As they reached the middle of the grand foyer, a grinning Samuel hollered for someone named Ms. Cleary.
His deep voice barely above a whisper, he said, "Good luck, Miss Swan." The air about him tingled. He seemed to change as he bowed and kissed the back of her hand, shifting from the scarred, rugged huntsman to a gentleman before her eyes. He was graceful as he nodded goodbye and walked out the door. A vision of him scarless, younger, and impeccably dressed danced before her eyes. As he resumed his post, his gentlemanly demeanor disappeared, and the fearsome guard she first met returned.
Blinking away her daze, Bella finally turned around, wondering if she had imagined it all. Less than five minutes inside the house, Wolfe's warning rang through her mind.
"Everything will change."
Bella walked around the room, taking in the luxurious furnishings. Natural light poured through stained-glass skylights, leaving streaks of color along the white marble floor. Footsteps pulled her attention away from the charming space.
"You must be Mary Alice. I am Ms. Cleary."
She carried herself gracefully. The only evidence of her age appeared in the laugh lines around her soulful black eyes and a few wrinkles around her neck. Her eyelashes were long and thick, her cheekbones high, and her full lips naturally curved into a soft smile. One large streak of solid white began at the right side of her forehead and temple. It left a ribbon of white threaded through her thick and black waist-length plait, hanging becomingly over her shoulder. Her expertly fitted dress was a few shades lighter than her tan skin, trimmed with white lace at the elbow-length sleeves and a low, square neckline. Despite her advanced age, Bella felt incredibly plain in comparison.
With a friendly smile, Bella said, "Isabella Swan. My sister Mary Alice is no longer coming. I came in her stead."
Her eyes narrowed as she asked, "Why?"
"I chose to," Bella admitted, straightening her spine under the older woman's scrutiny. "Mary Alice wishes to marry another. I have no attachments." Bella hesitated as the practiced words lumped in her throat. They had not been a lie when she'd said them to Wolfe, but the feeling of his kisses still lingered on her lips. Her cheeks grew warm as she continued, "I'm offering myself in her place."
The smile returned to Ms. Cleary's face. "This shall be entertaining," she said and gestured for Bella to follow.
Bella trailed behind Ms. Cleary through a large sitting room and into an enormous hallway. She guided through dimly lit twists and turns, up three flights of stairs and down a short fourth, past countless closed doors and arched six-foot-high windows.
Bella sighed. "I will get lost here at first, won't I?"
"Oh, I'm sure you'll get the hang of it soon enough," Ms. Cleary said and pointed up another short set of stairs. The door had a rounded top with heavy oak planks braced by iron bars. "This is your bedroom suite, for now, Miss Swan. A different suite awaits in another part of the house. You will remain here until after you are married, however. It seems you and Jacob are both arriving late this evening. I will bring your supper here. You will find clean clothing and linens in the wardrobe and cupboards. Those items were a bridal gift to Mary Alice from Rebecca, but I believe they will fit you."
"Yes, they should," Bella said.
Ms. Cleary pulled an iron key ring from a pocket of her dress. Sifting through the cluster of keys, she removed one and unlocked the door. Handing it to Bella, Ms. Cleary held Bella's gaze and whispered, "Lock your door at night. It's a big place. You will be safer."
The blood in Bella's veins ran cold from the warning, and she swallowed nervously.
Ushering her inside, Ms. Cleary resumed speaking clearly. "You may bathe if you would like. You will find similar amenities as the cabin. The windows do open, but this wing of the house stays cool year-round."
Speechless, Bella gasped as she entered the circular bedroom suite. The walls were soft blue-gray, adorned with gold, silver, brass, and silk floral trimmings in bright colors. At first glance, the painted vines and silk flowers seemed alive, as if growing up the walls and curving around the furniture. Several colorful handwoven tapestries filled the gaps of space on the curved walls.
An enormous four-post bed sat between two windows. Heavy black lace shrouded the frame and canopy. The bed linens and pillow shams were a dark mauve, accentuated with matching lace. Opposite the bed sat the fireplace, already lit and burning low. A violet chaise sat near the foot of the bed, angled toward the stone fireplace.
