It's been crazy! I've had horrible computer problems today with it overheating. Blergh!

November 26th, 1843

Lady Cullen

I was full of so much humor as I watched poor Isabella's reaction to my mention of us going to town. I knew she would use every excuse in the book on why she would not go, but I had made sure that I covered every base and gave her no room for movement.

Carlisle even chastised me, albeit lightly, that I had a gentle word with the vicar about Isabella's mourning period when he came to visit with me before visiting Isabella. I did not do it out of lack of respect for Renee, nor even for the benefit of my son, who I knew was moping about in town like a wet fish. I did it for Isabella and that is all.

I knew how she felt about coming to our house for dinner, or even visiting town when she had no other choice and if the vicar, who actually expressed the idea himself, was the one who gave her leave to shorten her mourning period, I knew she would feel so much more at ease.

My main concern was that Isabella no longer felt guilty about her mourning and that she could move on with the plans to make hers and Charles's lives easier to cope with. She took on so much and her recent confinement to bed with exhaustion was proof of that.

As soon as she was at the house, I took her upstairs and broke the news about town as we went. I made sure to keep talking as Betsy met us in my dressing room and Isabella just stood there while I raided the rails.

As soon as I had chosen four acceptable dresses, Betsy took them to the other maids to have altered to fit Isabella. I knew that between a few of them that it wouldn't take long, and it didn't. Just a few hours later, Isabella had dresses suitable, and she looked beautiful in them.

We rested well last night after a good meal at the inn, halfway between home and town and this morning we would finish off the journey.

If I had my way, I would have ridden horseback and arrived at town last night, but a lady would never make that far a journey, so the slow carriage had to do.

I managed to settle Isabella into bed rather quickly and once Carlisle had finished his business, we settled ourselves into bed and joked about the events of the day.

Morning had found us quickly and by the time we had dressed and eaten breakfast, late morning was there, and we were again in the comfort of the carriage.

"Everything still seems green," Isabella mused as she watched the scenery fly by, and it made me smile.

"It will still be rather green until about a mile or so before town. You will start to see small gatherings of houses and buildings and then it builds up to rows and rows. Not all is bad about town, you know," I laughed lightly.

We finally pulled up to Edward's townhouse at just past three o'clock in the afternoon and the slight moan from Isabella told me how uncomfortable she was in her corset. I quickly cast my mind back to when I was first introduced to one and I did feel pity for her.

They were not the best thing to wear, but when in society, you had no choice in the matter.

"Edward will still be at work until gone five, so I suggest that we settle ourselves in and have a late lunch before we ready ourselves to meet him," I grinned widely at Isabella's blush while I led her into the grand house.

"And you are sure that he will not mind me being here?" she hedged carefully.

"All will be well, Isabella, so do not worry about a thing."

…

Isabella Swan

"All will be well, Isabella, so do not worry about a thing," she replied softly.

"That is easier said than done, Esme," I huffed slightly as we walked through the door, and I took in the sight of Edward's home.

It was stunning, it was that simple. The walls were painted a very light blue in color and the stark contrast to the dark tiled flooring and white woodwork pulled it all in together, making the entrance hall inviting and not too cold in feeling.

"I thought townhouses of our time were dark and dreary," I mused as I looked at a huge painting of Lord and Lady Cullen's home.

"Yes, well, Edward has never really conformed to what is fashionable and while the majority of the houses are dark and cluttered, Edward, of course, is the exact opposite," she giggled lightly in return as she walked us up the stairs and then showed me to the room which would be mine for the next week.

"I suggest we relieve your body of the corset for a while and let you rest before we eat, how does that sound?" she asked and before I could agree, she was unlacing my dress.

After she gave me strict instructions to ring the bell as soon as I was rested, she left me in my guest room and allowed me to climb into the softest bed I had ever known.

I must have slept some time because when I awoke, it was dark outside, and I had to remind myself where I was.

