Isabel: Taking Wing

Sabine’s Secret

After Christmas, Isabel gives Meg her cookies. Isabel can tell Meg is genuinely thrilled to receive them by the pink flush in her cheeks. But soon after, Meg goes home for the New Year, and then Isabel hears that Meg has taken ill. And then, Robert sets sail for the Indies, leaving an empty air in the house. Isabel notices that Aunt Elinor and Sabine have been having many secret conversations in hushed tones, and whenever Isabel comes through the door, they stop talking or shoo her away.

Isabel starts to keep herself occupied by taking long walks outdoors in the fresh air. Although, Isabel must be careful! She accidentally stays outside too long one day, and comes down with a chill. For days after, she’s kept indoors for Alice to take care of her. Isabel is relieved when she starts feeling better, so she can resume her studies with Master Hart.

Isabel loves to study with Master Hart! Her old master, Master Strype, believed girls were incapable of rational thought. But Master Hart indulges her with poetry, music, and stories. He also is a quirky man. For example, today Isabel watches him almost get hit by a cart outside on the street, but he doesn’t even notice because he’s so involved in his book!

After completing her Latin and music lessons, she asks Master Hart why it is that poets and writers never have the heroine die in a fantastical adventure, like the male heroes. Master Hart explains that those stories are uncommon, but he can think of one where a woman is a slave, who must risk losing her life to free her sweetheart from an evil lord.

By the time Master Hart finishes his story, it’s midday and he needs to leave. Aunt Elinor finds Isabel in the study, still deep in her thoughts. Aunt Elinor explains they have visitors that evening, and Isabel must hurry to get ready. As Isabel changes into her new kirtle and slippers, she hears the bellows of Sir Edmund Glover downstairs. Sir Glover’s son, Henry, was an old friend of Isabel from when they were younger, and Isabel used to have a crush on him.

But when Isabel comes downstairs, she finds not just Henry and Sir Glover, but many other people as well. Her father welcomes her inside, and then Sabine enters. Sabine is wearing a new rose-colored wool dress with tiny flowers, and her hair is impeccably brushed into her crisp, white cap. And then, Isabel feels her heart drop to the floor when her father announces that Sabine is to take Henry as her betrothed. Isabel watches, stunned, as Sabine and Henry exchange rings, followed by a gentle kiss on the cheek.

Through the cheers, Isabel realizes that she was the only one who didn’t know. Robert was told before he left for the Indies. Aunt Elinor and Sabine’s continual whispering. Even Alice and Meg had looked at her with pity over the last few weeks. Well, Hope didn’t know either, but Hope was just a baby! And by not telling Isabel, it shows that they consider Isabel like a small child, too.

That night, as Sabine climbs into bed beside Isabel, she tells Isabel that she’s so excited to marry Henry. They’re to be married in the spring, and there’s so much to do. Sabine asks if Isabel will help her; Sabine reminds Isabel they used to do everything together. Isabel tells herself that of course she remembers… it was Sabine who had forgotten.