Update: Please note that there have been small changes made to the chapter regarding how Edward and his father are addressed in public. Nothing major. :)
Summary: Inspired by Pride and Prejudice: Regency Era England, Bella Swan leaves town to live in the country with her family where she meets the respectable Masen family, and their intolerable (yet handsome) son.
All Human – AU.
Disclaimer: Characters are property of the lovely Stephenie Meyer.
Chapter One
I sighed as I pushed back the velvet curtain, trying to let some fresh air into the carriage. We had been travelling all day during the stifling heat of summer, to reach our new home in Edenbridge in Kent. The roads were dusty, and I was longing for some water to ease the burning in my throat.
I was excited about relocating. Life in town was never something I really enjoyed, much preferring country living. My mother wasn't too fond of the idea, citing the lack of society to be found in the country, but my father and I knew she would warm to it eventually. Her health had been declining recently, and the physician recommended the clean fresh air of the country for her.
I gazed lazily out the window, staring at the wild flowers along the side of the road absentmindedly. Despite the heat, I loved the summer time. And I was glad that I would be spending it in the country this summer, something I had not done since I was a very small child visiting my grandparents.
They were my mother's parents, and while they always seem to adore me, they never really approved of my parents marriage. You see, my father is a merchant, and until recently, did not hold a title of any kind. This is in comparison to my mother whose parents had the title, and the family name, and the estate.
Recently, however, my father was knighted by the Prince Regent, being another reason for our relocation. He felt that on top of mothers declining health, that now he had made his fortune and had a respectable title (that is, Sir Charles Swan) it was time to establish our family in the country, and become landholders.
I did not know much about Edenbridge, other than the fact that Hever Castle – the childhood home of Anne Boleyn – was just three miles away, and that a respectable family supposedly resided there now. I was anxious about meeting new people. I was never really a social person, only accompanying my parents on social calls out of a sense of duty.
It was then that the coachman called out to my father.
"Sire, we are at the gate of your estate now. We shall reach the main house in a matter of minutes."
Father looked at me, a smile causing his eyes to crinkle a little.
"Did you hear that Bella? Soon you will see your new home!"
I smiled and him and gave a little nod. My throat was far too dry for me to consider answering him properly.
We went over large bump in the road and my mother, who had been sleeping, awoke with a start. Father chuckled and mentioned that the bump would have to be fixed.
The road twisted ahead, and when we had rounded the bend, a large estate house was perched on top of a small hill over looking an elaborate garden. I felt myself smiling at the sight. I was certain I could be very content here.
We pulled up to the front steps, and the carriage stopped. A manservant opened the carriage door and offered me his hand. I tried to step out as delicately and carefully as I could manage, but I tripped on the hem of my skirt, resulting in my half falling from the carriage. Fortunately I was able to regain my balance before I could sustain an injury of any kind.
Father chuckled at me, and offered me his arm, my mother on his other and escorted us in to the house. I was desperately wanted to change out of my carriage dress and in to something fresh.
Finding my room, I walked over to one of my windows. It provided an excellent view of our park and the gardens. I could see some servants down below who were unloading our things from a second carriage. I already had my possessions in my room, as my father had organised for most of our items to be brought down in the days before our move.
I hastily removed my coat and hat, taking the pins that held my hair in place out and letting my hair flow free. I remembered I had left my door open, and closed it with a click. There was no need for an unnecessary lecture from Renee about proper etiquette. Rolling down my stockings, and pulling off my boots I found that I felt much better. My dress was damp with sweat from the heat of the carriage, but it was truly too much effort to try and wrestle out of it right now.
I noticed for the first time that there was a pitcher of water on my table, and was extremely grateful for it. Pouring myself a glass, I walked back over to my window and sat down, sipping the water. The cool breeze accompanied with the water was absolute luxury after being stuck in the stuffy carriage all morning.
Hearing a commotion downstairs – servants calling for my father – I glanced out the window. There were two men on horseback riding towards our house. One looked to be in his middle ages with brown hair and a moustache. The other was much younger, perhaps only a little older than me, with bronze hair that looked windblown.
When they reached the house, the dismounted their horses and handed the reins to a nearby servant. My father was at the door ready to greet them. I found myself leaning out my window to get a better look at them, and also to hear what the conversation was about.
I heard snatches of words when the breeze was kind enough to carry them up to me.
'Earl of Edenbridge', 'cordially invited' and 'week from now' being the only words I could really distinguish with any certainty. They turned to go, and the younger one glanced up at my window and raised an eyebrow. I blushed furiously and back away from the window as fast as I could.
I hoped he hadn't seen me properly. Before I had any time to ponder the situation further, a housemaid walked into the room. I squeaked in surprise, and managed to knock my chair over.
"Oh my, I'm terribly sorry miss, please let me fix that for you," said the housemaid. She appeared to be my age, with mousey brown hair and a light smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose.
I smiled at her, "Do not worry yourself with it. It was my own clumsiness that knocked it over."
As I righted the chair, she spoke again.
"I'm terrible sorry to interrupt you miss, but your parents have ordered your presence downstairs. They are about to serve afternoon tea."
