A/N: HI AND WELCOME TO MY NEWEST ADDITION, I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT.

SWANFIELD

CHAPTER 1

'Miss Isabella,' Mrs. Banner greets as she enters her bedchamber. 'Mr. Swan requests your company immediately.'

She smiles to herself, her fathers constant impatience not quite to his credit. 'I'm just now ready, we aren't even running late.'

'As you say Miss Swan, but he paces incessantly.'

The smile doesn't leave her face as she pictures her father pacing a valley into the hardwood while he stresses about the likelihood of them being late to the assembly that has gathered in their small town, the first in months at that.

'We are going to miss the whole thing Bella, would you have a care.'

'Come now father, it hasn't even started yet. Late indeed! Your nerves can only take so much father, you must settle yourself. Now, let us depart before your constitution weakens and you have a turn.'

'How you tease me; take a turn indeed,' Mr. Swan grumbles, mostly to himself.

The pair walk together, arm-in-arm to the awaiting carriage and are taken to the town ball. 'I hope nobody takes our lateness amiss, for I should be very sorry for it if they have.'

'Father, we are not the slightest bit late, I daresay we will be one of the first to arrive.'

Mr. Swan repeats no further worries and exits the carriage when the door is opened for him, his only daughter clicking her tongue after he exits. 'What ever will I do with him?' she asks the empty space.

'Miss Swan?' Mr. Banner prompts, his hand offered in assistance. She smiles at him and gratefully accepts his assistance silently and joins her father on the path.

'You see father? the string quartet hasn't even started playing yet, you were worried for nothing, just as I said.

'It is always better to be early than tardy Isabella, no use slighting our neighbours and friends because we can't keep a simple engagement promptly.'

She remains silent, further argument with her father rather tiresome. The duo enter the scarcely-filled ballroom, all faces present instantly recognisable.

'I'm off to play a touch of whist, I think poppet. Have fun now.' Mr. Swan leaving the much younger Swan to her own devices and makes his way to the gentlemen's card room.

'Have fun father.'

'Izzy!' she is greeted gleefully by her friend Alice Luci. 'I am sorry I have been remiss of the proper attentions of a true friend by not calling on you this past week, but I knew you will be in attendance here quite early. Can you guess how?' Her friend loops her arm through Miss Swan's and directs her to the tea things where they pour themselves a cup.

'I must presume you know this the same way all of Forks knows; my father and I are early to everything. It is a universally acknowledged fact that Charles Swan is never late for anything, ever. Now, pray tell, why are you extra excitable? pray tell, have you news?' Isabella leans in closer just in case she misses any of Alice's details.

'Henders Hall is let at last.'

Miss Swan gasps audibly in surprise. 'Oh how wonderful. It will be good for the neighbourhood to have more society, not to mention how wonderful it will be for Henders Hall to have someone to care for it. Not to mention the tenants. Ms. Stackhouse really should sell it before it falls into disrepair, or her tenants boycott their farms.'

'And that isn't even the best part, my dear Izzy.'

'Indeed! so pray tell, what is the best part?'

'It has been let by a family of five, with only one woman to speak of, the wife of one of the men and I have heard from a good authority that all of the men have an income of at least five-thousand a year.'

'But Alice, what is a decent income if he is the bearer of a plain face, or a clownish demeanour or even a bland personality. One simply cannot spend the rest of their lives with a man they despise. Only the truest of love can tempt me into matrimony, Alice.'

Her friend sighs heavily in rebuttal. 'You only say that because you lack neither fortune or consequence; you can become an old maid if you choose. Some of us aren't so lucky to be picky about our situations. I have become so much of a burden to my parents that I have to accept the first offer made to me, no matter whom is asking.'

'And I'm sorry for it Alice, but surely your parents won't resent you denying an offer if the man is objectionable.'

'I daresay they wouldn't Izzy, but I myself hate doing it to them too.'

A ball is no place for such a morose subject, so Isabella returns to the subject of their new neighbours. 'So, when are they due to arrive?'

'That is the best part my dearest Izzy, they are already in residence at Henders and are coming tonight.'

'Oh, how delightful, I have so often thought that Forks could do with more varied society, so I am glad they have come.'

'I happen to agree with you, and if I dance with Eric Yorkie or Ben Cheney once more I shall become an old maid once and for all.'

Miss Swan laughs along with her friend, 'come now Alice, they are not so very bad. One does ponder however, why they have not asked for anyones hand yet, surely they are in comfortable positions in life to be in want of wives.'

'Perhaps they aren't in want at all, no one has ever confirmed that a man in a stable position in life is ever in need of a wife. If they want companionship, they need only find a friend.'

'I suppose Alice, but one still ponders.'

A sudden rush of arrivals fills the ballroom to capacity, almost the whole of Forks in attendance. 'We would do well to have more balls in Forks, I don't see my neighbours nearly enough as I ought,' Isabella says to her friend idly.

'Yet again, I agree. We have enough young people in town to warrant it, and we can invite neighbouring towns if we must. I think I will see Mr. Thompson tomorrow on the matter. Once a month should suit the town just well, I shall think.'

'Yes Miss Luci, I believe it will.'

'Oh!' Alice gasps. "They have arrived at last, quick Izzy, look.'

Miss Swan situates herself so she can spy the entrance with great advantage. The first two of her new neighbours arrive arm-in-arm, a gentleman and his bride. The gentleman beams at the room, his excitement clear on his face while his wife looks about with what Miss Swan supposes as censure. The couple break from the entrance and clear the view of the rest of their party. A lone man enters next and Isabella can't help but notice the superiority of his gait and posture, the easiness he has with the atmosphere and his overall noble mien. She also notes his handsome features, she'd daresay he was one of the most handsome of men she had ever seen, but she hasn't often strayed too far from Forks, so that may not have much clout.

'Mrs. Jones informed me that the couple are Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy down from Scotland. Cousins to the lease holder, who is the gentleman entering now, one Dr. Cullen.'

'A doctor?" Isabella clarifies with raised eyebrows.

'Yes, I know nothing on the matter though, I daresay before the night is through all will come to light.'

The man in question veers off to join his alleged cousins and clears the view for the next two gentlemen. Again, Miss Swan notes them both to be handsome, one with longish blonde hair, the other a darker shade of red. They both bear the same handsome resemble to their father, the blonde one moreso. They don't beam at the gathering, they don't scorn it either, they just observe the happenings with keen interest.

'These are the gentlemen that interest me, Edward and Jasper,' Alice declares. 'The sons of the doctor. Both unmarried, both with their own estates, both reportedly seeking wives. You will excuse me now, my papa wishes to introduce me.'

'Good luck, my dearest Alice.' She tells the empty space that once housed her friend.

'Good evening Miss Swan.'

Isabella greets the newcomer with a warm smile and a curtsey, 'a very good evening indeed Mr. Cheney.'

'If your card isn't already full Miss Swan, might I request the next dance.'

She smiles serenely back at him, 'Mr. Cheney, you know very well my card is empty, so yes, I'd quite like to dance with you.'

'Very good,' he replies, and holds out his arm for her to take.