Thank you for the reviews!
Sorry this has taken a while – University likes to take away any enjoyment I may have in life! I must state that I have been listening to 'A Thousand Years' by Christina Perri on loop for the past day, such a stunning song.
I have to apologise for this being short, I needed a link and a transition before I begin working on the next chapters. The next one WILL be longer, I promise!
Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight and character names. All plot lines, backgrounds, characterizations, and details belong to JigsawRose. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without express written authorization. 2013 JigsawRose. All rights reserved.
-Bella-
"Please make yourself comfortable." The Duke ushered the young lady into the library, I was close behind trying to process what was happening as best as I could. I was bewildered beyond expression. The young lady sat a little hesitantly and a little ungracefully at the same time onto one of the chairs by the open fire. Her gaze still very much rested on her hands in her lap, the Duke sat on his armchair, I was left standing by the door. "Now, is there anything I can get for you? A drink, some food…Have you eaten?"
"Please, sir. I do not want anything and I do not expect you to be so kind to me. I am aware that my husband has done such a terrible thing, unforgiveable in the eyes of the church, too. If my mother were still alive she would take the strap to me even at my age. Having a child out of marriage is a sin and I am aware of this."
"Forgive me for asking you this but, if you still have a husband then is he not the father of the child?" the Duke asked, his face unfazed by what was happening in the room.
"He is the father but he did not know that I was pregnant, I had the baby but I didn't know what to do, I did not know whether there was a home for me with him, anymore. So…For a month or so after she was born, I left my angel in the hands of a friend of mine but she died recently, childbirth is not for everyone, you see sir. None of us can afford to stay healthy if we contract something dangerous so as her husband was too busy looking after one baby on his own I would never have asked him to look after mine. Not when I was her mother and I should have done right by her since the day I found out she was inside me."
"Where is your husband now, miss? Oh would you please tell me your name?"
"You seem like such kind people, strange considering that many others in the village are quick to oppose against my good opinion of this family. I told my husband and he gave an ultimatum…I am used to those, besides I could not come and get my child and have you all see me like that." The young girl stopped, clasping both her hands tightly in her lap she squirmed a little in the chair. "I need a good few days for the bruising to heal you see."
My heart dropped, I bit down on my lip at the hinting of this woman's abuse at the hands of her husband. I had always been fortunate to have such a loving support system in my father and Sue. I had only ever known of happy couples and long marriages before I came to work for the Duke and Duchess. I folded my arms against my chest, hoping that the devastating silence now in the room would subside. His lordship was speechless, as was I.
"I had to keep her away from him, sir. He is not my husband in the sense that we no longer live together but we are not legally separated. I do not know how I go about that so I fear that he will always be my husband. All I want now is another chance with my daughter, a chance to get us both away from this village and away from him permanently. I could not tell you of the things he would do to me if he knew that I was here. I cannot give you my name, sir…You cannot ever know me and I must ask you to forget the fact that you saw me here, today. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for looking after my baby girl; she is in as much comfort here as I could ever hope for and in a much better environment than I, myself could give her if we stay here."
"I don't suppose you have any documentation?"
The young woman's saddened eyes dropped once more to her lap. "I gave birth on my own, sir."
"This is why we needed her to be examined by my family's physician. Your daughter is in good health, considering how much you must have endured being on your own during your childbirth. I would like for her to gain any necessary injections to prevent her from any long-term illness."
"Oh your lordship, you have been too kind! I could not ask for you to do that when I have not a penny to give you. I should want to pay as much as needed, sir to make sure my baby is medically healthy but I have barely enough to live on as it is."
"How about I make you a proposition? If you wish to pay for the injections then I suggest you speak with our housekeeper, Mrs Dwyer. Or I can put forward to her that you would like to work for us as a housemaid like Isabella over there. It would only be for a temporary basis and no one needs to be informed of your staying here, temporarily. As you said, you want to move away from here so you can work here for as long as you can get enough money to travel and make other arrangements." The young woman smiled a little. "I can't fathom how there are people who couldn't like you, sir. I'd be grateful if you would, I am a hard worker it's just that I had to leave my last place of work because I told them of my pregnancy. As I said, getting married out of wedlock is not ideal. I married my husband a few weeks after Emma was born, of course he did not know about her, then."
"Emma?" I squeaked, instantly placing my hand over my mouth at my rudeness. The Duke and the woman looked at me.
