A/N: This chapter may seem unimportant but I ask you all to please read it slowly and carefully as it is vital to the plot and how events will play out. As you may have already guessed, I do write with a plot already planted in my mind and it has quite a few twists and unexpected events (hopefully).
I sincerely hope you will enjoy this chapter. Happy reading and review!
Lolly
THEY ARE ALL HUMAN.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight Saga but I do own this plotline.
Rueful Relict
Chapter Two (2)
Finest Ivory
(Isabella)
Edward bowed low in front of me as he greeted me. I studied him prudently, looking him up and down. His form was unmoving and rigid standing there and I did not know if he would be as agreeable and charismatic as Eric had been. I paused for a moment before waving Jasper out, dismissing him. Alice took it upon herself to clean another room in the chamber and made her way out also. There was only Edward Cullen and myself.
"You are to replace Eric Yorkie, yes?" I questioned him as I settled down on one of my many marvellous couches specially imported from other lands. I had never even heard of some of those most exotic countries before, for example, China, or Persia.
"I believe that would be accurate, Lady Isabella," he straightened himself as he answered my obvious and straight-forward inquiry.
"What kind of training have you been through?" I continued with my questions. If this man were to follow me around as a bodyguard and be responsible for my wellbeing, I would need to know more about his background. He could be a serial murderer or a spy for all I know. I realised that Father would not put a murderer as my bodyguard, or one that had a record, anyway, but it appealed to me to ask.
"I served in the army as a second-in-command. It was only a small troop, though," Edward replied without hesitation. I felt that he was answering my questions honestly but saying no more than was necessary. He seemed like a man of few words.
I nodded as I thought about that. I couldn't help but add obstinately. "And why are you here then? A mere bodyguard when you could be battling foreign towns or something of the like."
"I was chosen," Edward answered simply. Of course, he would not have a choice in this matter – being my bodyguard. Should he be chosen by Father, he would have no other choice but to oblige. It was probably degrading to him, but it was no business of mine and I should not care, but I was mildly curious.
"By Father?" I pressed on. His face still did not betray any sign of expression, like an accomplished actor.
"No, actually, Lady Isabella. The Duke of Normandy hand selected me and referred me to the Lord, your father, who briefly mentioned that he needed a new man servant and bodyguard for his daughter. Sir Swan especially requested for the finest," he explained indifferently to me.
It was very much like Father to worry himself so much about my wellbeing, I thought with a smile. I had always known that I was their pride. I forced away the nagging idea that I was merely a tool for their social climbing campaign. My face instantly clouded over with a dark frown and my mood turned dark. I refused to show any signs of weakness and vulnerability in front of Edward so I returned to provoking him with open questions.
"Where are you from?" I inquired. I had certainly never heard of an Edward Cullen in the military before.
"I do not know," was his simple and nonchalant response. I glared at him sharply.
"What do you mean you do not know? Everyone comes from somewhere," I was genuinely baffled. They it stuck me that perhaps Edward was trying to avoid excessive conversation with me. This irked me a little. I was very much used to people always wanting to find out more about me and constantly and shamelessly flattering me. Edward did not even seem like he wanted to converse with me let alone answer my questions.
"I honestly do not know where I am from. I have no memories of my early childhood. I have no parents and no home I can call my own," Edward began. "I had been a slave when I was a small child."
"And?" I wanted to hear his story. I had always loved stories as a child, but Mother refused to tell me any.
"I worked hard daily, weekly, monthly. I worked and saved until I had enough to pay off the debts to my master to be set free," he told me.
"Oh," I instantly felt guilty of provoking him so harshly but waited for him to continue on.
"I signed up to serve in the military as soon as I was of age," he continued. "It was the only way for a freed slave to gain citizenship, you see. I was noticed amongst my comrades and I became second-in-command of my troop."
I was not feigning my interest now. "Do you see yourself in the army for a long time?"
"I want to be a General – a free man," he grinned – making the first expression since I first met him. "Of course I see myself in the army for a long time. It is my only home."
"That sounds very," I paused briefly. "Nice. But you are stuck here?"
"I live to serve the country. Whatever the country requires, I will do my best to fulfill. And right now, it requires me to guard a beautiful Lady," he smiled crookedly at me. I could not help but grin with him until I remembered that he was the reason that Eric was not here and working on the farms – or that was what I told myself, anyway. I felt as if I were somehow betraying my friend by becoming so friendly already with the newcomer.
I closed my eyes wearily; it had been a long day today and I was very tired. My back was aching as I probably slept at an awkward angle last night, as I usually did.
"Alice." I called for the maid. "Alice?"
There was no response. Perhaps she had gone outside to serve as a kitchen hand as she was not one of the specific servants of my chamber. I had only known her for a day but I had a soft spot for her already, ever since I heard her tragic story. She seemed like a nice girl who knew where to be and when to be.
"Lady Isabella, do you want me to call Alice in for you?" Edward offered.
I groaned as I stood up from the couch and began to make my way towards my bed. Edward immediately moved to aid me, afraid that I would harm myself in the process of stumbling to my bed.
Pulling the lace curtains around my colossal bed, Edward tenderly eased me onto the bed. I yawned leisurely like a cat as I rested my head on a cushion. I tried to fight off my dress and corset while not revealing anything but it was all in vain. Edward quickly understood what I was trying to do and stepped away from the bed and turned around politely, allowing me some privacy.
