Ah, VD strikes again (made even more hilarious as it was my 300th review)!
Okay, let's break down your last review, because it did make me laugh...
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Poor Edward's late wife, married to a man who apparently didn't love her, even though she gave him children - THEY DIDN'T MARRY FOR LOVE! This was covered right at the very beginning of the story. If you go back, I even stated that couples back then rarely married for love. This was the norm. This was how it was done, it's as simple as that.
And now, another foolish girl fell for him and if something happens to him, she's stuck with his children with said woman. - Do you really think she's foolish? Seriously. With everything she's had on her shoulders, with caring for her dying mother, her young brother, the farm, etc... Do you really see her as foolish? I think I've shown from the very beginning that Isabella has a strong backbone. If she didn't like something, she'd say something and not let herself get pushed into something she wasn't comfortable with. Do you not see the love Isabella has for his children and how the children love her? Can you only see what you want to see, regardless of what the characters are showing? Oh, and this is a HEA, so she's not going to be left with his children.
A girl who is basically a child herself made to be a woman before she's ready, just because of the whims of rich people who have nothing better to do - At 16, she isn't classed as a girl, she isn't classed as a child. Hell, in the UK, where I live, right now, you can marry with parents' consent, rent a house, claim benefits and do pretty much anything but vote and buy cigarettes and alcohol. At. 16! Isabella IS NOT A LITTLE GIRL! She is classed as an adult and please, once again, remember that this is based in 1843, not 2013. They are not the whims of rich people. Esme and Carlisle are deeply in awe of Isabella and think the world of her. Esme is desperate to have Isabella as a daughter. I know, being a parent to 4 young adults myself, that I would NEVER put my children into a situation I thought would be wrong for them, just for my own whims!
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I really am smiling, you know, VD. Do you know why? Your reviews mean fuck all to me. Yes, I'm wasting my time explaining myself and the characters, to defend them against your judgment. The typical rules are to ignore bad reviwer/s. Guess what? I don't play by the rules, never have, never will. I'm certainly not doing all this for your benefit, I assure you. You see, when new readers come to this story, they may look at your reviews and worry. I don't want them to think badly because of one person. So when they get to read these author notes, they can make their own mind up. That's the brilliant thing about opinions, and trust me, I've seen all of yours. I've gone through the reviews you've left for other authors on all those stories and now I'm not surprised. And, I've also seen the reviews people have left for your stories. But, while your opinion of my stories doesn't bother me, I do have to say thank you, because all you do is make me smile and bump up my review count (I can be petty like that).
3,001 reviews
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1,276 followers
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And you are just one single person, a mere blip on the radar.
Plus, I've gone through labour four times, teething four times, terrible twos four times, and four lots of puberty. Nothing after that gets to me.
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To my other wonderful readers, shall we get on with it? MWAH!
12th December 1843
Isabella Swan
I thought that I might not have slept much last night after writing a letter to Charles.
I did though.
The days preceding last night had been long and arduous, but they were well worth it when I saw Edward mending by the day.
I was so glad that the smallpox blisters that he had were not too terrible, even though the fever had been touch and go for a while. The majority of blisters on his body were on his trunk, legs, and back, but despite what he thought — he was still beautiful to me.
He had snapped at me when he first saw them for himself and yes, I was hurt, but I knew it was not in his character to be so harsh. After I spoke with Carlisle, I knew that Edward was above everything — scared.
He feared that I would not wish to look at him in the current state that he was in, but he could not have been more wrong if he tried.
And I told him so.
He was so apologetic. I felt horrid for thinking of arguing with him, so in the end, I let him tell me everything on his mind, and then I shared my own thoughts.
Later that night, he held my hand while he explained his love of me, his fears, his wishes, and I was overtaken by feelings that I did not know how to cope with.
His gentle words and his soft touches to my skin opened up my heart in a way I never thought possible, and I knew that I truly loved him — as a woman loves a man — and I felt my chest swell so much I feared that it would break apart.
