Eternity

Later that night everyone was in the living room waiting for Edward to come back. Rosalie and Alice were on the opposite couch fawning over the new fashion magazine with soft gasps and whispers full of giddyness for their next shopping spree while Emmett and Jasper were playfully shoving each other while playing the game console. I was perched in Carlisle's lap as he read a book my head tucked under his chin resting on his colar with my eyes closed with every inhale stealing the fresh smell of the forest after rain — aromatic herbs and cedar with a slight hint of pepermint that made up Carlisle's scent, relaxing me. I often did this even though I couldn't really sleep I could just sit and block out the world and just think. Carlisle's hand held me in place by my hip rubbing soft circles into my skin through the material of my dress as my hand was playing with his hair on the back of his neck. My mind pondered over many things from work, to the past, to Carlisle, to each of my family individualy, to my parents, to my brother. An old Irish folk sang our mother sang to us at night began to play softly in my mind.

"Eliana you thoughts are too loud" Edward chuckled my eyes shot open and I glared at him at his position at the door way with Bella beside him. I sighed and eased off of Carlisle's lap gracefully and took the seat beside him.He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me as close to him as possible still I gently rested my head on his shoulder. Bella and Edward joined us on our sofa seeing as Rosalie was glaring at Bella. A long silence filled the air until surprisingly Bella broke it.

"So.." she dragged out,
"Bella wants to know how everyone was changed" Edward spoke for her she blushed crimson as she studied the floor and huddled deeper into the coutch I waited for someone to speak up but no one did most not wanting to talk that incident.

"Eliana should tell her story!" Alice chimed in.

"Yeah Nicholas Sparks couldn't even come up with a story like hers." Rose said leaning back in the cusion and crossing her arms.

"You all sound like it was some kind of fairy tale" I chuckled readjusting my position before scanning my eyes over the room to see five pairs of golden honey eyes staring at me along with Bellas brown ones expectantly. I glanced up to see Carlisle staring at me as well.

"Oh all right. Where do I begin?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"My mother was English born and she married my father, an Irish immagrent. He became a succesful farmer on a plantation he named Tara. We grew rye, wheat, raised chickens, almost anything you could think of. We were middle class but no where close to being rich. My brother and I worked along the rest of the workers in the fields. I stayed in Tara until I turned seventeen..."

My bare feet sunk into the cool soil as my hands gently breezed over the tips of the rye grass in the field. I hummed a soft tune to myself as the wind blew my dark curls back. I watched the sunrise mix in with warm pinks and orange. The rooster finally woke and crowed loudly as I made my way back to my parents house. A steady galloping grasped my attention and I turned to see a man riding up the trial toward our home. Even from my distance he wore very elegant clothing with his top hot bobbing on his head I quickened my pace and climbed over the wooden gate pulling the skirt of my dress back in place as I ran to the back door.

"Oh Miss Eliana! Where have ye been lass? You've hade Mrs. Mary almost worry of freight this morning? What on earth were ye thinking exposing yer young self to the cold dampness of the early morning?" Fiona our housekeeper tisked me as she took my shawl as I untied the knot from around me. Fiona's pumpkin frizzy orange hair was was held high on her head head loose tight springs of hair drooping sadly into her freckled middleaged face her green wise eyes were stern but kind.

"Oh Fiona don't worry your wits about me! I'm as healthy as a horse and you know it! Besided I've never heard of a girl dying after seeing a sunrise anyhow." I continued on into the dining room to see my mother and brother already at the table prepared for breakfast but my father's spot at the head of tha table empty. I took my spot next to my brother as my mother gave me a disapproving look having heared my bare feet pad across the floor.

"Eliana you know how I disapprove of your early exploring through the fields." my mother jabbed giving me a look.

"Oh come off it mum we all know she's more of a boy that she is girl anyway." William chuckled his dark hair flying back. Fiona bustled through the swinging door from the kitchen with a wet rag and began wiping at my face removing layers of dirt as I squirmed in distaste.

