A/N: Ah, I left this chapter in another cliffhanger, I do hope you will not murder me. Things will unravel in time and all shall be revealed, patience, my children. You are, however, welcome to make theories on what will happen and why things has/will happen.

Please note that Carlisle is not a Cullen in this story.

I would like to thank those of you who took your time to feed my addiction with your reviews. And to those of you who have this story on alert or favourite, please spare, what, half a minute to review? I love reading them and they give me the motivation to write more - which is a win-win situation for you and myself.

Once again, as always, 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 Four (4)

Scheme

(The Duke of Normandy)

I tasted the fine red wine, made from the very grapes from my very own vine yard, thoughtfully as I mentally prepared for what Laurent was about to tell me. It was clear by his solemn tone that he, or rather, James, thought that it was of great importance. Time was precious for one such as myself and to waste it would be foolish. I hoped that Laurent would say whatever he has to say and leave.

Laurent was a sharp man who always felt the need to advantage himself from every single little job he carries out. If it makes him no benefits, he will hesitate slyly until you give in exasperation. I knew that it was actually James, or James the Glorious, as he prefers it, who was the greedy man behind the screen, but Laurent mirrored off him well. It was amusing at times to play his little games, but I was not in the mood now.

I was to be present at a banquet held at the Swan Manor before midnight, as indicated by the invitation, and was preparing for that event before Laurent rather abruptly interrupted me. As much as his existence chafes me, the name 'Edward Cullen' coming from his mouth unnerved me and caught my attention. If truth be told, anything concerning Edward Cullen greatly seizes my attention.

"You see, my Lord," Laurent began with a double tone to his words, folding and refolding his arms edgily. I smirked to myself as I noted how uncomfortable he was in my estate in a room with me. I knew what he meant. No one but I was to know of what will roll off his tongue.

I raised one arm and all the servants marched out leaving only Laurent and I in my chamber. I tilted my head slightly to indicate that he should speak now.

"We have Edward Cullen," Laurent was finally telling me this message of his. Laurent was a man of few words, I had concluded. He always had the information that interested me the most, says enough to gain my full and undivided attention but always leaves me wondering in the end. I refused to make this time like the others.

"What do you mean?" I deliberately questioned him slowly, raising the glass to my lips leisurely as I pretended to gaze out the stately window. I did not show that his statement bothered me or he would surely use this to his advantage. To hold a face devoid of any emotion was a skill that I had always longed to possess and now finally perfected it. It was advantageous to be able to master that mask of complete indifference when in presence of potential harm.

"He is in the cellar of my Masters' dungeon," Laurent continued lingeringly. "It was by complete accident, though. We did not mean to catch him, but it was coincidence; a sign from God, I should say."

"Accident?" One of my eyebrows rose skeptically as I deciphered what he had just said.

"Young Master knocked down a lass on the streets and Edward Cullen moved to help her a-and he pushed Young Master on the ground," Laurent almost whispered. "Master was furious, yes he was. Sent out me and my men out to get them."

"Why did Edward Cullen help the woman?" I still did not fully comprehend what Laurent was trying to say.

"I heard from one of our sources that he was Lady Isabella's new personal guard," Laurent informed me slowly. It finally dawned on me.

"Advise James to keep a close grip on Edward Cullen," I told Laurent without looking at him as I sipped my wine again.

"My Lord, there was also two girls and the Lady–" Laurent began but I spoke before he could finish his sentence.

"Release Lady Isabella," I interrupted. I did not care for anything else.

"And the servant girl?"

"Spare me the useless details."

"Yes, my Lord," he hesitated purposefully.

I knew what he desired. It was the only thing someone like him every wanted. It was his obsession. I assured him. "Your sufficient gold will reach you by dawn tomorrow."

"How kind of you, my Lord," he was pleased with my reward.

"You may leave now. I have a banquet to attend," I dismissed Laurent with a quick wave of the hand and he rose to leave but not before he drained his glass of wine of every last drop. It was, after all, the finest wine he had, and would, ever drink.

