Chapter Three

"The important thing is not what they think of me, but what I think of them."

~Queen Victoria

BELLA

April 4th 1607

I had not dare spoken a word to anyone. The walls of any prominent home had many ears and I did not want all of England telling tales. Papa had always told me the best secrets were the ones only known by one. I was already out of luck, for the both of us knew of the kiss. There was no need for a third. It was best not to dwell on such thing I tried to convince myself yet my fingers grazed over my lips once more.

Never had I been kissed as such. Nor had a man put his hands upon my person as the king did. My body had throbbed in his arms; the swelling emotion had almost carried me away. It was the only reason for my impropriety; for I know I had kissed him back. I could still feel his hair in my hands, his hands on my person.

The King! For bloody sake. By God what had I done? What does he want of me? Surely he cannot think me so low as to allow him my body?

"My dearest sister, what has transfixed you so?," Alice smiled as she took a seat by the window of my drawing quarters.. She always smiled.,.

"Not a thing beloved sister, but then again, I ponder how your person has managed not to grow since the last time I saw you." I jested and like a child she presented her tongue to me in return.

"You may have tenderly bypassed the subject and now, I shall oh so brusquely revert our discussion to my intended topic when seeking you out. So, are you ill with worry about the words to the king?"

Yes for many reason.

"Dear sister, I beg of you—"

As if he knew we were speaking of him, the doors opened allowing Edw— his majesty, his brother and Sir Jasper in. Lady Rosalie followed behind gracefully, a book in hand and I found it a wonder to see she knew the purpose of such items.

"Your Majesty, I hope your morning was most agreeable." The words came out of my mouth before I had a chance to fully form the thought. I hoped he dare not think I spoke about this morn.

"Most agreeable indeed, Lady Swan," he snickered, eying me before taking a seat at the desk and pulled out parchment for what I assume was to begin a letter.

Sitting down, I noticed Alice's smile had now turned to Sir Jasper who stood just close enough that it was still proper. Glancing to the door, I nodded at Melbourne, he would understand and call for a servant to bring in a small biscuits and tea for refreshments should they desire it.

"Lady Swan," Prince Jasper drew my attention. "I beseech thee to speak tales of the young Lady Jackson. I fear she has been burdened with one too many of my own and I, none of her."

Alice's smiled dropped as her head whipped towards me.

"Is that not the way it should be?," I asked.

He frowned. "I believe convention to be hardly fair in such matters."

"What tales could there exist of the sweet Lady Jackson?," the kings brother laughed raucously before taking a seat beside his wife who, of course, did not open her book but instead was gossiping with her ladies maid.

"None," Alice answered quickly. Too quickly.

I shook my head as I stared up her person, I thought for a moment. "Were you all aware that as a child, sweet Lady Jackson was the most skilled tree climber in all of Devonshire."

"Isabella." She gasped, blushing madly, while the others in our party looked on with stunned expressions.

"Pray tell!," Prince Jasper exclaimed, an excited and intrigued look enveloping his visage.

"The trees were not—"

"That tree," I pointed to the tree that tainted in the best view of Devonshire.

"Thy jest," laughed the kings brother while Sir Jasper's eyes widen in what seems to be disbelief.

"I shall tell the tale for she may add fibs for excitement and make it worse than it actually was," Alice spoke. But I was not going to let her belittle our adventures.

"One cannot trust a tale from the subject's mouth," Edwar— the king spoke for the first time, glancing over to me with a beseeching smile. "Lady Swan."

I felt nervous all of a sudden, trying to speak but finding it hard to form a coherent thought. His green eyes touched me in the same ways his hands had done this morn. I was trapped within his hold.

"I do believe us no older than ten summers or such," I replied, trying my best to repel the force of his gaze."Papa had coordinated a festive for all of Devonshire to attend. My dear sister and I were merely minding ourselves under said tree when three older boys came along, riotously demanding we move."

"Which I would have gladly done," Alice interrupted with an amused glare.

