I don't own Twilight Also I changed the title of this story.
"Miss, it's time to wake up." Bella opened her eyes to see Minnie attempting to wake her up.
"What time is it?" Bella sat up groggily, the room was dark except for a flickering candle.
"Quarter to five miss. Your mother is very anxious to leave for London."
"Of course she is." Bella shook her head and got out of bed. "Well I guess I better get ready. Is my trunk in the carriage?"
"Yes Miss and your bag is right here." Minnie pointed to the small bag by the bed that held Bella's more personal things like her diary. Minnie had went to her armoire and pulled out one of the dresses she hadn't packed. "How about this dress?"
"That's fine." Bella assented to the wardrobe choice. Minnie helped her into the dress and styled her hair for the day. Bella grabbed her bag much to the protest of her ladies maid and made her way down stairs.
"Oh there you are Bella." Lady Loketon said slipping her gloves on.
"Yes there you are Bella. We've been waiting for ages." Emmett teased. Bella just huffed and headed out to the carriage. She got inside sitting on the same side as her mother giving Emmett the opposite side to himself.
As the Carriage rumbled it's way to London Emmett decided now was the perfect time to tease his sister.
"So Bella how do you feel about having to meet the queen. Do you think the prince Regent will hit on you, just be careful I've heard Princess Victoria can be very jealous."
"Emmett." Lady Laketon hissed mortified at the things that were coming out of her son's mouth.
"What mama I'm only telling her the truth. Oh and make sure you don't trip. Last year a girl did that she was the laughing stock of the season. Who was that again?" he tried to remember the name of the unfortunate girl.
"It was Miss Jessica Stanly the daughter of Baron Ludwig." Lady Laketon sniffed. "Unfortunate girl. Her father doesn't have a vast fortune and sadly she's not that pretty either."
Bella scrunched up in her seat. Pressed against the wall. She cringed at the way her mother was talking about this girls misfortune. What would her mother do if she made some social misstep? She knew she wasn't pretty, she knew she had a good dowry but a dowry could only take you so far, on the marriage mart unless you were looking for a fortune hunter. Bella wanted to marry for love. She didn't want to just marry for a title. Would her mother allow it though? She hoped if her mother got to title hungry her father would step in. she could hope right?
At noon her mother pulled out a hamper which was packed with cold meats biscuits and fruits that cook had packed for them and Bella was thankful she could already feel her stomach growling. They finally rolled into town as the dusk settled over the landscape. As they pulled in front of Laketon house the carriage stopped and the doors where opened. A footman stood waiting to assist Bella and her mother down from the carriage.
As the three of them walked up the stairs the door was opened by their town butler, Clifford. "Lady Isabella, Lady Laketon Lord Dunston welcome home. Your Ladies Maids and man servent arrived here half an hour ago and I'm sure they have your rooms ready. Lord Laketon is in the dining room and cook has laid out a scrumptious supper for you."
"Thank you Clifford." Emmett nodded. He turned to his sister and mother. "Are you two hungry or would you like to go straight to bed?"
"I'm hungry and I want to see father." Bella said walking towards the dining room taking her hat and gloves off in the process.
"Papa." She smiled coming into the dining room. And setting down.
"Isabella it's good to see you. Are you ready for the season?"
"Not even close. Mama says I need all new clothes which means the Modeste and all the joys that entails. Emmett and Lady Laketon joined them and the family of four shared a meal for the first time in weeks.
"How is Parliament Papa?"
"Oh the same nothing of interest I assure you." Small talk wafted around the table as they finished their meal and all four of them headed off to bed. Once she got to her bed chamber she noticed that Minnie had put all her things away. She took out her diary and wrote her day's entry.
4th of March 1817
We have reached London, Of course it was dark when we reached the city, and we spent all day in the carriage so I have not seen anything of interest. I am exhausted though. I know Mother will force me to go to the Modiste in the morning to start my presentation dress. Oh the Joys of being a lady.
Signed Lady Isabella Swan.
Bella signed shutting the diary and if she could get away with it she would have just stripped herself of her clothes and thrown on her night gown but she knew she couldn't so she called for Minnie and once Minnie had her all situated for the night she crawled into bed and blew out the candle. Dreading the morning.
The next morning Bella found herself at the Modiste before noon. Standing on a pedestal well she was poked and prodded and measured and her mother fused over different bolts of cloth which to Bella looked to be all the same shade but Lady Laketon and the Modiste assured her was all different shades. Finally they settled on a bolt and a few other bolts for other dresses, and Bella was allowed to jump down. Her mother was going over design plates with the Modiste and her assistants so Bella roamed around the shop looking at bolts of cloth and ribbons.
