Hey there. This is my new story an the first one that I've attempted all on my own so have a look and tell me what you think.

Chapter 1

Lady Isabella Swan stared out of the window, once again bored to tears. She had discovered very early on that being a young lady of good breeding basically meant that she was in for a very dull existence.

Lady Isabella longed to run outside and play in the meadows and go out hunting but she hadn't been able to play in such a long time. Now, her only extra-curricular activities were needlepoint and having tea with all of her mother's friends. She was sure she would never meet a more self-righteous bunch of gossiping society wives, even if she lived to be 150.

Sometimes when her mother was distracted or otherwise engaged, Isabella would sneak down to the kitchens. She delighted in the snatched moments where Chef would teach her a new recipe and she could lose herself in it utterly, but it still wasn't enough for the strong willed Isabella who yearned for a taste of freedom.

Today she was yet again going to attempt to sneak out and go riding. All previous attempts had been thwarted by either her mother or the grumpy old groom, Tyler Crowley. Mr Crowley was an aging man with an unpleasant visage and an even worse temper. She had hoped at the beginning that she may be able to talk the old coot round to her way of thinking but unfortunately he had remained obstinate and she had never been able to slip past him.

This time though, she was sure that it was going to be different for this time she had a plan. She had recently allied herself with Jacob Black, the son of the groundskeeper Billy Black. He was a sweet boy, only a year or two younger than herself and it hadn't taken her much time to convince him to help her out in her bid for freedom.

Isabella checked one last time that her mother's carriage had not yet returned thankful for once that her mother ran her life so rigidly. If there was one thing you could say about Renee Swan it was that she was predictable. Her life ran like clockwork and Isabella doubted that she's changed her routine in twenty years or more. Content in the knowledge that her mother should be out for another two hours at least, Isabella set her plan into motion.

"Jacob," she called, casting her eyes around for the tanned youth.

"Over here Milady," came the gruff reply.

Isabella rolled her eyes her and Jacob were what she considered to be friends but no matter how many times she insisted upon it, he still refused to call her by her given name. She would usually have stopped to argue about it but she quickly realised that now wasn't the time. She did however make a mental note to bring it up later, if she wasn't locked away in her room for this that is.

"Jacob, you are to keep watch and if you see any hint that someone might be coming then you must make a noise to alert me please," she watched as Jacob nervously cast his eyes about the yard.

"I'm not sure if we should be doing this Milady," Jacob gulped nervously, shifting from one foot to the other.

"Nonsense Jacob," she said with a dash of authority to her tone "Now come along we don't have all day" she gave him a soft smile at the end to try to sooth him and he did appear to relax, albeit infinitesimally.

"Now stay on alert," Isabella warned Jacob before hitching up he skirts and hoisting herself over the wall separating her form the stables. She heard Jacob sigh behind her but she couldn't be bothered to turn around and scold him. He may support her but like so many others in this society, he often found her unladylike behaviour quite shocking.

Isabella snuck forward keeping her head ducked as she skulked around the corner and the stables came into view. She was now so close to her destination and she could smell the heady agricultural scent and he could here soft whinnies and the clatter of hooves.

She ducked inside through the side door and seeing no trace of the stable master she sauntered forwards to greet one of the horses. She ran her hands down its long neck and moved to its side preparing to mount the beast. Just as she was about to do it a calloused hand gripped the back of her dress and she was yanked unceremoniously backwards.

"Well well, what have we here," Mr Crowley's mocking voice echoed through the stables. "It appears I've caught myself a little swan," he taunted compelling her towards the house as she kicked and struggled in his grip. "I dare say your mother will be very interested to find out how you spent your afternoon," Isabella kicked once more before regaining her dignity and attempting to smooth her dress. She saw Jacobs mass of black hair poking out from behind the wall and she spared him a contemptuous glance before chastising herself for laying all of the blame at his door. She was sure he would have warned her if he could.

Without another word the smelly, old groom tossed her into her room and slid the deadbolt into place. Her mother had had it affixed to her door for occasions just such as these. The man then left with a cackle which dissolved into a hacking, unhealthy-sounding cough.

Isabella was now very used to being locked in her room and resolved herself for an afternoon of boredom. Not half an hour later she heard her mother's carriage draw up and then heard the muted voices of her mother and Mr Crowley followed by more unpleasant coughs on Mr Crowley's part. She allowed herself a brief second or amusement at the thought of her mother's face screwed up in snobbish disgust as the disgusting old man vied for some praise.

The amusement quickly faded however as she recognised her mother's footsteps drawing closer to her door. Isabella wished for her father who always acted as a buffer between herself and her mother but she quickly squashed that impulse down. It was childish of her to want her father and Lady Isabella Swan was made of sterner stuff than this. However as she straightened her shoulders and turned to face the door and her fate she could not help thinking that things would be so much better when Charlie Swan had returned from his business trip to London.

The deadbolt on her door drew slowly back and the door creaked open. "Follow me please Isabella," her mother sugary sweet and sickly voice rang out. Isabella knew better than to argue at this point. In fact the only she might have of saving her proverbial bacon would be to keep absolutely silent.

Her mother led her to her room in icy silence. Once they'd reached their destination her mother calmly ordered "Place your hands on the dresser Isabella," Trembling, Isabella obeyed the order she flinched slightly as her mother's skeletal hand reached into her field of vision an picked up the wide flat backed hairbrush. Without warning her mother swiftly delivered two smarting blows to her hands and then two more. Isabella was still bent over the dressing table wincing at the blows which she knew were only a prelude to the real punishment. Her mother walked behind her and raised her arm to smack Isabella's backside but before she could complete the swing the door burst open.

"Milady," gasped the out of breath servant. "Mr Crowley has passed away" he said trying to regain his stoicism after his mad run.

"Oh that infernal old groom has finally croaked has he? I am going to have to waste so much time looking for a replacement," she mused. "Oh well, can't be helped I suppose," she sighed. There was no other emotion in her flat mud brown eyes, save exasperation.

"Make arrangements for the removal of the body, we don't want a corpse lying around," she said shortly to the boy who, taking this as a dismissal, left the room his relief showing through his profuse bows.

"Now where was I?" Isabella's mother asked rhetorically before picking up the brush and resuming Isabella's punishment.

Now that's the firat chapter and I would love some feedback on whether you like this to give me some idea of whether I should continue. Thanks for reading. X (And yes, I know I've made Renee evil but I had to in order for my story line to fit.)