a.n/ Summary: Edward is the richest young man in New York City, and belongs to one of the original families. It's the early 1900's, and the city is thriving with woman who want to marry into these families.
Bella is a maid for one of the richest girls, Tanya Denali.
One day when Edward comes to visit Tanya, the maid catches his eye. He is concerned about her treatment under Tanya, and tries to take Bella from Tanya. Enraged, Tanya sells a story about Edward fooling around with Bella.
Soon, everyone comes to believe it, and Edward's family says the only way for the family to recover is to have Edward marry the maid.
Under the critical eye of all of New York's socialites, they must marry and love each other, but can Edward learn to love a shy young girl? And can Bella learn to believe a chaste and beautiful man?
Prologue
"Bella! I need my dress, it was supposed to arrive from Milan today!"
Tanya Denali, the most exquisite, and beautiful young lady in all of the city yells. She haled from the original families that discovered Manhattan island, and everyone knows that comes with instant fame.
Bella, a dark haired maid for this Tanya, scurried up the marble-grande staircase in the Denali's Park Avenue Mansion.
Tanya's evening gown is in hand, and protected. If Bella doesn't get it to Tanya very soon, all hell with surely break loose.
"I have it...right here." Bella huffed as she hangs it on the rack.
"Thank God! I thought you wouldn't hurry, you're so lazy..." Tanya rolled her eyes, held up her long strawberry blonde curls and motioned for Bella to get her dressed.
She pulled out the dress from it's covering, and lets her hand fall over the lilac chiffon tiers that fill the princess bottom. The top half is a corset set with Swarvoski crystals of all different shades of purple, the sleeves were also of light chiffon, and go to the elbow with lace overlay. "It's beautiful." Bella whispered under her breath.
"Um...what did you say?" Tanya shooted her steely gray eyes at her.
"Nothing. I'm sorry." Bella un-did the corset and slipped it over Tanya's head.
Usually when she ties a corset it leaves her to her thoughts, but today her head is filled with thoughts of wanting all of this. She lived in this house her whole life, and never ventured out. She always saw Tanya off to her balls and soirees. Bella's dreams seemed far away from reality, and nothing would ever happen to a maid. You were nothing if you weren't born into the original families. Society was centered all around these families. Bella read the columns everyday, and would lavish in thoughts of being one of those society girls. In the darkness of her attic room, she could day dream about a day where her name would be in the columns.
Tanya was awful, to say the least. Her family payed a lot to cover up all of the mishaps and scandals that surrounded her. Bella got to see that side of her that few but her family saw. Within the walls of her mansion, Tanya was a tyrant of sorts. She paraded around with her nose high in the air, and her fury not far behind. Once a servant from the kitchen accidentally spilled tea on her day dress, because Tanya had made the poor girl so nervous. She was about five, and Tanya slapped the girl across the face, and proclaimed her to be sent out to the streets.
Bella was horrified of her after that, and prayed for that little girl. In truth, Bella had seen it happen to other girls who were much younger than her. The girls would have to go work in a strangers house, so they were not a burden on their poor family. But no one had any hope on the gloomy and grimy streets on Manhattan.
Bella had a story similar to this, but hers was one she didn't like to think of often, because it left her sad and sorrowful.
"So...how do I look?" Tanya asked in a sharp and conceited tone. Bella looked up to her and she felt the jealousy in the pit of her stomach.
"Beautiful, as always." Bella curtsied and tried to head for the door. "If I am not of service, may I leave?"
"No, you must escort me down the staircase and announce my name when Edward comes." Tanya smiled, and turned to slip on her satin shoes.
"Yes, of course." Someone like Tanya didn't deserve any of this, but that was the beauty of being born into it. That's all society was and would ever be, if you were lucky enough to be born into the household name of someone worthy of jewels and riches, well you were set for life.
"I'm ready. Let's go, now!" Tanya said, as Bella stayed behind a second, looking out onto the warm spring day, as people rode around in their carriages. She sighed, and dreamed of being out there, instead of in here. "Come on, you pompous idiot of a girl!" She sneered once, before Bella followed behind Tanya and her lavish gown.
The one part she hated was announcing Tanya to her escort for the night. It made her nervous, and she blushed after every time she had to public speak. Bella hurried in front of her lady, and met the green eyes of the most beautiful man she would ever see. They locked eyes, and he smiled...kindly enough.
His cheekbones were most prominent, and his big eyes were lined by thick black lashes, he had that trademark aristocratic nose, and his copper-brown hair was a tousled heap on his head. Tanya bumped into Bella's heel as she stopped on the stairs.
"Ugh! You idiot! You about ripped my dress, how could you? To me, who has been so good to you?" She shrieked, her eyes bugging out of her head. Bella stepped back, and stumbled down the stairs. She closed her eyes and waited to feel the pain of the hard wood floor. Instead, two sturdy arms circled around her waist. She opened her eyes to lips by her ear, "Don't listen to her, you're fine." He released her, an amused smile on his perfect lips.
"Thank you, sir. I am extremely clumsy." Her voice was quiet, and she hurried up by her lady's side. Tanya didn't smile, she had no emotion on her face as Bella went back to her.
"Miss Tanya Elise Denali daughter of Mr. Theodore Denali, and Mrs. Catherine Yale Denali," Bella said in her loudest voice. Tanya descended the stairs, her dresses' train flowing behind her. Edward met her at the bottom, a forced smile on his face, took her arm and ushered her out the door into the sunset.
They both didn't even give Bella a parting glance. But, she was used to it, because no one of that caliber would ever notice a maid such as her.
a.n/ This wasn't the first chapter, that should be posted sometime this week. I know it's not like a usual prologue with all that cryptic, in your face dramatic stuff, but it's the start for the story. Please drop a review! And if you have any questions about anything, because it will get confusing later on just contact me on twitter jiselle_belle.