I don't own.

Chapter 14

Dr. Cullen returned to the farm house after dropping off his son to the care of Emmett. He had every confidence that Emmett's brute strength and police training would be nothing but help for the recovering Edward.

Edward had fallen asleep early in to the journey to the cabin and they had had to carry him in to bed. In a fortnight Carlisle would go back and check on the progress.

He found the two ladies sitting on the back porch both looking weary but content. With the initial survey of the damage to the house, they had a better understanding of what was to come.

Bella would be dropped off in the mornings to continue the cleaning, Esme would go into town to shop for the necessary supplies and furnishings. Carlisle would ferry the ladies and arrange for a man to come do any heavy lifting and chores the ladies needed. All in all, the reorganization of the house would take a week after which time the children could be introduced to their new home and nanny. Angela would accompany Bella and stay with her for an additional month or two until the babies could be weaned.

Mrs. Esme also forced Bella to the dress maker and made her stand for hours to be measured, poked and pinned. Apparently Isabella's two serviceable dresses were entirely insufficient for the task of minding Mrs. Cullen's grandchildren.

She extended the torture by ordering some of the dresses in colour. Isabella had never really worn anything but black and white and felt that it was much easier to fade into the background in those colours. The idea of wearing navy, burgundy or even moss green frightened her, what if people were to notice her and expect conversation.

Only the knowledge that soon, the only beings around her would be the babies, Angela and the daytime charwoman put her at some ease. But, for the time being, she was rather put out with Mrs. Cullen.

The many yards of colourful fabric to make the children's clothes greatly pleased Bella as did the book of miniature dress patterns. Many skeins of wool and spun cotton enraptured Bella with plans of knitting lovely little things for the girls. Bella's mind was alive with possibilities.

With Bella and the house appointed to Esme's satisfaction they finished setting up the nursery and Bella's room.

The rooms they had chosen were perfect. A large main room with the entrance to a smaller one through a tidy dressing room. The rooms were at the other end of the hall away from the master bedroom where Edward had been keeping. Isabella had not gone into that room, Mrs. Esme had forbidden her from cleaning it up.

Now that a fortnight had passed, Dr. and Mrs. Cullen left Isabella at the farm to get settled in. They travelled together to the cabin to check on their son.

Isabella busied her self arranging and rearranging the rooms she was in-charge of. The charwoman was the spinster sister of one of the local farmers. She would handle light daily cleaning as well as some of the cooking. She was to go home every mid afternoon and wasn't to be expected on Sundays.

This schedule would give Isabella a respite and a rest. Mrs. Esme and the ladies of her home refused to be permanently separated from their girls so Dr. Cullen was to come and collect them Saturday afternoons, returning them twenty-four hours later. Bella was welcome to accompany them if she so chose.

For now, with a schedule in place, Isabella was ready to bring the girls to their home. She could only hope Mr. Cullen was ready as well. Time could only tell.

She still did not know what to think about her encounter with Mr. Cullen. He was drunk and grieving, that was for sure. He must have thought her the ghost of his wife, but seemed pleased to find her real.

Isabella knew she was no great beauty. There was nothing about her that could inspire passion in a man such as Mr. Cullen. If he had been of his senses he would never have lowered himself as to kiss her.

But what if, when he returned, he put her out for being a hussy. Where would she go then? Would he even give her time to explain what happened and her reaction. It was her very first kiss and possibly the only one she would ever receive.

She was smart enough to know she wasn't the kind of girl men marry and she had resigned herself to a life of service. She was a nanny, a governess perhaps, not a coquette to be admired and seduced. This she knew and was comfortable in that knowledge.

She sighed to herself, she would never speak of what happened and if Mr. Cullen was as deep into his cups as she thought, he would never remember. Much the better for both to pretend it never occurred.

AN: Sorry, mostly boring filler. But I'd like to recommend a story that I have loved for a while.

A Hope Renewed by Hopesparkles. It is also a period piece. Set in Regency era. The sentiment of this Bella's heartache makes me cry. This is also the sweetest Edward I have ever come across in Fan-fiction. If you haven't read it, please do. If you have, read it again.