"It is I who tells this tale sister," I replied with the same expression. "Though, she speaks truth. Alice wished to evict our persons and I wished to stay, much to the boys' dissatisfaction. An ultimatum was reached and whoever could climb the tree could have it."

"And for you are who you are, you agreed," Alice giggled shaking her head at me.

"Of course, they were quite rude, and as papa said; anything worth having is worth fighting for," I said proudly., "I agreed to the terms, because I knew I could do it. I wrapped my tiny legs around the tree's rugged base, dug my heels into the bark and began my ascension much to their gaping horror. Not to be outdone by a mere girl, they all began to climb up after me. For our prize to be won, both Alice and I each had to climb. Alice adamantly refused to partake in our activities, that is until one of the boys began to berate her size. Not only did she strike him at the knee but she joined me. We climbed until all that surrounded us were leaves, no boys."

"And thus the horror began for me as Bella claimed the tree in blissful happiness," Alice sighed.

I was happy. "It was my tree by right and I proved deserving of it."

"It was a tree, one of a million trees," She laughed.

"My point remains the same."

"What horror were you speaking of?," Prince Jasper asks her beyond taken with such a simple story.

Alice flushed. "One hardly thinks of the descent until they are upon it. Never had I been so far from the ground. My heart felt as though it would break free of my chest. I hugged the tree in fear as Bella tried in vain to calm me and help me down. She even offered her back to me."

"Thy back? You must have been the same size; surely you both would have fallen," Edward— The king asked me.

I look to him for only a moment to nod. "In hindsight, that is most true and luckily Alice would not attempt it. So I climbed down and went for help. I ran… oh how I ran searching high and low for papa. All of Devonshire soon knew Lady Jackson was stuck in a tree and came to see as all of the men came to help. Many of the men with sons were now saying whoever could help her out of the tree would have her hand in marriage."

"What?," Alice asked turning her surprised expression to me.

"I never spoke of it for you were furious with me as it was," I giggled. "But Papa said if any man touched his tree he would hang them from their toes. He climbed up and carried her back down. And thus it is now a Devonshire tradition."

"The Duke was so livid with you," Alice added in remembrance. "He planned to keep you restrained in the manor for a moons cycle. I remember his face was as rouged as I think any could possibly be as he marched towards you. You held thy hands up and pitifully said; 'Papa, now I know thee may be quite upset, but one should truly count thy blessings. Devonshire cheers, we are well, all in all tis a most wondrous day.' Instead of a good tongue lashing, you were given a hug while my mother still screams at me to this very day."

I could only smile.

"Lady Swan do you make it a habit of foregoing the rules of propriety?," Princess Rose asked me with a frown.

I glanced at the king from the corner of my eye. Had she asked me yester eve I would have replied with a confident 'No'. But after this morn I was unsure.

"Climbing a tree is against the rules? My book never told me as such," I replied causing her to glare at me.

"You could have truly harmed yourself," she said.

"As I could by riding in a carriage, or upon a horse. Even standing in ones stable alone could be hazardous." I frowned and as did the king. "I find much of life is one hazardous place after another."

"You do not believe you take your escapades too far? The things you do are quite dangerous—"

"More dangerous than childbirth? And yet no one has called for woman to stop birthing children," I glared.

"Dear God, where would the world be then," Prince Emmett laughed easing the tense mood.

"What a horrid thought," Prince Jasper snickered but I did see worry flash over his eyes when he looked upon Alice's person.

I smiled nodding at him. "It is for that reason I believe if a woman can do such then she can do anything and she merely chooses not to."

"This Lord Black, Marques of Connaught and Strathearn, the man you are to be engaged to, he knows of your thoughts?," Rose added somewhat confused.

I smiled and turned to Alice who only giggled. "Lord Black was the boy who tried to steal my tree."

Edward's jaw clenched as he gazed upon me. "How long a time for you both to have known each other and still not wed."

It was not a question and I was unsure how to respond. "Lord Black wishes to sail and make a greater name for himself before marriage. It is his dream and I do not wish to stand in the way of such a chance."

"How selfish of him," he replied with an edge I disliked, speaking with him on this was much more painful than speaking with Princess Rosalie upon anything.

