Hello everyone. So I'm back, yes I know I haven't updated in a while. I finally got my laptop back and here is your update. As usual, I want to thank everyone who have read, reviewed, followed or favourite my story and those who are following me as a writer, you guys inspire me to keep writing. So please read, review and I hope you enjoy this update.

Chapter 10

BPOV

Sitting in the King's private room, as I awaited Charles and his visitors, left me more nervous than I should have been. I had agreed to visit after Christmas day but my arrival was later than expected. I received word that his niece had brought along a few family members that I would also be expected to meet. All of this added onto my nerves, as my relationship with my mother weighed on me heavily.

Waking up on Christmas left me in tears, as I realised that this was the first I had spent without Renee. Rose and Emmett tried to rally my spirit but I was still sombre in mood.

It was after the midday meal that I decided that I had enough of this. I marched my way through layers of freshly fallen snow, back the home I had only ever known. Smoke bellowed from the old chimney, and I knew she was there.

Upon reaching the door, I heard humming coming from the garden. I saw my mother, ankle deep in snow, lightly fingering the remains of our flowers. Her back was turned me and I watched silently, as her humming slowed, until she stopped completely.

"It is strange how; small things can remind you of the direction life has taken." I was shocked when she began to speak.

"During spring time and summer these flowers bloom with the brightest colours." She turned and finally faced me. Her eyes down cast, never meeting mine.

"But with the sudden and sometimes unsuspected change of nature, the once beautiful becomes dead on the outside and inside." She began making her way towards me, my eyes taking in her stance.

"But like how the flower comes back to life after the snow, so can everything else." Finally she made eye contact and her eyes held so much hope.

"Bella would you care for some tea?"

That day was a turning point for Renee and me. It had been slow but I decided to take time to rekindle our relationship before I headed back to the castle.

The turning of the door handle brought my attention back to the present, and my breath caught in my throat as Charles entered followed by one of the loveliest women I had ever seen. Standing quickly, I walked over to Charles' outstretched hand.

Coming closer, I was able to take in the beauty of her. She was roughly the same height as me, long dark hair that was elegantly pinned up and adorned with bright feathers. Her piercing grey eyes held my stare, but they told me nothing.

Her small nose was turned up a way that would be consisted pretty, but it was her smile that blew me away. Her lips were plastered in the brightest smile I had ever seen and I immediately relaxed at this. Now safely tucked into the side of my father, I smiled back at her.

"Bella, my dear." My father whispered to me. It was good to be with him again and I could tell he felt the same way, I smiled up him.

"Bella I would like to introduce you to my niece. Her travel in the name of England has taken her far and wide, but finally is home. Isabella Marie Swan, I wish for you to meet Her Grace, Duchess Mary Alice of London."

Charles had stepped away from me and stood to the side, slightly between us. Her smile never left her face and I finally remembered my manners.

"Your Grace, it is indeed an honour to make your acquaintance." I curtsied low and kept my head angled towards the floor. I heard a tinkling laugh, and felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Arise, my dear cousin." I stood to my full length and met her happy face.

"My uncle has spoken so fondly of you over the few days that I have been home; it feels as if I know you already." We had finally moved from our position at the entrance of the door and took our seats. The silence that befell us was slightly awkward and I wished that I had invited Rose to come in with me. I left her in the kitchen with Victoria until I called for her.

But before we could engage in any small talk, Charles was summoned elsewhere urgently. We both could see his hesitance and Her Grace rushed to reassure him.

"Uncle, go Isabella and I will use this time to chat." I nodded and he kissed both our heads before rushing off. As the door closed the air in the room suddenly became cold. Mary Alice stood up and walked over to the rope that hung in a discrete corner of the room and gave it a sharp tug. A few seconds later Bree entered the room, as Mary Alice began removing her gloves.

"Could you please have my Ladies send to me, along with some tea." She never turned to look at her and Bree did not look phased at her behaviour. Bree turned to me.

"And what of you, Isabella?" I shook my head, not needed anything, but then I remembered what I wanted.

"Your Grace, if you would grant me your permission, I wish for my friend, Miss Rosalie Hale to join me." She slowly maneuverer her head in my direction, and stared at me. Her smile was gone, her lips pulled in a hard line. Finally she raised her hand at Bree.

"Very well." Bree bowed and backed out the door, leaving us alone once again. Nervousness settled in the pit of my stomach and I began to breathe a little faster. Her Grace paid me no attention and I was worried that I had offended her by not haven spoken.

"Your Grace, I was told that there were other family members that would be here." She smoothed her dress out, still not looking at me.

"Oh, you know how men are, don't you Isabella. They were ready to meet you, but one should know better than to keep royalty waiting." Her broad smile graced her face but it held something different.

I had already sent word to Charles, explaining my late arrival. Before I could reply, the door opened and three young ladies quickly entered, chatting very loudly. They all rushed over to Mary Alice, and began whispering in her ears. Their giggles filled the room, as their eyes roamed over my body.

Finally the tea arrived with Victoria and Rose. I was happy to see friendly faces. Victoria began serving the tea and I waited for her to finish before I introduced Rose.

"Your Grace, I would like to introduce my best friend, Miss Rosalie Hale." Rose who had not taken her seat, curtsied so low, I was afraid she would need assistance to stand.