To her right, partitions created a wide berth around two massive matching wardrobes. Though stained to match the furniture and mantel, they boasted the same silk and metal floral accents as the walls. Between the wardrobes stood a narrow doorway, which she assumed led to the bathtub and commode.
French doors to the left of the bed led to a narrow balcony overlooking the ocean. Climbing roses spilled over the inside of her balcony railing, sure to keep anyone from breaking in or out.
Unable to shove off her suspicions, Bella asked, "Is my safety in this room a concern, Ms. Cleary?"
Ms. Cleary lowered her voice once again as she stepped closer. "We are women, my dear. Few of us are ever truly safe. Sometimes outsiders attempt to break in, which is why we have guards. Occasionally, a maid turns out to be a thief as well. It's merely a precaution."
Despite her reassurance, the tone behind her words was well-heeded. Ms. Cleary peered worriedly out the window toward the forest. Suddenly, her smile returned as she cheerily walked to the door. "I will see that Mr. Black knows you have arrived and reached your room. I will return with your supper shortly."
Bella realized then that she was to remain alone in her room for the evening. She removed the heavy fur cloak and hung it on a coat rack between the door and partitions. Curiously, she opened the French doors and stepped out into the night air. Again, the snow was falling, lightly covering the white rose blossoms. She leaned over them as far as possible, attempting to see the entrance to the road where she'd come in.
A thorn pierced the skin on the side of her palm as she leaned too close, and a drop of blood fell onto one of the rose blossoms. As she inspected the slight cut, multiple howls rang out in the surrounding forest. Despite meeting a wolf that day and knowing they were guarding the home, the sound did not comfort her. Bella stepped back into the bedroom and latched the doors shut.
Deciding to get comfortable, she removed her boots before exploring the adjoining room.
Expecting to find it dark behind the narrow door, she was happy to discover there were candles lit up inside. She wondered how the maids had prepared the room so quickly. Samuel couldn't have had much time to warn them.
A commode sat left of the door with a tall wash basin beside it. Bella grinned at the clawfoot bathtub between two windows opposite the door and the fully stocked cupboards beside it. With more scented oils, soaps, and salves at her disposal, she hoped a hot bath would help her sleep.
After nosing through the cupboard contents, she raised the handle to the spout over the tub. As she suspected, warm water poured out, and she squealed in delight. Soon steam clouded the room as hot water gradually filled the tub.
The sound of a knock and her door opening drew her back into the bedroom. Ms. Cleary now stood with two other women carrying multiple covered dishes. A small, tiered table sat next to the chaise, loaded with far more than she would need.
Ms. Cleary excused the maids from the room, but not before one of them shot a glare in Bella's direction. She looked near Bella's age. She was pretty, with thick blonde hair, large blue eyes, and delicate features. The maid also carried a painfully heavy bosom above a tiny waist, thin lips, and a slightly upturned nose, all of which were fashionable. The foul expression on an otherwise lovely face somehow seemed further insulting.
Bella glared back defensively, wondering what offense she had committed. Logically, others might be wary of me.
Bella was not Mary Alice, after all. As Jacob Black's intended bride, she would eventually be mistress of the house. The servants will need to get to know her. That would take time. She did not doubt that some might be jealous of the union or would question her capabilities.
Perhaps she had hopes of gaining his interest. Why on earth wouldn't Jacob Black have been interested in such a lovely girl right under his nose? Was it because she was a servant? Bella wondered if he would think her inferior because she was no longer considered society.
Ms. Cleary said, "We have an excellent chef. I hope you find something that pleases you."
"I am sure I will." Bella gave the older woman a grateful smile. "Does anyone in the family ever cook?"
Ms. Cleary grinned. "Do you cook, Isabella?"
"I was learning to cook at home. I would like to continue," Bella admitted. "Would your chef be willing to teach me?"
"I am sure you will have plenty of opportunity," Ms. Cleary said and turned to leave.
"Wait," Bella called after her. "When will I meet Jacob Black?"
Ms. Cleary seemed confused as she asked, "You have not met him?"
