Disclaimer: I do not own twilight or Emma :(

Hi!!! This story is based on Emma by Jane Austin. When the writing is in italics it's the narrators POV but normal writing is Bella's POV. It's set about 1800 and something. :)

The Matchmaker's Mistake

Isabella Swan was born to a rich family. To a father, who always feared the worst and to a carefree mother, whose beautiful face and radiant smile Bella would not remember. For one day the worst did happen. When the coffin lid was pulled over her mother, Bella was only four. And as her father watched his wife be carried away, he vowed never to let his daughters out of his sight, unless under the careful eye of their governess, Esme Platt. So the sun continued to shine brightly over Bella.

But other children in Warwick were not so fortunate.

Young Emmett McCarty's world was turned upside down.

"I will take the child, Mr. McCarty. For the sake of my foolish sister." The woman slid her arm around little Emmett, taking him away from his grieving father and lifeless mother. "But he will live with me, always."

Mr. Whitlock waved his son goodbye, his smile masking the sorrow to the clueless boy.

And small Rosalie Hale's life would never be the same after her Aunt fell on hard times.

"She will be fine, Mr. Churchill will feed her, care for her, educate her and do everything we cannot." Miss. Lloyd told her elderly mother, trying to make the grim situation some what better.

"But Louisa left her to us! I cannot bear it!" The frail woman protested, waving her thin arms around.

"We will have to leave this house soon, she will be better off. We promised we would do our best for Rosalie, this is the best."

"Remember Rosalie, write to us as often as you can, you shall become wonderful at everything. Mr Churchill is not frightening." The ladies bid Rosalie goodbye watching her ride of, perched on the mans knee.

So Rosalie and Emmett's were forced to leave Warwick behind, leaving their fate in strangers' hands. Whilst Bella stayed comfortably at home, playing with her dolls. With very little to distress her, for many years to come.

~*~

I sighed sitting on the chair. It was Monday, the day Miss. Lloyd and her mute mother came over. She droned on and on about Rosalie Hale. Reading her stunning letters. Rosalie has been to the seaside you know… Rosalie is playing the piano for Mr. Churchill's guests… Rosalie, Rosalie, Rosalie!

"Did I tell you how well Rosalie plays, Miss. Platt?" She enquired this particular day. "And she speaks French like a native! Although, I'm not sure that's such a sensible thing…-"

"I'm going to ask Mr. Cullen to teach me Chinese!" I interrupted. Rosalie was better than me at everything, it's natural for me to be a bit jealous. The eyes in the room turned to me, each with their own looks. "Do you think Rosalie can read Chinese?"

"I'm- I'm sure she could. I thought it was backwards… I'm sure Rosalie can accomplish anything. Did I tell you she's half way through her list of around 100 titles! 100…" I nodded, scowling slightly.

~*~

I yawned. Page 3. Is that it?

"I suppose you've come to tell me off about the Chinese." I told him, feeling his unusual presence enter the room. Mr. Cullen, Edward, has a certain vibe to him.

"Yes, I've heard of that." He chuckled, leaning against the door frame. Edward, about five years older than my perfect seventeen-year-old self, had unusual bronze hair, that although not the fashion, was messy and un-combed. He had beautiful emerald green eyes, just like his brother, Martin, who if I had my way would marry my sister, Harriet, soon. "I'm sure Miss. Lloyd wasn't upset, but you should be-"

"More kind to her! Yes, yes! I know, Miss. Platt keeps telling me also. Because it's such a terrible thing. Rosalie is an orphan and Miss. Lloyd is just doing best for her. I do try to be nice, but she's so boring! And Rosalie writes to her Aunt every week and gains at least eight accomplishments in that time! How come I can't?"

"What are you doing?" He said, ignoring my question and peering over my shoulder.

"I have compiled a list of books to read; One hundred and One titles." I smiled proudly, handing my list over to him.

"Impressive… Are you actually going to read all of these books?"

"Yes! I've already started, see."

"Ah, Page 3, what a miraculous achievement." He smiled, sarcastically. Miss. Platt, Esme, stood up laughing and looked out the window, whilst Edward did the same but with a carefree look, a rare occurance, on his face. I stood, closing the book, to see what all the fuss was about.

Martin was chasing Harriet around the garden, looking like an immature child. She held her dress up, giggling.

"I hear wedding bells." I smiled, picking up the too wedding dolls from my windowsill.