I opened my mouth to respond after Fiona gave up and walked back into the kitchen scoffing at me in Gaelic when I heard my father's bustling laugh as he slid the the french doors open and appeared with a middle aged man with broad shoulders and his top hat tucked under his arm. The top of his head shone in the candle light like a newly polished penny his black sidebearns reaching down to his jowl.

"Ah Mary I would like ye to meet Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith meet me wife Mary." my father introduced his Irish accent thick.

"Mr. Smith" my mother smiled warmly standing up from her seat and gracefully walking towards him he took her hand as she curtsied.

"And me son and daughter William and Eliana." We both stood and Will shook his hand before he took mine and I cutsied as well. I could feel his beady black eyes study me skepticly when his eyes reached my bare I feet I felt my cheeks burn in embarrassment as he gave me a slightl look of disgust.

"Shall we go to the parlor and talk business?" my father asked. Mr.Smith nodded and ushered me to follow. We all entered the small room that glowed with a sickly deep green tapestry and took our seats mother and father on the sofa and Will and I in the plush arm chairs.

"First and foremost I'm here on behalf of my employer Dutchess Estelle Evangeline DeWitt Bukater. She is in need of lady-in-waiting and has shown interest in young Miss. Eliana Juliet O'Conner." he said in a surprisingly booming voice that shook the room I felt my jaw slaken slightly.

"Along with this offer Miss Eliana will be taken to London and will live on the estate with the Dutchess , receive the best education this side of Europe.." he fell back in a plush chair as Fiona brought in a tray of tea, coffee, and tea cakes he took a couple for himself allowing the tea cakes to disappear in the thin line of his mouth before brushing the crumbs off his walrus type mustache.
"she will also be associated with some of Londons finest aristocrats. She will become a lady Mr. O'Conner." he stated pointing a sausage finger at my father

"A lady?" my mother gasped placing a hand on her chest.

"Yes a lady" Mr. Smith confirmed eyeing me. " I understand this is quite a large decision so I'll offer this I'm staying at the the Inn in town and leave in the morning a carriage should be here by 7. If you decide to refuse have a message sent to me." Mr. Smith said standing up and brushing crumbs off his pettycoat.

"She accepts!" my mother jumped up.

"Mother!" I gaped at her. Mr. Smith glanced back and forth at my mother and I.

"She'll be ready by seven." my mother confirmed nodding at Mr. Smith. He grunted before my father stood and showed him out. Tears pricked my eyes before I glared at my mother.
"Right then." Mr. Smith growled turning to leave "Oh and by the way shoes would be necessary." With a curt nod he marched out of the room.

"how could you?" I gasped at my mother as Mr. Smith finally left before I began to run to my room my cries echoing through the house. I renched open the door and threw myself on my newly made bed burring my face in a pillow to shush my screams.

I heard clicks of shoes on the wood coming closer to me before a sigh filled the air and pressure was applied next to my head the mattress sinking slightly.

"Eliana Juliet"my mother called sternly "this is no way for a young lady to behave."

"So what if its not?" I hiccuped picking up my head to look at her. "You're sending me away to make me a lady what should it matter what I do today if tomorrow I'll be a pig being sent to slaughter."

"I'm doing whats best for you Eliana. I want the best for you, better than what I had! Being presented to high society could be good for you! Why you could meet a Duke! Wouldn't that be lovely Eliana to be married to a duke!" my mother gushed staring up in a daydreamy state her dark hair brushed into a tight bun on her head.

"But I don't want to marry a duke!" I cried throwing myself back on the pillow. "I want to stay in Tara! I don't want to leave!"

"Eliana" my mother sighed smoothing my hair down soothingly "Think of it as an adventure like all those you read in your story books. God has put an opputtinity infront of you the least you can do is take advantage of it. You'll have everything you ever wanted dresses, jewels,.. You'll get to see the city."

I wiped my tears on my sleeve and looked up at my mother through blurred vision "I could come back to Tara?" I hiccuped.

