Evening! So, only one reviewer got close about the lavender material, and no, it isn't for a wedding gown lol.
Fun fact: I don't have a problem with writing about couples with large age gaps or couples who already have children from previous relationships. I was 17 when I met my future husband and he was 32. I started early in life, having my first son 5 days before my 16th birthday (I won't go into the details), but 22 years later and we are still as madly in love as we were at the start. He took on my family and I took on his. Scarily, my eldest step-son is only 4 years younger than me!
Master Edward Cullen
As the minutes counted down until Isabella and Charles arrived, my nerves increased. I did not know what exactly it was that Isabella had which had enticed me to think of her so much, but I was not displeased at the present moment.
I found that I wanted to get to know her and if any, what likes she had in the world. I knew that mother had bought her some ladies books for her birthday a few weeks passed, but what else did she like? What flowers were her favorite? What poems or verses did she enjoy?
"Edward, the ladies will be down any moment, so finish off your brandy and tell me what is going through your mind," Father laughed as I swirled my drink, deep in thought.
"I do not know why she's making me feel like this, Sir, I honestly do not know. I should despise myself for thinking of her when she is but sixteen, but I can not make myself feel that. She does not conform, she is too young, she has no parents and is a tenant, yet I see these things as positives in her life, how can that be so?" I asked my father with desperation.
I looked up to his eyes after he remained silent for too long and what I saw shocked me.
He was grinning from ear to ear like a mad man.
"What did I say that amused you?" I huffed.
"When Sarah came into your life, you tipped your hat, sent her flowers, and from what I could tell, sent her the occasional letter. When you married, you were at best, content with your life. The last time I saw true happiness on your face was the day your children were born, but that was it. And then of course, Isabella is thrust into your world and has spun it off its axis. This poor and unsuspecting young girl has spun your world around like there is no tomorrow and I find it enjoyable that you are feeling the way you are."
"Well thank you for that, I feel so much better now," I retaliated with a frown as I finished off my drink.
"Edward, I think you will find, that in time, you may fall in love with this young girl and her with you, and while myself and your mother will be overjoyed at the union, please remember the customs that we have taught you, what society expects of you. She is in mourning and will be for some time. On top of that, she has a new business venture starting with myself and will now be a mother to young Charles. She may be older beyond her years, but that has not been through choice. She needs, at some point, to remember that she is but a child, for a little while at least." Father smiled somewhat sadly, but there was a glint in his eye.
"So you are saying, that above all, I need to respect the fact that she is still quite young, but has a large number of responsibilities on her shoulders? I also have to remember, of course, that if anything were to become of us, she would be expected to attend court, to visit with your cousin and to attend balls in town. I cannot see her willing to do that and I think that will be the making or breaking of us," I said sadly as I looked at my now empty hands.
"Love conquers all, Edward, and if she grows to love you as much as your mother and I love each other, she would agree to anything. Remember, your mother was in a similar situation to Isabella when we met and look where we are now. Two fine sons, grandchildren, and a beautiful home," he smiled widely, and I smiled with him.
"Talking of sons, where is Jasper tonight?" I asked with a chuckle, knowing exactly where he was.
"Your brother is visiting Miss Alice Brandon tonight, or so he tells me. He has also made firm friends with her father, which seems to be going in his favor, but alas, he is just as nervous as you are. Poor boy still has not plucked up the courage to ask her father for permission to court her. It has been amusing to both myself and her father." He laughed a little harder as he stood up and I followed.
"When the time comes to ask for permission to court Isabella, who do I ask?" I murmured as we walked towards the door.
"Her permission is all you need, but out of respect, I think sitting down with young Charles may be the way to her heart," he replied as we walked out of the door to see if the ladies had returned from their walk of the house.
The ladies were not done with their walk, but we were not kept waiting long in the sitting room before they walked in and yet again, Isabella was a vision in front of my eyes.
I knew she was in her white mourning dress, but that fact did not detract from how beautiful she was. Her hair was in a simple knot at the top of her head and her skin was slightly flushed.
It flushed deeper still when Father welcomed her into his home and kissed the back of her hand. Only when Mother and Father had moved further into the room and Isabella's hand was in mine did I carefully make a move.
I kissed the back of her hand as gently as I could and let myself internally smile while I watched a blush creep over the tops of her cheeks, and she curtsied a little.
"You look beautiful today, if you do not mind me saying so, Isabella," I said softly, pulling her hand slightly further towards me and resting it into the crook of my arm.
She hesitated for a full second or two as she looked towards my parents and then obliged and let me lead her over to the couch on the other side of the room to where my parents were sat.
I knew that we were not courting, and this was a bold move on my part, but I was so desperate to talk to her, to get to know her, that I hoped she would not mind my forwardness.
"I hope you do not mind sitting apart from my parents, but I thought we could use this time to get to know each other, beyond bonding over milking cows and hunting for eggs, that is," I said softly as I motioned for her to sit and once she had, I sat carefully beside her, leaving a good distance between us.
"I do not mind if your parents are agreeable with it?" she hesitated a little before looking down at her fingers.
"Good. Well then, how about you tell me about yourself a little?" I asked her, again, keeping my tone soft.
"There is not much to tell, and I am sure that you already know everything there is," her shoulders shrugged ever so slightly before she corrected her posture to sit up straighter.
"I am sure that what you said is not true, but if you will permit me, maybe I could ask you another question in its place?" I hedged and once she gave me a small nod in reply, I smiled again.
"How about you explain to me why you are so nervous this evening. Where is that strong girl I saw just after Michaelmas who stomped her foot and huffed about the place before showing me how to milk a cow?" I chuckled softly as she looked down again.
"I am nervous, Sir, I have never been in such a grand house, and I am afraid that I will say something to harm your family or that I may break something. I know that when it comes to dining, you sit at a formal table with several plates, bowls, and cutlery, but I am used to a small, rickety table with no fine China or silver," Isabella took in a ragged breath, and only then did I realize how nervous she truly was.
"Isabella, listen to me when I say that nothing you could say would harm or discredit our family, I assure you of that and as to dining, I am more at a loss than you are. I still make mistakes as to what cutlery is used for what part of the meals and do not even let me start trying to work out how to break a roll instead of cutting it, or what glass to use when. To me, a knife, a fork, and a spoon are all that is needed to eat and maybe a wine glass or two, but the rest is just for show and fanciness," I said mischievously, causing Isabella to giggle gently.
That one sound had something stirring in me that I had not felt in such a long time. Hope.
"The fanciness is what scares me and of course, Charles does not know how to behave in front of such people, so I am afraid that he will do or say something embarrassing," she whispered and then rose her eyes to mine.
"He is just a small child, Isabella, and no one will fault him for being just that, I promise you. Now, dinner will be served shortly, so how about we go and hunt down the children so that they will not waste away in the nursery," I said with a calming tone as I stood up and offered my hand to her.
She looked at it carefully for a beat before accepting it once again.
So Isabella is experiencing her first 'grand' meal in a large house. I can totally understand how she feels. I'll see you in the morning!