Thanks you guys, I really hope you guys enjoy this next chapter. :D
Alot of alerts and fav stories, but i'd really like some you know, praise. So at least I know you all like it, thanks for reviewing, those who did, and in encourage you all to review, please.
There are A LOT of twists and turns in this chapter, but all will be explained in the next chapter, I assure you. There is infact a family secret, but you'll have to read the next chapter after this to figure it out. Sort of an angsty build up.
I own nothing.. except for this new purse I just bought at Areo.. haha I'm a shopaholic. oh oh I'm ALICE! haha.
Enjoy.
-ForbiddenWords.
Chapter Two: Isabella's Night.
The whole entire town was aware, even some of people from La Push was coming, which is where Sir Jacob Black was from, and tonight, Bella was sure that Jacob was going to ask for her hand. And Edward would take her hand and say that she is unable to marry. Bella hadn't thought of what was going to become of her and Edward, she was too anxious and a slight bit scared of what was going to happen to them on All Hallows Eve. She watched Edward's sister Alice do all the work.
Edward inherited the title Duke, however, so did the rest of his brothers. And when Alice married, her husband resumed right to the title. They were very wealthy, and they all worked, even though Dukes and Countess's shouldn't work, they shouldn't even get their hands dirty.
Edward's father, Carlisle Cullen was a Doctor, the best Seattle had. A lot of people called him The Duke Doctor. Almost everyone in Seattle had called upon him if they had any illness at all. His wife Esme was a wonderful woman, she liked to decorate, which made her Edward's leading partner, aside from Isabella.
Emmett was a great Swordsmen, and he was very good at what he did, he taught almost every young gentlemen that was able, and had the money to be taught. Rosalie was always keeping him in check, he was quiet the gesture, and he'd make jokes about everything and anything. His out look on life was a very carefree, happy out look. Rosalie took a secret liking in horses and she liked to ride bareback very much. She's a horse trainer for the olimpic horse races.
Jasper, however, he was the most dramatic, he worked in the theatre and he was also a writer. Jasper was the quiet type, and he was shy, but Alice, his wife, was a very social butterfly and she really helped him get out in the world, and better yet, they all accepted Jasper for his adversities. Alice was a clothes designer, and she liked to make Bella into her little manikin.
Last but not least, Edward. Edward was a very good construction worker. He helped enlarge estates, which ment, his estate was quiet large. He had three other homes. He created the rest of his family's homes, including Carlisle and Esme's new home. Edward worked with his mother, Esme, they helped him make the houses beautiful, rather than worthy living. She made his homes as if they were lavished hotels.
"Do you like it, Bella?" Alice called from one of the stairs, her hands had a lot of garland on them. Bella smiled.
"It's beautiful, Alice. Thank you. You've not need to be bothered by my birthday, surely there are more important things." Bella complained, Alice laughed.
"However, 'tis you, it's for. So there is nothing of any importance other than you, you're my best friend!" Alice gushed.
"What of Lady Tanya?" Bella asked, touching a peice of garland.
Alice practically spit on Bella, "she's not my friend. She's merely money, and old money, a friend of the family. I do not like her. No, Rosalie and you are my only friends, you are the best of friends. I wish to decorate for you, design for you." Alice said smiling, Bella smiled back. The whole entire family that Tayna belonged to were good friends of Carlisle, and Edward was to marry Tanya, however, he turned her down.
"Come, come, I've got tea!" Rosalie called from the sitting room, Alice and Bella rushed out, smelling the wonderful Spice Tea they made just for the season. It had hints of Cinnamon, Vanilla, and of course, Nut Meg. Bella loved it, and so did Alice. Rosalie tolerated it, but much rathered Ale. Rosalie was sort of like a gentlemen in that way, she liked almost everything that Emmett liked. She even got Emmett to train her in swords.
"Are we ready for the ball, got our gowns?" Alice asked looking at Rosalie and Bella, Bella nodded her head and so did Rosalie.