"If you want to darling." she sighed "Just give it a chance first. You may like it there in the city."

I sighed sitting up I sniffed "Would it make you and papa happy?"

"It would" my mother smiled "you're father would be so proud of you! Think of the honor you will bring to the family Eliana!"

I sighed and stood up from the bed and walked to my window pulling back the lace curtain to peer down at my father as he shouted at my brother in the fields. I would do anything to make my father happy. He had worked so hard to get where he was and make a name for himself in society, this was the least I could do.

"I guess I should pack then" I sniffed softly going to my wardrobe.

"Oh good" my mother beamed shuffling to the door and yelling out "Fiona! Bring the trunk from my room and help Eliana and I pack" she turned with happy tears in her eyes before coming over to me and placing her hands on my shoulders and kissing my cheek.

I spent my last night in Tara wide awake staring at the the cieling. Sleep finally visited early in the morning but was soon cast out Fiona was bustling around the room demanding me to get up and prepare getting ready it was only four thirty according to the grandfather clock in the hall she pushed me to the wash room where the tub had already been filled with water. I yawned stripping from my nightgown and submerged into the water before jumping right back up.

"Its cold!" I gasped.
"It would a been a right lot warmer had ye woken up when I called ye the first three times" Fiona bickered. Before scrubbing my skin raw with soap and a coarse rag after thirty minutes she had used an entire bar of soap and had scrubbed my hair clean.

"Breath in Miss. Eliana!"Fiona demanded tying the cords to the corset tighter as I grasped the the post of my bed she pulled tighter and I felt my waist constriciting to its demanded size before shoving my finest dress over me the pastel pink was stiff and uncomfortable with itchy lace accenting the sleeves and colar after accomplishing getting me into the dress Fiona pushed me infront of the vanity and began tugging my hair in odd directions soon my hair was behing my head with select pieces curled framing my face.

"My my miss Eliana if you don't look beautiful" Fiona complimented. I gave her a weak smile and thanked her.

"Yes she does" my mother said walking toward us. "Fiona wont you go grab a spot of breakfast for Eliana?"

Fiona nodded disappearing out of the room just then did I notice the velvet box my mother held in her hands. Her thumb ran over the top of it softly

"I ws going to give you this on your wedding day, but I see today seems better fit for an occasion" she gasped tears pricking the corners of her eyes. She opened the top of the velvet box and I gasped. Inside the box held a pair of pair of tear drop pearl earrings with a matching necklace laying on top of a pair of stark white gloves trimmed with lace.

"They were my mothers.. She gave them to me and now I pass them on to you and you to your daughter and.." my mother paused her voice breaking slightly. As she took the necklace and placed it over my neck as I pulled my hair our of the way and admired it in the mirror as my mother also put the earrings in. "Now" she gasped "you look like a true lady"

Sooner than I would have licked the clinking of a carriage pulled by two white stallions up along with Mr. Smith. Fiona placed my Sunday's best hat on my head and tied it behind my head beneath my falling curls. I kissed my mother,father, brother and even Fiona goodbye. Mr. Smith offered me his hand to step up into the carriage. I hesitantly accepted it before he closed the door and entered on the opposite side as the driver hauled my trunk and bags into the back. I stared out of the window to my family. Will's brown eyes gleamed with tears along with my mothers Fiona was forcfully shaking with sobs and my father..his eyes shone brightly full of pride with a smile on his face. I placed a gloved hand to my lips before directing it to him. He reached up a hand and then closed it bringing it to his heart. I smiled softly before the cracking of a whip echoed and the carriage lurched forward. I stared out at Tara one last time soaking in her red dirt with productive crop fields scattered with a few negroes and Irish immagrints in need of work and felt a tear slip down my face as the burly tall negroe stood straight staring off after the carriage he removed his flimsy sun hat and placed it over his chest in respect raising a tree trunk of an arm to wave. I waved my hand and waved my farewell to big Sal along with Tara.

