clapping with a smug satisfaction on his face. I saw Elizabeth, my cousin, sister to the King sat nearby. I smiled at her; she was my best friend, Elizabeth was. My mother had been her mothers best friend until her mother was executed. My mother had been Elizabeth's god mother, and after my mother died, we became fast friends, in spite of the fact she was 4 years older. She grinned sympathetically. She was the late Kings daughter, and although she was still unmarried, she knew what it was like. My husband grabbed my hand and pulled me down the aisle, to our wedding dinner. It was held in the banquet hall, and was due to last till midnight. As soon as we reached the hall, I pulled away from my husband, walking away, my hair flowing behind me. I saw Elizabeth entering the hall, and I gestured for her to turn around and leave the hall with me. She did so, and we both charged out, ignoring my husbands shouts. We ran out of the palace, and found ourselves facing the river thames. We kept running and eventually found a small patch of greenery which was not noticeable to anyone walking down the streets. We flopped down, panting.
"I take it you did not want to go to your wedding party then?" Elizabeth asked sarcastically.
"Why would I?" I said, stretching out on the grass. "Although I suppose they've already sent out a search party for us, given that you're one of the heirs to the throne, and I am cousin to the King and a dukes daughter and wife." ( I was cousin to the King and Mary his sister, because my grandmother was their great aunt, I was Elizabeth's cousin because of that, and because our mothers were cousins)
"I suppose so. I am sure the Duke wishes to have his wedding night with you." I shuddered.
"Not until midnight, god bless." Elizabeth snorted. I picked some daisies out and plaited them into a little crown and placed them on Elizabeth's head.
"Careful, if my brother hears of this, he shall have me in the tower for trying to usurp his throne." She jested.