Mrs. Benedict

Bella's POV

I couldn't remember that last time I felt this nervous. I walked up Forks avenue; it looked similar to the neighborhood I had grown up in. The homes were grand, and painted in a pristine white. The properties were large and well maintained. Exotic flowers adorned the driveways that led to the houses. I saw rare species of roses and lilacs; the same ones my mother loved. I felt a lump in my throat and blinked away my tears. I missed home, but I could never return. It would be best to just forget about it.

I was approaching the end of Forks avenue, and I still hadn't found the number 1339. I glanced around wondering if I had the wrong address. The last house was numbered 1335. I stopped in my tracks and tried to remember the address Dr. Cullen told me.

I could hear a carriage coming up behind me. I turned back and saw a beautiful lacquered carriage drawn by two beautiful grey horses. The driver and the footmen were dressed in red and black livery. As it passed by me, I had just enough time to see a man looking out of the window. He seemed handsome, with bronze colored hair and topaz eyes. I watched as the carriage continued down the road for about 100 feet, and then it turned right. I hadn't noticed that there was a small break in the trees up ahead. It was hardly noticeable.

I came up to the break and found a narrow road. There was a beautifully crafted sign nailed to a great big oak tree. It said "The Cullen's, 1339 Forks Ave." I smiled, and walked up the road, noticing all the exotic flowers that were planted in a way that made it look like they had grown there naturally. Bees buzzed around the flowers, and a dragonfly flew along side me for a few seconds as I walked. The sky was overcast, yet it wasn't raining; in fact it was nice and warm.

About thirty minutes later I finally came upon an opening. A very large home stood in the opening. It was white and designed like the other homes in the neighborhood, yet it seemed even grander. I could hear the sounds of a river in the distance, and birds twittering and chirping in the trees. A squirrel ran across my foot which caused me to jump.

A gardener was busy pulling weeds along the front entrance. She wasn't wearing the same livery as the footmen and driver were wearing; in fact, she wasn't wearing livery at all. She had on a green skirt, a green apron and a matching green blouse. She also wore a bonnet. Strange, I thought. As I walked up to her she turned and looked at me and smiled. She was beautiful. She had very long hair, and a heart shaped face, with a full smile. I smiled back. "Excuse me, my name is Miss Swan and I am looking for Mrs. Benedict. Would you be able to kindly direct me to where I can find the servant's door?"

"Ah, yes, Carlisle told me about you." She stood up and dusted her hands off on her apron. She pointed to the left side of the house. "Go around the left, and you'll come across a door with one window on the right side of it, that's the servant's door. Just ring and Mrs. Benedict will be glad to meet you." She gave me another smile then went back to her work.

"Thank you mam." I walked along the house, thinking it was a little bit strange that she referred to her employer by his first name. Walking up to the servant's door, I noticed that it was already open, and a short robust woman with a friendly smile was standing inside.

"You must be Miss Swan." The woman spoke with a touch of a strange accent I couldn't place. Behind the woman Dr. Cullen stood with the same kind smile he wore earlier.

"Dr. Cullen was just telling me about you Miss Swan. He said you are looking for work, and I need someone in the kitchens and the scullery."

I nodded my head. "You must be Mrs. Benedict? I am indeed looking for work, and I would forever grateful if you would allow me a chance to prove myself to you that I am a good worker."

Mrs. Benedict looked me up and down and nodded her head. "Fine then, you'll start right away. I'll show you to the scullery. You'll be working with Miss Weber."

Mrs. Benedict's robust body took up most of the doorway, but she moved aside so I'd have room to come in.

"Wonderful! Miss Swan, we are happy to have you." Dr. Cullen tilted his head and spoke in a reassuring voice. It gave me the impression that he was a kind and compassionate doctor. I felt happy and fortunate; everybody seemed so friendly and welcoming.

Dr. Cullen went through a door and disappeared from my sight, while the housekeeper led me into the scullery. Nobody was there at the moment. Mrs. Benedict closed the door behind her and in a single quick movement, grabbed my hand and yanked it towards her. I cried out in surprise.

She inspected my hand and my fingernails and she gave me a strange look. "Now Miss Swan, you've obviously never done hard labor before, so don't think that you can get away with being lazy. I run this household and I don't tolerate very much." She gripped my hand tightly, and it ached. Her friendly smile was gone, and she no longer seemed to be the same welcoming person I had just met. "I only hired you because Dr. Cullen was so insistent. Personally, I think you are trouble. You're educated and I would bet my month's wages that you're blue blooded. I don't know what your story is, and I don't really care, but if you cause me any trouble you will regret it." She released my hand with one final squeeze, and stormed away, slamming the door behind her.

I just stood there stunned.