Good evening! Jeez, it is SO cold here! And we had freezing rain earlier, too. I don't like this about winter.

Isabella Swan

I felt very conscious of myself as Mrs. Cope helped me bathe and dress for the night. Even though her words were kind, and her smiles were soft, I was simply not used to being aided thus. She spoke about the village life that week, but not with gossip. She explained about the church having a new roof before the winter season was over and how they were overrun with cattle when the next farm over left a gate open!

I smiled and replied when I could, but I could not stop the fear creeping in when I looked at all the material for the garments I was to wear.

The undergarments I could live with, but the corset I could not, though I had no choice.

The way the dress was cut, it would not sit well on the body if you were not wearing a corset, so I would have to find a way to deal with it.

I felt as though I could not breathe as I sat in the chair by the kitchen stove in nothing but my undergarments and a robe.

"You have very pretty hair, youngin'," Mrs. Cope said kindly as she ran a brush through my long hair. I had never had it cut, not since mamma snipped out my ringlets when I was about three years old, and I could now sit on it if I tried.

"Thank you," I replied as I thought of the two small boxes that were mine and Charles's which were under mamma's bed.

They were her keepsake boxes, one for myself and one for my brother, depicting our time as children.

Once my hair was put through the curling iron and was pinned up high on my head, she guided me on how to pluck my eyebrows, which was more painful than I cared to admit, and I made a promise to myself to never do that again. I could have blamed the action on vanity and vanity was not good, but I was more honest and admitted that it was downright painful.

"Time for the dress," she gleamed as she reached for the first layers of petticoats and, of course, the hoop.

When they were in place and tied firmly, she reached for the dress, which was on a spare chair at the table, and helped me into it.

I had never felt so pretty, yet restricted, as she did up the final row of tiny buttons at the side and made me twirl for her. It was designed in such a way that I could take it off myself later, which I was grateful for because I felt already that I could not breathe thanks to the corset.

"I hear George outside, so how about you step into the slippers while I help him load up the dray?" she asked, and I gave her a swift nod before she left, and I put on the small pair of satin slippers.

Before I could go anywhere, I knew that I had to say goodnight to mamma and show her the dress that she knew Lady Cullen had let me borrow.

"So… beautiful," she murmured weakly as she too got me to twirl for her.

"I am only as beautiful as the linen makes me, mamma," I smiled as I brought up her covers a little higher on her chest.

She was always so frail in the evenings, so I gave her a quick kiss to her forehead and wished her goodnight before leaving her to rest.

Mrs. Cope came back into the kitchen a few minutes later and after getting me to pinch my cheeks and put on my gloves, she proclaimed that I was ready and walked me out to the dray where her husband was waiting for me.

Mr. Cope took me directly to the front of the village hall and insisted that I go in and leave him to bring in the food, which went against my nature to help.

I dreaded what I was to witness inside, and Mr. Cope took away my reasoning for delaying the inevitable.

I always thought that dancing was a way of the devil, but apparently not, considering Lord and Lady Cullen were going to be in attendance this evening.

It wasn't too busy in the main hall when I walked in and I smiled slightly when I saw Alice Brandon directing people around with plates and bowls.

She had been my best friend as a young child, but sadly, she had moved with her family to the next village over, about five miles away, and we hadn't seen each other for such a long time.

I walked quickly over to her, ignoring the looks of the men in the room.

"Isabella!" she cried loudly as she roughly pulled me into her arms.

I hugged her back fiercely and took in the scent of sweet lilies and lavender.

"How have you been? Your letters are not enough! And look at your pretty dress, you put me to shame!" she chastised lightly with a smile, but she knew my situation and would know that this dress was not mine as well as why I didn't write very often.

I could barely afford food for us; paper wasn't a necessity.

"I have been busy, Alice, you know that, and this dress is on loan to me for the evening," I said honestly as we sat down at a small table in the corner.