"The ride to London took three days. We stopped occasionally to let the horses rest and to eat from the picnick basket Mr. Smith rarely let out of his sight. All I saw for those 72 hours were the inside of the carriage taking in its rich hoplestry and gold expensive accents or the geen lush countryside slowly fading into the city and on some occasions the the back of my eyelids as I slowly fell into a unrestful sleep once I had assured myself Mr. Smith had sipped his way into a alcohol induced slumber. And finally we arrived in London...."

The chatter of people scattering the streets grasped hold of my attention. I stared in awe at all the different people never had I seen so many people gathered in one place. Women wore elaborate clothing that gauked sophistication and a relation to money and power in one way or another. Then a few girls not much younger than me followed behind them some carrying shopping boxes and other holding nothing, their clothes medicore compared to the women's they followed. Builidings lined the roads like guards towering over the people taking in their actions and conversations. Minutes passed and soon the carriage was winding down the bumpy road and slightly into the countryside. The carriage wheeled to a stop Mr. Smith straightened his suit and opened the door stepping out.

"Miss Elianna Welcome to Bukater Manor"

I felt my break catch in my throat as I stepped out. The manor was held in the most highest of regaurds oozing elegance and class. The lawn was well kept and glowed with vibrance and health as the fountain splashed pleasently behind me.

"If you'll follow me." Mr. Smith gruffed. I followed him up the stone steps careful to take each step slowly careful to make myself as elegant a possible infront of all the skepticle judging eyes. An elderly man opened the great double doors. White hairs hallowed his head and deep wise eyes stared expectantly.

"Ahh Mr. Smith" he bowed and usherd us in.

"Hello Theodore is the Dutchess in?" Mr. Smith asked as Theodore took Mr. Smith's hat and outer jacket.

"I'm afraid not sir. She left only moments ago to have lunch with Duke of ...."

"Oh no matter! I was just here to deliver Miss Elianna to her."

"Ah yes Miss Elianna welcome to Bukater manor! I hope you enjoy your stay here"

"Thank you sir" I smiled in thanks.

"Of course she'll enjoy her stay here! Only those who are utterly classless wouldn't" a voice spoke to the left of me. Walking out of two grand double doors with gold trimming stepped a woman about my age with chocolate locks and an olive complexion. Thick eyelashes laced her green eyes as they glanced over me expectantly.

"Elianna this is Miss Anastashia Claudia Bukater. The dutchess' daughter."

I curtsied stiffly as she gave me a sift curt nod and turned to the woman on her right. "And this is Gabriella and my ladys maid Clarisse." Gabriella was a beautiful girl much like Anastashia with matching glowing skin. Her hazel eyes glowed with warmth and welcome and caramel curls cacaded down her shoulder. Clarisse was shorter than the others with straight blonde hair that was neatly pulled back away from her pale face. Two crystal pools of ice stared off above a small upturned nose and thin pink lips.

"Yes well" Mr. Smith coughed "I was meant to speak with your mother Anastashia any idea of when she shoudl return?"

"Not until later tonight." Anastashia hummed beginning to glide around me elegantly studying me skepticly. When she was facing me again she studied me a moment longer before turning to Mr. Smith, "You are more than welcome to stay in the guest room Mr. Smith. I know the journey here was long and tiresome. Please go rest while, we take dear Eliana to her room to freshen up."

"Right then Theodore grab the Lady's trunk and bring it up to her room." The older man at the door nodded and Anastashia beckond me to follow her up the grand marble staircase followed by Grabiella and Clarisse.

Anastashia led me down a corridor lined with countless portriats before stopping infront of two grand doors she wrenched them open and I couldn't surpress the gasp that left my mouth.
Rich turqouise wallpaper lined the walls delicatley accent with a gold floral pattern. An exquisite four poster bed was made neatly with sheer turqouise tapestry ghosting around it. A fireplace was to my left and a desk set infront of a window with lace curtains. A dresser and wardrobe line the right wall as well.

