Disclaimer: I own the plot of the story, not Twilight.
Chapter Two
Dancing with an Angry Mother
I could only stare at him from where I sat as he smiled at the people before him. Oh, please tell me this is just another really horrible nightmare.
I pinched myself, holding back a squeak of pain. Oh damn it, I wasn't dreaming. Oh what did I do to deserve this? I felt the penetrating glares from all the envious women around me and gulped nervously.
Once again, why me?
I looked up at Prince Edward's face; the right corner of his lips were tilted in an amused smirk, his eyes gazing ever so steadily at me, accessing my reaction to his announcement. I scowled at his face. Oh was I ever mad at him. I felt the strong urge to knock that smirk off his handsome face, but knew that it would only spell disaster if I did, so I decided to do the only thing I could do.
I ran.
I quickly picked up the skirts of my gown and ran swiftly toward the large entrance doors, ignoring the calls of Prince Edward and the people behind me to go back. I rushed to my carriage, jumped in and ordered the coachman to bring me home. The carriage started and sped off into the night.
I slumped against the red velvet seat and groaned.
Maybe Prince Edward would get the idea that I didn't want to be betrothed to him and pick some other unfortunate girl to be his bride? Maybe he would be so angry with me that he would refuse to marry me? Maybe, maybe…
All the possibilities whirled around in my head and I moaned. This was not going to end well, was it?
The carriage stopped after the hour-long journey and I stepped off, through the small gateway and towards my home.
Bright, golden sunlight flooded my room, signaling that it was late morning. Birds were chirping sweetly and there were butterflies and bees dancing among the flowers on my windowsill. People would normally love to wake up to such a beautiful scene. It was as if a picture from a child's fairy tale book had come to life.
But I didn't like it. Why?
That was because I was definitely not a morning person.
I threw the thick, suffocating quilt off me, my skin instantly feeling cooler. I always did hate waking up to warm summer mornings. My hair would always be in disarray due to the heat, my body would feel so sticky with perspiration and I always felt so sluggish.
Enemy, thy name is summer.
I swung my legs over the edge of my bed, stood up and slipped my feet into the pair of comfy cotton bedroom slippers beneath my bed. I yawned and walked across the room, grabbing whatever clothes my trusty personal assistant, Ophelia, had laid out for me when I was asleep, and into the bathroom that was connected to my bedroom.
I crossed over to the bathtub, plugged the drain and turned the faucet, filling the bathtub with cold water. I then added some freesia petals and vanilla essence into the water before stripping off my night robes and carelessly tossing them into the laundry basket in the corner of the bathroom. Gingerly, I stepped into the tub and sighed in relief as my overheated skin came into contact with the cool water. I turned off the faucet and lay back, relaxing and allowing the knots in my muscles to uncoil.
Reaching for a flannel, I scrubbed myself, humming as I did so. After I had cleaned myself thoroughly, I lifted myself out of the tub and drained it, throwing the petals away into a wastebasket. As I toweled off and dressed myself, the memories I had blissfully forgotten from the night before hit me hard my like a ton of bricks and my smile was wiped completely off my face.
Oh god, last night, what would mother say about last night? Oh wait a minute she wouldn't say a thing. After all, I hadn't told her what had happened during the ball, and I certainly wasn't going to tell her, ever. Thank goodness for that…
I made my way to the dining room for my late, but much needed, breakfast. I sank into one of the chairs and waited for my food. Father was right that it is ironic that I hated nobles even though I was one. I laughed quietly to myself as Ophelia put a plate of food before me. I ate by myself, occasionally talking to Ophelia about how her younger siblings were doing.
I didn't really like treating the domestic helpers as if they were lowly slaves, I hated to. After all, they were people too. Didn't they go through growing up just like every other normal human being? They were the same as us nobles, nothing much different.
I finished up my meal and Ophelia took my empty plate away to be washed before I could protest. I huffed and walked to the library. There wasn't much to do, and I didn't fancy going out for a walk through town on such a humid day, thus reading was my only option, my only escape.
I slid the book, Pride and Prejudice, out of its place in the bookshelf and settled down in a plump red velvet seat. I flipped the book open to the page I had last read and began my quiet afternoon of solitary reading.
Both mother and father were out. Father was away at sea for sales and exports in the spices industry in India whilst mother was away having tea with the local ladies, gossiping about heavens know what. I could imagine them clucking away right now about Miss So-and-so's treacherous downfall or Mister So-and-so's playboy ways.
Chuckling at the antics of my mother and her friends, I began to lose myself within the pages of my book…
Half way through my lovely book, I heard the front door bang shut and I heard furious footsteps march up towards the library. Mother was home and I wondered what she was so fired up about.
The library doors were flung open and there, in the doorway, stood my fuming mother.
