-Bella-

There we all stood hands behind our backs with the grandeur of the house a backdrop behind us. All of the staff members desperately forcing themselves to stand still – a new guest always gives us all small fright, as best as some members may go to their own graves refusing that very fact, as we contemplate our guests' demeanours. Not only that but to ensure that we maintain the house to an extremely high level and to keep its reputation for being a welcoming and beautiful place to be. Most of the rich and famous do not glance our way, us meaning the servants of a household and being a working girl I received the same treatment from the stunningly chic ladies passing by. These ladies may not have been of upper class but no doubt of middle class with the latest fashion trends, however what it comes down to is that they were higher and more respectable than I. Also possessed more power than I could ever imagine. Papa told me that they were only jealous because I possessed the skills that they so desperately desired. What he actually meant was that I needed to be pleasant with those 'sort' because the chances of me working for them were and still are absolute.

I didn't find myself out of sorts, to be honest I was unable to think about the arrival of our Lord because of how much I missed Jacob and Sue and how seeing them again made me forget how much I still miss my father. After his death, coming back to work was not a choice as I was of lower standing then. I was fortunate enough to get the job at all as women nowadays were not taken on because of their lack of proper 'schooling'. 'Schooling' for the working classes was just the mere grasp of reading, writing and knowing how to count . Now with my promotion as a Lady's maid I could have three days off to grieve properly but my father died when I was in the wrong position within the house. Only Alice knew about the situation with my father because she had been present at the time when Mrs Dwyer requested to see me. It was not long before I was sent straight away to earn a wage and with my position here I do not need to invest in my own house because I can live within the servant quarters. Plus, Lady Alice had seen me in a daze numerous times at a distance after I had made myself comfortable as the new kitchen maid, which Mrs Dwyer was only too happy to remind me about. The rest of my employers didn't know me from one maid to the next. I preferred it that way because I did not spend any time with the Duke and Duchess at all during the day or at night.

The sound of hooves on the gravel beneath us snapped me out of my unprofessional distraction and as I looked up, there it was, right in the distance at the front gates was a white spot coming towards us. The horse must have been that of Masen – the Lord's own, personal animal and his sister had been right, he had brought the beast along with him. The town-car followed behind and soon enough, the vehicle was pulling up in front of us with the horse and its rider halting to a stop in front of them. The rider dismounted and took off his hat, the Duke stepped out of the town-car. The Duchess eagerly walked towards her husband, embracing the second man that had followed the Duke out of the car. As she kissed him affectionately I guessed immediately that it was Edward. I could not gaze upon him for too long as we all curtsied and bowed before the three Gentleman as the Duke cleared his throat.

"My son, Lord Edward has returned to us." I straightened myself back up; the rider had stood himself beside Edward who had taken off his hat. The hat revealed locks of frankly rather beautiful hair of a unique colour, I noted it's beauty because of how the sunlight danced upon it. I could make out from my distance shimmers of bronze and red within the bed of dark light brown – it was unlike any hair I had ever seen before. Edward smiled and bowed himself, I was a little taken aback as to how a Lord would greet his servants so boldly he then placed his hand around the broad shoulders of the other man. "I have brought along a friend of mine, Mr York. He is stopping over and will be leaving early in the morning. I wanted to thank him for looking after Masen for so long."

"Very well Edward, Mr York you are most welcome." The Duchess greeted the unexpected guest as pleasantly as she ever could – however the slight look of confusion in her face was obvious to me.

I couldn't understand why the staff had been so up in arms about Edward's arrival. He didn't seem like a mean person, or someone who would cause intentional upset to another. After a couple of minutes he seemed almost agreeable. The rest of the family stepped inside, I looked over to Jasper who shot me a smile as he walked around the car, we were soon left alone on the gravel.

"Lord Edward said hello to me as he got into the car with the Duke. The man has never acknowledged the chauffeur before, he'd probably choose to be burnt first. I was lucky if I ever got a smile off of him when he last came home a couple of years ago. University may have actually turned him into a human being. Who knew?" Jasper looked a little bewildered looking at where the rest of the family had gone back into the house.