He asked very reverently if I would consent to be his wife, and there was no way that I could refuse him.
To watch his face when I replied with my answer was pure perfection.
The smile he gave radiated about the room, and as he sat up our lips brushed together ever so slightly.
The tingle that consumed me after that was beyond anything I could have ever described, even though I was a little shocked at his boldness.
He smiled radiantly, and I joined in with him as he explained that as I'd consented to be his wife, we could be a little bolder with our affection toward each other as long as we stayed respectful of each other until our wedding day.
Our wedding day!
I never dreamed or even thought about the prospect of marrying. Even when I had allowed myself to think of it, just a little, I never thought that it would be for love.
Oh, how wrong I was, and so happy to be wrong at that!
I hated that I would have to leave him to his room, but I had no choice in the matter. We both needed rest, and as there was nothing more I could do medically for him it would not be right to stay in the room all night — engaged to be married or not.
The following morning Esme informed me that I would need to speak with the Vicar who would be visiting and talk with him about our marriage and my mourning. I also needed to talk with him because I had no parent or guardian, so it was important that I knew what I was doing and what would be expected of me as a wife.
It did not take long for him to talk about everything that needed to be covered, and once he left — after making sure that I knew how to respect the memory of Mamma in a correct fashion — I was able to sit by Edward's side again.
He was in great spirits and had managed to write a letter to his own children about our good news.
I was secretly worried about how they would react, but he assured me that they loved me as much as he had grown to love Charles.
That thought warmed me; it truly did.
Once the excitement had settled in for the night, we talked about what would now be expected of me from Edward's point of view, and although I was unhappy with the majority of it, as long as he was by my side, I knew I would endure it.
He explained that at some point I would have to officially be presented at court. Not as a debutante, but as his wife. He sniggered at that thought, and when I pressed him for further information, he explained how many young girls would be heartbroken that not only himself, but his brother also would be starting a new season in town freshly married and off their lists of potential suitors.
I could not stop my grin at that information, even though I was very nervous to attend.
He calmed my fears considerably when he said that I had already dealt with the hard part — meeting his cousin, - and now that she would be family to me, my life, although changed, would be infinitely better.
I was told that I would be by his side at all times, unless it was after a meal and the women went to sit separately from the men, but other than that, we would be together.
Small talk led us on to discuss the farm and the business plans that we were halfway through completion.
I was very concerned that I would have to leave the farm at the cost of their pocket, but Edward had a plan for that. One that he would not tell me until he thought I was ready — whatever that meant.
That had all happened last night, and it was now morn and the day of my wedding to Edward.
I was beyond nervous as I sat in the bed where Esme had ordered me to stay.
I'd not seen much of her yesterday because she was out of the house, but when she woke me this morn at a very early time, she asked me to stay in bed until she had returned to me.
When she walked in the door, she and her maids were carrying boxes of heaven knows what and a large tray of breakfast.
"I do not expect you to eat it all, but today will be a long one. The maids are drawing you a deep bath for when you have finished with your food, and then the fun will begin." She grinned and placed the tray on my lap.
I finished the jam and toast which seemed light, but I took in the rest of the meal with a little disdain. I was still not used to eating so much. What person eats so much as soon as they wake?
I managed what I could, but it wasn't much. Esme finally relented and took my tray away, but made sure to leave me with my normal cup of tea.
When the tray was disposed of, she guided me out of bed and toward the bathroom. I had already had a shallow bath the day after I had arrived, but not since, and now I was shocked.
The bath had been filled almost to the top, and I feared that if I got in it would overflow and flood the floor.
Esme laughed at my expression, but soon calmed as she dismissed the staff and then helped me undress.
To my delight, the bath did not overflow, and I laid back against a cotton cloth so as not to bruise my back on the copper tub.
We spoke softly about a few things including Edward and Jasper as children while I soaked and cleaned my body.