"No," Bella said and blushed. "Also, what should I do with the dishes when finished?"
"Do you see that rope by the curtain next to your bed?" Bella looked toward where she gestured and spotted the thick, frazzled rope. Not waiting for Bella to answer, Ms. Cleary said, "If you tug on that rope, it will strike a bell downstairs to alert the servants. One will be with you shortly. You can send the dishes away with them. If you would rather be undisturbed, someone will tend to them in the morning. I'm sure Mr. Black will expect to see you in the morning." Without another word, she left, pulling the door shut behind her.
More out of boredom than hunger, Bella ate heartily that evening. To drink, they delivered a sweet blueberry wine. Bella drank the first glass too quickly, loving the sweetness on her tongue and the warm feeling that spread through her limbs. She poured herself a second glass and set it next to the bathtub.
She searched the wardrobes for new undergarments and blushed over a thin, pale pink shift that would leave little to the imagination. Behind it, Bella found others that caused equal and further embarrassment. Several chemises, underdrawers, stays, and corsets filled the shelves, brightly dyed and decorative. No doubt Mary Alice would have loved them, as she frequently left Charles red-faced with her risque fashion choices.
Gathering what she needed, she carried the items to the other room. Bella slowly relaxed as she climbed into the hot water and leaned back in the tub. Another half glass of wine later, she dozed off where she soaked, content as she dreamed.
Bella walked through the snow-covered forest alone. The sun was setting as she searched for something, yet she could not recall what it was. The surrounding atmosphere tingled, making her feel sluggish. She yearned to lie down in the soft snow and sleep, letting the snowflakes kiss her cheeks as they blanketed her body.
She came upon a small clearing containing three oddly shaped piles of snow. As she bent down to inspect one, a shrill howl came from the woods behind her.
The sharp sound of a cracking stone filled the air behind her before shattering. Bella screamed, dropped to her knees, and covered her head, expecting the sound of rubble falling. The effects never came.
To her horror, the pile of snow in front of her moved. A frozen human hand covered in ice crystals reached for her. The sound of grinding rock came from the hand as it clenched its blue fingers.
Bella stood and darted back into the trees. Tripping on her skirts, she nearly fell and cried out as she slammed into something solid. She watched the same frozen hand, now attached to a viscous-looking man, as he wrapped his arms tightly around her.
Somewhat waking, her dream surroundings were hazy and faded as she blinked in the darkness.
"Isabella, where are you? Are you alright?"
Bella whimpered in response, too tired to keep her eyes open. She fought the urge to fall back to sleep as strong, feverishly warm arms lifted her. The cold air pricked her skin as water dripped from her soaked form. She shuddered from the cold while he shifted her weight in his arms.
"Did you drink too much wine, Isabella?" A chuckle rumbled through the chest of her carrier, vibrating against her cheek. Bella whimpered and then coughed as she tried to curl into his warmth.
"You'll be the damn death of us both," the deep voice grumbled, sounding amused and worried.
Wolfe? Bella felt her back sink into a thick, soft mattress, and the warmth pulled away. She had no time to complain as soft fur covered her naked skin. As she began drifting away again, she fell back into her dream.
Bella was back in the forest, hidden underneath the massive willow tree. She found herself wrapped securely in warm, reddish-brown fur. It took a moment to realize it was not her cloak warming her. A giant wolf had his body curled around hers, sheltering her from the frigid air.
A ferocious growl filled her ears as she tried to sit up. Bella immediately curled back into its side. Clutching to the fur, she found she did not fear it, knowing that the wolf only intended to protect her. Despite not knowing where the frozen man had gone, she knew it was safer to remain where she lay.
Suddenly, a door slammed shut nearby.
Bella lurched in bed, shivering and wrapped in a soft fur blanket tucked under the mauve and black bedspread. The fire in her room now burned brightly, though the room was still cold.
How did it get so cold in here?
Her head pounded at the volume of her inner thoughts, her vision blurred as she looked toward the fire, and the room spun. Bella collapsed onto her back and closed her eyes, swiftly returning to sleep. This time, the dreams did not return.