Thanks so much to those who reviewed. I was so pleased that you liked the direction of the story. Like I said this is my first attempt at writing and I feel sooooo positive about it now.

Snusa; What is Esme up to indeed? Watch this space ;)


First Kiss

I awoke suddenly, it was still dark but the moon cast a pool of light on my bedroom floor by which I could see.

The sound of echoing footsteps drew me to the window and I strained to see who was moving about at this time. It must be nigh on three o clock.

A shadowy figure moved across the stone yard, glanced back and then disappeared from view altogether, seemingly dropping right over the cliff edge.

There was no sound

The moon passed behind a cloud and I lost my view, when the yard lit again there was no one there. I must have still been half asleep, but I resolved to investigate in the morning.

I dressed carefully for breakfast, choosing an elegant empire line yellow dress and taking care to smooth the bouncy curls of my thick brown hair.

I don't know why I felt so compelled to perfect my appearance this morning.

With that I dashed down the stairs, eager to find who else maybe in the breakfast room. I paused briefly at the door to smooth my dress, then entered.

He looked up when I walked in and I froze momentarily, lost in a green sea until her ladyship cleared her throat impatiently and I sat down quickly, catching the tablecloth and knocking my knife and fork from the table. Lady Cullen snorted and glared in my general direction. I blushed deeply.

Why did I have to be so clumsy?

Edward smiled at me, his full lips curving beautifully, and I wondered what it would feel like to touch them with mine. I shook myself mentally, nice young ladies don't think such things….but still…

I excused myself after my porridge and went to explore the yard.

The view out to sea was beautiful and I felt a wave of sorrow as I realised that my father would have liked it here. I sighed and headed towards the edge, looking for a possible way down that the mysterious night wanderer could have taken.

I searched for some time and could see nothing. I was about to give it up as a figment of my overactive imagination when I spotted a rusty iron bar, disguised by a climbing plant wrapped around it. I stepped carefully closer to the edge in order to look more closely and found to my astonishment, and great excitement, an iron spiral staircase, tucked tightly into the cliff which disguised it well.

Curiosity ignited, I stepped gingerly onto the top step, holding the bar for support. The structure groaned a little but otherwise seemed sturdy enough so I started to descend.

"BELLA" Edward's voice rang out sharply and I startled, slipping down a step or two.

I looked up to find him standing on top of the cliff. My mind searched for an excuse but I had nothing

"I'm sorry. I was just…."

"Curious?"

"Yes, curious."

"Bella in this house, curiosity can be a very dangerous thing."

"I…em…I…" I stammered

He offered his hand to me to help me back up again. I climbed back up and reached for him, my heart hammered in my chest.

He smiled "When you are anxious you blush more deeply than any other woman I have ever made acquaintance with. It's quite beautiful."

My mouth dropped and my breathing caught. My heart fluttered in my chest and I could feel myself turning crimson.

Did he call me beautiful?

He pulled me to him and my skin burned where we touched. I placed my hands on his chest and looked up at him. His green eyes burned into my brown ones and I stopped breathing altogether

The look he gave me smouldered and I pulled away as I felt a stirring in the pit of my stomach that I was not familiar with.

He spoke then. "Bella, we have been thrown together by fate and we must now make the best of out circumstances. I would like to know you better."

Edward offered me his arm. "Walk with me?" He asked nodding his head towards the grounds at the front of the manor.

I smiled, took his arm and we started off down the path.

We walked the grounds for hours, there was so much of them. I told Edward all about my father and he listened patiently when I struggled, the pain of his passing still cutting deep.

Edward spoke fondly of his father, who was presently in the West Indies, tending to affairs of business. Edward had been allowed management of the family estate and affairs in England in his father's absence and was hoping that he would be proud of the effort he had made to keep things running smoothly.

Edward's family were in the cotton business and owned several factories.

Edward was more guarded when he spoke of his mother and I wondered at that. Esme Cullen was truly a mystery and I was intrigued.

Edward walked me back to my room that afternoon and I paused before entering. "I enjoyed getting to know you better today Edward."

"And I you Bella." He took a step closer to me and I began to feel warm again, feeling the blush rise to my cheeks. I looked up into his deep green eyes and he reached for me, pulling me to his chest. I gasped as he lowered his lips to mine. A wild thrill shot through me and I moved my hands to his face, caressing the soft skin of his cheek. His arms wound around me and pulled me closer, moving his lips gently over mine, deepening the kiss gradually until I could no longer breathe with excitement.

My body reacted on its own without permission from my brain. I had never felt these sensations before, this desire that washed through me, leaving me breathless and wanting more. I parted my lips and he swept his tongue across my bottom lip, burning my skin with his passion. He tasted like caramel and I moaned softly, winding my arms around his neck and standing on tiptoe to get closer, I reciprocated the movement of his lips.

More strange stirrings in the pit of my stomach overwhelmed me and I pulled away gasping. I couldn't think and I had to clear my head. "Good afternoon Edward." I breathed hastily and retreated to my room, closing the door firmly.

I leaned on the back of the door and closed my eyes, listening to his footsteps on the stone stairs fade away.

"Are you alright?"

I nearly hit the roof and my eyes flew open to find Angela kneeling on the stone fireplace trying to get the fire to draw.

"Angela," I gasped, you startled me."

"And you me Miss. Are you alright, you look terribly flushed."

"I'm fine Angela. I just….I'm fine"

I couldn't tell her, the impropriety, what would she think? Nice young ladies did not let men kiss them until after they were engaged.

"Her ladyship bade me tell you that tonight is whist night, she has invited some guests for cards and insists you join them after dinner this evening. Dinner will just be for the household tonight."

I groaned. I loathed playing cards. My Uncle, Emmet's father, gambled obsessively, cards being his main vice. One evening after loosing everything he owned he put his pistol in his mouth. My Aunt died of a broken heart.

Tragedy seemed to surround our family, thinking about it.