Stephenie Meyer owns two of these gorgeous creatures, not me.
This is something a little different from my other two stories, but I already love it. It's mainly Alice and Jasper, because I think that Mr Whitlock is one sexy character (More so than Edward at times!) Don't shoot me!!
Anyhow, its set in the olden times, don't ask me when, I don't know, my imagination wouldn't tell me that much but I'm guessing around 1800/1850-ish?
Hope you like :D
Alice POV.
A large collection of well dressed people on either side of the isle, more so on the bride's side, but that's not relevant. Arrangements of flowers at the end of every other row of seats, people crying as the bride and groom recite their vows, little children at the front dressed in expensive clothes to match the bride's long white dress. The mother and farther of the bride, holding hands as they watch their daughter marry the man she loves with her whole heart. The bride, staring up at her unearthly, beautiful, blonde haired, blue eyed angel as they both lean in for their ceremonial kiss….
Giggles and the sound of a door bursting open jolt me from my recurring dream that has been ever present in my mind for as long as I could remember.
"Alice! Come quickly! They're here!" my five year old little sister Cecilia called excitedly from beside me as she peered out of the window eagerly. We didn't get many visitors at our house, no matter how well known my parents were. Mr and Mrs Brandon were very well known with the more superior social classes as kind, funny and down to earth people.
"Get away from the window, go and play with Ben" I ordered her as I shooed her from my bedroom. I, myself then peered out of the window once I was alone, only to see our driveway bare, devoid of any sign of life.
After getting dressed, I went down stairs for breakfast and then went to find my mother in a vain hope of winning myself a shopping trip into town later in the afternoon.
I stood at the bottom of the grand staircase, wondering which way to go. I decided for the door to my left. "No…I think that I'd rather make this a soft rose colour…I could call it the Rose room, couldn't I?" My mother spoke to the head house keeper, Lilly as they went through some wallpaper samples.
"Mother…may we go shopping today?" I asked in a sweet voice as I walked towards her and Lilly.
"Alice…" my mother began with arched eyebrows and her hands on her small hips. "You went shopping with Lilly two days ago, what could you possibly need?" she asked in a soft, authoritive voice.
"I…nothing mother." I answered with a smile. She could always look through me; she knew I had no real reason to go shopping.
"Why don't you go and see to Casper?" she asked as she turned back to the samples in Lily's hands.
I took her suggestion and walked outside, through the French doors, to the veranda, and then out towards the stables on the right side of the house. That's when I remembered that builders were starting today, that's who Cecilia saw arriving this morning from my bedroom window.
As I walked, I looked up to the house and wondered why we needed an extension. The house was big enough as it was with its three floors, but mother demanded that the house be made symmetrical, so a few feet were to be added to the left side of the house.
I passed a big oak tree, and made my way into the stables. "Good morning miss." The stable master, James greeted me as I made my way towards the furthest stall. I waved back at him as I walked on.
"Well, well Casper…eager to see me?" I asked as I leant against the door. Casper already had his head out, waiting for me eagerly. I pulled out a lump of sugar from the pocket in my skirt and held it out to him, flat on my palm. I giggled as he gobbled up the sugar and then swept away any remnants of sugar that were left.
I laughed as Casper began to nudge at my hand, a silent demand for more sugar. I let out a long sigh in defeat and then placed another lump of sugar on my hand for him to lap up. He seemed satisfied with the attention, so I picked up a brush from beside his door and stepped in to brush him.
"How is the rascal today miss?" James asked me as he leant against the door, chewing some grass.
"Much better now, after two lumps of sugar." I told him I continued to brush my horse.
"What you want a great big stallion like that for I don't know miss." He shook his head as he took in the height difference from my head and Casper's.
"He's harmless James, softer than a lamb" I whispered the last bit.
"Why do you whisper?" James asked with a confused look on his face.
"I don't want to offend Casper" I told him in sincerity. "I don't think he'd take to well with being called a lamb." Once again, I whispered the last word.
I shrugged my shoulders as James walked away laughing at my expense, uttering the odd, "Offend a horse!"
"Look after my Casper for me!" I told James as I made my way out of the stables an hour later, into the heat of the summer sun. I made my way into the house, via the kitchen so I could wash my hands, before I went to the library and picked up a book.
Once I'd selected a book, I went back outside to the oak tree which was situated between the house and the stables. I sat there for a while, reading in the shade of the tree until I felt something wet on my cheek. I sat up with a start as I realised that Max, Ben's new golden retriever puppy was licking at my face. I realised that I must have fallen asleep at some point. I looked to my book and noticed that it was open on page 1. I must have fallen asleep almost instantly.
