No copyright infringement intended. The author neither profits nor claims any rights to the character's names or other proprietary property.

Chapter 29

When I downed my drink and coughed, Uncle Carlisle laughed at me, that pompous ass. It had been so long since I'd had hard liquor I was almost new to it. Not that I'd ever been a drinker. Even during my brief stint at war I didn't drink heavily. Firstly, British ale was too strong both in taste and potency and second, there wasn't much around to drink, or rather, I felt it best to leave what little there was to the people who needed it more than I.

Isabella fit seamlessly into my small family. She didn't talk much but she smiled a great deal. The cake she made was wonderful. It had a flavour I couldn't place but Aunt Esme caught it. I'd never even heard of herbs in a cake, however the combination of lavender and rosemary was so incredible. The cake itself was a work of art as Bella decorated it with tiny candied flowers; violets and primrose petals on a pale cream-coloured icing.

I have to admit I was was a bit disappointed when she left the remainder of the cake for my aunt. She accepted both a firm hug and a kiss from Aunt Esme, a handshake from Uncle Carlisle (which surprised me immensely) and she exchanged recipes with Charlotte. Although if I was surprised by her in regards to Uncle Carlisle, I was absolutely gobsmacked when, instead of getting into the car, she sought out Peter and had a whispered conversation with him before I could catch up with her. I saw Peter talking to her and for the first time I had ever seen, he was doing most of the talking.

I wanted to ask her about her exchange with him but she looked too happy and quite serene; I didn't want to spoil her mood. Instead of going home, she directed me to a small road that was almost overgrown and difficult to see. I worried momentarily for Alice's undercarriage, but I quickly put past to that when the drive turned out to be quite smooth. The road twisted a great deal and then ended abruptly with a broken bridge over a gentle stream.

I silenced Alice's engine and waited for Bella to tell me why we were here. She sat for a few moments before slowly opening the door. I rushed as quickly as I could, but in the time it took me to run around to her side she had already started walking over to the water and the remains of the bridge.

"Many clandestine affairs happened here or at least that was the rumour when I was younger. People may have found a new spot by now. I had always wanted to see it, to catch someone out here but I was never allowed. Pity, it would be a nice place for a picnic, don't you think?" She wheeled around to face me as she spoke. I could see the charm of the place, secluded and quiet.

"I'll tell you as much as I can but we shouldn't take too long here. Father will worry, even if I'm with you. I don't think he's ready to let me go just yet." Bella led me over to a collection of large rocks and brushed one off to sit. I handed her my clean handkerchief and she arranged it on the rock before taking her seat. I leaned against the broken pillar that was once a support footing for the bridge, waiting for her to start.

"I don't think my mother ever knew how to love anyone but herself. Their marriage wasn't arranged, but it was well-orchestrated. Father was already a well-known, established legal figure and her parents wanted the match. Mother wanted to live in Boston or New York or, even better, London. She made no secret that she hated it here; the house, the town and most of the people who lived nearby." There was no mistaking the sour look on Bella's face.

"She felt herself better than everyone for her fancy French name and the legacy of living in one of the grander homes in town. Father fell in love with her. When they were courting, she was the ideal, demure young thing; it wasn't until after they were married that her true colours came out. She didn't know that part of the reason for the marriage was that Father also fell in love with the town and the house. But, moreover he came to love my great-grandfather. They were so much alike and the old man adored his Charlie. My grandfather died young, when my mother was a girl; her mother remarried once, unsuccessfully, so she was raised here.

"Great-grandfather left the house to Father, possibly as a consolation for having to deal with Mother, I don't know. But anyway, she wasn't the warm and caring person a mother or wife should be. I don't want you to think she was cruel or anything like that; she didn't beat me or imprison me, she just didn't really care unless it had something to do with her directly. I had a lovely, sweet governess for a long time before I started school."

Bella looked down at her hands for a few moments, lost in thought, I guess. She cleared her throat before resuming her tale.

"Father was blinded by her. God, he loved her to distraction. And she could do no wrong in his eyes. I learned that early. I didn't mind. I knew he loved me too, but differently and secondary to her. I spent most of my time with Jasper anyway. He and his wife Maria lived on the property. Maria was sickly and passed when I was about ten or eleven. Jasper just kept working; I don't think theirs was a happy marriage, either. I was Jasper's little shadow. He taught me a great deal about plants and other things. He let me get dirty and he treated me so well, I couldn't help but love him. Mother didn't approve once I began to grow, if you know what I mean."

She looked at me pointedly and I understood. It wasn't proper for a young girl who was just turning into a woman to be palling around with the older gardener. No matter how innocent their relationship was, how familial, someone would talk and it could ruin the family name, and Bella's reputation.

AN: Thank you for reading.

Many, many thanks to Beachcomberlc for putting up with me. Thanks to JulieToo and Lunabev. Much love to IpsitaC77 for helping fill in some gaping holes.