Felix, my trusty servant who had been with me for decades, entered the room just as Laurent left. He approached me as he waited for my order that was sure to come.

"Send a marriage proposal to the Swan Manor before the banquet immediately. Demetri must be wedded soon and which lady around is better than the one and only Lady Isabella Marie Swan? I want Charles to know of my view before I make my presence today," I did not need to make myself any clearer as Felix set off to get his horse to ride to the Swan Manor.

If Edward Cullen was still the bodyguard of Lady Isabella, having her in my household would make trapping and holding him much easier. When my son becomes King, he would need a worthy and capable yet beautiful wife beside him as Queen – and who better than the exclusive Lady Isabella Marie Swan?

A sinister smile crept onto my lips as I thought of my plans.

King Carlisle II has always had trouble fathering a son, ever since his first wife, Victoria Mason the Vicious. She died after giving him his first child – a son, who only lived to be six, such a tender age. He then had daughter after daughter with his countless wives, consorts, mistresses and common women yet no true heir appeared. Anyone could see that he was rapidly aging and would not be able to impregnate any woman in due course.

Without a male heir, not one of his descendants could step upon the throne after his death as females were incapable of ruling. He had no male siblings thus making myself the next in line to the throne, being the only first cousin. However, I am growing old too; I acknowledge that, unlike many other men of my age. My son, Demetri, would step up on the throne when the King falls from grace.

I had kept careful watch over every woman who exited from the King's private chambers but not one had ever conceived a baby boy – not many conceived in the first place. There were a few bastard girls who were born but they were all turned away with their mothers with a generous amount of gold. It was almost taken for granted that all his children would be female.

Except for one.

Her name was Esme Cullen; a rather plain village woman with a strange hair colour – bronze. If I recall correctly, she was a shameless whore. The King seemed to favour her ever since he set eyes on her, but then again, the King was known for his womanizing ways – desperate in his frenzy for a male heir.

It was twenty-one years ago on a fateful night when one of our horses that pulled the carriages grew lame. The King, the Earl of Warwick and I were on our annual journey to France and we were almost to the border. We had no choice but to stop proceeding and stop at the closest resting place with an inn when we could have travelled another mile or so.

The woman, Esme, the daughter of the avaricious innkeeper, played a small and ancient organ for us whilst we dined on bread and meat. It was an attempt to enchant us, I was certain, so she could leech off the King. The King's true identity was not even supposed to be revealed yet many commoners seemed to know of our expedition. This was not uncommon, though, as many women wished to benefit from the King.

Just one night, and ultimate riches that could be theirs, just for one little thing in return …

The King could not keep his eyes off her all through the course of the meal as she played skilfully. Of course, she played beautifully, I must admit, plain as she is.

That was the very same night she entered his bed, just like the many women before and the many more to come. I was walking towards the King's room about to inform him of news from the French borderline when I heard moaning and animalistic wails erupted from within the insides of the walls.

The King was at it again, I had thought as I steadily turned around to return to my room without interrupting the King's pleasure.

The next morning, it was time to continue our journey, but the King was rather very unwilling to go and so we stayed for another week. He told me, as we were on our way again, that he had promised to send his men to bring her to the castle to serve as a consort as soon as our trip to France was complete. He was besought with her.

"Marcus, I want you to make preparations for Esme Cullen to act as my Royal Consort as soon as we get back," King Carlisle had instructed me in our carriage.

"Yes, sire," if he really wanted such a commoner as his Royal Consort, it would not be difficult to arrange although but I was reluctant. If she were to be the Royal Consort, her children would not be considered as bastards should she bear any.

My worries and fears quickly subsided as we returned from France through a different route from the way we came.

I had asked warily. "We are ready to bring Esme Cullen in, sire. Would today be a good day?"

"What do you say?" The King had replied nonchalantly; clearly not remembering the woman who he had shared his bed with all those weeks ago.

I did not remind him of his promise as I quickly excused myself. As was expected, he had a new woman in his bed that night. A raven-haired beauty.