"ISABELLA MARIE SWAN! What's this I hear about you running from the ball last night, right after Prince Edward proposed to you?"
Oh God, what did I do wrong in my past life to incur the wrath of my dear mother?
She marched right up to me and poked me painfully in the chest with her sharp pointy manicured fingers nails.
"When I was having tea with my dear friends, I heard about what you did last night. Imagine my embarrassment! Why on earth did you do something so foolish? Running from a Prince! And a very handsome one at that! Explain yourself this instant!"
I pursed my lips, trying my best to smother the giggle that threatened to escape my lips as I stared at the expression on my mother's face. Her cheeks were splotched red with anger, her nostrils were flaring and her eyes were wide and glaring. I bit my cheeks, swallowed my laughter and tried to think of a good answer to give her.
"I didn't know he was a Prince when he was dancing with me, so of course I got scared and ran when he made his announcement." I lied.
Mother paused and stared at me for a moment before she broke out into a grin.
"He danced with you? And you didn't even know who he was? That is so innocently sweet Isabella! So you were scared, I mean of course! What was I thinking! My own daughter would never be so foolish as to walk away from such a proposal! So you will accept it, right Isabella?"
Mother looked at me expectantly with patronizing eyes. I swallowed hard.
"Right Isabella?"
I rubbed my hands together, mumbling.
"Well…"
Mother exploded.
"ISABELLA! YOU WILL ACCEPT HIS PROPOSAL, AM I RIGHT?"
I scowled and retorted.
"Mother! Be reasonable! I'm only seventeen! And how old is he? Nineteen? He and I are definitely, without a doubt, incompatible! He's a Prince for Pete's sake! And I don't even know him! How can I be engaged to someone that I just met?"
"I don't care! He's a Prince! Someone of supreme power, and is the most sought after bachelor. I don't care if I have to drag you Isabella, but I will make sure that you accept his proposal, if it is the last thing I'll do! And don't talk to me about age! Edward is nineteen! Which is a fine marriageable age, and so are you! I was married when I was sixteen; you'll be perfectly fine getting married at this age. What else are you going to do? Rot away with your precious books?"
I glowered at her comment about my books.
"If you think he's so wonderful, why don't you marry him?"
Mother looked really angry and was about to answer back when Mildred, another domestic helper, came in, stuttering.
"I apologize for interrupting you, madams, but the King, King Carlisle and his wife and son, Queen Esme and Prince Edward, are out in the sitting room as we speak."
My eyes widened, and so did mother's. What ever were they doing here?
Mother turned to look at me, smiling sweetly, before picking up her skirts and running off to the sitting room. I hitched mine up too, and ran after her, trying my best not to trip on the way.
Oh God help me.
Author's Note
Oh gosh, I do apologize for not writing any sooner! It's just that I've been so busy with prom, an online game and my new job. Don't get me wrong, I'm not old, I'm only sixteen. But I absolutely LOVE my job! I'm kind of like a teacher at a learning centre for small kids and their just SO adorable! Makes me want to take them all home and hug them to death. Ha ha…
Anyway, I decided not to put an author's note at the top because I personally hate having to scroll to the part where the story starts, so I'll spare my lovely readers that tiny annoyance.
I have a question for all of you, what trait do you think you have that either Edward or Bella has? Be honest! Personally, I know I'm clumsy as heck like Bella! Ha ha…
This is one of the few stories that actually made it to chapter two, so I hope to have all your encouragement as I write this. More reviews mean a happier me!
From the bottom of my heart, I give my thanks to all my wonderful reviewers! Whenever I see a new review, I just glow with pride, honestly! I love reviews and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy to know that people do like my story. So here's a tasty peanut to all the following people that reviewed!
Angel Storys – My first reviewer!
Sara
TrueLoveFan
Andi – Here's your tasty peanut!
bella-loves-edward – Haha, as you can see, Bella DID protest! But does she have a choice in the matter? Find out next chapter! Winks
silver drip
imjessesgirl
I.do.believe.in.faries – My friend says this sounds like Cinderella to him. Ha ha… But it's good to know that it sounds original, originality is the best policy for a writer!
scenezz
rr
bkwrmgrl87
Mrs. Quincy
Deathly-3
fan
kate365
NorahJones – Yup, I will definitely be writing more. xD
avrilBellababe
luna365
Alright, so right now, the time is 12:02 am so I better end here. Please review if you like my story? Remember this equation. Reviews equals to happy author. Happy author equals to faster updating. Faster updating equals to happy you! And don't worry; there WILL be romance in the upcoming chapters so sit tight alright?
Love you all so much!
Love me too? xD
WinterSparks
P.S. I will update sooner because for some reason, my computer will not allow me to play my online game anymore. Stupid computer…