"Thank you, I'm sorry, but what was your name?"
She bobbed a curtsey, "Angela, miss. Angela Webber."
"Thank you Angela. Pray, do you think you could assist me with my hair? It seems to have fallen out of its own accord," I said with a mischievous smile, winking at her to inform her it was quite the opposite in fact.
She broke into a grin, clearly happy to be let in on a little joke and came over to assist me with fixing my hair. I was pleasantly surprised; she could do a better job than my governess back in town could do.
I headed downstairs to the afternoon parlour to rejoin my parents.
"Bella, darling, there you are! I have such wonderful news, that I can hardly wait to tell you!" My mother enthused.
I sat down in an arm chair and replied that since she could hardly wait, she had better tell me quickly.
"You would never believe, oh the wonder of it all! The Earl of Edenbridge, Lord Edenbridge has welcomed us to the neighbourhood, and invited us to his ball at Hever next week! What an exceedingly generous man, with such a pleasant countenance too. His son, Lord Edward Masen was exceedingly handsome also, Bella" She ended, with a wink.
I looked at her with exasperation.
"Mother, please! Not another one of your marriage schemes! You do remember how the last one turned out, don't you?"
She was sensible enough to look at me with shame.
"Well Bella, how was I to know that Lord Michael would be found in a comprising position with that Stanley heiress! To think of how reckless young people are these days, it hardly serves my poor nerves very well at all!"
I turned my head towards my father and rolled my eyes. He chuckled silently. We both knew about my mother's nerves very well indeed.
-xxx-
I stood in front of my mirror, making sure my gown was sitting right. I spun around once, making sure my hair stayed in place. I was ready. Ready to meet the society that Edenbridge offered. My hands started shaking with nervousness, and I could feel butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
I had no doubt that this ball would be one of the most fashionable events in Edenbridge this season. It was the Earls ball after all.
With one last quick glance in the mirror, I picked up the Kashmir shawl I was given by an admirer in London, and my reticule, and marched down the stairs to meet my parents in the carriage.
The trip to Hever took half an hour at a good pace, and the time was spent with my mother filling in the silence with idle chatter, and speculations.
"Oh, I heard from Mrs. Cardew that Lady Sophia Dorrett would be attending by herself as Lord Dorrett is away on unspecified business in town. What a scandal this could prove to be! It is a shame that some people have no qualms about tarnishing their own name."
That was all I heard before I tuned out, focusing of the clip clop of the horses shoes on the road. It had rained the day before, so there was fortunately very little dust on the road; however it was going to be a very clear and beautiful night that night. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, and I could see more stars than I ever imagined could have existed.
Before I knew it, I could faintly hear laughter, and saw a long drive illuminated with torches. Hever castle was beautiful. It was nothing spectacularly grand, and possible even a little unfashionable to modern standard, but it was beautiful all the same.
We pulled up to the entrance way, and climbed out of the carriage. My father escorted my mother and myself in, with an arm for each of us. The ball was taking place in the bailey of the castle. We walked through the gates and were met with an amazing sight. People were scattered around in elegant clothing, torches were dotted around the castle walls, along with green silk hangings. There was a quartet in the corner playing lively music which many people were dancing to. Standing in the entrance way was the men who had come to our home yesterday – Lord Edenbridge and his son, Lord Edward Masen along with a well dressed lady with curly bronze hair.
Lord Edenbridge stepped forward to greet us, and introduce us to his family.
"Ah, Sir Charles, delighted you could make it. Please, let me introduce my lovely wife – Lady Elizabeth Masen, and of course, my son Edward whom you met yesterday." He said, gesturing to them both respectively.
My father replied, by introducing my mother and myself.
"This would be my delightful wife, Lady Renee of Petersfield. And this is my beautiful daughter, Isabella Swan."
I blushed and curtseyed, I always hated introductions.
Lord Edenbridge spoke for his family, "It is truly a pleasure to meet you both, ladies. I hope you have a splendid time this evening."
My father made to move us through the entry way and into the bailey, when I happened to look up and catch the eye of Lord Masen.
He had a stony look upon his face, and did not acknowledge that our eyes had met. Instead he turned his head away with an air of indifference.
I blushed furiously at the rejection of such a handsome man. Not a romantic rejection, of course. I hardly knew the gentleman. But it was a rejection all the same.
I tried not to dwell on what was the cause of his attitude, hoping it was not me.
We moved forward into the throng of guests, and father found us our table.
We sat for awhile, watching the dancing and people mingling,
"Oh," my mother said after some time, "the society here is much better than I ever could have hoped for. Look, see there in the far corner, that is Lady Dilworth – she is the daughter of Lord Buckington – you know, the Shrewsbury Buckingtons."
My father and I nodded, feigning interest in her gossip. That was one thing my mother was notorious for.
"Charlie," that was my mothers pet name for my father, "they are going to dance the two third, may we?" she asked him, taking his hand.
He stood and replied it would be a pleasure, turning to wink at me.
I sighed as they walked off to join the line of dancers assembling. This would mean I would have to spend the next thirty minutes sitting by myself.
