Isabel: Taking Wing
London, England – 1592“Lullay My Liking”
Isabel knows Aunt Elinor is disappointed in her. Not just for today, but in general. She’s always criticizing Isabel for not being ladylike, unlike Sabine, who Aunt Elinor insists is just like her. But out of all the children, Isabel is the only one who resembles their mother, which makes her her father’s favorite.
Isabel’s father is a spice trader who has gone as far as the Indies working. Isabel wishes that she could travel the world someday. Alas, she’s a girl, and so she won’t be allowed to leave London like that.
Isabel greets her father in the parlor for breakfast, where he kisses her cheek and wishes her a “Merry Christmas.” Isabel is still upset about her interactions with Meg that morning, and her father notices. Hastily, Isabel claims she simply misses Robert, who’s doing an apprenticeship with Master Johnson. Isabel recollects how she used to play a made up game called Samarkand with him and Sabine. In the game, they’re explorers who sailed to a magical land where they’d trade silks and spices. When they were done, they’d travel by pack mule along the Silk Road to bring them back to England and Queen Elizabeth.
Isabel’s father suggests that Isabel go to the docks to meet Robert and bring him home. Isabel hastily finishes her breakfast—she’ll have a few minutes of Robert all to herself! As she prepares to go out the door, she approaches the family’s old nurse, Alice. Alice has gotten old over the years, and is in pain.
After being assured Alice is all right, Isabel asks her what she could get Meg for Christmas. Alice reminds Meg that she may not want a gift from Isabel. Isabel is educated and wealthy, while Meg is illiterate and poor. Isabel insists on finding a small gift for Meg anyway.
On Isabel’s way out the door, Aunt Elinor comes in to see Isabel off. She reminds Isabel to use her pomander so she won’t catch the black plague. Although cases of the black plague haven’t been reported in years, Aunt Elinor is still afraid it’ll come back. In the 1560s, the black plague had killed over 20,000 people in London.
On her way to the docks, nearly four miles away, Isabel stops to do a little shopping for Meg. She ends up finding some cookies shaped like a mother pig and a few piglets. The street seller wraps them up, exclaiming that even Her Majesty the Queen loves sugar!
Isabel finds her way down twisty streets to the river Thames, where she greets her older brother. He can still pick her up, but Isabel has to rush to keep up with Robert’s long legs. This further reminds her that Robert is a man now, and she’s still a child. As Robert explains that soon he’ll be sailing to the Indies to trade spices for Master Johnson, Isabel reminisces of the days when she and her brother were equals. She could have adventures, too. But since she was growing into a gentlewoman, this wouldn’t be her destiny.
When they get home, Robert and Father pull in the Yule log. They light it together, and with Sabine’s candles, the room lights aglow in flickering light. They settle down for a light Christmas Eve supper, and although they’ll feast more tomorrow, this is always Isabel’s favorite day, since everyone is excited for Christmas. And when Isabel plays “Lullay My Liking” on the lute, her whole family joins in.