"I couldn't understand how everyone was so anxious about him."

"You didn't meet him when he was younger, let alone work for him and the family. There were times when I wanted to express my anger at him for treating A...Genuine, respectable people terribly. There are many 'friends' who have never been seen at annual luncheons or parties again."

"A luncheon would be heaven for us, I know that much."

I turned away from Jasper and walked back into the house.

"Isabella, there has been a slight issue with the footmen, let's just say that Daisy seemed to have passed her germs around the majority of the servants. As much as The Duke may find this to be an undesirable request…I have spoken with the Ducchess and we have agreed that-"

"I have to go upstairs and serve the family." I finished the sentence. If the situation arose in which I desired to be furthest away from the new Lord in my working life then being a lady's maid was not a solution. As much as my job description meant that I could only be in close proximity with Lady Alice, it didn't mean that I could shun all my other duties.

Mrs Dwyer was right, The Duke was not going to like this.

"Yes dear, if it is too much then I can get one of the other-"

"I can manage it Mrs Dwyer. I am just cautious about The Duke."

"The Duke is still as besotted with his Ducchess as he was many years ago, Isabella. If her Ladyship desires something be it little or great then her husband bends over backwards for her after a little persuasion. Like all the men in this family, they dote on their women. Besides this is not the first time that this has happened and it won't be the last…Now let's get moving, we don't want to cause any problems so early in the day now do we?"

Mrs Dwyer was quick to click her fingers, as I got into the kitchen; Esme gave me a wide smile. I would have believed it to be entirely genuine and well-meant if her jaw didn't give the fact that she was gritting her teeth away. Esme would no doubt want to speak of the horrors of the kitchen and being under our cook's supervision later with me in our room.

Jenny followed closely behind me with another tray, I had managed in all the business of my errands to change my apron to a black one and take off my cap. I took one look at Jenny before we walked into the dining room. I couldn't look at the guests for more than a second as I placed the tray down on one side of the room. I organised the dishes and the one sole footman left in good health took the starter dish containing soup. The advantage of doing this job was the fragrant smell of the food. Our cook may be a handful but she could bake and cook like no one else. Even Sue fell under her high standards.

After organising the various other plates of food, I turned around on the spot and placed my hands behind my back, as Jenny and Eric, the footmen served the soup to the family, I was able to gaze over the table, and fortunately the family had enough beverages to last a small while.

"So is University all it is made out to be, Edward?" The conversation topic changed at the hands of Lady Rosalie. A tactic in which all previous attention enforced on her could be pushed onto another. I could not blame her, as much as her slightly hostile nature intimidated me frequently she still possessed a heart and felt human emotions.

"Yes I have been requested to go into a workplace as soon as I am finished. I can be an apprentice of some kind and receive proper training for the medical profession."

"Who has provided you with this information darling?" The Duchess asked.

"One of my tutors. He's pleased with my progress."

"Was that the same one who gave you the chance to quit your further education altogether, Edward?" Emmett said, shooting a mischievous smile his brother's way. Edward closed his eyes for a moment, as if contemplating an answer and taking another spoon of soup he opened his mouth to speak.

"Indeed, Emmett. Times have changed since then."

"Yes so there is no need to contemplate on such truths. On another matter, why are there maids in the dining room?" The Duke's question caused us staff members to suck in a breath. I looked to Jenny and Eric who looked how I felt at that very moment. The Duchess put down her napkin on the tablecloth.

"Darling we spoke about this. It seems that ill health has gone around downstairs and according to Mrs Dwyer, the maids have had to take on more jobs around the house. I told her how much we appreciated her effort to move around the illnesses and told her that she must do what is necessary to make this dinner a success."

