September 12th, 1546
Bletchingly Palace
Isabella knew today was a special day. She wasn't sure what was going to happen, but her aunt had asked that she and her sisters be dressed in their finest clothes. She loved being dressed up and pampered, something Amalia and Ruth hated. Although Ruth wasn't her sister by blood, she felt closer to her than her actual sisters. Isabella was already dressed, her hair arranged into a lovely bun, and Lady Cromwell was now attempting to dress Amalia. Amalia was fine, until Lady Cromwell attempted to do her hair and then she would scream bloody murder until Lady Cromwell left her to wear it down. Yet, today Lady Cromwell would have none of it as she wrestled Amalia down so that she could brush and plait her hair. Anna and Sophia remained quiet, observing their older sister's tantrums. Anna was no better, she hated being dressed, not to mention her hair while Sophia was more like Isabella. However, once it was all finished, Isabella noticed that Amalia was the most richly dressed of the four girls and Lady Cromwell led her into the appearance room while Isabella, Anna, and Sophia were kept in their rooms.
"Lady Cromwell, why is Amalia being favored over myself? I am the eldest!"
Lady Cromwell nodded. "Yes, my lady, you are. However, Amalia is betrothed to the Prince of Wales and you are not."
Isabella suddenly understood. "The King is here?"
"Yes, my lady." the governess nodded.
Isabella was surprised. "Why has the King come?"
Lady Cromwell patted her head. Isabella had always been her favorite. "My lady, the king must inspect the future Queen of England and ensure that she will make a good Princess of Wales."
Isabella frowned again. "The King of Spain never visits me."
"El rey de España no tiene tiempo para un viaje de Igleterra, mi princesa." Lady Cromwell pointed out.
Isabella nodded. "I know he is very busy, but I am not even sure if I will marry the King of Spain."
Lady Cromwell seemed shocked that Isabella would think such a thing. The alliance had been decided upon before she was even born, she would marry the King of Spain in order to claim her inheritance. "What would make you think such a thing?"
"El Infante es diez años mayor a mi y es un hombre ahora." She stared at her shoes, feeling somewhat sorry for herself.
Isabella had spent her entire life expecting to marry someone she had never met before, a person who had already married once before and then renewed his claim to her after his wife had died. She dreaded going to Spain to meet a husband who had already taken others into his bed.
"He has married before Lady Cromwell, if she had not died I would still be without a betrothed. Amalia cannot marry before I do."
Lady Cromwell sighed. "Isabella, you were destined to marry King Philip since the day you were born. If-"
"If I wish to be the Duchess of Guelders, I must marry Philip of Spain and give him a son." Isabella finished.
Lady Cromwell nodded again. "You know what it is that you must do, my lady. Your-"
Isabella had heard this speech so many times. "My duty is to marry well and provide heirs for my husband. An infertile woman with a lowborn husband is the saddest wretch of them all."
Her governess cracked a fleeting smile. "You have learned well my lady. You shall make a good wife one day. Quiet, humble, obedient with an impeccable bloodline, you shall make the King of Spain a happy man."
Isabella frowned again. "What if I displease him or fail to give him a son?"
Lady Cromwell took her hands in her own. "You will give him a son because your life depends on it. Do not think on it too much my dear, now I shall go check on your sisters. Anna and Sophia cannot be trusted alone."
Isabella nodded half-heartedly. Her governess had never been one to hide the truth from her, but to know that her entire being was depending upon her giving her husband a son was too much for her young heart to take. She would be quiet, kind, submissive, a perfect wife because that was what her station expected of her. She would not expect her husband to be faithful because he was a king and kings naturally paid court to other women as their right. She would be silent and bear it with a kind smile and relish in the fact that only her children would be heirs to the throne. However, King Philip already had a son with his first wife, Don Carlos, who would be his heir. If it had been her choice, Isabella would never become a queen.