CHAPTER 4

'I do so hope my brother wasn't entirely boorish in his behaviour, sometimes he forgets himself.'

'Not at all, he is very amiable. So tell me sir, apart from support and new society, what brings you to our small part of England?'

He chuckles, 'I'm afraid those are my only reasons. I have a capable man looking after the estate and I am presently on a short leave from my duties, so nothing ties me to home or anywhere for that matter. It is as you say, for support and society.'

'I was certain your cousins would be with you at present, I am yet to meet them, are they much like you and your brother?'

'Well, they have some matters to attend to back at Henders, and as for your second question, no they are not. While they enjoy good society, they don't seek it like my brother and I do. I suppose they are more like my mother was, sweet, shy but honourable and strong.'

'She sounds wonderful, they sound wonderful,' Isabella observes. 'Shall we resume our walk?'

He answers silently by rising from the bench and offering his hand to assist her. 'They are… she was. Let's speak about something not so morose, upcoming balls perhaps.'

'Well, I have heard it from good authority there isn't to be another public assembly for at least five weeks.'

'Indeed! well I have it on good authority that there may be a private ball sooner than that.'

'Oh dear, my father mention it did he? When he gets something in his mind he is quite insistent upon it happening.'

'Your father? are you really holding a ball here too?'

'Too? were you not speaking about my father? are your cousins to hold a ball then?'

'Yes, but you must hush, for it is a secret and hasn't been announced yet. So, pray tell, what is this of your ball.'

She sighs, 'my father is such a fanciful creature, he always feels it his duty to please others. Whether it be hosting the towns whist parties, holding another ball, calling upon everyone if they mention they have had no visitors… he is so afraid of slighting people that he agrees to everything.'

The older brother barks a laugh, 'and I'm sure you keep him in well-enough alignment.'

'You're quite mistaken, Captain Cullen, I can't placate him in the slightest, he can at times become quite a troublesome creature. I just pray I can talk him out of hosting a ball, or at the very least he forgets about it.'

'Well then Miss Isabella, I'm afraid you have told the wrong person, for I love a good ball, and I'm sure you will host the very best. I am sorry to disappoint you, but I am now going to make it my mission to ensure your father hosts the ball, and as first informed, I'd like now to request your first two dances.'

'You do me quite a disservice Captain Cullen, but if something positive is to be garnered from this, then it is that I will get to dance more often than I do. So yes Captain, I will promise my first two dances with you.'

'Capital! and I am sorry if I have injured you, but I do love a ball, and the more balls we have here, the more we both get to dance.'

'I assure you, I am not injured, a ball just requires a great deal of effort to organise. Not to worry though, it is nothing beyond my capabilities.'

'This is quite they estate, tell me, has the property been in your family so very long?'

'The property was purchased by my grandfather from a generous inheritance. He set up the tenants properties first, after which he built Swanfield, exactly how my grandmother dreamed.'

'So, he loved her much then, that he built her dream home. How lovely.'

She scoffs as she remembers the bickering between them in her younger years before they passed when she was eleven. 'Not at all, it was my grandmothers inheritance that paid for it, so he didn't exactly have a choice.'

'And here I was imagining a fairytale couple living happily ever after.'

'They were happy and lived fulfilling lives, just as they should have.'

'Let's talk about something far less morose, shall we? Now tell me Miss Isabella, what gives you great pleasure, walking and dancing aside.'

'Well Captain Cullen, card games, good company, horse riding, a great deal of things really. And what interests you, Captain, besides balls and acquainting yourself with as many people as possible?'

'I do enjoy a spot of hunting, and like you, riding but I always make time for fencing. My brother and father don't share my passion for the sport, I can't account for their reasoning, but I am quite the proficient.'

'Fencing, you say. I cannot say I have had the pleasure of observing the sport, so I know nothing on the matter, just what I have read in books.'

The two couples stop at the next intersection, awaiting further direction. 'We can go this way, and continue our walk, or we can go that way which will take us back to where we started.'

'Yes please, I'm afraid my legs are quite fed up with walking after all of the dancing I did last night,' Alice hasty with a decision.

'A thousand apologies ma'am, I do so hope we haven't caused you too much pain or discomfort,' the younger Mr. Cullen replies hastily. 'Or you either Miss Bella, I hope you are not suffering.'

'Not at all, unlike Alice, I didn't dance quite so much, I am quite well.'

Miss Swan leads her guests back to the drawing room where they sit with Mr. Swan and Dr. Cullen. 'And how was your walk, my dear? did you show the Mr. Cullen's' the estate,'

'Only a small parcel father, there is too much to see in a morning alone, father. I did however take them through the west track, you know, my favourite.'

'Very good, Bella. Perhaps we should have gone with you, for Dr. Cullen was just mentioning he has interest in seeing the grounds.'

'Miss Swan has suggested you may be planning a ball sir, are we to see one here soon?' The Captain quick to secure the aforementioned ball.

'Oh,! yes indeed. It has been far too long since we held a ball, hasn't it dear?'

'Yes father.'

'I'm glad you mentioned it, for I would have forgot you see, and then I would have been sorry, for everyone would have taken it very much amiss. Oh! Bella, would you be so kind to play us something on the pianoforte, it has become rather quiet in here, has it not?'

'Of course, father.' She walks to the pianoforte in question and seats herself, her fingers instantly pressing the choreographed keys without visual prompt.

'You are quite proficient at that,' Dr. Cullen joins her side, his sons talking with her father, no doubt inquiring about the ball or a hunting party.

'Then my ruse has work,' she beams up at him, not needing to read the sheet music or follow her fingers.

'Ruse?' he asks for clarity.

'Well, you see Dr. Cullen, my father was quite insistent I learn and become a great proficient, but I lack interest and patience for that to happen. So I took the pains to learn just one song supremely well, as opposed to many songs poorly. This is the result, you see. A flawlessly executed song, just don't ask me to play another, for I won't be able to.'

'You, Miss Swan, have rendered me speechless. But pray, do tell what it is Miss Swan expends her time and efforts on, if not the pianoforte?'

'Well, Dr. Cullen, I do so love to read, mostly reference books, but I also take great pleasure in novels.'

"And what book has you in raptures at this present time?'

'The Italian, at present.'

'By Mrs. Radcliffe?'

'Yes, that is the one.' The last notes ring from the pianoforte as her fingers still, 'pray tell Dr, Cullen, what is it you find great pleasure in?'

'A great many things Miss Swan, but if you're referring to something more specific, then I'd have to say helping where I can. Doing all I can to improve the quality of life of others, is something I find great pleasure in.'

'A very admirable trait Dr. Cullen, I must confess, I haven't quite met anyone like you, which is to your credit, I assure you.'

'Thank you Miss Swan, so tell me, what is all of this talk of balls?'