"Your Grace, it is indeed an honour to meet you." Rose's voice was small and I looked up at her nervously. Her face was pale and I was worried. Victoria stood in the corner and refused to meet my eyes, she stood stone still.

"Indeed it is." came Mary Alice's reply.

"I suppose I should introduce my ladies, as well." She spoke as if it was a burden, but I held my tongue.

"This is Lady Angela of the English court." She pointed to a short brunette, who sneered at us.

"Lady Kate of the Scottish court." This lovely red haired woman did not even cast us a curious glance.

"And finally, Lady Carmen of the Spanish Court." Her skin looked heavily kissed by the sun, and her face was serious as she appraised us. And I felt slightly jilted as I sat facing these women.

Rose took a tentative sip of her tea and I noticed none of them, had touched theirs as yet. Mary Alice stood and her ladies' eyes followed her around, as she moved throughout the room. She touched a few things, raking her fingers along. Walking over to the book shelf, she reached up and plucked a book from the top shelf. Fingering through the book roughly, she reached the end and dropped the book to the floor.

Victoria rushed over and picked up the book, quickly replacing it to its rightful place. Once she was in her original position, Mary Alice picked up another but forgoes reading it and drops it, as Victoria rushed over again. She proceeded to do this a few more times, as Rose and I watched on in horror and her ladies laughed in delight.

As I was about to enquire about her reasoning behind this, she quickly turned to me.

"Isabella, do you understand about the balance and order of nature?" I nodded my head, but I was confused.

"Well I can see your confusion, let me explain." She walked closer to me. "In every country, there are royalty. People, who run, oversee and tend to the needs of the common man. This royal is higher up and live a certain type of life. They have maids and servants and people to tend to their needs. These people are either born in this position or they work hard to get there."

She moved over to Lady Kate and stroked her hair. "Do you believe in people knowing their place and position, Isabella?" Her posed question, threw me for a moment but I answered yes. My answer seemed to satisfy her, because she smiled.

"Well Isabella, my place is here at this castle and my position is next in line for the throne. But you can understand my surprise upon receiving a letter from my beloved uncle that he has a daughter of eighteen years, and he wishes for me to return home to meet her."

Suddenly it all made sense, but she carried on.

"But my dear, dear cousin", her words came out hard. "Let me inform you of your place and position." She walked over to where I was seated and made a circle around me, stopping behind me.

"Your place is back at your little run down village, with your little whore of a mother. And your position is beneath me." She whispered her words in my ears as she leaded over the back of the couch I sat in, but with the silence of the room everyone heard.

I sat stone still, as her words enveloped me. I could feel Rose's hand grasped mine but I still could not move. I watched as she moved back to her original position and took a sip of her tea. The look of disgust was plastered on her face, as she threw the cup to the floor.

"Clean that up." She threw to no one in particular as her ladies rose to help her return her gloves onto her hands. They lined up and followed her out of the room, none of them bothering to bid us farewell.

I sat frozen staring at the wall, as Victoria began to clean up the mess that they had made. I could hear Rose as she called my name, but all I could do was replay the entire happenings over and over. Had I just sat there and allowed such blatant disrespect to occur?

But Mary Alice was right; I had no grounds to correct her. Her position was ways above me, and I felt like a complete failure. The seat next to me dipped and I felt unfamiliar arms surround me, as I drifted in my mind.

"And she called you a whore, mama." We all sat in Rose's living room, as we retold the meeting with Duchess Mary Alice. Renee could tell I was upset, and she rubbed my back.

"Bella, people will say worst things than that, my daughter. But you must not allow the words to affect you in such a way that you lose any and all manners I have taught you." I hated the fact that she seemed to accept the harsh words from such a cold person.

"But they are not true." She stopped me. "If they are or not, be quick to listen but slow to answer." I nodded and sighed slowly as I leaned onto her. Having my mother with us was the biggest comfort to me and I was happy with the way we were moving. She accepted my reason behind the deal with Charles and I was willing to be a little lenient with them.

"The kitchen staff told me of her while I was there." Rose broke the silence. "They said she treats the staff as if they mean nothing to her, but if the king or any other member of the court is nearby, she will be on her best behaviour. Also her ladies are no better."

I nodded my head because Rose's words fit well with what I saw. I stood and walked over to the fireplace, and stirred the flames a little, contemplating my next move. I had not seen Charles when I left yesterday, but I knew I would have to see him again, but the question was, did I want to see her?

I had made myself a promise that I would be brave and never allow anyone to treat me as they saw fit. But this was someone at a higher power, if I was to stand up for myself, it would be seen as insubordination. Suddenly I remembered those words Charles had spoken to me and I realised something.

"Bella what are you going to do." Emmett spoke up bringing me from my mind. I turned and looked at him, smiling.

"There is only one thing I can do Emmett." He looked at me expectantly, as I smiled wide and spoke again.

"I'll need to rise early, if I am to be at the castle for the morning meal."

So we've met Her Grace, Duchess Mary Alice of London. I know some of you knew she would be the niece. What do you think of her? Just a quick note, Alice is my fav character from the Twilight saga, but I hate when everyone writes her as the shopaholic, hyper Alice. There is more to her. Also what could Bella be up to? Next chapter we meet the man of the hour. Who's excited, I know I am. Thanks for reading, and I appreciate any and all reviews.

Cheltivia.