"Come on Max" I laughed as I got up to my feet, brushing off my skirt. I picked up Max, and tucked him under my arm as I bent back down to fetch my book. Once I had both securely in my arms, I made my way towards the house.
As I reached the back door to the kitchen I just caught a glimpse of a young man in brown trousers with braces, a brown hat and a white shirt go around the corner in some what of a hurry.
I wondered how busy they were working on the house. As I stepped inside the kitchen, I let Max down, knowing that he'd most likely run out, to find my sibling, either Ben or Cecilia.
I washed my hands once again and caught sight of a large jug of iced, fresh lemonade and four mugs. "Are those for the workmen?" I asked Cook as I surveyed the tray.
"Yes, but I haven't the time to take them out yet, Bessie's ill, so I'm on my own today" she explained. I picked up the tray and told her that I'd gladly be of help and take them out. "Ohhh, I didn't mean for you to do it miss!" Cook called after me as I made my way out of the door.
I walked along the back of the house, to the left side of the house where I found four men, working away with bricks and odd tools. I set down the tray on a small wall beside them and began to pour the cold lemonade into the mugs. "Would you like some lemonade sir?" I asked the closest man to me who seemed to be around forty years of age.
"That would be much appreciated miss." He replied as he took of his cap as good manners deemed correct.
I handed him a mug and passed another two to the other men which were around the same age as the first man. The fourth man stood some distance away, looking at a large piece of paper, with his back to me.
I was spared calling him. One of the other men called out, "Whitlock, come on man, don't keep the lady waiting!" He shook his head at me as he asked me to refill his mug. I nodded and poured more for him and the other men.
As I set down the jug, I realised that the last man was making his way over, "I'm afraid that the other gentlemen are already on their second mug, you'll have to drink fast to catch up with them!" I joked as I picked up the mug to hold out to him.
I lifted my gaze and froze as I watched a blonde haired, blue eyed angel take hold of the mug in my hands with one hand and fidget with his hat in the other. "Thank you miss" he replied as he stood in front of me, with the sun shining against his pale skin as he tipped his head back and gulped down his drink. I shamefully stared at him with my mouth agape. He was gorgeous, tall, and as far as I could tell from the way his shirt clung to him tightly, he was also strong.
Once he finished, he held out his mug to me and asked, "May I have another?"
Somehow I managed a smile and refilled his mug with shaking hands. He must have noticed the tremor in my hands because he quickly leant down to me and whispered quickly, "Are you alright miss? Are you going to swoon?"
I gave my head a quick shake, "I'm fine, I don't know what came over me." I laughed weakly as I watched him take a sip of lemonade.
"You've lost some colour from your cheeks miss…" he commented as his eyes scrutinised my face. I wasn't surprised; this would have come as a shock to any person.
"I'm fine honestly." I lied as my stomach continued to fill steadily with butterflies.
"Maybe you should go for a lie down? Or get something to eat." He suggested as he lowered his empty mug to the tray.
"Yes, maybe you're right…" I admitted as I stared back into his familiar blue eyes.
"Good afternoon Mr Whitlock" I said as I walked back towards the house.
"Good afternoon Miss Brandon" I just heard his reply as I reached the kitchen door. I wondered how he knew my name, but decide that that wasn't my biggest priority of thought at the moment.
"Ohhh Miss Alice!" Cook called out in concern as I closed the door behind me. "Are you alright dear? You look frightfully pale!" she exclaimed as she grabbed hold of my arm.
"I'm fine, I'm fine!" I muttered. "I'm going to lie down in the drawing room; it must have been the heat of the sun." I lied once again as I brushed off her arm and headed towards the drawing room which was situated at the opposite side of the great hall from the room that my mother was in earlier in the morning.
I closed the door tightly behind me and then made my way to the longest sofa to lie down as I processed in my mind who I had just seen. He was the man from my reoccurring dreams, the one that I continuously married.
Jasper POV.
My mouth gaped open as I realised that we would be working at the Brandon estate. This family was well known and very important along with influential. I knew that if we did a good job on their house, they would surely spread the word that we were god workmen and we could get more work and make some good money.
We walked around the side of the house as Peter, our boss, led the horse and cart to stop a little distance away, around the corner. The other two men and I proceeded to take our tools from the back of the cart and set them on the ground, ready for us to start our work.