"You are nineteen, too old not to be engaged Lady Swan," Princess Rosalie, stated, of course hoping for me to lose my composure with her once more… something I shall never allow again.

"Do you fear I will become a spinster?," I giggled."I pray do not worry for me for I am happy."

I would be filled with even more joy when his majesty would release his gaze upon me.

EDWARD

April 4th 1607

The fire within me burned on, every breath I took seemed to add fuel to its embers. I had come to the drawing room with the hope of seeing her face once more. I had known the curve of her arse and that of her bosom… but I wished to know more. See more. All the passion she had for life would surely suggest she would make a fine lover… her kiss was all the proof I needed. She, like a witch, had drawn out a monster I thought to have buried before becoming king. I would not be seen as Aro, who could only ever be found between the thighs of women, many of whom he later killed for treason.

But at the sight of her made my manhood expand like I never thought possible. After this morn it had taken me three releases to ready myself for proper company. Each time I had found comfort, she would return to my mind and I could taste her once more on my tongue. However, she had rejected me and from her tone it was clear she would reject me once more.

How irrational I had become, so much so that I now entertained the thought of making her my wife. She was not wed, young, dazzlingly beautiful, and not to mention of good family standing. In all other cases she would have been perfect. However, it was her tongue. As amusing as it was here in Devonshire, it was not proper for court. She was not proper for court.

We could change her.

The monster within me whispered; it wanted her and by heaven or hell it would have her.

But there was no changing her. From her tale it seemed as she had always been such. I could not change her… I was not truly sure if I wished to.

"You look to be in pain brother," Emmett whispered, standing as I wrote to court.

The room had settled into simple conversations as they drank their tea.

"For I am in pain," I replied, glancing at the wench who had left me more than a little perplexed. How beautiful her smile was.

Emmett looked also and frowned. "Does she truly bother you? Her tongue is quite sharp—"

"Not in that way brother," I reasoned.

An evil grin spread his lips. "And here I thought you had ended your lascivious escapades."

"I had or I had attempted to. But by God, all I wish to do is—" I stopped wishing not to excite myself.

"Then why not just do so."

"She is not some local girl. She is a Duke's daughter, a very well known and respected Duke's daughter."

"And you are king," he reminded me. "You and I both know she would be far more respected at court as your mistress than a Duke's daughter. She might even ease your more stressful days."

My mistress. I could come to her always and lose myself. The things I would do to her.

"I have made an advance and she rejected it."

He looked at me in surprise. "Rejected, you, the king."

"Obviously she is not aware I am king, or simply does not care. Her rejection was quite clear." And it only made me want her more.

"I'm sure you can be more persuasive given another chance. Remind her of what she can gain," he nodded to me before walking away.

Take her. I beg of you. She kissed back. She desires for it. My monster begged.

Dismissing myself from the room quickly, I walked toward my quarters, thinking I should grab a servant instead to ease my need. But my monster would not have it. It wanted only one woman.

Instead, I found myself in her room which was colored in mixtures of earth tone and luminescent colors. Everything beautifully in place; I was so overcome with the scent of her, it was as though my knees wished to fail unforgivingly.

"Your Majesty," a maid froze, bowing lowly.

"Go and speak of my whereabouts to no one," I commanded and she all but ran from the quarters. Leaning against the wall beside the door I waited. I could wait a lifetime. But thankfully the door opened upon her return.

"Georgina, please help release me from this bloody thing." She sighed not even noticing me as she tried to pull the strings of her corset from her back.

"Bollocks!," she groaned upon failing to do so completely. However, she had done enough that I could see the cream of her back.

"Georgina?"

I positioned my person behind her and pulled her into me, my hand over her stomach. She froze as I laid kisses upon her shoulder and neck.

"Your Majesty please do not," she whispered even as she arched giving me a better reach of her neck. It pleased me to know she knew it was I just by my touch.

"What a mouth you have Lady Swan," I whispered biting her ear.

