Grace Sutton - Serving Queen Elizabeth

My name is Grace Sutton. I am fifteen years old. I serve in the court of Queen Elizabeth the I.
I was awake at dawn, quickly preparing myself for the first day in my new position. I was to be a lady in waiting for Queen Elizabeth. True, I was excited, but I was so afraid of doing anything wrong. Would I be exiled? I pushed those thoughts aside as one of the older ladies helped me with the wretched dress I had to wear. It was very beautiful, but so heavy! I know English summers are none to warm, but even so, there was no need for such heavy material to be worn. I was sure I would melt.
"Don't worry, you'll get used to it." the woman helping me said.
I did not know her name, although I would have guessed it was Mary. Almost everyone was called Mary, Anne, or something of the like. Maybe it wasn't Mary. Knowing her highness, she would not have wanted someone bearing the name of the sister she hated in her court.
"I am Lady Jane," the woman continued. "I am here to help you for your first couple of weeks, to help you settle in and all."
"Thank you m'lady." I replied respectfully.
Jane smiled, her face warming up. "There'll be no need for m'lady to me, young one. You're a noble to. What is your name? And who are your parents?"
I immediatley liked Jane, so I decided to tell her the whole truth. None of the lies I grew up with.
"My name is Grace Sutton. I am the daughter of Lady Margaretof Sheffield. My father is Lord Robert Dudley."
Jane's mouth dropped open. Everyone had heard that Robert Dudley had an illegitimate child, but no one could prove it. I had just told Jane a horrible secret, but I knew she would keep it.My father knew about me, of course,but I had never met him. I thought at first it was because he resented me, but my mother kept telling me that he loved me.While I was at court I was determined to confront him, and soon.
"Well, isn't that..."Jane started. "Anyway, you are to help herMajestyin anyway you can. Delivering messages will be common for new ladies in waiting like you, especially because you are so young. You are familiar with the court aren't you?" Shepausedbriefly looking for my reaction, I nodded and so she continued. "Some messages will be into the surrounding area, in which case, you will be given a companion. Obviouslyyou will have other duties too. Helping to dress the queen, as well as brush her hair. Well you know."
With that, she swept me out of the room and down a hallway, I recognizedwhere I was, luckily.
After a short walk, we arrived outside a majestic looking door. Lady Jane looked at me reassuringly, before she openedthe door.With that I stepped into the room to meet the country's monarch... and my employer.