"Oh, please!" Edward sighed, "there is no way my brother and your sister are to be married any time soon."

"We'll just see about that." I said smugly, forcing the dolls together behind me back.

~*~

"I, Harriet Swan, take thee, Martin Cullen, to be my lawfully wedded husband." Martin and Harriet stood at the alter.

"My little girl… London! It might as well be the moon!" Father whispered, his eyes sad. I turned to face Edward, who sat behind us in the church. I stuck my tongue out.

"It's just a lucky guess."

"Nothing lucky about it. Just spectacular talent and intuition. Alright…" I whispered gazing around the crowded church, "Who will be next?"

~*~

"The years may pass, and the seasons change." The vicar, Jacob Black, read. I gazed around the church once again, looking for my next project. I saw Mr. McCarty looking our way. Well, he was defiantly not looking at father or me so he must be looking at Esme. I nudged her with my elbow.

"What?" She whispered. I signalled over to Mr. McCarty, the town doctor. She blushed.

"More weddings to come." I told Edward, turning around.

"No Bella, this time you are extremely wrong."

~*~

"I, Carlisle McCarty, take thee, Esme Platt."

"Two to Bella, none to Edward." I smiled at him, who was sitting in Esme's usual place.

"You must stop this matchmaking, Bella!" Father scolded, "She has been with us for seventeen years! And would have stayed here until she died!"

"Father, she has the most wonderful future ahead of her now! A husband she loves, a large house! And maybe even a family..."

"Mother's die."

"Congratulation Esme!" I applauded giving her a hug, careful not to ruin her pretty dress.

"Oh Bella!" She sobbed. "I am so happy! This is the most perfect wedding! Thank you so much Bella! Look at the flowers, and the outfits and that extremely large cake!"

"Cake!" Father shouted, appalled. "No, no cake!"

"Yes, cake, father. You would not wish to appear un-generous!"

"Un-generous, me?!"

"That is why there must be cake."

"But cake is bad for you, especially the young."

"Unfortunately, Emmett could not make it."

"Oh, what a shame, I was very looking forward to meeting him. I believe he does it to increase his mysteriousness. It can only keep us ladies wondering until he does return." I turned away from Esme and Dr. McCarty.

Although, she would never admit it to anyone, Bella felt, just for one moment, a strange sensation, that maybe through her own endeavours she was about to loose something that may never be recovered.

"No, no, go away."

"But Grandfather!" The children, Annie, George and James, protested. Father shooed them away.

"Father, the children our allowed to eat the cake!"

"Bella, dear, they our most definitely not."

"I shall miss you."

"But Bella, I am just down the road, I am sure we shall see each other often." Esme told me.

"I know it's just- I really will miss you. Goodbye!" I shouted watching the carriage pull away.

"Now Bella, no more matchmaking, this house cannot stand another departure."

"Your father is right, Miss. Swan." Miss. Lloyd agreed. "This is a large empty old house now it's just you and you're father, a ghost house! I wonder how you shall be able to sleep at night! I'm sure mother and I are so very please our little house is so warm and cosy, no space to be lonely. Well then, what a happy day we've had, I'm sure Rosalie would have loved it. Don't you think?" She muttered, wheeling the old woman away.

~*~

"Miss. Cope, you have such a lovely school. If Rosalie had not had the fortune of staying with the Churchill's, I always say this school would be the best, don't I always say? What with it's beautiful gardens and fine classes." Miss. Lloyd droned on to Miss. Cope the owner of the school.

"Who is that, Miss. Cope?" I asked, motioning to a girl with short black hair, sitting near the pond fiddling with the hem of her dress.

"Who? Oh, that is Alice Brandon, one of most popular borders. She has been coming here all her life because of some donations by a mysterious wealthy source."

"Do come for supper at my house on Tuesday, Miss. Cope, and bring Miss. Brandon, if you could."

~*~

"I'm so sorry I was delayed Miss. Swan. I was on business of the one person with higher regard than you," Mr. Black sat on the chair opposite Edward.

"Who's business?" Alice piped up in her chirpy, soprano voice. Miss. Cope whispered in her ear. "Oh," she seemed to understand, "God's business." She blushed, looking embarrassed.

"Alice will be joining me next week when I go to visit the poor, Mr. Black."

"Bravo."

We began our first course; soup. As people around the room began to dip their spoons in the bowls I noticed Alice. She was doing it all wrong! She looked at me for a moment, I shook my head. I dipped my spoon in the correct way and she copied me. I nodded. I've found a new friend.