"Yes, her name is Emma. I named her after my mother." The Duke looked my way and I averted my gaze to the floor. I could not bring myself to look at him, for I knew that he was thinking the same thing as me. We were going to lose Ellie, we were going to lose the little girl that we had all loved and wanted for our very own. Then again, we cannot take a young baby away from her mother. I wished to be with my mother more than anything, to have her hold me and to still be alive. We can't have everything and it is the rich that are the prime suspects for ingratitude in our town.
"Then that is settled." The Duke rose from his chair, the young lady followed his lead and stood herself. "Isabella will show you around the house as I have some business to attend to with my physician and I must also inform my wife of the situation. I leave this young lady with you, Isabella." The Duke passed me and left the room. In the sudden silence, I looked at the young women so shy and so out of place in the grand library. In her eyes I saw so much of who I used to be. As a young farm girl I would have looked exactly the same as she and felt as intimidated by such company as the Duke and Duchess. I'd never have imagined seeing the house from outside the gates let alone standing inside and witnessing such beautiful interior. Not wishing to make the young woman feel more inadequate than she already does, I closed the distance between us and held out one of my hands. "I understand if you do not wish to tell us your real name but can you at least use a second name or one that may be in your family?"
"I will use Diana."
"Well, Diana I am pleased to meet you. Listen, before I show you the house, would you like to see your little girl?" Diana's eyes widened, her hand shot out to grasp mine.
"Oh…You don't understand how much that would... I have missed her so much!" I smiled, knowing that there was nothing I could do but to reunite mother and daughter. As hard as it was right now to accept the fact that Ellie was not going to be staying here for very long, I needed to be strong for me. I could not allow the emotion to take me over, because now that Ellie had her mother around there was a good chance that I was to be a maid once more. The ability to swallow my sadness in work was going to be a welcome situation from tomorrow morning.
As I opened the nursery, Lady Alice turned to smile at me, Ellie fast asleep in her arms, wrapped warm with her blanket. "Oh Bella, hello, the-" Lady Alice stopped when her eyes fixated on the woman behind me. "Who is this?"
"My lady this is Diana. Emma's mother." I looked to the baby, intentionally holding my gaze on Ellie as Alice immediately knew what I was saying, her mouth dropped a little but instantly she managed to compose herself and gradually walk closer towards us. "I see that you have come to see your baby, then." I stepped out of the way to let Alice give Ellie to her mum, instantly I saw the pull that Diana had towards Ellie. Lady Alice stepped away from the two, taking a place beside me as we witnessed a very emotional moment, for all present in the room.
"We will leave you both alone for a time." Lady Alice said as she turned to face me. "Isabella there is something I would like for you to quickly attend to." I took the hint, not unfamiliar with my lady's requests to get me away from my work so that she could confide a confidence with me.
As we stepped out the room, Alice immediately put her hand on my shoulder. "Oh good lord what has happened here? Has she only just arrived here?"
"Tyler and I found her in the gardens. Lost and confused she was enquiring as to the baby that the family had taken in. I mean the likeness between them. El…I mean, Emma has her mother's eyes."
"Oh Isabella, I do not know what to say. I can't imagine how much this must be hurting you; you were closer to that little angel than any of us. Is there anything I can do?"
"No." I swallowed down the desire to break down into tears. I had no claim over this baby and as much as I was devastated to see her go, she belonged with her mother. "Your mother is being told. I suggest that you inform Lord Emmett and Lord Edward."
"Oh Edward. He will undoubtedly be concerned. I will write to him myself, my letter will be accepted more readily than my mother's. I have the suspicion that mama will use the situation for a chance to gloat." Alice rolled her eyes. "I imagine my father has told the mother she can stay?"
"Diana will be a maid on a temporary basis that is until she is financially able to get away from the town and move away with her baby. Her husband is not a kind man."
"Well, we must do what we can of course. Oh I just wish it didn't have to be so soon, I was hoping to practice my motherly instincts for longer. I need the practice if I am to marry a rich brooding gentleman after all." I smiled, not knowing how to respond. I needed to be alone, I could sense that any longer around mother and baby would be a risk to my professionalism. Alice informed me that she would stay with Diana and Emma and I took the moment she returned to the nursery to run down the stairs and find my alternative route to the gardens. With any luck if I am seen, I can use the excuse of getting some air.