"Yes, mine is quite plush. Emmett said I'd need the extra warmth if we were going to go outside for a sword fight. Do you know anything of a sword fight, Bella?" Rosalie asked, Bella's head snapped up, and suddenly her mind went to Jacob and Edward fighting over her. Bella couldn't stand to think about it, Edward was a very good swordsmen, and Jacob was a knight!
"I do not, enlighten me." Bella said, her eye brows raised, and her hand shaking as she held her tea cup on the saucer.
"Perhaps not, you seem bothered by it, what's wrong? Surely you know something." Rosalie encouraged Bella to tell her, Bella looked down.
"Do you know your brother's dominant nature?" Bella said, staying coy, but if they understood what she was implying surely they'd understand the situation.
"You mean he... is a Dominant, and wants Submissive?" Rosalie asked, Alice and Rosalie seemed unbothered by it.
"Yes..."
"Yes, we know, Bella. Has he already propositioned you?" Alice asked, her voice a little high with concern.
"Yes, last night. He... was very angry. Mostly because I had said no... Then I changed my mind, I do not wish to be treated like that, I wish he'd just... Love me." Bella said, she looked down. "He made me sleep in his bed last night."
"You mean, you laid together?!" Rosalie asked Bella, who looked a little pale at the mention.
"No, we just slept in the same bed, we just... cuddled." Bella said looking down at the tea which she would hope she'd have the chance to taste in this hasty conversation.
"I suppose he's asked so sudden because of your age. That and Jacob Black wishes to marry you." Rosalie said looking in her cup as well. Bella focused on the swirls that were happening in her cup due to her shaking hands.
"Are those the two that are going to duel?" Alice asked, Rosalie looked up and sighed, her eyes were clouded through her long, golden eyelashes.
"I'm not one to gossip, and you all know that." Rosalie said with a sigh, she leaned in and she spoke quietly. "Edward came over the other night, speaking to Emmett, it was very quiet talk, but I could hear through the door. He said that he would do what ever it takes to keep you from marring Sir Jacob Black, anything, even duel." Rosalie said, she sat back in her seat and sipped the Spiced Tea.
"I must stop it." Bella said to herself, wanting to stand up and tell Edward he couldn't do such a thing.
"Nonsense. Edward's made up his mind, Bella. Surely you know he's as stubborn as a bitch in heat." Alice said, she sipped her tea, her mind almost miles away.
"Where is Jasper?" Rosalie asked out of nowhere.
"The Theatre, he said he'd come, Bella. Said he wouldn't miss your coming of age for the world." Alice said smiling, Bella smiled back.
"I've come to age almost two years ago, Alice." Bella said, Alice rolled her eyes.
"Well, I stand by what I said, Rosalie and I shouldn't have married so young, but, we did, and we're happy. Seventeen is a very respectable age to marry." Alice said nodding her head, and Rosalie nodded her head in agreement.
"At least we were sure we found our true loves." Rosalie said nodding her head, Alice nodded in agreement.
"We must find a match for Bella, one that Edward approves of." Alice said smiling, Bella blushed and giggled as she finally took her first sip of the wonderful tea.
"She'll marry not. I do not find anyone suitable for our Isabella." Edward said entering the room, his hands went on her shoulders.
"Except you?" Alice asked, Edward turned his head, and glared at his sister.
"Bite your tongue Mary-Alice!" Edward said scolding her, Alice's eyes went down to her lap.
"Pardon me, brother. And you know very well it's Alice." Alice said, her eyes reached his green ones. Alice's remarkable blue eyes came from Carlisle and Edward's green came from Esme. Emmett's eyes were sort of a mix of blue and green.
"Now, what were you three talking about, and giggling." Edward said looking at Bella exclusively.
"Oh, of Bella coming of perfect age to marry. Don't you agree, Edward?" Rosalie said, she had more nerve than any of the girls. Alice did stand up for herself, and she made sure that people knew not to walk all over her. However, Rosalie was the most verbose. Bella was the least. People always walked all over her.
"Bella will not marry." Edward said, Bella looked over at him, a state of shock and astonishment on her face.
"Excuse me?" Bella rose her voice a decibel higher.