~*~

"Don't worry Alice, you are doing extremely well, for a beginner!" I told her, as we carried baskets of fruit and vegetables for the poor. She smiled, before waving and running up to them.

"Hello, Mr. Whitlock." She practically sang, bouncing up and down.

"Why, hello, Miss. Brandon, fancy seeing you here! I trust you are well."

"Very well indeed, this is my friend Miss. Swan. Did you manage to find the book I recommended?"

"Sadly I did not, but I have asked my sisters to keep an eye out for it. Well I best be off, I hope to see you again soon." He smiled, kissing her hand before walking the way we had just come.

"Who was that?" I questioned.

"Just my friend, Jasper Whitlock, who's family I spent such a happy summer with. He is oh-so charming, a proper gentleman." We'll have to find her someone else, Mr. Black maybe, they would be a magnificent pair.

~*~

Mr. Black leant over my shoulder, looking at my painting.

"Splendid, just splendid." He mused. "I like what you've done."

"Why thank you, Mr. Black. But what do you think of Alice's?"

"Umm… I shall go look at it if it makes you happy, Miss. Swan." He walked over to her, looking intensely at her painting.

"Good day, Miss. Swan, Miss. Brandon." He shouted after a moment, before fetching his horse to leave.

"So, what did he say?" I ran over to her. Her painting, of the same scene as mine, was a mess. Although, I shall not tell her that.

"He said it was beautiful." Wow, he must really love her.

~*~

"Miss. Swan! Miss. Swan!" I saw Alice running towards the house, waving a letter in her hand. "Look, Bella! Look!" She pushed the letter into my hand. "It is a proposal from Jasper Whitlock! At least I thought it was… It is a very good letter! Is it not? What should I do?"

"Well you must reply as soon as possible."

"What should I write?"

"Alice, the letter must be all your own wording, so that you let him down as gently as possible."

"Oh, you think I should refuse."

"You were going to accept?"

"No. Well, um, yes. I don't know Miss. Swan! Help me!"

"Here write this."

~*~

"What did you do?!" Edward shouted, slamming the door behind him.

"What do you mean?"

"Alice Brandon would not refuse Jasper Whitlock with out your influence!"

"It was all her own decision! And I am sure neither of them where hurt! Alice is as happy as ever!"

"Jasper on the other hand! I have never seen a man so depressed!"

"Well, there are much better suitors for Alice!"

"He is far her superior! Illegitimacy and ignorance to be married to a respectable farmer!"

"Why should the child pay for the wrong doing of their parents?!"

"Bella, we live in the real world where children do pay for the mistakes of their parents! You encouraged her to think above her station! She was as happy as possible with the Whitlock's in the summer! He would not have proposed if he did not think she favoured him, you should have not encouraged her!"

"Well then, let us, as you say, live in the real world were men always reject a girl with a pretty face for one with an informative mind. Mark my words, Alice can pick and choose. She is at the very beginning of her life, why should she accept the first offer she receives? There are plenty of better suitors like Mr. Black for instance."

"That man is so full of himself and wouldn't even choose Alice if she was the last woman in the world! I believe you're love of matchmaking means you have more to do with this than you suggest."

"That is why you are annoyed! I gave my advice, you gave yours and mine prevailed but you do not want to admit it." With that he left the house. I sat down and sighed.

"Is Mr. Cullen not staying for supper?"

A/N: That comment at the end was Bella's father. For anyone who cares I've put a list of who the characters where in the original:

Bella Swan - Emma Woodhouse

Edward Cullen - George Knightly

Charlie Swan - Mr Woodhouse

Miss Lloyd - Miss Bates

Esme Platt/McCarty - Ann Taylor/Weston

Jacob Black - Mr Elton

Alice Brandon - Harriet Smith

Carlisle McCarty - Mr Weston

Miss Cope - Mrs Goddard

Jasper Whitlock - Robert Martin

Mrs Lloyd (The old one) - Mrs Bates

Martin Cullen - John Knightly

Harriet Swan/Cullen - Isabella Woodhouse/Knightly

Rosalie Hale - Jane Fairfax

Emmett McCarty - Frank Churchill (Weston)

I recommend reading the book or taking the lazy option (like me) and watch the TV version that was on BBC1 or BBC iPlayer until 7.59 on Monday 2nd November.

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