I grinned to myself as I thought of what his face was playing right now. After years and years of relentless and continuous practise, I could finally remove a corset all by myself – a skill which was uncommon amongst women, or anyone, really. I slipped on a night gown and a loose fitting dress over it.
"Edward, could you rub my back?" I knew that this would be deemed inappropriate but I was honestly too tired to care. There was usually no one around here at this time of the day as most servants were eating.
Edward was alarmed and startled at this absurd turn in conversation. "L-lady Isabella, that would not be –"
"It was a demand, not a request," I told him sternly, cutting him off.
I could tell that Edward Cullen was very much of a gentleman and it would not do for him to act in this manner. I had still not forgiven him completely for basically stealing Eric's position, should it be intended or not. It could not hurt to play around with his morality – just a little. I was also a little sulky that he did not seem as interested in me as most men did but no one needed to know that.
He gulped very loudly and his Adam's apple shifted up and down. He knew that he could not refuse my demand as he was only a servant, bodyguard or not.
He slowly moved near my bed as I began peeling off the dress, but leaving on my nightgown. It would be unspoken of for me to become bare in his presence. I could not see his face as I was lying on my stomach but I imagine it to be one of great discomfort and wariness.
His fingers were oddly smooth for a man who worked in the army, I thought as he placed his slender yet powerful hands on my back. "Your hands, they are very soft."
He chuckled lightly as he continued rubbing my back with his fingers. "I play the piano."
"I thought you were brought up as a slave?" I turned around to look at him in surprise and he stopped moving his hands, unsure whether to continue or not. "Keep going."
"I was a slave. But one family had a piano. When they were out of the house, I was curious. It was a shabby little thing, the piano," Edward explained as he continued massaging. "I practised at night."
"Ah, I see," I commented. I nudged my head towards the grand piano in my room. "Are you good at it?"
"I would say that I am fairly accomplished," one corner of his lips twitched a little.
"I play, too. Mary, my previous governess, taught me," I informed him. "Go on, play me something."
He stood up straight and seemed ever taller than before as he towered over me before heading towards the piano.
"This is a magnificent piano," he placed his hand on the lid of the piano. He lifted the ebony lid to reveal white keys. He ran his hands past the keys as he said in awe. "This is the finest ivory."
"It is, isn't it? Father purchased it on one of his many trips," I smiled at Edward as he began to press the keys.
He played a well-known lullaby before launching into a complex and beautiful song of his own. I noticed that this should be played by a duet yet he is competently playing it by himself. The sounds erupting from the piano was most calming and it was obvious that the pianist was talented and skilled.
He slowly pulled the lid down before making his way towards me again, assuming that he must continue where he left off. His hands moved to my back without a word and he began massaging again.
It was only when I was fully at peace when I heard a tinkling noise. I turned to look and noticed that a golden necklace was hanging from his neck. It looked exquisite and expensive with an elaborate detail. I knew instantly that it was unique – one of its kind. I could see the twisted yellow and rose gold with two charms on it; a small gold plate with a detailed engraving of a lion on it and a smaller ivory bead beside it. I could almost see initials carved on the back but it was just out of my view.
I pointed to his necklace. "It is beautiful."
"Oh, this?" He touched the plate of his necklace with his thumb and forefinger and attempted to smile but his lips failed him. The ivory bead brushed against his hands. He whispered. "It was my birth fathers."
There was no more talk after that and we settled down in a comfortable silence.
I heard a door close from another room and immediately sat up straight, knocking Edward back a little. Someone was coming into my room and I hurried to pull the dress over my head.
"Lady Isabella! I am utterly sorry. Butler Jasper told me that you were calling for me but I was having my meal and –" Alice exclaimed in a rush. Her eyes widened and she gasped as she noticed Edward in my private bedroom with me and me wearing so little clothing; both of which is highly prohibited. I blushed involuntarily and looked down. Alice acknowledged my apparent discomfort and shut her mouth quickly but her eyes were still wide in shock.
I hushed her as I told her that everything was fine and she need not worry about a thing, hinting that she was not to say anything about what she had just seen.
I quickly dressed with the help of Alice and was grateful that she had not said a single word about the scene she had just walked in on. I had an accurate guess of what she thought had happened but did not care to explain as long as she did not spread rumours – which I was certain that she would not.
"Well, I wish to go for a walk around the streets," I proclaimed to Alice and Edward once I was adequately presentable.
I was allowed out of the Manor as long as it was before sunset and I had an army of servants and maids tailing me. Alice and Edward were two paces behind me as we made our way out of the Manor and onto the streets where all the excitement occurred.
I loved walking around the streets, looking at new wares and tasting fresh fruit, despite Mother always telling me that there were bad people who roamed those streets – bad and uncouth people with despicable intentions. She highly disapproved of my little trips but did not comment when Father said that it was good that I could see a fuller view of our world.
"This way, Lady Isabella," Jasper held out his arm as we passed him next to the door.
I playfully swatted at his arm and informed him that I was born in the Manor and I certainly knew my way around without his kind assistance, which I appreciate although it was unnecessary.
I only briefly noticed Jasper and Alice glancing at each other for a moment longer than most people should and both averted their gaze at the same time when they realised they had an audience.
A smile began to play on my lips.
Isabella and Edward are on speaking terms and she knows his life story now, brief as it may be. Isabella wishes to take a walk about on the streets but who knows what shall happen? Edward wears an exquisite necklace which is claimed to be from his birth father but what does this symbolise? Isabella also noticed the exchange of looks between Jasper and Alice, but will she act on it?
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