Chapter One-First Lesson

It is the first Sunday of October 1773. I am wearing my best dress and straw hat for church. I have my sling-shot in my pocket because although I will wear a dress if I have to, I don't have to like it. I climb up beside my father on the wagon as Emmett gets into the wagon bed and we are on our way to church.

This is my favorite time of year. The trees are showing their true colors and the sun warms the earth bringing the smells of fall to the air. I would feel content if today was not the day I am to go to the Cullen estate for my first lesson. Pa takes my hand and gives it a squeeze. He knows my heart.

The sermon is long and the air is too warm. We sit towards the back of the tiny church near the open door and I enjoy the feel of a cool breeze on my neck. The Cullen family sit in the front row as befitting their station and I can't help but study them.

Mr. and Mrs. Cullen are what a gentleman and lady should be. They dress finely and sit still. Their son is a year shy of Emmett in age. His name is Edward. Until now I have never given him a second look. He is tall and lean with fair skin and auburn hair like his mother. I don't know what to make of him. Emmett has told me that he is known to be one of the best marksman in the colony. He appears stiff and cold. Alice is my age, but on the occasions we have crossed paths at church she has not spoken but a few words to me. She is a little taller than me with fair skin like Edward's, and dark hair like her father.

After church, the congregation disperses into small groups under the shade trees to socialize and spread news of the day. I stand near my father and listen to the men talk of taxation without representation and rebellion against our British rule. My Pa listens but says little. I can tell that this talk worries him.

It is time to go and so my father walks me over to where the Cullen family is standing with the preacher. They all greet my father politely and then turn their eyes to me.

"You all know my Isabella," Pa says.

"How do you do, " Mrs. Cullen inquires.

"I do fine, thank you, Ma'am," I reply. She smiles and looks at her daughter. Alice, too, smiles and nods.

"My Alice is shy, but I can assure you that she has done nothing but talk about your upcoming visits since your father agreed to let you come," Mrs. Cullen said.

I was put at ease by her kind words and wondered if what I had thought was pride on Alice's part was in truth a timid nature. If this is true, then at least I will not suffer alone in my new situation.

The Cullens have a coach and driver. I ride in the cab with Mr. and Mrs. Cullen and Alice. Edward sits with the driver on his bench. Little conversation is made during our short trip, but Alice smiles sweetly at me from time to time.

We are let out at the front entrance to their home. I have never been in the Cullen's house before. I've only seen it from the highway when I have ridden the grain wagon with Pa to the mill. It is much bigger up close. I follow the Cullens into their home and stand in awe. This is how I imagine the King lives, truly grand. A servant takes the family's hats and I reluctantly let her take mine as well. Mrs. Cullen confirms that lunch is set out for us on the rear terrace.

"Isabella," Mrs. Cullen addresses me. "I hope you will enjoy spending your Sunday afternoons with us. Rosalie is a fine governess. Come... I shall introduce you and we can all enjoy some refreshments."

We walk through a grand foyer with a circular staircase. A dome with windows in the ceiling lights our way. The foyer leads straight to a large hall with doors on both sides. At the end of the hall, a set of doors made of small panes of glass opens onto a large semicircular brick terrace. A table covered with a white cloth is set for our lunch. Already seated at the table is the prettiest girl that I have ever seen. She has hair the color of sweet corn and eyes blue as the sky.

"Isabella, let me present Miss Rosalie," Mrs. Cullen says, as she takes her seat next to her husband. "Rosalie this is your new student, Isabella."

"Pleased to meet you, Miss Rosalie," I say timidly.

"My pleasure, " she says, but her expression indicates that it is not.

I sit in the chair next to Alice and across from Edward. I am too nervous to eat. Alice turns to me and in a whisper only meant for me to hear, she asks, "Is it true you run wild with an Indian boy?"

I giggle and nod my answer.

"What adventures you must have," she says, "I must hear all your tales. I never have any fun, well, except when we travel. I love to see the big cities and shop for pretty things and dine at restaurants…," it is as if a dam has broken and Alice cannot contain herself any more,"… I just know we are going to be fine friends," she finishes, and I think that she is right.

After lunch, Miss Rosalie leads us to a small parlor off the main hall for our lesson. As soon as she closes the door behind us, her pleasant façade is replaced by a scowl. She takes a moment to appraise me from top to bottom.

"Well, I can see I have my work cut out for me. Your posture is atrocious, your table manners were appalling, and you smell like the inside of a barn," she snips. "I suppose we will have to start with the basics." She crosses the room, removes a book from a shelf and comes to stand directly in front of me. "A lady of good breeding always stands straight and tall," she says, and then places the book on top of my head. "I expect you to balance this book on your head and practice walking and sitting. In order to accomplish this, your back must remain straight and your head level."

I hold my tongue and do as I am told. Alice gives me a sympathetic smile that quickly disappears as Miss Rosalie begins to lecture us on the importance of good grooming and the benefit of making a good presentation of one's self. I spend the duration of my first lesson fumbling with a heavy book that seems to only want to fall onto my toes. Miss Rosalie praises Alice for her good upbringing and makes many comments on my lack of it. An hour later, Miss Rosalie declares an end to my torture and leaves the room to inquire how I will be let home. Alice and I take this opportunity to become acquainted.

"Oh, Isabella, I am so sorry that Miss Rosalie treated you so poorly. She is just jealous because we have all been looking forward to your visits. I suspect that she likes to be the center of attention and is just trying to make you feel less so that she seems more. You know Miss Rosalie is only just sixteen years old. I heard Mother tell Father that she has had a hard time of it and only took this position because her family has fallen into disgrace. I did not learn in what manner of trouble they find themselves, but from what I understand it will prevent her from a good marriage in respectable society," she informs me quickly, then catches her breath.

"I don't know why anyone would want to get married anyhow," I reply. "She is better off in my mind. Especially if getting married means you have to act like "a lady of good breeding," I mock.

"I can't wait to grow up and get married. I think it will be so romantic and wonderful," Alice says, as her eyes take on a dreamy quality. "I hope my husband will be tall and handsome, maybe even a southern gentleman."

Just as I am about to tease Alice about her romantic fancies, the door opens and Edward walks in.

"Isabella, Mother has asked me to see you home," he says, "it's time to go." He turns to leave and as I stand to follow him, Alice takes my hand and we say our farewell.

I retrieve my hat and follow Edward out of the house to a courtyard where a small runabout buggy is waiting for us. Edward offers me his hand as I go to climb up. I stop and stare at it for a moment as no one has ever treated me with such care before. I place my hand in his. It is warm and strong and my heart flutters as he helps me to my seat. Edward comes around the rear of the buggy , climbs to his seat and gently flicks the reigns to start our short journey.

I sit still and quiet. I am confused. Why do I feel so strange? Why do I feel so light headed and shaky? I try to look at Edward without his notice. His jaw line is square and his lips are smooth and rosy. His eyelashes are long and his hair is disheveled. He is handsome.

Edward offers no conversation and I do not trust myself to speak. He is seventeen and although I am newly fourteen years old, I fear he would likely think me childish anyway, so we pass the time silently. Thirty minutes later we arrive in front of my home. I can see my pa and Emmett out by the barn. I wave to them and Edward comes around the buggy to offer his hand to help me down.

"Thank you," I say, but I'm so flustered that I don't know if it was loud enough for him to hear.

I watch as he gets back in the buggy and just before he flicks the reigns, he looks me in the eyes, smiles a crooked grin and says "You have a good evening, Bella."

When I come back to my senses, Edward and his buggy are no more than a dot in the distance.