Evening, all! Thank you all so much for your kind words and prayers. My brother has settled into his room and the treatment has started. The operation is tomorrow but will depend on the treatment today and the blood test results. I just wish that it was all over now and he was back home.

Master Edward Cullen

Mother explained to us how Isabella did not care for town and it made my heart sink. I could understand her reasons, but if we were ever to develop a relationship, she would have to come.

I felt horrid for her.

Once dinner was out of the way, Mother and Isabella took the children back to the nursery for a little more playtime before they were bathed and put to bed and I couldn't help but smile.

I knew that Mother was going to try and persuade Isabella to stay the night and I hoped that she did, but I knew it would be a tough debate between them first.

Father and I retired to the drawing-room for a brandy and tobacco, like every night before us, and as we got to the room, we were met by Jasper who all but skipped up the corridor towards us.

"I am a man in love, and nothing can dampen the feelings in me tonight," he laughed as Father and I just stared at him.

He was only three years my junior and of course had been a tear-away child for most of his life, but to see him genuinely happy stirred something in me.

"I am pleased for you, son. All you need to do now is admit it to her and ask her father's permission to court," Father chuckled as he opened the door and we followed him in.

"I plan on asking him tomorrow. Can you believe that by the New Year, she could be my wife? I am on cloud nine, I think," he chuckled as we lit our cigars and father poured our drinks.

"Tell me more about the girl who has captured your heart, brother," I smiled. I knew that this Alice girl was a friend of Isabella's and if they were close, I would like to get to know this girl, too.

"She is a sweetheart, Edward, she really is. Her mother died when Alice was in her infancy and she was raised solely by her father, but she is the most delicate of creatures. Her father runs a farm in the next village over and Alice is either helping at the little school or doing amazing charity work in the county," he grinned widely as he spoke, and you could feel the happiness radiate off him.

I felt jealous to an extent. I could not have this with Isabella for another eleven months.

Talk turned to business and I was soon wrapped up in explaining that I would have to make a visit to town soon. I hated that I would have to be away from seeing Isabella, but I had no choice. I could not let my business suffer or I would have nothing to offer her when the time came.

"And how is Isabella, Edward, is she recovering from her mother's death?" Jasper asked gently.

"I think she has not dealt with it. Her work on the farm and caring for her young brother has pushed aside her mourning," I said sadly and felt his hand on my shoulder.

"Everything happens for a reason, Edward, and I am sure, when the time comes, you will make a very happy couple." He smiled at me before finishing his drink.

A knock at the door stopped us talking further and when Father admitted the person, poor Betsy was standing in the doorway looking nervous.

No one ever knocked on this door while the men were in here.

"I beg your pardon, my Lord, but Lady Cullen wanted me to inform you that all the children were in bed and that Miss Swan was settled in for the night in the guest room next to the nursery," she said timidly and curtsied, waiting to be dismissed.

Father nodded to her but said nothing and she left in a hurry.

"Well, that was easier than I thought it would be," he laughed once the door was closed.

"Isabella and Charles are here tonight?" Jasper asked with a knowing smirk and I nodded.

"She came for dinner and mother has encouraged her to stay for the night," Father grinned.

"But why retire so early to bed? I would have liked to get to know the woman who has my brother in a spin," Jasper smiled fondly at me, no teasing in his voice.

"Jasper, you forget that she rises early, far earlier than us, sometimes at four in the morning no doubt, and has a great deal to do during the day, she must feel exhausted to be awake so late," Father replied sadly. He knew also how much this young girl did on the farm during the day and night.

Once our drinks and cigars were finished, we retired to our separate spaces for the night, and I found myself in the nursery.

Young Charles and Henry were sharing a bed, looking like sleeping angels as their little snorts and grunts did nothing to rouse them from sleep. Charlotte was her own little vision under her covers. This was the first time I had entered the nursery in such a long time, and I felt no pain looking at my children.

I must have been in deep thought, because the next thing I knew, small arms were wrapping themselves around my neck.

Charles had woken and was hugging me.

"I cannot sleep without Bells," he murmured tiredly.

Oh.

I would have to take him to Isabella.

To her bed-chamber.

Isabella Swan

It did not take Lady Cullen long to persuade myself and Charles to stay and I think she was happy. Poor Charles was all but asleep at the small table in the nursery when Betsy announced that it was time for their baths.

He happily shared the tub with both Charlotte and Henry while Lady Cullen and I looked over pencil drawings Charlotte had made that morning.

That was when she asked me to stay, citing that it was getting to be too late to travel home.

I accepted, of course, and once Charles was dried and in bed with Henry, she showed me to the guest room next door.

I had a sneaky suspicion that it was a governess's room, as it was not overly decorated and was in a way, simple, and I was content with that.

Lady Cullen wished me a good night and then left me so I could strip out of my dress.

Once I was out of it, a childish and giddy feeling washed over me while I skipped over to the dressing table and sat down in front of the mirror.

By the light of the two candles on either side of it, I could tell that although I looked tired, my face had a blush to it that almost looked healthy.

I grinned as I picked up the brush and proceeded to undo my bun and then brush out my long hair.

I briefly wondered if Lady Cullen would tell me who cut her hair, so I could have mine done. It would be nice to not have it feel so dry and brittle at the ends.

A knock on the door brought me out of my thoughts and I did not think twice before I invited in the person.

To my absolute horror, Master Edward walked in by just a few paces and my yelp had him spinning on the spot to show his back to me.

"I am so incredibly sorry, Isabella, I did not know you would be so … undressed. Charles woke up and asked for you, so he is just outside," he stammered through his quickened words.

"Oh." I must have been blushing profusely as my eyes scanned the room. I rushed to the bed, retrieving the gown that was draped over the end of the bed, and hurriedly put it on.

"I am decent, please let him come in," I murmured a second later and Charles walked in looking bleary-eyed. He walked straight over to the bed and snuggled in under the covers.

After Charles was settled, I bade Master Edward a small 'good night' and I saw that he was flushed, no doubt with embarrassment, as he wished me well and left the room abruptly.

Although I was on the brink of exhaustion, I did not sleep well as I thought about how Master Edward must have seen me. Did I look so poor to him that I made him run? I knew it was not proper for a man to see a woman so undressed outside of wedlock, but the look in his eyes was so firm, so unfeeling, did he not like me now, not even as a friend?

The turmoil of my thoughts kept me from sleeping properly for the rest of the night and by five o'clock the following morning, I was dressing myself and rousing Charles from his sleep.

The embarrassment with Master Edward the night before had us leaving the house even before the maid could ask if we wanted breakfast.

I did not think that I could ever face him again and that pained me.

Don't be alarmed at her staying with them the night. Most evening meal guests stayed at the host's house. It was just how things were done. I suppose when you have to use a horse and carriage which didn't go that fast, it could take forever to get home, etc... xxx