"I do not wish for you to marry, Bella. I need you at my disposal at all times. You know that." Edward said soothingly, he rubbed her back gently, feeling her corset very well through the expensive, thin material.
"Perhaps I'd like to marry." Bella said with some nerve, she sipped her tea, and looked at Edward, his face went hard, and his jaw clenched.
"Doesn't matter." Edward paused, he took a sip of the brandy that he held in his one hand.
"I do believe it does." Alice said, "perhaps she doesn't want to stay your submissive forever, Edward." Alice said, she was hinting at something, but Bella didn't know what he met.
"Alice, I'll say this one last time, bite your tongue, or I shall punish you like one of my submissive." Edward said looking at her with a cruel face.
"I'm your sister!" Alice disagreed
"Your point?" Edward said, he looked at Rosalie to see any type of disagreement.
"You're such a bastard, Edward." Rosalie said glaring at him.
"Actually, Rosalie, I was conceived in marriage. Were you?" He asked raising his eye brows.
"You know I was." Rosalie said in a cruel voice.
"Right, well then, none of us are bastards, now are we?" Edward said, Rosalie looked at him, she couldn't say anything, really. She couldn't care less what he said about her, but Bella was vulnerable, and unable to say anything so long as she had agreed to Edward's proposition.
"What if I'd like children!" Bella asked, however, the thought never crossed her mind.
"You may have them." Edward said unfazed by the question.
"I will not have a bastard!" Bella complained, "I need to marry, Lord Edward." Bella complained, yet again.
"You wont! I need you here, Bella, no man- well, no respectable man- would allow his wife here at all times of the day. No, it just wont work." Edward said, Bella's eyes were filled with tears, she stood up and her tea cup went on the floor, the tea on the floor.
"Sorry Jessica." Bella apologized, "sorry Alice, Rosalie. I'm going to my room." Bella said, tears unleashed on her checks.
"No, you wont!" Edward contradicted her, Bella turned around, her hair falling out of the neat bun, flowing on her shoulders.
"Would you like to see me cry? Would you like to embarrass me like that, Edward?" Bella asked her whole body trembling, Edward blinked.
"Stop embarrassing yourself then." Edward countered, Bella scoffed at him.
"Tis your fault!" Bella looked at him, "you deny me my love! You deny me if I find someone I love that I'm not to marry him? Why!?" Bella demanded an answer
"I will not share you with anyone, Isabella. Do not mistake my selfishness for cruelty." Edward said, his voice thick with saliva, he sounded as if he were to cry.
"Selfishness is cruelty, to everyone, including yourself." Bella said, she turned and went to her room, hearing Alice and Rosalie clatter with the tea cups, and they began doing decorations again, she heard Edward in his room, throwing things, yet again. One of his tantrums got the best of him.
Three hours later.
Alice knocked on Bella's door, and she walked in before invited.
"Ready?"Alice asked in a light voice, Bella sighed and looked up with swollen eyes.
"Not exactly. I've cried a lot, I need some help with my powder, would you mind, Alice?" Bella asked, Alice did what she could for Bella's face. Her eyes were no longer puffy and swollen, just slightly pink. Her lips were painted a coffee color, her eyes had charcole makeup on them, like Alice's. Her hair was down, her curls beautiful as the cascaded down her back, showing none of the skin that was to be seen at her back. Alice loved to make scandals dresses.
"You look stunning." Rosalie praised as she walked into Bella's room with a large necklace in her hands. "Esme wanted you to wear this, It's got the Cullen Crest on it. She says it's yours." Rosalie handed her a necklace of silver, and the pendant was in fact the Cullen Crest.
"Thank you, please, tell Esme thank you, also, Rosalie." Bella said, she put the necklace on, and smiled, if felt like she belonged.
"She said it was met for you all along. Bella..." Rosalie called her attention, Bella looked over, "perhaps Edward has means to marry you." Rosalie said in a hopeful voice.
"Rosalie, you know Edward better than that. He wants me to use. What if I find myself pregnant?" Bella looked down, "I can't stand the fact if I have a bastard. I'll be so ashamed." Bella said, her tears threatening to come out of her eyes again.
