Thanks for the LONNNNGGGGG wait everyone! I know it's been a while- I actually moved across the country and have had no time at all to write. With the surgery, the holidays, and the move this has truly been one of the busiest times of my entire life. And though I knew it was coming, I still figured I would have had more time to write than I have had! Anyway, here is the next chapter and I hope you enjoy it. Please keep the reviews coming y'all- love hearing what you think of each update!

Bella bounded up the stairs. She was intent on finding Jessica before the dinner service, and finding some way of getting out of serving. Bella was sure that she didn't want to be around Edward, not after the other night. Something about the way he had interacted with that blonde girl had put Bella in a foul mood, and she was willing to do just about anything in order to avoid seeing him for at least another day.

And that just about anything included risking Jessica's wrath by lying to her in order to get out of the service.

Bella had gone through all the excuses in her mind, rejecting each one by one. Finally she had settled on telling Jessica that it was the first day of her cycle and she had particularly painful cramps.

This was Bella's favorite because it was the one that would most elicit sympathy in a fellow female. Bella wasn't sure whether Jessica would even be capable of that emotion, but it seemed like her best shot. Additionally, Jessica would have no way of verifying it, save checking under Bella's gown which she knew even Jessica wouldn't dare to do. If Bella claimed to be sick with a cold or fever, there were easy way to check the veracity of such claims.

Also, Bella had gotten her cycle a few days earlier. Her cramping had been minimal and she had carried on with work as usual. So if next month she experienced particularly painful cramps, it would sync up with the general time period.

However, Bella knew she would have to lay it on thick. Servants were generally always expected to work through any ailments, cramps included. But Bella had never asked for any time off before, and she was planning on truly giving it her all and putting on a full act of being in mind-altering pain.

Bella looked in the first room, Alice's sitting room. She knew that Jessica was up in one of the bedrooms turning down the sheets. She crossed through Alice's sitting room to peek in the bedroom. Finding it unoccupied, Bella quickly walked to Alice's washing table and dipped her hand in the porcelain water jug.

Bella quickly sprinkled some water droplets on her forehead, and then smoothed down her hair with more water, until it looked as though she had been sweating profusely. She pinched both cheeks until they were red and feverish looking, and checked her reflection in Alice's mirror to make sure she looked like a woman in pain and disarray.

Bella checked a couple other rooms before finding Jessica in Carlisle's room, laying the sheets out upon his bed. She knocked quietly on the door, then clutched her side with both hands.

Jessica whipped her head around, "What do you want and why aren't you helping prepare for the dinner service?"

"Jessica, I'm so sorry to both you," Bella made sure to make her voice sound strained and weak- the voice of a woman who had been under intense stress for the last few hours. "But I got my monthly visit today and… it's bad."

Jessica rolled her eyes and turned back to the bed. "Well, there's nothing for it. You are expected to serve at the dinner service tonight and that's it."

"Jessica, I'm in so much pain."

"We've all been there. You'll just have to do your best."

Bella briefly considered whether she should push her luck. But quickly a flash came to her of the other night, Edward staring into the blonde girl's eyes, and she decided it was worth it. "Jessica, I'm sweating everywhere. My hands are shaking. Why not just let Ashley serve in my place tonight? I already asked her and she agreed."

Jessica finally put down what she was doing and turned to face Bella. "Because Lord Cullen specifically requested you serve tonight."

Bella felt shocked. "Carlisle wants me there?"

"Edward Cullen."

Jessica watched Bella closely, registering the surprise on her face. Bella felt her hands almost drop from her side, so great was her shock. But she quickly remembered her mission and reassumed her expression of abject pain.

Now, more than before, she knew she absolutely had to get out of the dinner service.

"I'm bleeding so much this time. What will we do if I bleed on the Oriental rug?"

Jessica's face registered this information. She looked pensive for a second, then she looked back at Bella with a looked of frustrated defeat.

"Very well. Tell Ashley to prepare to be in the service. But I expect you to wake up early to do the laundry tomorrow, as well as dusting the entire first floor."

Bella nodded, and gave Jessica her most pitiful smile. "Of course, Jessica. And thank you."

Jessica didn't say anything, but simply turned back to Carlisle's bed and continued her arrangement of the sheets.

Bella turned and slumped down the hall, being sure to rag herself along as if she was in pain. She reached the entrance to the servant's stairs, and pulled herself up wearily, just in case she was to run into anyone else.

Bella reached her room and threw herself onto her bed.

In the emptiness of her room, she felt finally able to process the information Jessica had given her. Why on earth had Edward requested her to serve dinner?

Bella stared up at the ceiling, her eyes tracing the grains and lines of the stones. She wondered if Edward were trying to punish her, to make her uncomfortable in some way. But then again, what reason would he have to do such a thing?

Then an even stranger though entered her head. Maybe Edward liked being around her- maybe he found her to be… attractive?

Bella laughed. The thought was so preposterous that she did not even know how she had conjured it. There was no way that someone like Edward could ever take interest in a servant like Bella.