I practically sprinted to Masen's stable and reached out and cupped his head, leaning on his hard nose with my cheek. Strangely enough the animal didn't move, just a mere nudge as we made contact. I began to breathe heavily, my face looking into the dark stable; I closed my eyes, listening to the silence surrounding me. The occasional bird tweet or a gust of wind consoled me. I felt like Masen was the only true friend I had in the house, he was not even human and yet I felt safe close with him. Perhaps because I had felt the similar sensation when in Edward's company. Masen really was a good horse, and I felt an urge to stumble upon Edward again. To find him sitting on the stone of the fountain, careless about the fact that he may get wet. I envisioned Edward and Masen having a bond that is unlike any other, a younger Edward in his teens taking his horse out, maybe after a fight with his parents. Riding may bring Edward solitude; he may have always just been a sociable man and therefore used the horse as his main mode of travel from place to place. I released the animal and patted him before leaning against the wall of the stable.
"Isabella?" I opened my eyes, immediately removing myself from the wall. I recognized the Duke's voice, he put up a hand at seeing my reaction. "It's okay, I'm sorry if I scared you."
"My Lord…I was-"
"I know how this must make you feel Isabella. I understand if you need to find some means of solitude, we all need that at times." I smiled and nodded my head. "I came to ask whether you would like to be sent on an errand?"
"An errand, sir?"
"I was speaking to my wife and she would like to go and see Edward in London. You know that he is staying with his Aunt, the Duchesses sister and is in company with the Stantons. My wife would like to take Alice with her as she is due another visitation in an attempt to find a respectable husband. As you are aware, Alice refuses to go anywhere without you and so, I would like for you to accompany my wife and daughter to London."
I was suddenly speechless for the second time this afternoon. "When, sir?"
"Tomorrow, Jasper has been informed and Alice is talking to her mother at this very moment. My wife always likes to make rash decisions as you are aware. I am however inclined to let you stay, if you do not feel you ought to go."
"It's just the baby, sir. Will we be gone long? I do not wish to be away and something may happen to her?"
"Her mother is here now, Isabella. If there are any problems then I will write to my wife immediately."
"Then…I accept, sir. I will get myself ready tonight to leave in the morning."
"Thank you. I realise that this is all far too sudden, as we have only just welcomed Emma's mother here but I do think the new scene of London may do you wonders. I hear it is much more exciting than here and there are more eligible suitors for the young ladies of society."
"Please, sir. I am but a maid. I shall not be looking for a suitor, a man of such class and elegance need not waste his time gazing upon me, not when I am in such company as Lady Alice."
The Duke smiled, "all is not entirely lost, Isabella. Edward will be there, Miss Stanton is a lovely young lady and we have high hopes for them. It will be beneficial for my son to see some familiar faces from home."
"What will you do, sir?"
"Oh I find my own entertainment when my wife is away. I find a good game of cards passes the time. I have been meaning to meet up with some old acquaintances for some time now. I think this could be the opportunity to do so."
"Very well, sir. Is there anything else I may do for you?"
"No, Isabella. Please take your time out here if you require it. My wife is far too busy ordering Esme to pack her clothes. I am sure if Alice needs you she will come and find you, shall I inform her that you will be out here?"
"No thank you, my lord. I will come in, now. Mrs Dwyer will be shocked enough to see the state of my hem. I do not wish to worsen it."
I followed the Duke back into the house, as we stepped into the foyer. Alice came bounding down the stairs, instantly she stopped as she reached me. "Papa has told you about London?"
"Yes" I replied.
"Will you come with me? Oh Isabella I do not know whether I could cope without you! It was so sudden, once Diana had gone down to the servant quarters; mama instantly told me what she was planning. Mama is never the one for preparation; instead we must leave immediately in the morning. I doubt that the topic of our keeping a baby under our roof, one which was born out of wedlock is not something that the ladies of society will want to know about."
"Alice of course I will."
"Oh Bella, thank you." Alice took my hands in hers. "I feel like you could be very much my own sister. I should have loved to have had a younger sister, one that I could care for and pass all my wisdom onto. I would braid her hair at night and tell her bedtime stories, all the things that Esme used to do for us I would want to do for my younger sister." I could only smile. Alice may feel close to me but, as a servant I was required to maintain a distance. I could keep a confidence but never express one of my own.
"Now, would you help me pack?"
"Of course."
I followed Lady Alice up to her room. I was in awe about what was waiting for me in London. I had never been outside of the village before. I was sure that this was going to be a journey that I may never forget.