I awoke in the morning to find, once again, my head had moved into an awkward position whilst I slept, therefore making my black curly hair look like an absolute horror. I stared at the mirror as my maids dressed me in my favourite black and red dress and tried in vain to comb my hair. Today was my cousin Sebastian's birthday, and he insisted I come. Somehow, the maids eventually tamed my hair and put it back into a neat Alice band. I stared at my reflection with my dark brown eyes, turned once, then, satisfied, I made my way down to breakfast.
"Annabel, whatever took you so long?" inquired my father.
"My hair again father. The maids couldn't seem to be able to untangle it." I said, bored. I didn't particularly care for looks, but it was nice. Pretty dresses made for a respectable lady is what my mother says, which means a corset too. My corset however, was slightly uncomfortable and I didn't want to talk to much in case I started to sound wheezy.
Father nodded, and we both ate in silence. After I finished, father told me we would be departing to Sebastian's party soon.
"William will be there. Do try hard to impress him Annabel, and try to get along as well. If you're going to be married, I want you to be as happy as you can be." He said. I nodded, but wondered how on earth I could ever be happy when my entire life had already been planned out for me? But I suppose lots of girls would kill to be in my position. I never felt sorry for those girls working at the mill, I'm far too good to be worrying about them, but I do feel envious eyes on the back of my neck whenever I walk past.
I quickly went up into my bedroom to draw before I left. I was not a very creative drawer, and I believe I lack quite a lot of creativity. I'm a logical artist, so I draw what I see, and I draw it to perfection. I do like it, so drawing has become a pastime because I am always so stupidly bored. I'm too old to play with toys, and I'm too young to talk to adults. I can't wait until I'm at least fifteen: then I'll be able to do much more. I'm not even allowed out on my own at dark, but I suppose father has perfectly good reasons for that. Those recent Jack the Ripper killings and all, it certainly isn't safe out at dark anymore. However, it was daylight now, and father was calling me to get in the carriage. I ran down he was waiting, and noticed how we both pointedly avoided the spot where mother used to sit. The carriage seemed too big without her warm presence next to us.