We caught up on all things that we had missed together and promised to see each other more, even if she had to have her father bring her in the small carriage.

She left the table soon after, seeing some other friends of hers, and I was happy that she was happy.

After I helped Mr. Cope with the goose that I had cooked earlier in the day, I sat in the shadows for quite a while, reflecting on what was happening in front of me in the hall.

I was shocked that when I finally looked up, a young man was approaching me, and I was dismayed by his boldness.

I may not have been out in society, but I knew the protocols.

We had to be introduced before speaking and we had not been. Judging by his clothes and the way he walked, he was high up in society, so he should have known better.

"I beg your pardon, Miss, but I was wondering if you could help me?" he asked as he sat down.

I stayed silent, biting my tongue. If Lord and Lady Cullen were to walk in now and see me talking to this young man without a chaperon, heaven knows what they would think of me.

"I saw that your friend was with you a little time ago, the one in the light pink dress, and I was wondering if I could be so terribly brave and ask you to introduce me to her. I know it goes against everything instilled in us, but I just have to know her," he said softly as he looked for her about the room.

I should have said no to him, he was a stranger, and although I thought I might have recognized some features about him, I didn't know him at all.

I felt so stupid as I stuttered out a small yes and his and Alice's eyes met.

It was unsafe, but he promised me that he would only talk to her if I or his brother were present.

He would be a complete gentleman, he promised me.

I took his name and as soon as I heard it, I made the connection, and I was relieved.

Jasper Cullen.

We talked for a few more moments while he picked apart a flower and then he bade me farewell as he noticed his family arrive.

I blushed furiously as Lady Cullen smiled sweetly at me.

Her husband, Lord Cullen, also smiled, but the gentleman with them did not.

He glared.

Master Edward Cullen

I studied the young lady for a while before my family walked about the room and made small talk with every passing person.

She was a pretty young thing but looked too out of place for a setting like this. Her body language was stiff and uncomfortable, and she just did not seem to fit in with everyone around her.

"Edward, I need your assistance," Jasper said as he walked up to me, ignoring the few people I was surrounded by, and started to walk me off further into the hall.

"I have seen this girl that has caught my eye and I need you to be with me when I talk to her," he said happily as he swirled the contents of his glass around.

"Surely you know someone else who could take my place," I said sourly.

I admit that I was not content with how he seemed to latch on to any poor and unsuspecting girl the way he did, and I was in no mood to humor him.

"Indeed, I do, but I want you to be there. If she's going to be my future wife, I need your approval," he said with a smile, and I was dumbfounded.

Never had Jasper talked of marriage.

In fact, he had always brushed off the idea, citing that he didn't have the pressures that I had.

Not two minutes later we were standing in front of two young ladies, one far prettier than the other, and that's when I noticed that one of the girls was the one he was talking to earlier.

No one could have been more shocked than I was when I sent a silent plea to God, hoping that the pretty girl was not the one for him.

I did not want to find a girl pretty or beautiful.

I did not want another person's affection like I had had with Sarah.

I wanted to be on my own at least for a little while longer.

And yet here was this girl, all sweet and smiling shyly and I was hooked like a brown trout on a fly line.

What had happened tonight?

One minute I was happy to be lonely and then the next minute I was enraptured with her.

I quickly went through my thoughts to try and place her, but I had no clue.

"Edward, I would like to introduce you to Isabella and...?" he paused, waiting for Isabella's response.

In that split second, I thought how much her name suited her.

"Alice, this is Alice Brandon," Isabella muttered softly, and it was like her words caressed me.

I was never a romantic or poetic sort of a man, but at that moment, when I heard her voice, I wanted to hunt down a long-forgotten poem that would suit her beauty.

"Alice, what a beautiful name," Jasper said, also softly, as he took Alice's hand to kiss it. This was a very presumptuous thing to do, but Alice smiled sweetly and took her hand back, not saying a thing.

