AN: Twilight by Stephenie Mayer. I dont own anything.

True Love Way: 19th cent. Isabella Swan a Parlour maid is sent off to serve at the Cullen Household after the disaster slaughter of the Voltuouri family she worked for. As an experienced Parlour maid Isabella has controlled emotion when serving. Her masters Son seems to be breaking that. Serving and assisting Edward Cullen is like a salt in an open wound, even though he's dangerously beautiful. How can she focus on her job?


England, 1876

Bella glanced onwards the house she served in. Aro, Dmitri, Alec and Jane were all perished. She the Parlour Maid was the only one left alive after the brutal murder. She was out on a earn when it happened. The whole family was slaughtered, and she wasn't there but left to deliver a message to a cousin of Aro's. As she came back she found all of them lying cold dead as a trail of blood flowed to the tip of her shoe. She didn't even recognise her piercing scream as she looked at the family that sheltered her and grew up with. A cold shiver passed through her body as always when the memory played in her head. Covering her face with her hands Bella tried to shake the dreadful memory away. The house was passed on to the nearest relative, as she was still legally under Aro's command she too was in the new hands of the Cullen family.

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BPOV

Being a Parlour maid didn't just involve serving wine to people. It required a great amount of personal sacrifice. Your needs were never first but your master's needs was crucial. Being trained for years, sacrifice was as simple as breathing to maids. A truthful tongue and a humble eye were required of female maids. You could only speak if you were directly questioned or given the chance to. Isabella Swan had no defaults about being a maid. If it wasn't for the maid scouting in the market place, i would still be roaming the city or worse even be dead!

Nothing prepared me as the carriage made its way into a huge lawn gate and into the property of her new master's home. The house was incredibly big and looked more of a palace instead. Swallowing hard as the Carriage came to a halt. What seemed like the workers were there to greet her. A tall tan man with long black hair to his shoulders, the girl's outfit was of the cook, her hair was back into a bun and beside her stood a young boy.

"Welcome lady Swan to the Cullen house, my name is Jacob Black; this is Angela Webber and Seth Clearwater. I'm glad you've joined the team" Jacob's words seemed to ease the tension sending the younger boy running for my bag which caused a small chuckle from both Jacob and Angela.

"Please call me Bella; it's a pleasure to work in this big palace!" Looking at the size of the back door itself was amazing. Sensing my amazement Angela smiled.

"You should see the inside, it's even better; Esme did an amazing job at it!" Angela gently pulled Bella along the back door and into the kitchen. Seth who she learnt was Jacobs's helper took her bag up the back through the corridors.

"Don't worry he's taking your bag into your room, all workers stay in the back rooms." Taking my hand and continued to guide me through another set of doors. "This is the dining room, usually for when the family eats and sometimes Master Carlisle invites us workers for a drink or two even!" Looking around the room, a long table was set in the middle. Behind, a portrait of a couple was set behind. The man had bright gold hair with pale skin. His hands were joined with a beautiful woman with brown hair. Seeing my curious glance Angela nodded at the portrait's significance.

"That's Carlisle and Esme Cullen, that's who we're working for. They have three children as well. Edward their eldest, Emmett and their only daughter Alice Cullen. Nice family, treats us fairly, feeds us and talks freely to us. Here you can look at their family portrait" Angela pointed to the smaller one on the opposite wall. If i wasn't awe struck with the house, the people who owned the property were even more beautiful. Behind Carlisle and Esme were their children. A petite girl had a light blue dress that flowed from her waist down. She had what looked like silk gloves neatly on her hand. Her hair was up with an elegant plait. Behind her stood the tallest out of the bunch, with curly brown hair and a wide grin on his face. All were beautiful but who caught my eye was the male with green eyes. He wasn't smiling like the other but had an annoyance all over his face. He wore a black coat together with his long dark breeches tucked into his boots. We both staring at the portrait didn't realise anyone else was in the room.

"He's beautiful, isn't he?" A voice from behind said. Without taking notice I kept staring at the picture.

"Yes he is" I whispered moving closer towards the family portrait.

Without realising what I had said, I was startled when i heard a laugh from behind. I suddenly turned to meet the boy in the portrait. His hair was wild and nothing I had seen in a man. His green eyes were laughing back staright at me. I could feel my cheeks burn as he chuckled. Beside me Angela sighed before she spoke.

"Pardon us Edward, I was just showing Isabella around the house. She's a transfer maid from the Voloutri family and will be Alice's Parlour maid" Angela didn't look sorry but stared back at Edward.

"Well don't pardon me, I'm happy for you to stare at me anytime, Maybe I can order Jacob for your own personal copy in your room. Isabella? Is it?" Edward said before bowing. Once again chuckling at our expressions.