"Ahh.. good, you found it!" A cheerful thin, middle aged man greeted us as we finished taking our tools off the cart. He wore a dark pinstripe suite and shiny black shoes. He definitely looked influential and superior, but he contradicted himself by talking to us in such a laid back, down to earth way.
After giving us some simple orders and a sheet of paper with the details of what he wanted done, he left and headed back into the grand house.
I took charge of the plans, working out the details of how far the wall needed to be brought out to and how thick the wall needed to be while the other men started to sort out the bricks.
A movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention a short while later. I looked in the direction of the movement to see a young, short girl with striking black hair walking in the other direction, towards the stables. I stared until the girl was out of sight, then shook my head and got back to work.
Some time later, I walked to the back of the house to survey the look of the whole place, but my eyes instinctively pulled me to look towards the stables. That's where I found her, once again. From my closer viewpoint, I supposed from her lack of movement that she was asleep beneath the large oak tree. Even from where I stood, I could see the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she slept.
I abruptly moved my gaze from her as I realised that I had been looking at her indecently. I wrote down a few details in regards to the house, until I noticed a little golden retriever puppy waddling over the grass, towards the enigma beneath the trees.
The puppy made its way up to her and walked around her still form a few times, before it decided to lick her face. I realised then that I hadn't yet seen her face, but I was already intrigued by her. I contained my laughter as the girl awoke. Her laughter was clear from where I stood as she brushed off her dress.
I retreated back towards the side of the door slowly as I continued to watch her as she picked up the cheerful puppy and book. When she straightened up, I finally got the first glance of her face. The first thought that ran through my mind was, that I was ruined. She had just ruined me for other women. If I couldn't have her, I wouldn't degrade her by having anyone else that wouldn't even scratch the surface of her beauty and perfection.
She was walking back to the house, I realised. I decided to keep out of her way for now; maybe I wouldn't see her again anyway? She was obviously Mr Brandon's eldest daughter, the famously beautiful Alice. No servant would be allowed to take a break from work and lie beneath a tree with a book. Hardly any servants would even know how to read. She was definitely Alice.
I picked up my pace and swiftly went around the corner, getting back to work in an attempt of expelling her from my mind.
Only a few short minutes later, a commotion behind me signalled that we were to have a break. A melodic voice spoke to the other men as I pretended to study the house's plans. I was really thinking of ways that I would be able to make a grand fortune in order for Alice to marry me. There would be no other way. She would never be allowed to marry a poor workman.
"Whitlock, come on man, don't keep the lady waiting!" Peter's voice pulled me from my reprieve. I folded up the unseen plans and made my way over to the lady that he'd mentioned.
As I neared, my eyes caught the sight of a head of jet black hair. I lifted my gaze to see the angel that would ruin me, standing in front of me, saying something as she held out my lemonade. I didn't hear a word she said as she lifted her gaze, I simply got lost in her smoky, gray eyes. Somehow I managed some sort of thanks.
I tipped my head back and drained my glass as my head span with all thoughts of her, Miss Alice Brandon.
Once I finished, I dared to look back to her. I almost cursed aloud as I looked at her perfection once more. The dark hair, pale skin, captivating eyes and plump lips. I said the first thing that came into my mind as the thoughts ran through my mind. "May I have another?"
She smiled at me. My heart stuttered as she brightened. I dropped my gaze from her eyes and realised that her hands were trembling. I leant down and asked her is she was alright and if she thought that she was going to swoon. I silently prayed that she wouldn't. I would obviously do the gentlemanly thing of carrying her into the house; I just had no idea whether I would be able to let her go.
I thanked the lord as she shook her head, declaring that she was fine. I sipped some of my lemonade to hide the relief of her words. I kept watching her and realised that she'd lost the colour in her cheeks and even lips. I wondered what was wrong with her. I told her, "You've lost some colour from your cheeks miss…"
She declared that she was fine, but after I mentioned that she should get something to eat or take a lie down, she agreed. I couldn't help but feel moved as she seemed to stare back into my eyes.
"Good afternoon Mr Whitlock" She said to me as she walked towards the door to the house. I smiled at how I liked the sound of her saying my name.
"Good afternoon Miss Brandon" I replied shortly after as she reached the door to the house and regrettably disappeared from my sight.
What do you think? I'm carrying on with it regardless of if you like it or not-it's been trying to burst out of my mind for days. I was going to write it after I finished All Aboard, but I give up. The Story wins, I loose!!
Just so you know-AGE--Alice(18), Ben(8), Cecilia(5) A/B/C!!
Jasper-(21)