I like the whole letter thing. It seems so fitting for those times.

Poor Edward not knowing how to properly write to Bella. So cute. Would love to hear more from Edward or see how Charles is handling the sudden changes in his life. Can't wait!

Edward turned around so quickly he wouldn’t have seen that much surely.  She didn’t bring night wear with her but she was in whatever she wore under her dress, petticoats, chemise, wasn’t she.  Bella wouldn’t wear a corset as that was not for working women as they restricted their movement and breathing for that matter, hence all the fainting besides she pretty skinny isn’t she.

Edward has already commented about the incident with his blushing and whatnot.

His father commented already that he wanted B&E together.

Protocol seems to be lacks in some areas and rigid in others.  I am surprised Edward could call alone at Bella’s but I supposed he stayed outside.

I can’t think of much to be revealed with Charles playing with Charlotte and Henry as Henry is too young to know much and charlotte is too shy.  Anyway children kept in a nursery were certainly seen and not heard and nothing was discussed in front of them.

I think we need to know more about Bella’s social standing.  She is acquainted with Alice who is a suitable prospect for Jasper.   Alice would have to be wealthy enough for a dowry wouldn’t she as I thought it was shameful and you’d be cast from society to marry beneath you, especially someone without a substantial dowry.

What does Alice’s father do as people who worked even wealthy merchants were looked down on by the landed gentry?  I am surprised Edward works as a type of merchant if he is importing and reselling or running fabric mills.

Emmett is called Master Emmett but he works for her.  Does she pay wages to him or does he get a share of the farm profits?  The food and style of eating was very crude and basic and Bella was worried about enough food for the winter and yet she can hire hands and pay them.  She doesn’t seem to supervise anyone just works like a lackey herself. 

She has quite a bit of land she leases (although being reduced for the plan).  Is her house which I assume is owned by the estate, of a reasonable standard or is it just a cottage? Charles said he couldn’t sleep without her so I got the impression they share a bed and in the beginning her mother was sleeping next to the fire but I suppose she would have her own, making the house only with two bedrooms. What sort of house does Emmett have and where do the hired hands live?

Luv

XOXO

Charles is so cute, smart little boy!!

Poor Bella, it's not the company that she doesn't like, is the enviroment, damn town people!!!

love it

:)

Edward has really got it bad for Bella. I would LOVE some out takes. 

I would love to see charles playing with Charlotte and Henry. What Charlotte thinks of Bella. Edward's POV of seeing Bella naked. Renee's POV about how she felt leaving Bella and young Charles. Little Charlies' POV. Can't wait for the out takes to start!!!!!

Charles time in the nusery would be a good one

When I came to the end of chapter 17, I thought Edward was much calmer but then I realized we were not inside his head so he may just be a really good "actor." :)  I would love to get inside his head for that chapter as an outtake, especially when he walked in on Bella.  I am dying to know what he was suppressing with that disinterested expression on his face! 

There are not many stories that I am excited about lately, but I do get excited when you update this one.  So November 2 really seems a looooong way away!  Just saying! :)

It would be awful to wait two weeks for another chapter especially as we have been so spoilt lately! 

It would be nice to see into Isabella's childhood in happier times, but is would also like to hear Edwards thoughts after the encounter in The guest room. 

So lovely how Isabella thinks Edward being away for so long is awful and loved Carlisle and esme taking delight in Edward being so besotted with Isabella.

oh Bella, Edward most certainly doesn't think any less of her, how was Bella to know it was him at the door.

I hope this misunderstanding is sorted out quickly. 

Great chapter x 

Oh dear, a misconception already blocking their progress. It's a setback, yet it may allow Edward to explain his feelings for her sooner.
This time (the eleven months) can then be put to good use as a precursor to the official courting.
Edward should have announced himself through the door before entering.

SO amazing!  I really loved it!  I wonder what will happen next?!

Oh dear, for real.  Edward was probably just over-doing when trying not to look lustful!  :)

wow!

Loved it :)

It seems to be shaping up nicely but I am surprised at the lack of snobbery.

Luv

XOXO

Ha! I bet Edward had a not so little problem to take care of after seeing Bella. LOL

Poor Bella thinking the wrong thing 

Oh please please please pleeeeeeease up date really REALLY SOON PLEASE

Poor Isabella. Somehow I don't think he didn't like what he saw. Quite the opposite I'm sure. ;)

See ya next time. 

How mortifying! Poor Bella. 

:)

so sad that Isabella never had her own doll to play with, I am sure Edward can remedy that! 

Isabella wont be able to refuse the offer to take her into town, and maybe she might like it after all. 

I suppose Isabella and Charles aren't used to eating so much food at one sitting. 

Graat chapter x 

The entire family is involved in this plan. Bella will try to get out of this, we'll see how that battle goes.

Bella is seeing a different world, parts she doesn't care about, others are tough, like the doll.

I had forgotten Victoria was Alexandrina too.

