I am not profiting from this story nor am I the owner of the characters.

Chapter 6

Esme Cullen heard the carriage pull up to the main door just before teatime. She called to her housekeeper to wait tea for half an hour, then made her way to the door. She found her husband waiting beside the carriage as a young girl carefully made her way down. She wondered to herself why Carlisle was not lending a hand to the girl, but as the child reached the ground and looked up, she had her answer.

Esme had seen that look of fear before. She had seen it on her sister's face, she had seen it on her mother's. Perhaps people had seen it on her face.

This was a girl who had been beaten down; a girl who had known years of pain. This tiny slip of a girl was here to look after her grandchildren, but she desperately needed someone to look after her.

As the girl studied the stately home before her, Esme studied her. A strange look passed over the girl's face, one that Esme had only seen once on her sister's face before she ran from home.

It was a look of sheer determination. Esme knew then that Carlisle had chosen the right girl for them.

Isabella took in the most lovely home she had ever seen. It couldn't be called a home really, a manor perhaps, or possibly mansion. A wide, whitewashed façade with three floors, enormous windows that shone with lights from inside. The uppermost floor, where the servants likely lived, had sharply peaked gables and generous windows as well. This fact pleased Isabella for she had a terrible fear of small rooms with little light.

The house, manor, or mansion was well cared for, landscaped prettily, but otherwise unadorned. Isabella tried to imagine the shutters painted, something, anything other than white, but a house, manor, or mansion; definitely mansion, needed no multitude of colour to show off it's charms.

It was after she decided that mansion was the right name, she noticed the woman standing at the door.

She was the most beautiful woman Isabella had ever seen. Isabella had spent her life with nuns, sisters, in plain, sensible clothing and a step-mother who could never be beautiful not matter how she dressed.

This woman's appearance shouted gentle and kind. Her hair was pinned under a soft blue cap but Isabella could seen it was a lovely light brown, almost caramel colour. Her dress was cream with the same shade of soft blue in flowery detail at the neck and hem. She wore no pinafore so Isabella decided that this must be Mrs. Cullen. And she was staring at her.

Isabella lowered her eyes and bobbed a curtsey to the lady while watching the hem of her dress to see when to follow her into the house. Isabella was shocked to see the hem coming closer to her.

She was terrified. Was the lady coming to strike her for the impertinence of meeting her eyes? Was her curtsey not deep enough?

The hem and the soft blue embroidered flowers came to a stop right in front of Isabella.

"What is your name, child?" A calming voice asked her as a warm finger reached under her chin.

This was not a hand that could strike, or scratch, or even pull. This was a hand that had only seen genteel woman's pursuits of yarn craft and stitching, perhaps painting. Isabella let her imagination wonder for a second before she answered.

"Isabella, if it pleases you, Madame." The warm, gentle hand tilted Isabella's face up so that green eye could meet brown.

"No, it doesn't please me." Before Isabella could properly cower, the voice continued, eyes held firmly. "I think Bella would be better suited to a lovely young lady such as yourself."

Esme's smile held a secret that Isabella heart knew in it's depths. She was a kindred soul, Isabella would be safe with her.

AN: A few people have asked for longer chapters and I'm sure you meant story not endnotes so I will try to keep it brief. However I have a lot to say.

First, a huge thank you to Sunflower Fran for her Facebook recommendation..I am absolutely gob-smacked by the response. And a little frightened to tell the truth. I really didn't think anyone would read this. However, I will hitch up my big girl panties and try to give you a good story.

Second, some people were asking as to time period and location. I am leaving that to your imagination. Some time after the invention of the wheel and before Ford mass produced it. I just want people to imagine long dresses, gentle manners and no technology. What ever floats your boat. As for location, you choose, it could be the States, it could be England, it could be Mars. I didn't want to get too involved with historical accuracy and geography.

Third, and last, I am trying for daily updates, but life happens. I can guarantee tomorrow but that is as far as I can go. Eventually I will have to clean the #$%* house.

Thank you.