Um, okay, NEW STORY! Yeah! Well, I just finished two stories, and I was only writing one, and then I got bored in math class one day. So I started to write some random stuff, that turned into my next story. Its going to be very different from my other fanfictions, but I love olden day stuff so it should be fun!
Disclaimer: Didn't own twilight in my other stories, and I still don't own twilight. Funny how it works that way.
Lady Isabella Swan, Swan Manor, 1840
In this world, there is something enexplainable. A prowling threat to civilization lurks in the shadowy places that most do not dare explore. For when the dark night settles over the land, and the shining moon gleams down with a sparkling glow, a most eerie wind howls through the night and swiftly shifts direction. It blows through trembling grass and stuttering trees to meet up at a place so fowl it reaks of danger. A lake surrounds the place with surprising silence, but do not be tricked into a false sense of safety. The calm water holds mysertious, deadly pasts not to be discovered. Spille, thick, red liquid floats near the shores to slowly spread and then settle until it too, has joined the secrets of the dark. Upon the lake, a looming shadow is a sight of monstrosity. The awakened castle, made of hard, cold stone that glitters on the night of the full moon, has a commanding presence. Inside the place holds terrifying chills, dungeons with stairs that wind down forever, and echoing footsteps. Yet as frightful as the castle may be, it is the creature inside that defies nature. For the fiend is friend to the devil, enemy to human kind, and a stunning mix of evil and bewitching charms. It is the worst myth that is unfortunately not a myth.
Lady Isabella Swan lowered the perilous book from her eyes and crossed her ankles in a most ladylike manner. What would her fashionable mother think, were she to read the dark story? If it could not be discussed in polite society, it wasn't a proper read, Isabella knew that. Such ideas and mannerism had been consistantly retold by her mother since birth. The expected, proper thing to do would be to hand the book to a servant with strict instruction to burn it. Then Isabella's mother would commend her for destorying the novel that had to be heresy, and give her a merry thing to enjoy instead. Or perhaps they could take the carriage into town to enjoy sweets, have a dress made, or watch a lovely opera. Better yet, Lady Isabella could go visit Countess Newton for afternoon tea, and speak with Lord Newton, who had been attempting to court her before her season even began.
Isabella fingered a dagger lying near her book. She examined the light glancing off of her blade for a second before giving it a curt nod.Then she took the edge to the spine of the book and cut of the front cover. She did the same thing with another book on the table, one about sweet little girls who obeyed their mothers and were the picture of modesty. Isabella switched the covers of the books, and stood up, glancing about for a maid.
One young girl, in a pristine white uniform, ran forward. She gave a stumbling curtsy to Lady Swan, who blushed and handed out a book with a dark, rather horrifying cover.
"It has come to my attention that this book is not suitable for a library with such a reputation. Please let this be known to my mother, her ladyship, and assure her that I did not commence reading when I discovered the awful truth of the matter. Perhaps she should burn it." Isabella suggested, as if a side thought, and folded a much nicer book, with a pretty blue sky on the cover, into her elbow.
The girl ran off and Lady Isabella blushed as she realized what she had just done, and then strolled away towards the garden. It was terribly nice outside, a lovely day for a stroll to get a breath of fresh air, and Isabella knew it would be a waste to be stuck inside on such a day.
The maids scrambled around her as she leisurely headed towards the gardens, thinking about the school girl prank she had pulled on her mother. It really wasn't very nice at all, and Lady Isabella wondered if she had gone too far. Still, the recommended material was dreadfully boring and childish, the type of thing that her good friend Miss Stanely might have enjoyed. Where as Isbella prefered something slightly more realistic, or at least with a real plot.
Just as she reached the great stone doors of her manor, they were burst open and the announcer began to shout out titles while a lady ran to Isabella with someone's card in her hand. Lady Isabella cursed her fowl luck while fashionable high heeled man's shoes clicked against the ground.
"Announcing Countess Newton and Lord Newton."
Isabella glanced once again at their card before bowing low to the imposing woman and her infatuated son. The Countess Newton had been a widow for many years, and had a spotless reputation as a respectible woman and a strict mother. Her youngest son, however, was rumored to not have the same demanding upbringing as his brothers. He was spoiled and as a result, the only one not married.
