-The Human Girl-

Chapter eight - A secret family.

Isabella's PoV:
(Age fourteen)

After that, things were beautiful.
I didn't really understand it then, but I'd found a secret family in Rose and Alice. They called for me every single day and sat with me at dinner; making sure I felt as safe as possible in the Royal court. "How are you today?" Rose would ask, a maternal side to her voice. "I'm fine, actually," I would respond, loving the feeling of belonging I got with them.

Of course, there was still all the time when I had to be proper. Respectable. A young lady. The Queen was kind to me at least, patient when I got things wrong, but I always got the feeling that she was keeping something from me — a secret only she was privy to. I mentioned nothing of this to Rose or Alice; or the other two girls I shared my rooms with, Angela and Jessica. We were friends too, but it was nothing like my secret friendship with the Princesses.

"Isabella?" Angela called, her voice calm but insistent. "Can you come in here?" I put my book down and walked over to the bedroom, curious to what she could want. Lady Angela was sat on her bed, with Jessica next to her, where she beckoned for me to join them. I smiled hesitantly, but still at ease, for I could see that even Jessica was smiling — so it couldn't be that serious. "Isabella, we know you have a secret," Jessica whispered, her eyes glinting with delight at the possible gossip.

"You can trust us," continued Angela, who appeared more worried than anything else, her eyebrows knotted together in concern. "I know I can Ang, but there's nothing going on." I laughed lightly, pulling off the lie with about as much skill as I could manage. I couldn't tell them why I kept disappearing (or why the Princesses always sat next to me) because it was way too dangerous — I didn't want to risk them being hurt too.

At times I still couldn't believe that I'd let things with Alice and Rose get so out of hand, if we were caught then the sort of execution that followed would not be pleasant. I shuddered slightly at the thought of my father, who'd worked so hard his whole life, standing at the gallows, all because of me... But no, it wouldn't come to that. I wouldn't let it.

"Of course there's something going on!" cried Jess, forgetting her calm façade in just a moment. "Since you arrived the Queen has spent much, much more time talking with her sons and their advisors — but you wouldn't know that because you spend hours and hours away from us, not even telling us where you go! The Duchesses Rosalie and Alice spend far more time with you then is appropriate, even giving up their rightful places to sit next to you, a mere human, while all Michael can do is moan about you, despite the fact you've never met!"

I shuddered again at the mention of the Page boy who'd attacked me, it seemed that both Angela and Jessica were friends with the horrid boy. "I'm afraid I don't know why the Queen has been talking to her sons — though didn't she mention a wedding to be planned between Washington and Denali?" I countered, my argument working flawlessly. The truth was that I had no idea what was making the Queen act so bizarrely — I had about as much clue as they did. "And the Duchesses sit by me because the Queen asked them too, as a favour to my mother, whom she knew well," Angela raised her eyebrows at my atrocious lying skills — while it was true that the Queen had known my Mother, she had by no means organised the seat-swapping charade.

"And then, I've got no idea who this ...Michael... is, but I suspect that he has mistaken me for another person, as we have not, to my knowledge, ever met." I thumped down on the bed triumphantly, trying not to grin too big. Although I was a terrible liar, Jessica seemed to have bought it, her mind already turning with ways to spin the small amount of gossip I'd given her. "So how well did you mother know the Queen?" she asked coyly, a wisp if curly brown hair breaking free from her bonnet.

I sighed and glanced over at Angela, who was staring at me sceptically. Of course she knew I was lying — but, being Angela, she had the prudence not to press it any further, allowing me to keep my privacy. That was what I liked about Angela, she was okay with silence, and she was okay if you didn't want to tell her everything — unlike Jessica, of course, who had to know all of the gossip you had, and then some.

I was still watching Angela's face when Jessica turned to her, pointing out of the window and to the sun in amusement. "Look, Ang, it's nearly Terce! Isabella's usually gone by now." I followed her gaze out onto the cloudy winter day, the sun covered by a thick layer of snow clouds. She was right, of course. Alice had usually called for me this late in the morning, and I wondered if she was talking to the Queen, who was also not in attendance.

A soft knock on the door disturbed our conversation, followed by the little hand-maiden who'd been fetching me for the Princess these past few weeks. "My lady, I have brought with me a note from her majesty, for you," the girl said, sweeping into a slight bow before handing me the letter. "Thank you, Mary." I answered, taking the parchment and slitting it with a little knife on the side.

Isabella,

Do you remember the conversation we had upon your arrival? I told you of my son, Edward, whose ability you seem to be avoiding. The prince is very curious to try and break this barrier, so — if you are willing — I have requested your presence this morning, in the hopes of finding out more about this unusual occurrence. Mary will escort you to the Prince's room, though I regret to inform you that as I am needed for some matters with the King, so I will not be able to join you.

Esme, R.

I looked up from the letter, to Angela and Jessica's curious faces. "Her majesty has asked me to the Prince Edward's chambers," I told them, not sure how much to say. "Perhaps they wish to use my mother's ties to Arizona..." I mused, pleased at the tangible excuse I'd come up with. "That would explain the Queen's absences." Finishing with only a single brake in my voice, I followed Mary out of the room and down the corridor, away from the safety of humans.