I made a boo-boo. I blame it on a total lack of sleep, I twisted my knee and I'm miserable.

Please ignore the last chapter (I filled it with a blank because the site wouldn't let me switch out documents). This is the real chapter and the one I posted yesterday will post later.

Jeez, I hate technology sometimes lol xx

1st December 1843

…

Isabella Swan

I had been in town all of six days and although I loved the company, the house, and I will admit a little of the sights, I missed home terribly.

In fact, I missed young Charles more than anything.

It was so strange to be away from him and I missed his cheeky laugh and smiles even more.

Not only did I miss him, but everything else that went hand-in-hand with life back at home.

Although I did not miss the rising early side of life, I did miss my animals and the small home that had been my shelter all my days.

The farmhouse may have been small, but it was my safe harbor; the one place I knew Charles and I were okay.

Forgive me if I sound rude, while both the homes owned by the Cullen's may well have been spacious and comfortable, I did still prefer the cocoon of my own home.

That did not mean that I was too uncomfortable to enjoy my stay in town, however.

Over the past four days, all three of the Cullen's had been very attentive, especially Edward, and I must admit that once I relaxed about shopping, I actually enjoyed it a little.

While Edward and Carlisle were working the other day, Esme had taken me shopping to the indoor markets and I was amazed at the array of items for sale even though this time of year was barren outside.

She had explained that most came in from the continent or from large hothouses in the country and I was flummoxed.

There was so much greenery and colors to the plants and when we went through each stall of food, we were even allowed to sample some of the delights.

I did like a lot of the sweets, candies, and chocolates, but I fell in love with some of the fruits and cheeses that they had on offer.

I remembered once that father had to come to town, I cannot remember my age, but I was very small, and he brought me back an orange. Since then, I had never had another, except for the candied peel for baking and Esme had bought us a large bag of them for our dessert that night.

What made me happiest though, was almost acting like a child again.

I knew it sounded a little daft, but to have proper grown-ups looking out for me and for me to have the worries back home, I felt as though I had come alive.

That was until two days ago, of course.

Esme and I had a woman's talk last week when we had just arrived and it puzzled me why, but two days ago it all came to light. I started to bleed.

Once I had told Esme, with embarrassment flooding me, she smiled and showed me what to use and when, in order to help me.

I wondered aloud why I had never heard or seen anything with mamma, but as Esme pointed out, a woman's 'time' was a very personal thing indeed and even children would not hazard a guess as to what was happening.

So, that was two days ago and now I felt a little better at having things properly explained to me.

It was another part of life that I would now have to deal with.

The bleeding and cramps I could deal with, but when it was together with the corsets I was wearing, it did become a little too uncomfortable, but I was bearing it.

Through our walks in town, Esme had been blunt about what to expect when I courted Edward and corsets were one of them.

Fine dresses and a certain behavior was also expected, but Esme had no concerns in that department.

"A girl like you has more sense of decorum in your little finger than half the women in this town," she had said to me this morning and I could not help but laugh at her smile.

And here I was, just freshly bathed and waiting for Esme and the maid to help me dress for tonight.

We were going to dinner with another family member tonight and I was very nervous. I questioned whether I would be permitted to go, not being allowed to attend social events due to mourning, but Esme and Carlisle both agreed that I should attend.

Edward, of course, refused to go if I could not and that played at my guilt. I would not want him to stay behind for me.

"Isabella, are you decent?" I heard Esme's voice on the other side of my door, so I quickly picked up my dressing gown and covered myself.

"I am," I called back once I was ready.

She and her maid walked in, with Esme holding a gown that surely could not be for me.

"Esme, I do not think I could wear this, it is not fitting," I chastised lightly, shaking my head and then remembering the painful rag rollers in my hair.

"It will do for one night while your others are with the seamstress and where we are going will not care for how you look, but just your company," she returned lightly.

The gown itself was beautiful, but it was not lilac.

It was a dark golden silk gown with an embroidered pattern that reminded me of ripe wheat blowing in the wind, and I was in awe.