"You cannot—"

"You wish me to leave? Even when I help you?," I pulled the strings releasing her corset allowing the dress to fall. But sadly she held it up to her chest. No matter, I still had skin to enjoy. "You push me away and yet you shiver at my touch."

"I do not know what is wrong with me sire," she said as I grabbed her bosom… it filled my hand perfectly.

"Lust. Hunger. You want this. Allow me to give it you. I shall show you pleasure you could not imagine." Lifting her skirts my hands found her private person and she gasped. "You will enjoy every moment of it, believe me and so shall I."

She rubbed thighs against my hand. I grinned, playing with her slowly before placing a finger inside of her. The sounds that escaped her mouth were glorious.

"I shall now prove to you what you can have." Her pleasure was my pleasure. Sadly, she did not agree. She grabbed my hand and pulled it away… for some bloody reason I allowed her to. Ripping herself out of my arms she gasped loudly. Her body glistening with fresh sweat as she glared at me, her chest rising with the need for breath… she was a sight.

"I am not aware of how court works sire. But you cannot take me as you wish! This morn was my fault for scurrying the grounds as such without company. But these are my private chambers. And you sir have not only defiled them, but me as well."

I grinned; she has the belief that I defiled her? "Worry not, for you are still sadly a maiden… only with a small experience of what is to come."

"Leave now."

She dared command me. Had she lost her mind?

"I am king!," I roared at her. "Everything within this country is mine. Which means Devonshire, this room, and even you Lady Swan. You are mine."

"I am to be engaged," she hissed viciously at me.

"Not if I banish him," I snapped.

She froze, as if for the first time realizing who really had the power here. Stepping back, she allowed the dress to fall, leaving her in her slip.

"What his majesty wants, he can have. But do know I shall gain no pleasure from it. I will weep until you are through with your ruining and hang myself from the very tree in my tale to save my father the embarrassment."

Ah damn her!

I stalked towards her and watched as she shook in terror. It hurt to see but she did not move. Pressing my palm to her cheek, she flinched but did not move.

"I do not wish to see you weep and I surely would never wish to see a rope around your neck Lady Swan," I whispered but she only relaxed slightly. "I do not know what has become of me. This is not the man I wish to be but you have casted me in the most dazzling sort of spells. I bid you a heartfelt apology milady."

Turning, I left her chambers as quickly as I could.

I barely knew this woman and yet she had me, the King of England, Ireland and Scotland, apologizing. This was madness. The mad woman was pulling me into the madness along with her.

For the love of God what is wrong with me?

Upon returning to my chambers, I found myself writing another letter to the only person I truly trusted.

Uncle,

I beseech thee to burn this letter upon reading it, for I wish not for what I am about to unload to see the light of day. I am sure you are aware of the fact that I now find myself within Devonshire. It is nothing short of a massive forest and within it I have found they most astounding creature. I am not sure if she comes from Heaven as a blessing or Hell to curse me. From the moment I first saw her, riding, barefoot and as a man I tell you, I was stunned by her presence. If I were blessed with the ability to create portraits, I would try and fail to capture the sight of her.

At this point knowing you, Carlisle, you would advise me to marry her. However, I cannot. This is lust; nothing more and surely I cannot chose the next queen by lust alone. Even furthermore, she has a mouth shaper than all of the blades of Europe. At dinner she demanded I, the king, to show serfs with greater respects.

"What is a king without the common serf and the common serf without his king? We bow at your feet and kiss thy ring in hope we shall not suffer. All we ask is that when the king rests his anointed head he remembers us and knows we are his people no matter how far away or savage we may be, for we are England." Those were her words! I whilst ne're forget. They run in my head each time I close my eyes. She climbs trees, speaks with no regard to her station. Surely you can see she is mad, can you not?

For she is mad and thus I fear I am now becoming mad. Twice I have propositioned her and twice she has rejected me. We have been in Devonshire for less than two eves!

Until I hear your sage advice, for you have never steared me wrong, I will stay clear of the mad Lady of Devonshire as the devil avoids the heel.

You're Sovereign And Blessed,

King Edward Trenton Anthony Cullen III