"No, none of that. No crying. Your birthday! It's your birthday!"
"Not until twelve, Alice." Bella reminded, Alice shrugged, and smiled.
"No crying, none of that." Alice said looking into Bella's eyes, Alice kissed Bella's forehead and smiled at her, Bella smiled back.
"Thank you, Alice, Rosalie. You two are the best of friends." Bella said smiling, Bella looked in the mirror one last time.
"Ready?" Rosalie asked, Bella looked up and smiled at her, and nodded a yes.
"I am." Bella said, she walked down the stairs with Rosalie and Alice, Bella saw everyone of the important people at the party. Billy Black and Jacob Black entered the house, and Jacob held a small box. Bella smiled, he was such a sweetheart.
"Go to him, ignore Edward." Rosalie encouraged.
"We'll make sure he's not noticed." Alice promised, Rosalie nodded in agreement, Bella hugged both of her friends.
"Thank you." Bella said as they walked away, Jacob came over to her, and smiled brightly.
"Bella."
"Sir Jacob." Bella said smiling, she hugged Jacob tightly and the smell of ginger and spice came to her nostrils. She loved the smell of him.
"You look like a Goddess, truly." Jacob said, he kissed her hand thoughtfully.
"Thank you, Sir, and you look remarkably handsome." Bella said smiling at him, Jacob blushed slightly and smiled.
"I do try hard for you, my lady." Jacob said, again kissing her hand lightly and thoughtfully.
"How are you?" Bella asked, her eyes swimming in his.
"I'm quite well now that I see you. And you?"
"I am as good as can be expected for things that are happening." Bella said, she swallowed hard, and looked away, tears threatening to come through.
"What is wrong, Bella?" Jacob asked, Bella shook her head a smile came to her lips, a fake smile that Jacob saw through.
"Nothing, nothing, never you mind." Bella said patting him on the hand with her other hand which wasn't being held so securely.
"If you say so, fair lady." Jacob kept up with his complements. Bella blushed and she felt safe.
"Bella, I've come to ask you something..." Jacob said, he held the box, "in this box is a ring... A marriage ring." Jacob said, Bella's eyes clouded over with tears.
"Jacob-" Bella got cut off.
"Will you marry me?" Jacob asked, Bella began to ruin her make up, and she cried with one soft tear.
"I'm sorry..." Bella said, she pulled Jacob to his feet, off of his knees. "Get up, you must!" Bella pleaded, he followed her orders. "Lord Cullen.. He wont let me marry, Jacob." Bella said, she looked down, her eyes unable to look at his.
"You cannot be serious!" Jacob said in anger.
"Do not make a scene, Jacob." Bella tried to calm him down, but it was too late. Alice and Rosalie couldn't hold off Edward, he came to her side swiftly.
"What is going on here?" Edward asked, he snatched Bella's hand from Jacobs.
"I just proposed, but she's saying she isn't to marry, under your rules."
"And she is correct." Edward said looking at Bella, then back to Jacob.
"You are a horrible, and dishonorable man." Jacob said, looking at him in anger.
"Are you proposing a duel, Sir Black?" Edward asked, an evil smile playing on his lips.
"Perhaps." Jacob said, his lips also having a devilish smirk.
"DON'T!" Bella pleaded, Jacob looked over at her, her eyes pleading, "please, do not."
"Isabella, this is a men's conversation, go see to Rosalie and Alice." Edward said looking at Jacob.
"No." Jacob said quietly, "I will not duel, because Bella's asked me." Jacob said as he walked out the door, Charlie walked up to Edward.
"You can't forbid my daughter to marry, Edward, she was promised to Jacob." Charlie contested.
"Then perhaps you shouldn't have given a promise you couldn't keep." Edward walked away to find Bella, who ran away. Bella was surrounded by her old friends, Micheal Newton, a local store owner, and Angela Weber, the daughter of the local preacher. Edward thought it prudent to introduce himself, again.
