I am sick as a puppy dog, but this world proves to be a much-needed distraction from my congestion and screaming sinuses.

I have now officially become a moderator for the forum, 'Beyond Twilight: Pack NG' where we are looking for writers/members of fanfiction to take a character/s to role play. Role playing is a fantastic way to meet new people, improve your writing skills and give a much needed distraction to the humdrum of real life. If you are interested in joining or just to know more about role playing please PM me and I will be happy to answer any questions.

Apologies for how distracted I have become, University was a little too consuming last term. This chapter is a little short but only because I need to get the 'ball rolling' again for the plot.

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. 2014 JigsawRose. All rights reserved.

-Bella-

I have spent two whole hours in Lord Edward and Lady Stanton's company, which has caused many stares from strangers and questioning looks from the staff who were serving us tea. I had noticed the glances from the moment I walked in; knowing instantly that a person like me was not welcome here. Oddly enough, it did not upset me; I was used to feeling alienated from the rest of society. This life was something that I did have to adapt to from a young age. I learnt from my father to always hold my head up high and remember where I come from.

I was relieved to be able to stand and walk out of there; of course I had concealed this very well from the eyes of Edward and Anastasia. As I followed them out of the door, I heard my lady's voice calling out to me from across the way.

"Oh Edward, there you are!" Lady Alice approached us, her hands clutching at the hem of her dress, protecting the fabric from the ground beneath. "Mama wants us to go back to the house immediately, she has an announcement. Lady Stanton" Alice curtsied curtly to Lady Stanton in greeting.

"I must depart anyway my Lord, thank you for the tea." I watched Miss Stanton turn to me, her bright green eyes sparkling in the sun, "thank you too, Isabella. It was wonderful meeting you." If I had any traits of selfishness, I would have found her countenance enviable, however as she seemed to be the perfect match for Lord Edward, I could not complain. I could not find complaint with my employer's son's potential happiness. As Lady Stanton departed from us, my lady came over and linked her arm through mine; I found it strangely comforting to have her close to me, again. Whenever she was around I did not feel so foolish, clumsy or embarrassed as I had done during my tea with Lord Edward and Lady Stanton.

The three of us walked back to town in silence, our minds busy contemplating what the announcement could be, I, myself just hoped that everyone was well and that there was no danger that may have come to Diana or Ellie.

The Duchess was pacing up and down the drawing once we entered the house again; I kept behind the Lord and Lady Alice, maintaining my place as the help. I clasped my hands together and awaited the Duchess to speak.

"Oh, my dears it's such a wonderful day." I had never seen the Duchess look so happy about anything, with the exception of a wonderfully crafted gown that she would have had custom made for her to wear at the next soiree.

"What is it, mother?" Edward asked, his face not showing the same amount of excitement as his mother's, Lady Alice, too looked solemn and un-phased by how her mother was behaving.

"Lady Rosalie, Lady Rosalie is expecting. Oh we can celebrate a Grandchild coming into this family. Your brother wrote and informed me that the physician is very pleased with her progress. She has six months left, however she only has two months left on her feet before she must go into bed-rest. The last thing your brother and the rest of us need is for this blessed event to end in another tragedy."

I stood still, managing a small smile in case a show of emotion may be inappropriate. Edward and Alice however did not have very much response besides that of a smile. Lady Rosalie had become pregnant twice before but had not been able to carry full term; this was due to medical complications thus ending the life of her unborn babies. This was not the first time that the family had heard of an upcoming pregnancy. The Duchess however did not seem so very happy with the news before, either which is why this particular reaction from her seemed very unnatural. As the Duchess went off to speak to Anne more, Alice and Edward sat down on the sofas, silent for a moment.

"I must write to Emmett and tell him my congratulations" Lady Alice spoke first. "When will mama be informed of when to start the wedding arrangements, Edward?"

"Not right now, Alice. I am trying to take things slow with Anastasia; I do not want us to be rushed into the whirlwind of marriage until we are both comfortable enough in each other's company."

"Edward, she is already comfortable with you, I can see it even if you cannot."

"That is somewhat foolish, she does not even know me that well-" Edward pauses and turns to me "please Isabella, sit down". I looked at him questioningly before following through with his request. I place myself next to Lady Alice, stopping my mind from forming an opinion of the news.

