The Viscount and I

Summary: 19th century: Edward, the most popular bachelor, has to find a bride. Sounds easy, but it is far from it! One day, his mother forces him to attend an event of the ton (the high society of the 19th century) in hope to find an acceptable bride. No woman arouses his attention till he discovers one clumsy lady.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or any Twilight characters.

EPV

Mothers. Everywhere are mothers and their daughters, who are eager to find us - marriageable men with a good fortune and a title.

I am hiding in a corner and try to not attract any attention, watching the whole scenario.

It is the same as always: The aim of mothers is to get their daughter married come what may. So they introduce her to a marriageable man in hope to find the next son-in-law. They even ignore the man's attempt to avoid them.

The same procedure as every year! I would laugh if I wasn't one of the poor victims. Sometimes I hate being a viscount… the most wanted man here. Sounds great, but has obviously also negatives sides, which all possess two legs.

"Edward, there you are! Hiding in a corner again?" Emmett, my younger brother steps out of the crowd and comes towards me.

"Emmett, have you seen them with their hungry eyes? Even mother did not look like this when she tried to find a suitable husband for our sister. It is getting worse each time!"

"Oh come on, today the ladies are actually not that bad – wait!" A young woman goes past us, who is wearing a terrible green dress and having an unhealthy-looking posture and her face is looking as if a clown handled her makeup.

"Ok I take back my statement. That girl looks as if she ate a broom and afterwards fell into paint bucket. There are some creatures who I don't want to run across at night"

I chuckle, but he is right. Many of today's attending women are dressed up like the dress-salesperson wanted to sell his ugliest dresses first. "Don't they have any eyes? I really think that- "

"Viscount Cullen! What a surprise to meet you here. Do you know my wonderful daughter Tanya?"

Seeming to appear from nowhere, Mrs. Denali and her daughter approach me, while my brother escapes in time – damn it!

"Good evening, Mrs. Denali. No, I have not had the pleasures to meet your daughter. Good evening Ms. Denali." I take her daughter's hand and kiss it briefly.

"Well, I will drink something. You two can talk a bit", says Mrs. Denali and disappears into the crowd.

"So how long have you been in London?", I ask politely.

"A while".

"Do you like it here?"

"Yes, I do."

That has been the most exciting part of our conversation so I excuse myself and search for a new corner.

Suddenly I am surrounded by a new group of daughters and their naïve bored personalities. Their minds are full with keeping their body skinny and using the right fork at dinner. One could think of their behaviour that if they used the wrong fork for eating peas, they would end at the guillotine... Absolutely nonsense.

But can't they just leave me alone? Why does mother always force me to attend such events? I love her and I know I have to find a bride, who gives me an heir, but sometimes I want to – ugh I have no words!

After getting rid of the ladies, I go to the buffet before my stomach starts making loud noises. On my way to the noise-preventing help, a woman steps into my sight and I can't believe my eyes! Is she really trying to grab all the butter biscuits and hide them under her arm?

I hold back my laughter with a lot of effort. I don't even know her, but I like her already. Almost every woman here avoids the food as if it was poisoned, while she tries to take away everything!

I want to get to know her, so I make my way through the crowd and pretend to overhear the mothers and her daughters, who want to attract my attention. I could have reached the mysterious butter biscuit-lover in time, if there wasn't Mrs. Denali, who suddenly obstructs my passage.

Mrs. Denali – my current personal hell!

"Viscount Cullen, did you speak with my Tanya?"

"I did, but if you excuse me? I have to go-"

"No, wait a moment! Do you want to meet her again?"

"We will see. Excuse me." I bypass her and go straight to the buffet.

But the woman, I wanted to reach, is gone.

"Have you seen Denali's face? She is aghast! Did you show her your dark side?", Emmett chuckles, appearing from nowhere.

"Emmett, have you seen the brown haired woman at the buffet wearing a white dress? I wanted to talk with her but she is gone."

"Wait! Is our Edward interested in a woman? From HERE? Wow I did not believe that day will come. I should tell mom the day has arrived"

He already turned on the wheel, when I grabbed his sleeve. "Shut up, Emmett! Did you see her or not?"

"No, I am sorry but I think I can already see something different… little hearts in your eyes."

I leave him alone, not having the time to argue about my green eyes and start looking for her. When I surround the buffet, I suddenly see two or three butter biscuits lying on the floor of the next room, which she must have lost on her way. I follow the eatable trace and find my biscuit-lover standing on the terrace – alone, eating her prey.

I go outside and step next to her. When she turns her face towards me, I cannot hold it back anymore and I begin to laugh.

You would know why if you could see her…