AN: Not a work of genius but hopefully good enough to want to read. This chapter is just an introduction really.
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer is the genius behind Twilight and I don't own anything that is recognizable e.g. brands.
Chapter 1: Going Home
Looking out the window I thought the morning sky was a nice representation of my life; dull, empty and seemingly endless. To an outsider it would seem I had it all- wealth, looks and houses all over the globe.
The villa in Malaga, the town houses in Venice and Paris, the penthouse apartments in New York and Sydney. Not to mention the numerous country estates located across the UK. It was to the family home, Shrewsbury Manor, which I returned to now.
As the plane soared over the ocean I reflected on the time I had spent in Italy staying with my friend Rosalie in Venice, preferring not to stay at the townhouse on my own. Rose was the latest supermodel and in great demand by big name designers all over the globe.
However she had given it all up when she married her husband Emmett, a member of the Italian aristocracy. Her title of Countess Rosalie McCarthy-Hale was her only redeeming factor in the eyes of people like my parents, who believed the career and life of a model was incredibly 'déclassé'. A tall, blonde air hostess interrupted my thoughts.
'Your Grace we will be landing shortly I must ask you to reconnect your seatbelt before touchdown' she said in a clipped British accent, not dissimilar to my own.
I nodded my acknowledgement, and sighed as I realised I would soon be back in England and would have to return to my manner of aloof and distant to maintain the appearance that I had carefully cultivated over my 23 years.
Nearly an hour later I was standing outside the gate entrance at Manchester airport. Baggage claim had been a nightmare and I had to wait for nearly thirty minutes for luggage to come round the carousel- now my cases were being loaded into the black Rolls Royce that I always used while at home.
One of my favorite chauffeurs was driving today so I flashed him a rare genuine smile as I entered the luxury car, the door of which he had already opened for me.
For the duration of the journey I simply stared out of the tinted windows as I watched the landscape change from inner city tower blocks to rolling hills and the occasional country estate.
As we approached Shrewsbury Manor my driver, Andrew, looked in his rear view mirror and began to talk to me with the respect I had come to expect, but not enjoy, from those people who were deemed a 'lower class' than myself.
'Miss Swan, your parents asked me to inform you that there will be a social event tonight in recognition of your return.'
I sighed quietly and I thought I saw a brief look of sympathy flash across his eyes before he continued.
'Unfortunately the Duke and Duchess already have appointments this afternoon so they will speak to you tonight.'
By this time we had driven up the ridiculously long drive through the parkland and arrived at the main door.
'Thank you, Andrew. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day.' I replied simply before exiting the car and making my way up the steps into the entrance hall.
I nodded to the maid that was cleaning the gilt mirror across from the staircase before climbing to the second floor passing the first floor that held my parents rooms including their studies and those of their assistants.
The ground floor housed the kitchens and all the social rooms including a ballroom, a formal dining room and lounge as well as a wrought iron conservatory recently added to the pool room.
Reaching the second floor I looked around at what I informally called 'Bella's Floor', mainly dedicated to my lounge, bedroom, bathroom, dressing room, study and private library with the exception of one of the numerous guest rooms that often accommodated any of my friends that stayed with us.