"With a baby and a marriage, it can be enough to keep mama from bothering me about the fact that I am not married."

"I am not announcing my marriage just to make mama stop doing that to you. If you just told her to leave you alone, she would."

"Oh Edward don't be ridiculous, you're her son and have the handsomeness to find any lady you desire to marry." Lady Alice stands up and smoothens down the front of her dress "If you'll excuse me, brother, I have a headache and wish to lie down."

Lord Edward stood, taking one look at me; gives me a small smile before nodding and leaving the house. I looked to Alice who sighed and looked at me. "I tried to like him, Isabella."

"Whom do you mean, my lady?"

"The Gentleman who called on me earlier this morning" Alice paused, her eyes glancing to the direction where the Duchess had left us only moments earlier. "Come, I want to be somewhere mama cannot hear me as easily"

Lady Alice led me up the stairs to her room; she shut the door behind me and gestured to the bed for me to sit down. I obeyed, knowing instantly that she wanted to talk about something that was vexing her.

"Oh Bella it doesn't seem like I have gained anything from this trip. I detest London and I knew in my heart that I always would, despite mama's best efforts to alter that opinion" Alice falls onto the bed in a very ungraceful way but I was sure that she has passed the will to care at this very moment. "Bella, can I share something with you? Something that you promise not to tell another living soul?"

I looked at Lady Alice; her large brown eyes filling with tears, the pleading tone in her voice struck something inside of me. I felt hope, I felt a little shimmer at hope at how Lady Alice confided in me because she found me trustworthy. I was all too willing to show loyalty to anyone who is worthy to receive it but especially to Lady Alice who had shown nothing but kindness to me since I started working under her father's employment.

"Yes ma'am" I answered without any hesitation.

Lady Alice nodded and moved herself closer to me, her eyes still staring into my own, a serious expression across her face. "I cannot pretend anymore, Isabella. I mean, with you I haven't been pretending about this because you're far too observant. My family do not know about this and I do not want them to. I love him, Isabella. I love Jasper."

I was not surprised by this, I could only nod. I had not the power to lie to Lady Alice and lacked the strength to carry the lie through. I had known for months how captivated Jasper was with Alice, how long he would look at her adoringly from the garage where the family car is kept. "Isabella, please say something." It was unlike Lady Alice to feel vulnerable; there was always an essence of confidence in her countenance. Self-satisfaction was what I associated with my lady. Sometimes, evidently I found myself envying her a little for that.

Lady Alice starts to pace the room; I could only watch her and bite down on the insides of my mouth from speaking out of turn.

"Oh Bella I must be away from here. How do I do that when mama watches my every movement? Perhaps I could forge an illness, take a bad turn from some food I had at the ball or something," she rushes over to her desk and starts to write frantically.

"My lady is this at all wise, perhaps we should inform Lord Edward just so that he is aware and perhaps you could write a letter to the Duke so that he may expect you home"

Lady Alice stops and looks at me, "oh good gracious Bella I had not thought of that. Could you maybe inform Edward of my decision, although you cannot tell him of my feelings, swear that you will not Bella."

"Of course I will not my Lady but won't it seem improper? For Lord Edward to hear this news from my mouth and not your own?"

"If anything it would be better, I know that Edward sets great store by your opinion, Bella."

I stilled for a moment, stopping my train of thought. A frown crossed my forehead but I be ridded myself of it before Lady Alice could see. "When would I write or even post the letter to him, my lady?"

"Bella … You have to do something for me.." she stands up and walks towards me, kneeling close to me "normally I would not ask something so … Risqué of you but you have to go and see Edward tonight when everyone is asleep so that I can get the late train. Come and see me to the station and then go and see him to let him know. Papa would take the news much easier from his son"

I stand up, the alarm bells going off in my head and I begin to pace the room. "Milady, I could find myself in real trouble … What if I couldn't work in your family's employment anymore?"

I heard Lady Alice sigh and stand up from the corner of my eye "you're right … I'm sorry Bella, forget I asked. I will go and see Edward tonight and explain everything. I can only thank you enough for all that you have done."