"That one is very pretty." Bella jumped dropping the rose red cloth she'd been holding. She turned to see a short girl about her age standing beside her. "Oh I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you. I'm Lady Alice Cullen." She smiled.
Something about that name rang a bell with Bella but she couldn't place it . "Lady Isabella Swan." Bella said back.
"Nice to meet you Lady Isabella. You're father is Lord Laketon right?"
"Yes, and your father is Lord Carson." Bella said as the name floated to her. this was the Duke of Carson's daughter.
"That is correct. Me and my friend Rosalie needed some fresh air so we convinced my mother to come with us to the dress shop. Mama over here." Alice waved as two pretty women came around the corner. Bella's stomach flipped. Meeting a Duchess was a big deal.
"Alice there you are." The older women smiled.
"Mama, this is Lady Isabella Swan." Alice introduced.
"Well Hello Lady Isabella I'm Lady Carson."
"Lady Carson a pleasure." Bella tried to stop her stomach from heaving.
"And this is Lady Rosalie Hale." Alice introduced. Bella looked at the tall blond in front of her. this was a girl who was no doubt a diamond of the first water.
"Oh Bella there you are." Lady Laketon said spotting her daughter and then stopping in her tracks upon seeing Lady Carson. "Lady Carson I'm sorry I didn't see you there."
"Lady Laketon a pleasure." Lady Carson nodded.
"Mama this is Lady Alice and Lady Rosalie and it seems you know Lady Carson." Bella said."
"Yes of course." Lady Laketon wasn't sure how her daughter had gotten into the same company as a Marquess daughter and the family of Duke but she wasn't going to let her mess this one up.
"Lady Isabella we'd love it if you'd come to our residents for Luncheon today." Lady Alice said Bella thought she looked like she was going to start bouncing not very dignified but Bella guessed a Duke's daughter could do whatever she wanted. "Lady Rosalie will be there. She's staying with us for the season it will be such fun."
Bella looked at her mother who nodded her head in assent. "Of course I'll come."
"That's great I believe our residents is just a few doors down from your own. We'll see you there about two." Lady Carson said and Bella smiled in agreement. Both parties left the shop and as Bella and mother got back into their carriage Lady Laketon was about viberating with glee.
"I don't know how you did it Bella but well done my girl well done. Friends with the daughter of a Duke and a Marquess what a get alliances."
"Mother." Bella said in exasperation.
"What, we both know you're going to need all the help you can get."
"Yes thanks for that." Bella said as the carriage came to a stop in front of Laketon house. Getting out Bella headed up the stairs. "I'm going to get ready for my Luncheon." She had just stepped inside when Emmett was coming down the stairs.
"So how was shopping?"
"Okay." Bella said.
"It was great she got invited to Carson house by Lady Alice and her friend Lady Rosalie, I think your sister is going to be a smash this season." Lady Laketon said joining the conversation.
"Really." Emmett said. The thought of his sister being friends with Rosalie was a plus to him. And his mother seemed to be excited about it. He figured that had more to do with Lady Alice and Lady Carson though.
"You know I think I'll escort you there. Better then a ladies maid and Mother I'm sure had many duties that she must attend too what with the season about to go into full swing. I can also talk to Lord Ellison. That's Lady Alice's brother." He said at Bella's confused look.
Bella almost laughed at the look on her mother's face but she had to say she didn't really want her mother to go with her. Her mother was a social climber everyone knew it. She'd been the daughter of a Baron who wanted to climb higher. So she'd snagged an Earl the only reason Bella was around is because she wanted a spare and most of society knew it Bella included.
"Yes Mama he's right, you really do have so much to get done. I'm sure your correspondence and calling cards are piling up now that people know you're in town." Bella didn't know why Emmett wanted to go but really he was the better choice. "It's a two." She said before heading up to her room. Minnie helped her into her new gown and she read a book before heading down the stairs and meeting Emmett in the Foyer.
They made their way to the Carson house and were met by the butler who showed them into the drawing room where Lady Alice, Lady Rosalie and Lady Carson were waiting for them.
"Oh Lord Dunston we were not expecting you but it's a pleasure to see you." Lady Carson said standing.
"Yes I thought I'd escort my sister to your lovely company and see if Lord Ellison is around."
"Oh yes I believe he's in the billards room." Lady Carson said.
"Then I will leave you ladies to your day." Emmett turned and headed towards what Bella could only assume was the billards room and if he knew where that was he must come to the Carson house a lot." She stored that information away for later as she settled into to a conversation with the three ladies in front of her.
A/N thanks to everyone who reviewed, faved and followed so far. Yes I changed the name of the story. I don't know I just like this name better. Next up the Ladies talk and Edward makes his appearance. And we learn more about Rosalie