I don't own twilight

England 1817

Spring was upon them and all Lady Isabella Swan or Bella as she preferred to be called, wanted to do was go outside and curl up under the tree by the pond with a book in her hand. Instead she was stuck in the house as her mother instructed all the servants in the packing of their trunks. So they could head to what Isabella could only deem as torture. Or what was called in polite society as the London season. Where Bella and would be presented at court and officially be on the marriage mart. Bella scrunched up her nose at the very thought.

"Isabella Marie Swan." Lady Renee Swan Countess of Lakton snapped at her youngest daughter.

"What Mama?" Bella sighed.

"Where is your head, you seem to be woolgathering over there instead of helping me make sure everything is ready for our trip tomorrow. You know ow important all of this is, this is your big debut. We have so many errands to run when we get to town. The modiste must be seen. Gowns commissioned and we have so little time." Lady Laketon fanned herself Bella just rolled her eyes at her mother's overdramatic ways.

Bella knew this was all a vain endeavor. She wasn't pretty, she was plain. Both she and her mother knew she'd be a wall flower of the first water. She being forced to go through this foolish exercise for two reasons. One it was expected that she do it as the daughter of an Earl. She had to make a good match or it would look bad for her family. Oh the shame of a spinster daughter. Of course no one cared she was only eighteen. And nowhere near the shelf yet but the faster she was married off the better in her mother's eyes.

The second reason was that her elder brother was looking for a wife this season. Which meant the family had to look shiny as a new diamond. A sister who preferred to be locked away in the country over the dazzling ball rooms of London wasn't the best advertisement.

"Yes Mama I realize we have a lot to do but Minnie has already packed what I need and the rest like you said will have to be commissioned. Most of my clothes I wear around the estate are not suitable for London." As her mother had remained her time and again. Bella thought once again wishing this whole ordeal could be over.

Before anymore could be said on the subject. Bella's older brother Emmett or as Society knew him Viscount Deston came strolling into the room. His eyes twinkling in the way they always did and in which Bella usually enjoyed but not today, today she just found it maddening.

"What's all the fuss about, all the servants look like they are going in circles and when I said Hello to Chivers earlier he about jumped out of his skin. Now Mama you're not scaring the help again are you? You know how hard it is to find good servants anymore." He looked over and winked at Bella who just pursed her lips and scowled.

"Now, now baby sister why such the dour mood. Shouldn't you be floating around on a cloud simpering about all the eligible men you'll be meeting in the coming weeks?"

She wanted to snap at him that no she shouldn't and he knew her better than that but she bit her tongue looking over at her mother who was giving her that look, the one that said young lady you better walk the line.

"Is there anything else you need mama?" she asked instead. Better to play the dutiful daughter and let her mother think she actually cared about all the pomp and circumstance then deal with the fall out of the truth. Plus as much as she hated the thought of being presented she loved her brother and wouldn't want anything to ruin his chances at a good match.

"No, no clearly your mind is elsewhere to day, I don't know what I shell ever do with you Ella will help me finish the packing you may go."

Bella almost dashed out of the room but one look at Emmett's smirking continuance she slowed her pace to the sedate stroll that was expected of the daughter of an earl. She slipped up the grand stairs and into the family wing. Once inside her room she breathed a sigh of relief. She loved it here at Northum all the Swan family seat she didn't love it in town though. Or maybe she wasn't being fair. She'd never really been there but she had meet many of the past debutants at such things as house parties and family get togethers. She knew she didn't fit into their sparkling world. It was only her blood that got her in. She didn't think it would be enough. She shook her head as she checked over her things once more knowing that her mother would have them in the carriage and on the road to London at near first light. After being sure that everything was in order she sat down at her desk to record the day's happenings in her diary.

3rd of March 1817

My last day of freedom, though really could it be called freedom being stuck inside all day preparing to go to Town. I don't wat to go, Oh how I wish I was but seventeen and could put tis off. Or that Emmett hadn't decided that this year was the perfect year to find himself a wife. I think there is something behind that decision but I have not asked. I am not so sure I want to know the answer to that.