"Why can't the maids serve us? Times are changing every day and soon the cooks will be able to come up and speak about what there will be for the courses." Alice spoke, un-phased by the disapproving look her mother shot her way. "Besides, Isabella is not just a house maid, she is my maid. What if I requested for her to serve me at dinner and lunch the same way she gives me my breakfast every morning?" I gulped at the sound of my name, the following glances my way didn't help. I felt the unwelcomed heat surge to my cheeks, I was known to blush when embarrassed and in front of my employers this natural occurrence became intensified.

"Oh Alice, must you talk of such things? You know how they can vex me so."

"Besides since times are changing we should not be speaking of one of the maids when they are present in the room. In the past we would have no doubt done that till the cows came home." Edward said, I couldn't help but feel a little grateful to him.

"You may not like the idea of change, mama but things are happening all around us each day. Edward must agree with me, University can nurture future scholars that could possess their own revolutionary ideas in which to change the world. Why must we all stick in these useless traditions that butlers and footmen can only serve us?"

"Alice please understand that this conversation is better left for when papa and mama are not present at the table." Emmett chimed in.

"All I'm saying is change can be a good thing, change can make us better people and make us happier about our lives-"

"Not all change is good, Alice." Jenny and Eric stood on each side of me, all of us looking straight ahead at the possible drama unfolding at the dining table. Edward's comment had caused a silence to fall upon all members of the table.

"You're siding with mama?" Alice asked in bemusement.

"Whatever happened to the conversations we used to have? I have a few questions of my own. We used to talk about what happened in the day or which member of staff annoyed us with their 'clear disregard of their duties'. Now there is all change, change, change, nothing but change and how we all react to change. Conversations were never this personal."

"How would you know about our past conversations? You were too busy pushing your dinner away, staring at the newest female maids or drinking too much of papa's finest port. I do not recall you engaging any of your family into diverse conversation, Edward." Alice put down her spoon. I assumed that the pleasantries were now pushed under the table.

"Which one of you is Isabella?" Edward's guest asked, I immediately looked up from the floor and before my knees could give out completely I stepped forward and curtsied. "Ah I see. I would like to enquire as to whether you could find someone to check on the horse."

"I will go and check on the horse. I'd never thought that I would lose my appetite so quickly." Edward stood up from his chair and as he walked around the table, I was fast to open the door, without looking my way he walked through it.

"Now it feels like Edward is home. I was eagerly waiting for the time when a melodramatic exit would occur. Now that my brother's arrival is over, I am going to head out into town." Alice stood up, the rest of the men at the table standing up and watching her walk out. I wanted to ask my lady whether there was anything I could get her but I couldn't leave this errand until all the chairs were empty.

The conversation at the table continued as if no one had ever left prematurely.

"Oh my, a working day is never complete without some family drama." Jenny said as we started to clear away the table. "Edward has gotten handsome, too."

"No family is perfect, Jenny. Money can't bring normality, even to the outsiders who become brainwashed with the illusion that this world is perfect. I wonder where the young Lord is, did anyone see him return from the stables?"

"Last I heard he was still around the gardens…According as much to Tyler."

I gathered up the table cloth in my arms as Jenny took the candles and other placements and we both headed downstairs, Esme immediately took me aside the two of us walking into a narrower corridor to the back of the quarters.

"Oh Bella, what a day. I swear that woman has given me enough purpose to quit this job altogether."

"Esme it's only for another day, Daisy is almost on the mend-"

"I could have sworn I heard her singing inside her room earlier this afternoon. Little squit is causing me more stress than Mrs Dwyer."

"Have you seen Lord Edward?"

"Tyler said he was walking around the grounds. Why?"

"He left lunch a little abruptly and I wanted to know whether there was anything he needed."

"Bella you're not his valet, or his footman. You do not need to go wandering around after him, especially seeing as he doesn't even know who you are."

"Surely that point is invalid. I mean we don't know each other but that doesn't mean that as a staff member in this house I must only serve every other family member apart from him. How would that look?"

"Bella you worry far too much about your 'duty'. You do it perfectly well, to a high standard every day, we have all noted that."

"Keep Mrs Dwyer distracted for me as I go out into the grounds please?"

