Your reviews are amazing! Thank you! Better than Rebelward at the Cattle market! There are a couple of Irish phrases in here. If they are important, I translate them in the dialogue, otherwise they are normally endearments!

Father Moran didn't waste any time and before the week was out, he was knocking at the cottage door half an hour after the end of morning mass. Kitty flung open the door, ushering the elderly priest into the cottage before the whole street joined in. As it was, she definitely saw Mrs Courtney's lace curtains twitching. She sighed; knowing that trying to stop gossip spreading in Dingle was like standing on Coumeenole strand and telling the Atlantic waves to stop rolling in. News of the visit and garbled speculation about its purpose would be all over town before the Angelus bells rang at midday.

"God's blessing on this house" said Father Moran, shaking off the chill of the morning and removing a hat he'd been wearing since his ordination.

He looked around the small room with an air of satisfaction. Bella and Kitty were meticulous housekeepers; a small fire was burning brightly in the grate, taking the edge of the autumn morning and the rag rugs made by the girls were colourful and warm on the flagstone floor. The old priest's eyes went automatically to the pictures of Bella's parents on the wall, candles burning under them in small holders. He sighed and blessed himself. These were terrible times and more good men and women would be lost before the struggle was over. As he was mulling over this pessimistic thought Bella came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron.

"Thanks be to God for a fine day. You're very welcome Father. Sit down now, you'll have a cup of tea?" Bella smiled. "I'm after making some brack and you'll have a slice?" It was well known that Father Moran had a weakness for the local current loaf and the girls had been baking in anticipation of his visit. As Kitty had pointed out "buttering up the auld tortoise'll do us no harm!"

"You'll be coming to the rosary at Mrs Quilter's tonight?" started the priest.

"We will of course, Father. Sure and didn't she come over last night to borrow a couple of chairs? They're expecting a good turn out."

October was the month of the Blessed Rosary and prayers were held in different houses every night. Unkind souls said that it was "a great coincidence indeed that the rosary was always said before tea but sure didn't it save Father Moran from eating alone and now wasn't it a great thing altogether that the auld priest had such a good appetite on him for his time of life? "Even so, the town looked forward to the month as a break in the monotony as the long evenings set in.

Helping himself to a thick slice of buttered brack, Father Moran cleared his throat.

"I've been asked to speak to you Bella child." He started. "Your blessed parents, may their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in the hands of God, would have been glad to hear the tidings I'm bringing you this day."

The girls held hands, their wide eyes fixed on the priest. Even though they knew what was coming next, the anticipation was mighty.

"Child, Edward Cullen has been to speak to me about you. He's a fine man, a devout son of God and a good provider. He'll make a fine husband and God willing a loving father." His tone changed, becoming serious. "Bella, this is not something to be taken lightly; more than your happiness rests on this man's shoulders. Will you take his request to court you?"

Bella's chin went up and in a voice vibrant with conviction she answered "I will, Father."

"Thanks be to God and Saint Brigid!" replied the old priest. "May your parents in heaven smile down on you on this day."

Bella and Kitty, overcome, wept in each other's arms at the priest's words. Calming down Kitty's sobs and wiping her eyes with the edge of her apron, Bella looked up at the elderly man. She could see tears in his rheumy eyes and in the creases of his cheeks. He was a good man and she knew that he wanted nothing but good for her. Reaching over, she patted his wrinkled hand, feeling the bones close to the skin.

Although Bella was brought up speaking mainly English, she had enough Irish to be able to show her gratitude towards the old man properly and in a way that he'd appreciate. Kneeling in front of him, she held his hand and thanked him.

"Go maith raibh agat, a Athair Moran."

"Ah get up child, don't thank me! It's thanks to our Lord and His Blessed Mother that we should be giving for making a pair who will help each other in good times and bad. Buiochas le Dia! Thanks be to God! I'll go back and tell Edward and you'll both come and see me next week for the arrangements."

Two hours after the visit, the two girls were still sitting in front of the dying embers of the fire plotting and planning their future when a letter was pushed under the door. Kitty leaped up and grabbed the creamy envelope, turning it over in her hands before waving it in the air and hopping around, her shoes tapping gaily on the flagstone floor.

"Well now, wouldn't you like to know what I have right here?" she teased her cousin before handing over the precious delivery.

Bella paused and took a deep breath before ripping open the thick paper with her finger. She extracted a piece of folder paper, showing Kitty the deeply engraved crest at the top and the beautiful copperplate writing.

"This is it, Kit" she said slowly, "Edward Cullen is inviting us both to tea; we're to be there tomorrow at his parents' house." Her heart swelled at the thought of being close to Edward. She felt as though her life had been building up to this meeting. Looking up at the pictures of her parents, she smiled and blessed herself.

"Mammy and Daddy, God knows I wish you were here to give me your blessing but I know that you are looking down on us this day. Glory be to God for bringing this joy to me."

"Ah Bella stop, you'll have been wailing again!" cried Kitty. "And we have too much to do. Tomorrow you have to look your best. Get the copper pot, a stor, we'll heat the water and you can wash your hair in front of the fire."

"Ah stop Kitty, sure hasn't Mrs Cullen seen me all dripping with ink?"

"Seeing you as a girl and seeing you as a wife are two different things" said Kitty darkly "You're not turning up tomorrow looking like you've been dragged through the heather backwards and making a holy show of yourself. You were raised better than that. Get the copper, we've work to do!"

Seeing that she was unlikely to escape her cousin's plans, Bella followed instructions and the tin bath was set up in front of the fire. The big copper pot was filled with water and set to heat on the range. As she watched the water starting to boil, her mind was full of images of Edward; his broad shoulders as he leaned against the rails at the cattle auction, the way that the sun caught his hair outside mass and the fire in his eyes as he talked about helping the poor and the sick. She was blessed indeed and tomorrow he would no longer be in her mind but in front of her.

"Would you ever wake up? Dreaming the day away and isn't the water boiling as you chase cobwebs?" Laughing, Bella hefted the pot off the range and made her way to the tin bath. Kitty was in no mood for whimsy and Bella had learned that following orders when she was like this was the path to harmony. Even so, putting down the empty copper, she grasped her cousin's hands.

"Tell me it's really happening."

"It is asthoreen; you're being courted by Edward Cullen. God bless you my love and keep you safe in His care." Changing her tone, she added, "And if you don't get into that bath in five minutes, I'll not be responsible for my actions!"

And so the preparations began…