"Hello, I'm Lord Cullen," Edward made a bow, and shook the hands of the two, making a hard, pressured handshake for Micheal, and a nice soft one for Angela.
"Yes, I remember you, Lord Cullen, we went to school together." Angela said, countering him on his high horse.
"Yes, well that was a very long time ago, I was just reminding you, less you forgotten me." Edward said, his crooked smile working it's magic on almost everyone.
"Very long time ago? Edward, it wasn't that long ago. Perhaps you've felt it's been long because... well you're on such a high horse, I'm sure it's taken a long time to get up there. Excuse me, I see Mistress Lauren, you know her." Angela said as she left Edward standing there, his jaw almost opened all the way that his hinges would allow.
"I'd say that she's just insulted you, not that you don't deserve it." Bella said, not looking at him fully.
"I'll blame it on the brandy, for her sake."
"How very kind of you, Lord Cullen." Bella scoffed as she stalked of, Edward grabbed her wrist.
"What is wrong with you?"
"What is wrong with me? Perhaps it's because you insist that you own me. You... infuriate me." Bella said, her lips chapped from biting them, and her eyes darting at his whole entire body.
"Is this a way of telling me I'm not allowed in your chambers tonight, and you will not be entering mine?" Edward asked, Bella looked at him.
"Yes."
"Then you wont get your birthday present." Edward said, he put his hands in her curls and smiled at her, "let me take care of you, Isabella." Edward practically pleaded. His fingers fell on the Cullen Crest on her neck, and he smiled.
"If you would like to take care of me, do not hurt me so." Bella said, her face turned away from Edward, Edward blinked, he was a little astonished from her words.
"I do not hurt you for fun, Isabella."
"Surely."
Edward's jaw clenched and he began to gnaw at his inner cheek. "I don't."
"Then stop mandating me. I am capable of doing things for myself!" Bella said looking into his green eyes, her eyes pleading.
Edward looked hurt, "I always want to take care of you. I will always do things for you, it is the way I show you how much I care about you. Isabella, I do not want to share you, I keep you hidden away, I've kept you and asked you to be something more than a friend. Bella I am completely and incompatibly in -" Carlisle interrupted Edward and Bella.
"Son, son. Bring Bella." Carlisle commanded as he pulled Bella and Edward over to a large crowed. "Aro, you know my son, Edward, this is his assistant, Isabella, or Bella. She's a very smart woman."
"A woman assistant?" Aro said, he seemed confused, then a smile appeared on his lips, "how strangely delightful." Aro clapped his hands, he seemed like a person gone mad, but incredibly happy about going mad.
"It's not unusual for women to be an assistant." Bella contradicted.
"For a man, it is." Aro said, his two men beside him nodded their heads.
"I'm sorry, Bella, this is Marcus, Aro, and of course their younger brother Cauis." Carlisle introduced Bella to them, Aro took her hand, and smiled.
"How very nice to meet you." Aro said smiling, the other's looked rather bored.
"Oh yes, it's always such an honor to meet an assistant." Bella said, making a joke at her own expense. However, she didn't see that they took affence to that.
"Oh, no, no. She's just jesting, she finds her self a bit of a jester when she's a bit tired." Edward said smiling, pushing Bella forward, "were you not, Isabella?"
"Oh! Yes, I was just jesting, as of late it is, I get a wee bit tired." Bella paused smiling, "do forgive me." She said, the night went on, and then, Aro opened his mouth that seemed eager to bring up this topic.
"So I understand you're to be a Countess." Marcus said, Bella's eyes buggered out of her head, and Edward choked on his Scotch.
"Excuse me?" Bella asked, Carlisle stepped in.
"Well, you are already though of by the whole entire staff as The Countess, however, she isn't a real Countess, Marcus." Carlisle was hiding something. But Marcus proceeded, Aro smiling, not stepping in, and he seemed the neutral one.
"But you said young Edward here will be marrying her." Marcus said, his voice a slight higher because of Carlisle's changed story.
"Father?" Edward said, his eyes wide, his lips pursed and turning white from the lack of blood flow. He looked angered and Bella could tell he was going to have one of his temper-mental fits. His father would often set off these fits, but Edward and his father had such a good relationship, and Carlisle was always so kind, but tonight it had to be the alcohol.