"It is a little heavy, but it is an evening gown, so will be perfect for tonight as you will mostly be sitting," she said as her maid helped me on with the corset that I was dreading.

Once it was fitted along with the rest of my undergarments, both of them helped me with the gown.

Esme was right when she said it was heavy and I felt as though I was being held into place by it.

"You look simply beautiful, Isabella," she beamed when the dress was in place and my hair was fixed, minus the dreadful rollers.

I much preferred the curling iron that Mrs. Cope had used the last time I dressed up, but I agreed with Esme. If I were going out to somewhere in town, an iron would not suffice.

"I have one last item that will finish this dress off nicely, but I do not want you to put up a fuss when you see it, so turn around," she instructed, and I was nervous.

I did as I was told and turned my back toward her and could not help but flinch when I felt cool metal around my neck.

"It is a beautiful gold, garnet, and pearl necklace that is completely fitting to the owner's skin. It looks flawless on you, dear," she said quietly as I turned on the spot to face her.

"Have a look in the mirror," she smiled just as her maid took a step back and also smiled at me.

The necklace was beyond breathtaking.

The medium-length gold chain held a small red stone on either side of it and both were surrounded by pearls and at the end of the chain was the same, a single red stone with pearls, but larger than the other two. Underneath the large stone was one last arrangement of garnet and pearl, which was smaller than all of the others.

If I thought the dress was heavy, it was nothing compared to this, but the sensation was due more to its value than the actual weight.

"He will be happy to know how much it suits you," she grinned widely, and then it hit me.

This was not from Esme.

It was from Edward.

"This is new? He bought me this?" I gasped.

I would not have minded wearing this if it were borrowed, but bought new? I did not know whether to smile or scream.

"I told him that I should have said that it came from me, but he wanted me to tell you that he is still not bored, whatever that means," she grinned while I blushed.

"The little toe rag!" I exclaimed, but instead of being angry or cross, I laughed.

"So, you are not upset?" she asked with another smile and a small laugh.

"No, but let us not tell him that just yet."

…

After finalizing my hair and dress, we walked downstairs to the sitting room to find the men.

Edward looked positively nervous as I walked in through the door and I gave him a small glare for good measure as I said hello to Carlisle.

"You look stunning, Isabella," he grinned widely as he took my hand.

"I still feel very out of place, but I think I am learning to just do as I am told when it comes to your wife," I laughed as Esme came to my side.

"You are beautiful as you are, the dress and jewels just enhance it all," she replied with a giggle.

Edward had still held back, but now he stood and walked over to where we were standing by the fireplace.

Esme and Carlisle walked off to the side as Edward came in front of me.

"You look beautiful, Isabella," he said gently as he picked up my hand and kissed the back of it. "The necklace does in fact enhance your natural beauty, but I do have another small gift that will hopefully enhance another with you. Your smile," he grinned as he held out a small piece of paper to me.

I was not angry with him, not in the slightest, and anything I did feel for him as a man morphed into something quite stronger when I took the paper opened it up.

Helo bells

Marster Emit iz helping me with my leters and sed that I cood rite yoo and see wott yoo think. He seys to tell yoo that I am beeing good and the farm iz bizzy.

I hav been playing with loty and henree a lot this week and we got wet wen we went out looking for farees. I am wel after loty helped me get dry. I wood not mind but she iz a gurl bells.

My hand herts now so I wil stop riting and send yoo a kiss in sted

Luv yoo bells.

Charles.
x

Tears strolled down my face as I read and re-read his letter.

"Happy tears I hope, Isabella?" Esme said from my side after a while and all I could do was nod.

"The best," I sniffed and passed her Charles's letter.

Our parents would have been so proud.

Once they had all read it themselves, smiles and small-talk broke out.

"So where are we going, who are we to dine with?" I asked as Esme handed me a gold cape and white fur hand muff that matched my gown with perfection.

"My cousin has invited us to dine with her and her family tonight," Carlisle said with a gleam in his eye and I suddenly felt sick.

I only knew of one cousin that he had.

There. I double and triple checked that this one is the right chapter. Lol. I'll see you in a little bit to get this back on track xxx