February 15th, 1730
Hereford Household, Kent, England
The sky was still the shade of grey that comes before dawn when I slipped silently out of bed. The fire had gone out and the wood floor felt cold against my bare feet. I walked across the room towards the fireplace and sat down in the intricately carved wooden chair placed by the hearth. My eyes traveled to the few glowing embers that stood out against the dull ash and soot in the fireplace. I noticed a book with an ornate scarlet binding left askew on the floor and picked it up. Opening to a random page, I stared at the lines of words, but I felt so distracted that I couldn’t concentrate long enough to read a whole sentence. It didn’t matter; I wasn’t in the mood to read anyway. I lay the book back down soundlessly and returned my gaze to the ashes, my chin in my hand.
I felt a frustrating mix of emotions toying with my mind; sadness, excitement, nervousness, and a few others that I cannot name for lack of words. Today I would leave my uncle’s estate with my cousin for the last time. We were leaving for a slightly better home; the home of a count, my husband elect. Elizabeth was marrying the count’s brother, Charles. How excited I was when I learned that I would not have to leave Elizabeth, who was like a sister to me. Elizabeth, however seemed rather nervous about leaving.
For what seemed like an eternity I sat staring into the fireplace. Finally sunlight began to show through the gap between the thick curtains which veiled my window. I heard a faint knock.
“Miss Hereford?” called a voice, muffled by the large wooden door.
“Come in,” I called back. A stout maid entered carrying a long yellow gown. Elizabeth came in behind her, already dressed in a pale green gown. The maid glanced over at me.
“You are up early. Thinking about your journey, are you?”
I did not believe that such a question should warrant a response, so I stayed silent and held my gaze. The maid walked over to the curtains and pulled them aside, letting in the radiant sunlight. I was not yet accustomed to the light. I squinted and held my hand over my eyes.
“Come, Miss, Lord Robert waits for you downstairs. You must get dressed.”
Reluctantly, I stood up from the chair and walked over to the maid, who handed me a nicely folded pile of clothes. I drifted behind my changing curtain, pulled a shift over my head, and slipped on two petticoats. Then I put my arms through a pair of stays and the maid tugged hard on the lacings in the back until it became difficult for me to breath.
Over all of this went the extravagant yellow gown. It was the most beautiful gown I’d ever had, with white ruffles on the sleeves and the front of the bodice and a flowered embroidery pattern. The maid combed my hair and pulled it up into an elaborate bun which she tied with white ribbons, leaving two ringlets hanging by my temples. Finally, Elizabeth handed me a white fan decorated with little green flowers. She stood next to me and we stared at our reflections in the mirror. We were the same height and had the same chocolate brown hair and fair complexion. Her eyes were a light brown while mine were a deep blue. Our dresses were quite similar, but hers was light green. I could see faint traces of the abundant freckles that had covered my face as a child, but they were hardly noticeable anymore. We smiled at our reflections, but did not speak for nerves.
“Thank you,” I said to the maid.
“It was my pleasure, Miss Hereford.” She smiled at me before curtsying and heading out the door. I looked at Elizabeth, who turned and threw her arms around me.
“I can’t believe we’re leaving. We’ve spent our entire lives here,” she said into my shoulder with an air of disbelief.
“But we’ll be together.”
“Yes,” she said, “I thank God for that.”
We stood at the doorway with our arms around each other for another minute, and then I pulled back. Elizabeth paused.
“What do you think it’ll be like being married? I’ve never thought about it much.”
“I can’t say. I’ve always thought that I would feel different after being married…” I trailed off, recalling childhood dreams.
“In what way?” Elizabeth asked.
“I don’t know… Just different.”
Elizabeth looked thoughtful, “I’ve heard that Penshurst is beautiful. I think I’ll enjoy living there.”
I smiled. Elizabeth always seemed so blithe and carefree. She was the opposite of me in that way. It made me feel peaceful to be around her.
“Are you ready?” I asked. She waited, thinking.
“Yes.”
We descended the grand stairs to the first floor to find Lords Robert and Charles Carre, our husbands elect, waiting for us at the base of the staircase. They smiled up at us cheerfully. My eyes were fixed on Lord Robert, the count. He had the most wonderful smile I had ever seen. His striking, emerald green eyes twinkled as he watched me climb down the stairs.
Almost a month ago I turned fifteen, and there I was walking down the stairs to greet a man that in a year or so would be my husband. I walked slowly, almost wondering if it were all a dream. When I reached the base of the stairs, Robert took my hand and bowed deeply.
“Miss Hereford,” was all he said.
“Lord Robert,” I breathed, and sank into a low curtsy. “How do you do?”
“I am well, thank you,” he said, a bit awkwardly. I suppose he must have been nervous as well. “You are taller,” he remarked.
“Yes, well it has been a year, sir. I was but fourteen when we met last,” I replied. Robert smiled; I amused him.
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More to come...
Also I think that you could describe your MC more. 
Ahh... Thanks, Winter.
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