As Lady Alice goes back to her writing desk, I find my escape and escape from the room and rush to my own. I find some paper and sit down and scrawl a very careless letter to Jacob.

Dear Jacob,

I find myself caught in a situation which could escalate at any moment. I have some holiday time given to me that I have yet to take. Would you care very much if I came back home to see you and Sue for a while? I cannot explain any more at this present moment but I will once I return back to you.

Isabella

A couple of hours later I found myself helping Lady Alice down the stairs with her cases, it was easy to stay silent for the people in the house but the animals were an entirely different matter. I open the front door and help Lady Alice down the steps with her luggage.

Once outside she turns to me and cups my cheeks "I will see you all when you come back to the house. With any luck I should be much happier and find that my love is returned. Thank you Isabella, remember what you have to tell mama?"

"Yes milady"

"Thank you" Lady Alice pulls me into a hug, unfortunately I am too stunned by her actions to embrace her in return. With one final wave she hurries down the street and towards the station to catch the last train, the bonnet over her head concealing her face from strangers.

I sat in the drawing room for the next two hours, unable to sleep wondering whether my lady got onto the train and whether she was safe. I had found comfort in my book to calm my mind down when all of a sudden, a soft knock at the large window caught my attention. I took my candle and crept over to the window, using my free hand to pull the fabric aside. I gasped when I saw Edward outside in the rain looking back at me.

I put down the candle and rushed to the front door, I opened it and watched as Lord Edward stumbled in.

"I couldn't ring the doorbell Isabella, in case I were to wake mama. What happened with Alice? Miss Stanton servant informed me of what had happened, it seems that the kitchen staff in this house are fond of idle gossip"

"My Lord … Let me take your jacket and shoes so I can warm them by the fire … I can collect some other drier clothes for you…"

"Thank you Isabella … In my haste I had not thought about how this may be a danger to my health" I watched as Lord Edward took off his shoes and gave me his coat and jacket, I went over to the fire and lay them all by it. I took the liberty of fetching a blanket and brought it back to Edward.

"Here my lord, come and sit down next to the fire." He shot another wide smile my way and did as I had requested.

"So has my sister really returned home?"

"Yes sir" I sat down in the same spot I had just left. "She caught the late train; I am hoping that she caught it and that there were no other concerns. Since you told me that you have caught the news in idle gossip you must not have received the note that she sent you."

"What did the letter consist of?"

"My lady wrote that she was not feeling very well, had some nausea of some kind. I helped her get home, sir as she did not want to worry your mother or have any other doctors apart from your family one have a look at her if the problem persisted"

"She was well enough to get on a train, though ..." Edward looked confused and I could not blame him, for Alice and I had only a short amount of time to make up a story. A story that both of us had been assured would be believed.

"Yes, sir."

"Isabella" he leans closer, an intent look on his face "is there something you're not telling me? If Alice has promised you to something that could endanger either of you then you must tell me at once."

I swallowed at the look on his face, I had never seen Edward's green eyes glow as well as they did by the fire, in them held great wisdom but at this moment in time there was a hint of concern. I could see it even if he had not planned on letting it be known to me. I lowered my eyes and took a deep breath.

"I have sworn to Lady Alice to not reveal any information, sir"

I found myself breathless when Lord Edward sits beside me and takes my hand. "Please Isabella … Bella … Is my sister in trouble? Because I would have thought you of all people would tell this information to another person so that they may help in any way they could."

"No…No sir she is not in trouble."

"Then what is it … Please tell me Bella?" He squeezes my hand and I feel my resolve break at the glow in his eyes, the beauty of his eyes.

"Lady Alice has returned home because … She has found herself in love with another who lives in the country."

Edward lets out a loud sigh and puts his head against my hand. "Oh I see" his voice was muffled and I did not have the heart to take away my hand from him, no matter how much I wanted to. "Well" he looks up again and releases my hand "as long as the man she loves is respectable and is someone who my father and mother will approve then that is all that matters. I will not tell my mother, Isabella. Alice will tell my father in due course"

I could say no more. I could feel the letter to Jacob burning in my pocket and I told myself then and there to send it in the morning post as soon as the footman comes around to collect it.