"This will be your room for all your private needs. Mine is at the end of the hall and Grabiella's is the next room to the left next to yours. Now I bet you'ld fancy a hot bath."

I closed my eyes at the sheer thought of a hot bath and nodded "yes a hot bath would do nicely thank you"

Clariss shuffled out of the room quickly as Theodore returned with my trunk. He set the trunk down and stood perfectly straight again "Is there anything else I can do for you miss Bukater?"

"Have Annie prepare a tea." Anastashia ordered. He nodded and left. Gabriella opened my truck and began putting my dresses into the wardrobe.

"They really did find you out in the middle of the country amougnst cows and such didn't they?" Anastashia asked clicking her tongue in distaste at the dress Gabriella was holding. I felt my cheeks burn with embarrasment as Gabriella gave me an apologetic look. Clarisse shuffled in followed by other women all holding a bucket of steaming water in each hand and disappeared into the doorway behind me. Clarisse came back out and stood outside the door clasping her hands infront of her.

"Your bath is ready Miss" she said quietly.

"Good. I'm sure you can manage from here. Garbiella will help you prepare for dinner" Anastashia said turning on her heel and walking out.

I walked to the bathroom and was blinded by the stark white marble that encased the room. A large porclein bowl steamed infront of a large stainglass window. Large vasses of exotic flowers rested on either side of the tub. Clarisse helped me remove my dress, corsett, and undergarments.
I stepped into the water and sighed with contentment. Three days in carriage and in a corset no less had taken a toll on my muscles I took a breath and slid under the water before sitting back up sighing heavily.

"I'm sorry for how my cousin has treated you" a voice spoke I opened my eyes meeting Gabriella.

"Your cousin?" I questioned.

"Yes" she nodded. "My aunt has taken my under her wing raising me as her own. My father..."
"Was a no good filthy Italian field hand! Your parent's marriage spoiled our family name!" Anastashia said walking in with an elegant dress draped over her arm. "Now Eliana when you finish your bath and dress is in this and try your best Gabriella to not ruin it." She shoved the dress in Gabriella's arms and stalking out.

"Well that was my cousin's view. My father was a hard working man and my mother was Louis, Dutchess Estelle's husband, sister. Needless to say they fell in love and then here I am. My father died last year."

"Oh Gabriella I'm so sorry"

"Its alright. I loved him and so did my mother atleast he had that in life."

Gabriella and I talked and found we were the same age and many of the tasks I would be taught.

"And the dutchess. whats she like?"

"Oh you'll love Aunt Estelle! She's simply amazing she can be hard at times but only when it comes down to reputation. She comes from a very prestiges family and so did Uncle Louis so if anything ever put her reputation at stake she wouldn't take it kindly."

Soon the water turned cool and Gabriella helped me into the dress Anastashia had chosen for me. It was a rich purple color capping off at the curve of my shoulder exposing the smooth skin of my neck and chest lace peeking out of the edges. My hair was curled and placed cascading down my back. Powder was applied heavily to my neck and exposed skin giving off a strong fragrance. Color was added to my lips and jewels to my neck and ears. Gabriella dressed in a green gown and we walked out of my room to go to the dining room meeting Anastashia. Anastashia was adorned in a deep wine off the shoulder gown with encrusted jewels she nodded her head at Gabriella and I as we followed her to the dinning room to meet Dutchess Estelle Evangeline Dewitt Bukarter."

*~*~*~*`

"I believe thats enough story telling for tonight" I said seeing Bella became bleary eyed leaning against Edward's shoulder.

"Anastashia was just a real bi-"

"Roaslie watch your mouth" I snapped she dropped her head and muttered a yes ma'm. Edward gathered the now sleeping Bella in his arms and took her home. Soft lips kissed my cheek as Carlisle stood and pulled me with him.

The boys went back to the xbox and the girls went back to looking through the magazine. Carlisle and I went upstairs for the night.