I want to be a dutiful daughter and sister I do, but I don't want to be some Lord's wife. I don't want to just be seen as a piece to the puzzle of wealth. I have a good family name. my blood is aristocratic I get that, but does that mean I need to give up everything about myself to mold into the perfect society wife. In the end I guess what I want does not matter. The pressures of society are too much for any lady to defeat.

Signed Lady Isabella Swan

She closed the book and stashed it away in the bag she'd have with her in the carriage. She wouldn't want that book to fall into anyone else's hands. She yawned and stretched. That was another thing she would have to adjust too. She was used to country hours. How would she fair in the setting of Town hours falling into bed way after the stroke of Midnight. Dancing into the wee hours of the morning.

Dancing she cringed just to think about it. She was sure there would be a few bruised toes on that dance floor when she was done with it. She pulled the bell string next to her and waited for Minnie to come help her out of her dress.

"Miss are you ready for bed?" Minnie breezed through the door in that practiced way of hers.

"Yes Minnie, if you would please."

"Of course miss." Minnie went behind her and undid her buttons and then the stays on her under garments.

"Are you all ready to go tomorrow Minnie?"

"Yes Miss. It will be most exciting to go to London I've never been you know." Bella just smiled at the girl who was her maid but still a friend or at least Bella would hope she could be Friends with Minnie but she knew that was unrealistic being Friendly with the servants was one thing being Friends that was a line that Bella tried to toe very carefully.

As she shed her dress and pulled on her nightgown she sat at her vanity pulling the pins from her hair and grabbing her brush. "Thank you Minnie you may retire for the night."

"Right miss." Minnie gave a bow before leaving the room one candle burning. Bella finished brushing out her hair and braided it before slipping into bed and blowing out the candle. She was sure it would be a restless night.

As his sister slept and his mother frantically tried to pack everything they might ever need. Emmett Swan Lord Dunston sat in the library a glass of brandy at his side and a book abandoned on his lap. He picked up the brandy and swirled it in the glass. He knew Bella was dreading going to town, going through a season. He also knew his mother was making her go because of him. He felt bad for it. He did. He could tell his mother that it wasn't necessary that the women he wanted wouldn't care. That if anything he'd be saving her but then his mother would most likely forbid him from trying to make an alliance with the family of the women he wanted most.

Oh it wasn't that she was of bad blood. No in fact her blood was even more impeccable then his. The issue was her father's debt. Her father was a Marquess that much was true but his coffers were near bare and Emmett knew it was taking all his heir had to hold the family together since the father had pretty much checked out.

Emmett knew all this, it was a well-known secret in the ton. He also knew that that he wanted Lady Rosalie Hale more than anything. This would be her second season and by all purposes she should be a diamond of the first water, and in a way she was. Her dances were always taken. She was always given attention but the only men who wanted her hand were those trying to up their own family name such as new money merchants. The Lords of the Ton didn't want her because she her dowry was spent and no matter how pretty she was dowry's meant a lot to the ton. Especially since many of the Lords of the ton were hardly keeping their own coffers full. The ones who didn't need the money didn't want the connection to sully their good name or have to take on a father in laws. Debts. Emmett didn't care about all that thought. He wanted Lady Rosalie for herself not for what she could bring to the marriage. Now he just needed to convince her of that very matter.

He also had to keep his mother away from the gossip, which is why Bella was convenient. With his mother so preoccupied with Bella's coming out she wouldn't have time for all the usual gossip with the society matrons. He had to make his mother fall in love with Lady Rosalie and then hope that her name would be enough for his mother.

He had picked a road to matrimony that was filled with nothing but obstacles and he wasn't sure how he'd reach the finish line. He drained his glass leaving it empty on the side table before he took himself off to bed, calling his man servant to help him change before finally slipping into bed and counting down the days, and hours before he could see Lady Rosalie again.

Two siblings on the brink of new life. One prepared for the other fighting it all the way. Would Happily ever after be in either of their futures only time would tell.

A/N So what do you think? So you know what Bella and Emmett are up too and you've heard about Rosalie's life, next up they are headed to London were Charlie is and Bella just may meet a few new friends. I looked up a bunch about London seasons during this time, and I'll try to be accurate to the time period. But all please do remember that it is fan fiction and I may tweak a few things.