I stared at my hands, as if they were the most interesting things in the word, examining each fingernail, when I heard someone clear their throat right in front of me.
I looked up to see a young man, who looked to be around my age. He had a very poor complexion, with acne scarring his face, and greasy black hair plastering the sides of his face.
He smiled timidly, "Hello there. I hear you are Miss Isabella Swan. My name is Eric Yorkie and I was wondering if you would join me for the two third?"
I sighed internally – I absolutely detested dancing in any shape or form, but if word got back to my mother that I had declined an offer to dance with a young, presumably eligible man, there would be hell to pay in the form of a lengthy lecture.
I stood and gave him my hand, "Certainly Mr. Yorkie, I would be delighted." I said, lying through my teeth.
The dance itself was an ordeal. With the near fatal mixture of my clumsiness and Eric's absolute lack of co-ordination and rhythm, we managed to clear a path of dancers trying to avoid us. The whole time I could feel a pair of eyes watching me, and sometimes when I turned to search for them I saw the mysterious Lord Edward Masen staring at me.
When the dance finally ended I thanked Eric, and despite his offer to dance the next set, I politely declined and made my way back to the table to meet my parents.
They were already sitting down, and my mother immediately wanted to know every detail about the man I was just dancing with.
"Yorkie? No, they are of no great consequence. No matter, dear Bella, we will find you a handsome, ri…" She trailed off, looking behind me. "Lord Masen, how delightful of you to come join us, would you care to sit with us?"
I spun around on my heel and found myself staring into the eyes of Lord Masen, the same young gentleman that had being staring at me, quite rudely, during the course of my dance with Eric.
He looked behind me with a smile to my mother, "Sorry, Lady Swan, I have simply come over here to request your daughters hand – for the next dance that is."
I blushed furiously. He left that pause in there quite deliberately – I could tell by the smirk on his face when he said it.
"Oh of course," Mother replied, "Yes, our dear Bella would be absolutely delighted, wouldn't you Bella?"
I nodded glumly, knowing that I would have no say in the matter anyway.
I stood again, taking the arm he offered to me. I turned to give my father a look of exasperation, and he winked at me.
"Ah, I believe the dancing is about to recommence, let us join the line." Edward said, and led us over to where everyone had assembled.
I stood opposite him in the line. He looked at me and raised an eyebrow.
"What, no idle chattering? No admiration of the finery of the table setting?"
I could barely keep from letting my mouth hang wide open in shock.
"I beg your pardon, Lord, for it seems that you assume that because I am a female, clearly I feel the need for this idle chatter you speak of. I must inform you I feel it to be quite pointless. One should not say anything, if they cannot say any thing constructive." I said, trying to keep the anger out of my voice.
"Ahh, I knew you'd be a feisty spirit when I saw you in your window with your hair down, blowing around like a savage. You are just as I would have expected."
I moved towards him to reply to him, just as the music started and all the ladies took one step towards their partners. He held out his hand and smiled patronisingly, and led me down the line.
"How dare you insinuate in any way or form that I resemble a savage! I resent such a thing. Just because I do not fit your ideal of a demure, proper little lady sitting in her window, mooning over her perfect man while practising some accomplishment or another, does not mean I am some savage!" I replied as we turned and went back up the line to our original positions.
"You mean to insult your own sex by painting such a picture?" He said, as we swapped partners briefly, returning to stand opposite each other.
I huffed in frustration.
"Lord Masen, I am afraid I do not feel at all comfortable discussing such opinions with you, someone whom I barely know, and have only had the acquaintance of during the course of one evening, now if you will please refrain from chatter, as I feel the greatest enjoyment from dancing can be done in silence so one may truly appreciate the music."
He cocked his eyebrow at that.
"As you wish Miss Swan, as you wish."
The dance continued on in a tense manner, with the only relief being at the end of the half hour, when I could return to my parents. Edward escorted me to the table then politely excused himself, citing the need to talk to his father.
The rest of the evening passed in much of the usual manner one would expect from a gathering of this kind. A new scandal arose when one of the young gentlemen disappeared along with a serving maid, and were discovered in the stables by some coachmen.
At some late hour, my father finally announced that we could return home for the evening, and I was very grateful for that.
The trip home was much faster than the trip there, with all of the excitement and anticipation for the ball having dissipated over the course of the evening.
When we returned home, I bid my parents a goodnight and clambered the stairs to my room. Angela had already lit some candles in there, and turned down my covers. It was pure bliss being able to sink into my bed. My mind briefly replayed the events of that evening, lingering on my unfortunate encounter with the highly disagreeable and unfortunately intolerable Lord Edward Masen.
As I drifted off to sleep I hoped I would not have to endure many more encounters with that horrid, insufferable man. Little did I know, I was hoping in vain.
-xxx-
Authors Note: Thank you for reading. If you have enjoyed the story and would like me to continue then please review. :) I sincerely apologise for any historical inaccuracies, and/or grammatical errors. I encourage you to point them out so that I may correct them. Cookies for anyone who can spot a minor Oscar Wilde reference. ;)
PS: If there are any words or concepts you are not familiar with then please let me know. :)