I was still a little miffed that Esme had brought me to town and from what I had seen of it as we drove through, I knew it would not be to my liking, but I had little choice in the matter. I knew that it would be a place of hectic-ness and noise, but nothing prepared me for how loud and dirty it was truly was until I saw it with my own eyes.

After freshening up with a bowl of water on the dressing table, I rang the bell.

There was no way that I could get dressed in that contraption on my own, so I sat down on the edge of the bed waited to see if anyone would come to me.

I was agitated after just a minute or two as I felt as though I was being held up and that made me both scoff and roll my eyes.

Did ladies truly wait on the edge of their beds until the help came to dress them?

How could they stomach it?

I was used to getting up early, dressing by myself and running a farm and home, on my own!

And that was when a thought crossed my mind.

Would this be my life if I agreed to wed Edward? I knew it was stupid to think so far ahead in time, but he did suggest that he wanted that for us, so would this be my life?

I hoped and prayed that it was not.

I did not want to be waited on or helped to be dressed.

I was not one of those ladies.

"Isabella, did you rest well?" Esme asked as soon as she walked in the door, and I noticed that she had changed her gown. It was more opulent than the one she travelled in, and she looked even more regal.

"I did, thank you, but I feel out of sorts. I am used to dressing on my own and now I find that I cannot," I grouched as I stood up.

She walked over to the closet and pulled out another lilac dress and before I found the time to wonder how it got there, she was pulling me over to the dressing table.

"Can you keep a secret, Isabella?" she asked with a grin as she started to brush out the curls that the pins had caused.

"Of course," I murmured as I looked at her reflection.

"There is nowhere to be tonight and calling hours are over, so I should think that maybe we could forgo the corset for tonight," she grinned wickedly, and my hopes lifted.

"Thank heavens. I did not think my poor ribs could cope," I laughed.

We spent a little more time in my room as she helped me with my hair and gown and then we were to go downstairs for dinner.

"You might find town a little strange, to begin with, Isabella, but you will soon get used to it and its timescales. Unlike at home, where we rise early and eat early, here is completely different. To accommodate business hours, most meals are late in the day and some parties do not start until nine or ten and do not finish until at least three or four in the morning. I would not expect you to acclimatize to it all straight away, but we must make use of the daylight hours," Esme mused to me as we walked down the grand staircase of Edward's home.

Edward's home.

Would it someday be mine too?

The thought unnerved me.

Esme showed me the rooms as we walked through the house until there was only one door left and I was sure that she was having problems containing whatever excitement that was brewing within her.

As she opened the door, she took my hand and pulled me through the opening, and I gasped at the sight.

"Isabella!" Edward called out, happy but shocked that I was there, and he rushed to put down his book and leapt up and rushed to me.

"I did not think that you would be here, that you would come! Mother said that she had a surprise for me, but I did not think for one moment that it would be you," his joy was obvious as he finished speaking and then took up my hand. "I have missed you so, I truly have, and I always wait impatiently for your letters. Isabella, you are in lilac!" he finally noticed and as we sat down on the small couch by the fire, Esme filled him in on what the vicar had suggested about my mourning phase.

"By Candlemas, by February you will be free to court?" he asked in a whisper, almost too low for me to hear.

"I see what your mind is thinking, son, but please remember that we are being very lax with you as it is when in regard to Isabella's wellbeing, do not push your luck," Esme tried to sound stern, but the smile on her face gave her away. Edward listened though and sat up a little straighter and left just a little distance between ourselves.

"Relax, son, your mother plays with you," Carlisle chuckled just as Betsy came in and announced that dinner was ready.

"Isabella, would you give me the honor of sitting next to me at dinner?" Edward asked politely as he stood up and held his hand out for me to take.

I looked at his hand quickly and then smiled as I raised my hand up to meet his.

The smile that graced his face when our fingers touched would forever be committed to my memory.

Renee passed away in September, so give or take 5-6 months and Isabella can come out of her mourning stage. I told you I had a plan for lavender fabric lol.

Do you think Isabella will end up liking town (London)? Up next, Edward and Isabella are way too sweet and Esme has to talk to Isabella about periods.