Another wonderful chapter. Unchaperoned visit to the nursery?  Lady Esme is being awfully daring considering she has told Lord Edward that he has to wait until the morning period to court her. I loved the interact with Charles. Somehow, I think they will get her into town. See ya soon. 

Seem is going  to be so smug when Carlisle tells her about the conversation he had with Edward. He was very kind to put Isabella at ease about her worries about visiting them. 

Off to the FB group to find out. 

Great chapter x

Loved it :)

GAH! such a lovely slow burn... thanks for the update, can't wait for the next one. xoxo Mina

wow

I love how unsure he is

SO amazing :)  I really loved it!  I think Charles may be the way to her heart, just as they said :)  I think that Edward was talking with a daughter of Victoria :)

Love how he eased her nerves.

I have to confess that I'm always loking on my email to see if it has a new chapter of this story posted, I'm loving everything about it and can't wait for the moment Edward start to court Bella!!!

One of Queen Victoria's children I guess. But how far along in the story would that take place and how would Alexandrina have met Bella? 

he is sooo sweet

I say he's talking to the cook, because I seem to remember that German cook's were prized at this point in history because of their baking skills.  Either that or she's his Domme and you're taking the story in an unexpected and slightly disturbing direction.  LOL

Great chapter.  I love how nervous he is to be around her.  It's very sweet how he tries to calm her down.

They were speaking German so it was either Victoria herself as her first name was Alexandria I think or someone from her mother or Albert’s family. Albert was her first cousin anyway.

Well Edward’s a little mixed-up sausage first he’s going to dump her if he can then he says they won't make it if she can’t attend the balls etc. 

His parents put her under his nose, well his mother at least and then tell him to cool it.  I suppose that’s fair the gentry in particular didn’t rush into things as a general rule.

Honestly coming from her background she would have to have a finishing-school type tutor or governess come and give her a crash course so she wouldn’t be embarrassed.  To go from transporting slaughtered meat back home to balls and grand dinners is a bit of a stretch but nothing she couldn’t handle given the right incentive.

Can’t wait for more

Luv

XOXO

Loved it :)

;)

Loved the chapter!

I loved that Edward was so nervous and also that he anticapted Bella's arrival so much that he wanted to wait by the front door. 

Great chapter, loved it x 

:)

Oh wow, that was amazing :)  I really loved it!  Every year for Christmas, my family watches "A Christmas Story" at least once.  We also have Monkey Bread (biscuit dough dipped in melted butter then cinnamon sugar and then baked) every Christmas morning.  We also make it to the Christmas Eve service at our church.  It is amazing :)

sweet chapter :)

Another wonderful chapter. I love all the details that you put into each chapter. When Esme showed Isabella the library, I thought of the scene in Beauty and the Beast.  Yep, I know. Not your normal thought process for a person who reads NC-17/M rated stories but I do love to watch Disney movies with the family. I could picture the same awe and joy in Isabella's face that Bella had. Anyway, Edward has got it bad for Isabella and Esme is enjoying every minute of it. I just don't see them making it through the whole year of morning. 

Christmas traditions - we have 2 trees at our house. One is all snowmen and the other is a hodge podge of ornaments made by or picked out by my boys. Every year, the day after thanksgiving(starting with black Friday sales so by midnight Thursday), I do all my Christmas shopping. Then I come home and hid the gifts, completely decorate my house (takes me about 8 hours) and then wrap anything not from Santa. All of this is done while my husband and boys are gone male binding with the other men in the family. On Saturday, I decorate the yard and house. The following weekend we all go to the store together and pick out a new ornament for both trees, an snowman that represents our personality and a fun ornament for the other tree. Then on Christmas eve, everyone opens one gift which is always new pajamas to wear that night and the next morning to open presents on Christmas Day. If my husband is not working at the fires station, we will attend midnight mass on Christmas eve as well, but we haven't gone in a few years. We always host Christmas at our house for both sides of the family since we are the only ones with children. So I cook dinner and we watch football (it's Texas of course we watch football). 

Hope you enjoyed my traditions. Not a lot of old fashion ones but they are ours. 

Thanks for writing this story. 

Although it is't exactly "right" to laught at other's expense, it's so understandale Esme and Carlisle would do with Edward, he was so cute pacing that way. 

The Cullens want to get close to Bella and Charles and nothing is going to deter their plan. But in the time and society they lived in, I guess it wasn't exactly "approved" not that they would care that much. I wonder what do the people who work at the house think of all this? I would assume they're okay, but I still wonder.

Your hints lead me to believe that Edward will have difficulty ......Both choices were difficult to consider, but in the end, I decided to allow nature to take its course, within the guidelines of etiquette, of course. If I had to wait to court her, so be it.
Hm, I think his patients will not hold out and the confines of etiquette will be manipulated to suit his desires. Maybe the Queen will be called upon to issue a special decree to give Isabella a reprieve from her mourning period due to the unusual circumstances.

:)

;)

I hope they will not waste so much time for their chance to happiness.This is an amazing story.Thank you.