"Ladies, this is my older brother, Edward, and I am pleased to say that our mother finally dragged him out of the house and to one of your balls," he said with charm and both ladies smiled gently.

He made further small talk towards the young girls, but only Alice would reply, although Isabella certainly wasn't bored with his words.

Before I could engage her in any conversations, father pulled me away to meet with the new judge that had been elected earlier on in the day and I had to leave Isabella with Jasper, which was not something I was comfortable with.

I wanted to be the one to talk to her, to enjoy her smiles and little laughs, not Jasper.

The rest of the night slowly ticked by, and I was loathed not to spend any more time with Isabella.

I noticed that she and Alice walked about the room but did not dance.

I wondered if she would like to.

I could quite happily ask her to dance, but I felt too uncomfortable to do that just yet.

Instead, I just watched her. Although she seemed nervous, she held her head high and smiled sweetly as people spoke with her. She made small talk with other ladies in the room and nodded her head a few times, but that was it. She did not eat and never danced.

It was not until I saw her talk with mother that I saw my opportunity to ask her to dance, or at least talk with her.

Before I could weave my way through the crowd to them, I saw mother briskly walk her out of the hall, and by the time I caught up with them, they were nearly outside.

"Mother, is everything okay?" I asked carefully, not to scare Isabella as she rested her weight on mother's arm.

She looked awfully pale and all I wanted to do was help her.

"Isabella feels ill, and she needs some air, would you open the doors for us?" she asked gently, and I didn't hesitate as I jumped towards them and did as I was asked.

Her name really was beautiful and so fitting for the delicate-looking girl.

I never left their side as mother helped Isabella get seated on a small crate and tried to get her to take some deep breaths of the cool night air.

I did not understand why Isabella had captured such a reaction from me, just watching her breathing.

She was but a child, a young lady.

I must have been a clear ten years her senior, thinking that she may have been at least nine and ten.

"Edward, be a dear and fetch Isabella some punch, I fear the humid air of the hall has affected her throat," mother said firmly as I took my eyes from the beauty in front of me.

"Of course," I muttered as I took one last look at Isabella and went inside.

I was quick to return, and Isabella had still not moved.

Her breathing was deep, and her eyes were closed.

"Do we need the doctor, I can go fetch him if need be," I said with concern as I kept my eyes on the girl.

She looked so ill.

"A doctor is not needed, Edward, she is just a little faint. This scene is not to her liking and has taken its toll on her tonight," mother replied, and I heard a slight huff from Isabella.

"She is still here and does not liked to be talked about. If you give me a moment, I shall be fine," her voice, albeit strained, was sweet and soft, but full of determination.

"Isabella, I thought you had gone to sleep on us," mother goaded her lightly and she finally opened her eyes to me.

"Although I am tired, I will not permit myself to fall asleep with the present company," she whispered as her eyes scanned me carefully.

I gave her a sweet smile in reply and although it was dark outside, I could still see her cheeks flush.

We accompanied Isabella home soon after she had finished her punch and I made sure to walk her to the door.

My mother kept a firm eye on us, not that I would ever dream of acting in such an inappropriate way toward Isabella.

I bade her a quiet goodnight and stayed by the door until she had walked in and secured the lock behind her.

I walked back to the carriage with a small smile on my face and hoped that I would be able to conjure up a reason to see her again soon.

Once in the carriage, mother said that she was tired also and that she would like it if I escorted her home. Father would be coming home later once he had spoken to everyone that he needed to, using the ball as an excuse to conduct a little business.

And that reminded me.

"Mother, you did not introduce me to this girl that you wished me to see tonight," I groaned lightly as the carriage started to move.

"'Tis no matter now, dear." She replied with a not-so-hidden smile.

I LOVE Isabella's backbone! Such a strong girl and look how she's got Edward already smiling etc...

Um, a tissue warning will be in place for tomorrow morning's chapter. Even 10 years on, I still cry. Sorry...