The bath cooled down, and I was ready to get out and get dressed, but Esme slowed me.
"There is one more thing you need, I think." She smiled while she wrapped a bath gown around my body and made me sit in a chair opposite the dressing table.
I watched carefully while she walked over to the door and opened it wide enough to let someone in.
"Alice!" I squealed like a little girl when she walked into the room with flowers in her hands and wearing a beautiful light blue dress.
"How could I not be your bridesmaid when Jasper would be Edward's groomsman?" she giggled while I stood up and rushed to hug her.
"I am so happy that you are here, but how so? Edward is ill — you should not be here," I said in quiet awe.
"I am in the same situation as you with regards to smallpox because I had cowpox as a child, as no doubt you had, and Jasper said he did not care if he were to be ill, he would not miss his brother's wedding," she laughed and gave an exaggerated roll of her eyes.
"So, are we ready to make Isabella even more beautiful?" Esme finally cut in, and we both nodded in reply.
It did not take the women long to decide on how I should have my hair and as much as I fought, Alice won the argument on having my eyebrows shaped again.
The memory of the last time I had it done was still fresh in my mind, but that was mainly because it was the night I first met Edward and, of course, the night Mamma passed to be with Father.
I let myself shed a tear or two for her, but Esme assured me that Mamma would not like me to weep for her on my wedding day, and I had to agree.
"Now, Isabella. You have been given a present, and before you balk, please be aware that Edward has already been told about it and he is happier than anyone could have guessed. So, I do hope that you accept it graciously," Esme said cautiously as she walked to the door to call a maid.
Alice giggled and winked at me, but I was left confused.
Who would have given me a gift that would have made Edward so happy?
I knew that it would not have been another surprise like Alice and that no one would have brought the children here because of the shroud of illness that hung over the house.
Esme and another maid walked back into the room carrying a large cream box with a deep red ribbon around it. A huge bow sat on the top.
"What in heavens is that?" I asked as I turned my body in the chair to look at them properly.
Once the box was deposited onto the bed, Alice all but dragged me out of the chair and toward the ominous box.
"There is a card, would you like to read it?" Alice giggled lightly again, and I nodded.
Esme took it off of the top of the box and handed it to me with a smile on her face as she stood next to Alice.
It did not take me long to work out who the card was from since the wax seal on the back was still intact, and my nerves hit a high as I opened it and read the card's small words.
My dearest Isabella,
Words cannot express my gratitude at the level of care and love that you have shown my cousin, and I just know that we will be fast friends as well as cousins.
Please accept this gift from Albert and myself, and know that we are thinking of you and Edward on your very special day.
Alexandrina
x
"Oh heavens," I gasped.
The Queen wrote to me and said that we would be cousins. The Queen would be my cousin!
Before I could stop myself, a boisterous laugh broke out from between my lips.
How absurd this all was!
I handed the card to Esme so that they could read it before I went to pull on the ribbon that sealed the box closed.
"How — how is this possible?" I stuttered out as I saw the contents of the beautiful box.
"And now I can understand why it was so heavy," Esme exclaimed happily as she fingered the fabric of the gown that lay neatly folded inside the box.
"Lift it out and let us see, Isabella!" Alice squealed excitedly and bounced on her toes.
I did as she asked, and they both helped me as it was just too heavy for me to lift.
"It is beautiful!" Esme cried with what I knew were happy tears as we laid it out on the bed so we could look.
The Queen, of all people, had sent me a dress that was, of course, fit for royalty.
It was a warm cream color and had hand-embroidered roses and petals along the edges of the outer skirt and along the hem at the bottom, but as well as that, it had a beautiful long train sweeping from the back and I was stuck in awe at it.
"Well, Isabella, soon-to-be cousin to the Queen, there is no escaping a corset with this," Esme laughed and for once I joined in.
The wedding is next! I'll see you all in the morning!