"Now, now. Son, I do wish you'd marry Bella. She's beautiful, and witty, and cunning. However, the prosicutionthat she faces by living here everyday, under your watch, well people do believe that you've shared the same bed, frequently. I mean, not that there is anything wrong with that, but marriage will con sue the rest of the sins you've committed." Carlisle said, Bella's eyes buggered out, and she dropped her cup that was full of a lot of Brandy.
"Excuse me?" Bella said, her whole face red, and tears just lining up at the rims of her eyes. "Him and I've not shared the same bed! I'm not soiled! I am a pure virgin!" Bella said, her voice shrill and louder than to be expected from her.
"Calm down, Isabella." Carlisle scolded, Bella shook her head no.
"Why? If the whole county thinks I am such a harlot then why is this something of a shock, oh, oh right. Because I'm not a harlot! Because I keep my virginity until marriage, which your son is depriving me of!" Bella said, her voice now a loud whisper.
"He has good reasoning's." Carlisle said, Bella's eyes were now shooting off tears as if it were a water fountain in the middle of town square.
"Tell her, tell her father." Edward said, he stood beside Bella, helpless, the most he could do was wipe away the tears his father has caused.
"You cannot marry anyone... But Edward." Carlisle said, Bella looked up at him, her voice almost lost, but she did manage a whisper.
"How dare you! How dare you tell me who I can and cannot marry! What are you playing at?" Bella demanded to know, her teeth clenched, and her jaw set. Edward looked the same, his jaw was squared off and he looked angry, he let his hand fall into his hair and ruffle through the thick layers of copper colored hair.
"It was arranged by the King, Isabella. We've nothing to do with it." Carlisle said, he paused and looked around. "That is why Esme and I always pushed you two together, because that is what was supposed to happen. And now look, the best of friends, you can marry. It will be an honor to have you as a Cullen, as you've always rightfully been." Carlisle said, she shook her head no, it was wrong, she wanted to run away.
"Damn it all to hell! Damn the King." Bella turned to Edward, "it isn't that I don't-" Bella got cut off by Edward's fingers which closed her mouth in an understanding of what she was going to say, he nodded his head.
"Well then. Congratulations to the nice, happy couple!" Aro said raising his glass, Edward's fist finally clenched too hard on his glass of scotch and it broke. Aro looked surprised. "What a firm grip!" Aro said, admiring Edward's hands that were stained with Scotch and had several cuts.
"I'm leaving." Bella said, she turned away from the crowd, Edward grabbed her wrists.
"Where?" Edward asked, Bella touched his face, she saw sweetness in his eyes, sweetness she loved so much.
"My quarters. Where else?" Bella said, Edward nodded and sighed relief.
"Keep the door unlocked?" Edward asked, Bella nodded and she stalked off, Edward turned to his father, whom he was going to have a very long, and argumentativechat with.
Alice and Rose watched Bella make her way up stairs, and her tears were still going down her tear stained face, Alice looked heartbroken.
"Perhaps we should go explain it to her." Alice said, Rosalie stopped her from moving towards the stairs.
"No. Edward has to. Emmett explained it to me, and you explained it to Jasper. Edward has to explain it to Bella." Rosalie paused, "there is no other way."
"Do you think she'll understand?" Alice asked, her eyes now filling with tears. "You were quite distraught when you found out."
"I think she'll take it better than me. Deep down inside, she's always known." Rosalie said, Alice nodded her head and sighed, she looked over at Rosalie.
"I just hope she'll understand and willingly join our family." Alice said smiling to herself at the thought of Isabella Cullen, not Isabella Swan.
"As am I." Rosalie said as she handed Alice a new cup of brandy. Alice smiled and sipped it lightly as Rosalie drank her Ale. Jasper walked up to the two and smiled, and so did Emmett.
"Does she know?" They said in unison, Rosalie and Alice shook their heads no. They let out a sigh and watched as Bella rounded the corner to her room.