Esme was still for a moment before sighing heavily and rolling her eyes. "Oh very well. You have saved me from embarrassment more than once. Go, just promise to be quick."

As I reached the courtyard, my task to find Lord Edward was quickly brushed aside at the banging coming from the stables. I hurried faster picking up my dress, which was going to be covered in mud as soon as I changed into my nightgown tonight. I found Lord Edward's horse Masen in distress, throwing his head back and forth throwing the weight of his front hooves against the wooden door. I held out my hands, humming a small tune to try and calm the animal. Once Masen caught my eye I was able to whisper calming words to him. I was no stranger to an angered animal. My previous knowledge of horses had allowed me to believe that they were able to cope being cooped up in a stable by themselves. However, I knew otherwise.

"Ssh easy Masen…Easy." I whispered lowering one arm and bringing my hand up, my index finger gently brushing across his mouth. The animal stood still as my hand ran further up his nose. I got close enough to rest my head against Masen, he didn't seemed phased by my close proximity. The sound of his thudding heartbeat gave me the oddest calming sensation. I missed being around animals.

I slowly unlocked the bolt on the door and stepped in beside Masen. After locking it behind me, I checked his bucket at the back and found that he mustn't have touched it much at all. Being away at Edward's friends' estate for so long must have disorientated the animal. Now that he has returned to his rightful home, Masen cannot recollect from memory what his stable had been like.

To make myself useful and with the rest of the family inside left to find their own amusement before evening tea was served, I picked up the horse brush hanging on one of the wooden ledges. I began to brush the horse when I suddenly heard voices coming from outside the stables.

"My Lord Edward you have been walking around 'ere for a long time. Would you like me to take the horse out and set up his saddle?" Tyler, the head gardener asked.

"No thank you. I just wanted to come and see him, again. It seems that both of us are connected. Masen has found that coming home is suddenly different to what it used to be." At Edward's reply, I crouched down to the floor wandering how on earth I was going to explain this to him. Explain and secondly to plead with him to not tell the Duke and Duchess.

"Hello Mase." Edward greeted his horse. "Wait a minute…Who are you?" I bit down on my lip and stood upright, foolishly holding the horse brush unable to know what to do with it. The nauseated feeling inside my stomach grew and grew as I opened my mouth with no words coming out to escape.

"Isabella is it?" Edward looked me up and down.

"Y…Yes. Listen my Lord please understand…I wasn't…I just came down here to see how you were and whether I could get anything for you. Then Ma…The horse was in distress and I wanted to calm him."

"Please." Edward lifted up his hand. "Don't distress yourself. I am not in need of anything and I would appreciate it if you got yourself out of that stable. The last thing I need is to have the blood of an innocent young maid on my horse's hooves." Edward unlocked the door and leaving the brush in a corner, I stepped out, brushing down my dress before turning to face Edward again.

"Well if there is nothing you require then I should be reporting back to Mrs Dwyer."

"I want to apologise for what happened at dinner." Edward stopped me from turning away from him.

"There is no need to apologise. As staff we cannot possess an opinion on any family matter-"

"Yes, you can't have any choices about anything can you? My sister can annoy me sometimes, she still holds grudges and my past behaviour is a grudge that many in this house share. I am not proud of myself…University has changed me especially this year. Oh look at me; you do not want to hear this. I haven't officially met you before have I? You're one of the new ones?"

"Yes, sir."

"You are also my sister's maid?"

"Indeed." I curtsied, honestly a little awkwardly at being involved in a direct conversation with the new but last Lord I will meet in the immediate family I work for.

"That would explain why she is so taken with you. Mama and papa weren't able to prevent talking about what wonderful work a certain Isabella was doing with their daughter. It seems you have made quite an impression."

"I cannot imagine so, sir."

"Please forgive me Isabella, I must get back to the house before they send out a search party. I have abandoned my friend for far too long, especially since he has done so much for me, ill-treating him is really not going to help. Thank you for looking after my horse."

Just as quick as this first official meeting began, it was over and I was suddenly at a loss as to what to think as I stood motionless in front of Masen's stable.