Princess of the streets

chapter one

"My real name is Maria. I was like you when I was little. I married into this nice home." Maria was talking to me while she set the table for breakfast. Maria and her husband, Walter adopted me. One of the four servants she and her husband had was cooking. I had come from my room after using a bucket to clean my self. I cut my hair to keep people from noticing my similarities to my old self, my hair is now one forth down my back. My hair used to be down to my hips. I always wore it in sophisticated styles, being royal. I walked into the kitchen in my casual dress. My dress had a square neck line and had loose sleeves to my elbow, but tight on the rest of my arm. It was a dark green and light green. My under dress was linen, but the rest was satin and velvet. It was more casual than my other dress. The other dress I brought was a night gown, made of silk all the way from Italy.

"Oh my, you look beautiful! Doesn't she, Walter?" Maria had said hugging Walter from the side.

"She is indeed. You have been with us a while Ruth and we wanted to make you part of the family. Now, I wanted to tell you your mama and I are talking about changing your name." I am scared about where this was going.

"Of course, sir."

"Please call me father or papa. How do you like Alice Blackwell? Daughter of Walter Blackwell and Maria Blackwell," he picked me up and put me on his lap while he spoke. He flicked my nose, playfully. I hugged him tightly.

"I love it, papa."

"I wanted to tell you what I will be doing today, Alice. I am going to work and then maybe I can get you a surprise. You have to be good for your mother." He turned to my mother "There is a execution today of the queen and a princess. Terrible isn't it? The princess does not deserve to die. It isn't her she knew of the affair and was too scared to tell the king. Being a man I must attend." He winked and left after eating. I felt tears building in my eyes and my face burning red. I had already known that Marie is being hung for treason because of Joan's gossip. She goes into town to do things for us and she always comes back with the latest gossip. I asked to be excused from the table.

"Of course, Alice." My mother kissed me. I ran to my room crying into my pillow.

"It's not fair! It should have been me!" I got off my bed and got down on my knees to pray. "Dear Lord, Please have mercy on my sister's soul. She is my hero. Marie saved me. Bless me with safety and bless her into heaven. Dear Lord, Have mercy on Marie's soul. Amen." My mother walked into my room and asked what I was doing. I was in complete shock that the trailed and execution hasn't happened yet. It has been a year.

"What are you doing?" Maria asked and I turned to look at her. She saw my face was red and that my face was wet with tears.

"Oh my dear child, what is wrong? Did you not like your new name?"

I walked over to her and hugged her. "No, I love my new name. It is just it isn't fair to the princess. Why do people treat others this way, mama?" I started crying into her dress as I hugged her. She stroked my back and then pat my head, in attempt to calm me.

"People do odd things when they are angry. No need to worry, child. We will keep you safe. Why don't I have Joan come and style your hair? Would you like that, daughter?" She asked my breaking the hug and waving our servant into the room. Joan is our main servant. She helps us groom and get dressed, helps mother make fabric, tends to the guests, and she watches over the other servants. There is also the footsman, maid/cook, and gardener. "Joan, can you braid her hair please."

"Of course, ma'am." Joan bowed and had me sit in front of the mirror and she started braiding my hair, putting in a ribbon. Mother left the room. "What is troubling you? If you don't mind me asking."

"Can I tell you a secret that you can't ever tell anyone, Joan?" I tried to calm down.

"I won't ever tell a living soul!" Joan laughed as did I.

"Promise!" I said making eye contact with her through the mirror. She nodded. "I think I am the one that should be killed not that princess."

"A young, nice girl such as yourself deserves nothing of that sort. The princess doesn't deserve that either. The queen, maybe. But not that innocent girl. You look a lot like her." Joan finished my braid and put it in a bun and put a small cap on my head (common for merchant class women like my mother and I). "You are very lucky to be here. And the most beautiful girl I know."

"Thank you and I know I am very lucky. You are very pretty yourself. I love you, Joan." I turned and hugged her. "Will you teach me to make dresses like you can? After a few moments alone."

"Yes, ma'am." She bowed and left. I took out Marie's necklace, the one with her name on it from my jewelry box that mama and papa got me. I held it close to my heart. I love you, Marie. I repeated that thought for what felt like forever. Then some one knocked on the door.

"Are you ready, Alice?" Joan asked.

"Of course." I quickly put my necklace back. I made my bed, feeling the fabric of the top quilt. I looked at my hair in the mirror and smiled. I looked like Marie. Depending on what reminds me of her I laugh, smile, frown, or cry. My smile faded when I remembered my sister will be killed today, in place of me. I left my room and joined Joan.

Joan had an abundance of broadcloth in our clothing making room, actually a shack. It had a spinning wheel, broadcloth loom, large baskets of wool, buckets, and wooden hammers all necessary for the making of the cloth. The room had other fabrics and things to decorate and make dresses. With papa being a merchant we have things like this for ourselves and to sell. Not a palace, but still nice. Broadcloth is in high demand now and so is linen. Both of which we make, along with satin among others. The drying lines are outside the shack.

"Are you ready to dye some cloth? We can make you a dress, if your mother approves. Ask her if I need to do any laundry or make any more cloth while I am here," Joan told me. I walked out of the shack. Joan followed me. She must have decided to ask mother herself. We went inside the house, leaving the stone shack with its many windows and a chimney behind.

"Mama? Where are you?" I called for mother. I heard a response from her bed room. I walked to her room. Joan at a safe distance behind me. "Hello mama, can Joan and I make me a dress? Joan wants to know if she should make more cloth, dye any more, or do laundry. What do you say?"

"Make another day dress for yourself. Also make me a linen night gown and you can have one if you want. I want the night gown blue. I will come help make my own day dress later. Tell Joan to do the laundry and I will help her do the rest when I come to the shack," she planted a kiss on my fore head and I left the room with the dirty clothes in my hands. Joan grabbed some from me and we went to my room for my dirty clothes and Joan's clothes too. I told Joan what mama told me. Joan's dresses weren't like mine. They were nice colored linen with a square neckline.

We stopped at the kitchen to tell the maid she needed to clean the plates from breakfast and come do laundry and then the three of us left to the shack. Joan opened the door. We got to work. Mary, the maid did the laundry first. Once she was done she helped me make a night gown. One was made for my mother and the other my size. We dyed my mother's linen gown blue. And mine a light green with floral designs on it. Like the ones from Italy. Joan mage the day dress for my. I put it on and she asked me to tell her what I want. It took hours to finish the three dresses. The dress was beautiful. I changed into it and told Joan I want to go into the city.

"Lets wait for your mother," Joan told me admiring her work. A few moments later my mother came into the shack.

"Are we ready?" Mother asked Joan. Mother only has a under dress and corset on. We live a mile or so from any one else.

"Yes, ma'am." Joan told my mother helping her make the dress.

"Alice, why don't you go and put your other dresses away. Papa will be home soon."

"Yes, mama. Can we make Joan a dress?" I asked walking out with my dress.

"We can. How about tomorrow or the day after?" my mother said patting me on the back.