"Don't worry I don't think I'll be able to sleep, with you staring at me from the wall" This caused Angela to gasp and a startled look from Edward. Even I was surprised at my own words. No maid would talk to anyone at the household like I just had. If my cheeks weren't blushing then I think it was completely burning. I have never spoken freely to anyone in a household I worked for risking my own safety and my chances of a home. Breaking the silence I bowed regretting my behaviour.

"Forgive me my lord, I didn't mean to sharply talk" I said avoiding his gaze. My face was still burning.

With his startled look, he chuckled.

"Now I'm not that old to be your lord" He said shaking his head before walking out. "Oh and Angela? My mother sent for both of you. Isabella? You're required at my parents study." He said before glancing again at me before walking out the dining room.

I finally let my breath out once he was out of sight.

"No one has ever commented back to Edward snide comments before" Angela said completely taking me by surprise and hugging me.

"I'm surprised he forgot to slap me in the face" I said still shocked at what happened. "I've never broke the conduct of being a house maid before" I murmured as Angela look at me like she had been granted her freedom.

"Boy, have I been waiting for someone to give Master Edward his own medicine. You have no idea what I have been putting up with. If it wasn't for Esme and Carlisle's friendly home I would be out of this place rather living in the streets then be tormented by Edward. And what's even better is that you're a MAID!" Angela said releasing her tight embrace.

"Well I hope I won't be thrown out of this house myself anytime soon, if Lord Edward keep making those comments" I said as Angela lead me into the study to meet my new Masters. Great, I'll be serving Edward who had a bighead and to make it worse. I think I just made it bigger hearing me say I said he was beautiful. Maybe living on the streets was an option. Sighing i made my way through the wooden doors that said "Cullen study".

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The room I was given was bigger than the one I had in the Volturi house and bigger than the one my parents had when I was a child. It was a long day meeting the Cullen's was an exhausting task, more tiring then scrubbing the floor at Aro's house. Unexpectedly Carlisle and Esme both welcomed me with open arms. This morning I was greeted by the tall and curly hair man which happened to be Emmett Cullen. Gathering me in the air and giving me a bear hug. Stunned, I was then half tackled by Carlisle and Esme's only daughter. I have never in my life been treated like this at any of my Master's household. Gentling laughing Esme saw my discomfort.

"Children, please I'm sure there is more time for you two to get to know Bella. Excuse them Bella they're always excited when a new staff member joins the household. We're all family here" Carlisle smiled holding his wife's hands. All seemed excited except Edward who seemed unexcited about my arrival. Leaning against the tall wooden frame of the window, he smirked as he met my gaze.

"Of course, there's a lot of time to get to know Bella, Isn't there Emmett? Alice?" Edward said looking more startled as my cheeks blushed at his comment. This caused everyone to laugh at my embarrassment.

Shaking my head back into the present, I lumped down on the soft bed finally taking a break from meeting the Cullen's. I have never met a family who treated their Parlour maid as a long lost friend! Maybe working for them was harder than any other family I would be serving for. Working for the Volturi family was significantly different. One mistake meant a slap or even a beating if I wasn't careful with my tongue. I was a maid and I was meant to serve, without serving I would not have a home. It meant that I would have to do anything I was told. Living under the command of Aro and his family was difficult but it's what came with the job. Gently tracing the scars on my forearm I winced at the memory of living at the Volturi house.

A knock at the door startled me as I quickly pulled the sleeve down covering my scars.

"Bella, it's me Seth I've got something from Master Edward" His voice was muffled as I opened the door. Stumbling in with a large portrait he sat it on the floor heavily breathing. "Edward said I have to hang it on the wall and he said he won't take no for an answer" Seth pulled out the stall and hung the portrait on the wall. If it wasn't for the candle light on the draw I don't think Seth could how bright my blush had gone. My teeth gritted and hands clenched tightly. Seth climbed back down before handing me a piece of paper. "Oh and this is also for you" He said looking back at the portrait before bidding me goodnight. I looked at the note.

I hope you have a good night's sleep,

Enjoy the BEAUTIFUL portrait of my family.

Edward Cullen.

I looked back at the portrait; there stood the same portrait in the dining room. I can't believe he actually sent a copy fo it! Maybe getting thrown out wasn't bad after all. All i had to do was to speak with them head on. Hell! he thought this was funny! Looking back at the family portrait I swear his eyes were laughing at me. Yes it was going to be VERY good night's sleep.


Please review. Open for crt. Let me know how you feel and if i should carry on with the story...

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GOD bless. x