The other rumors were that the reason that Lord Newton could not marry, despite his title and position, was not that he didn't have a girl that would accept his proposal of marriage, but that he was in love with one girl that did not love him back. It was poor Lady Isabella that he was rumored to love, and she barely hid the fact that her affection for him did not run as deep.
"Lady Isabella Swan." Countess Newton said, as Isabella curtsyed, "How lovely to see you."
"You as well, Countess." Isabella replied, still in a deep curtsy, and speaking in a hushed tone.
The Countess smiled her usual hard, emotionless smile, "Is Lady Swan here? We were to have tea this afternoon. I do hope she has not forgotten?"
Isabella answered, "She has not, Countess. I believe the servants are preparing the tea currently. I apologize for the wait, but perhaps you should like to join me for refreshments in the parlour?"
Lord Newton looked severely enthusiastic about the invitation, while the Countess agreed with a severe nod and followed Lady Isabella to the spacious and airy palour. Isabella offered them all drinks, and poured two generous glasses of whisky for her guests and a smaller one for herself.
She sipped at the drink while making small talk with the Countess and Lord Newton. At long last, her lady mother joined them, breathless and yet collected in her dress. The Lady Swan joined in the conversation until a servant appeared to inform them all that their tea was ready.
Then she turned to Isabella and Lord Newton, "It is such a lovely day. Perhaps you two could take a walk in the garden." she suggested.
Isabella politely agreed, and let her mother find a chapperone for the two during their walk. Then she submitted herself to the torture that Lord Newton presented. He stopped them before they even got outside.
"Why, Lady Isabella!" he exclaimed, daring to use her Christian name, "You aren't wearing a hat! We shouldn't want you to be flushed from the heat outside. Send for a maid to retrieve you one." he ordered.
Isabella scowled, but did as he bid. When at last a maid handed her a wide pale pink hat to match her dress, she tied up the ends under her chin and strolled out, barely waiting to take Lord Newton's arm. He began his usual pompous discussion about his achievements in his studies, and experiences in his gentlemen's club. Isabella was utterly bored.
"What a fascinating story!" she interrupted after an agonizing tale about drinking too much brandy, "
You have such a gift for story telling, Lord Newton."
He grinned, "Thank you. My mother tells me that I constantly go on."
Isabella feigned shock, "Not at all, Lord Newton."
Lord Newton cleared his throat, "Please, Isabella, call me Michael. We are much too familiar with each other to continue using titles."
"Oh, I couldn't. It would be much too forward of me." she replied, barely paying attention to the conversation.
He scoffed, "I was actually hoping to ask you a slightly forward question. You see Lady Swan, Isabella, I was rather hoping you would accept my hand in holy matrimoly."
Isabella was finally brought to present time, and she gasped in shock, trying to think of a way to refuse, "Why, Lord Newton, I am awfully flattered. But the thing is, you see, that I fear for my reputation if such a bonding were to take place. As deeply fond I am of you, it wouldn't be right for me to marry yet. I haven't even been presented during my season yet. It is known to be scandelous for a woman to marry before her season, it suggests she might have certain reasons for rushing marriage, and my repuation is so very important to me. Perhaps we could discuss this situation sometime in the future. After my season; perhaps?"
Lord Newton looked horrified, "I- yes, of course! I should never have suggested it. Of course we must wait until after your season, my dear Isabella."
She smiled at the thought of postponing, but knew that she needed a reason to object to the marriage after her season. In truth, Lady Isabella Swan didn't have any plans to marry anybody. She was quite content with her single status at home.
The walk became slightly uncomfortable, and they ended it to join their mothers at tea. Lord Newton didn't bring the subject up anymore, and then the Swans were sying good-bye to their guests and freshening up for dinner.
Lady Swan took one look at her daughter staring in horror after their guests, and chuckled knowingly, "He asked you for marriage, didn't he, my dear?"
Isbaella didn't look towards her mother, "Yes, he did."
Sensing that Isabella didn't want to furthur discuss it, she changed the conversation, "I am very pleased that you had the sense to hand me that book today, my daughter. I had it burned."
To her surprise, Lady Isabella laughed quietly, and then made her way up to her room.