I thought that Esme Cullen would just be like the other women, used but then quickly discarded, but to be cautious, I kept an eye on her. Two years later, I received news from one of my many spies that she had given birth to a healthy baby boy. A baby boy! This was not a large threat, as the King rarely revisited the woman who he had slept with during his voyages, he barely remembered them but it was still a threat enough for me to fear.

I hired men to discreetly take the boy, Edward, away from his mother and paid her family large amounts of gold to never speak of her son's existence again. Should she refuse, she would be banished from the country. Of course, her father was a greedy man whose hands burned when he saw the money that I was willing to offer for the child. He immediately handed over the small boy, his grandson, without consent from his daughter.

With the King's bastard child at hand, I honestly did not care what happened to him, as long as he was away from court and the King's sight and was never to resurface again. I had ordered Felix to sell the worthless yet dangerous baby to the slave traders who would be passing by soon and I never heard of Edward Cullen again.

Until now, I thought with a vicious snarl.

I had made a grave mistake of not slaughtering him at the first opportunity and allowing him to live this long. It was a grave mistake when I had let Jane, my daughter, convince me that a little baby imposed no immediate threat to me. She seemed to have a soft spot for that child and that was proven to be perilous now.

This time around, I would not be as lenient as I had been all those years ago. It would be harder to slaughter a grown man with military status and the protection of a Manor than a harmless two year old child, though. But he was captured by James, making this so much easier.

When my sources informed me that Edward Cullen was serving in the military, I did all I could to thwart him. He was already second-in-command when I rediscovered him and for him to gain any control over any part of the army would be potentially suicidal. I did not wait for his military power to grow, instead, I did the first thing I could and refered him to Sir Charles as a robust bodyguard.

I had thought he would be safely out of my way until now. I realised that having him serve as Lady Isabella's bodyguard did me no good at all. His link as a bodyguard with the Lady could bring him within the inner workings of the Royal court whether he knew it or not. I had been foolish. He would have to be gotten rid of.

My life-long plan shall not be thwarted. It will go on as I had planned for decades. King Carlisle shall die heirless and my son, Demetri, shall replace him as King, avoiding the civil war that would otherwise break out amongst the noblemen. I was sure that I would loose perhaps more than half my fortune should a civil war break out and I would not have any of that.

One of the servants walked up to me with my handsomely decorated coat and helped me slide into it as more servants were preparing the coach and carriage in the stables for my departure to the Swan residence.

(Isabella)

Days, hours, minutes had passed since our imprisonment by those unfamiliar and rough men and I was on my wits end. My hair was coming out of its original tight bun and was fraying at the tips. I could feel the grim crawling onto my dress as I shuddered at the thought of spending any more time in this hole. I sobbed as I imagined the lavish banquet I was missing and sobbed even more when I thought of Father and Mother's reaction when they realise that I was not there.

I had tried screaming, cursing, threatening and crying but none of my techniques had worked on those monotonous guards. I did not have a clue as to why I had been abducted so abruptly. I then thought of the possibility that perhaps these savages wanted a ransom from Father for my safe return and I sobbed at that idea.

Oh, Father would be stricken with worry and Mother would be sick in bed for days due to her frail heart.

It was odd how Edward was sitting there, strangely calm as always, conversing with Alice as if we were not in such a dreadful situation but instead at a ball. I thought that they had even managed to laugh at one time and this infuriated me greatly. How dare they make light conversation whilst we were hidden from the world in this terrible state.

I would feel awful and ever so shameful if Father paid the ransom as I was sure that the ransom price would be hefty. I would never be able to face my Father and Mother again. I also thought of Emmett, oh, dear Emmett. I felt as if I would never leave this vile place as I started to sob pitifully again.

Wiping my tears away, I decided that I would not stand here and suffer this in silence. I was Lady Isabella Marie Swan – I was brought up not to run from fear but instead to confront it with valour. I jumped up with my spirits lifted again and began resuming my position of throwing pointless insults at the guards.

"You dirty scum! How dare you treat me in this fashion! Let me out at once! Do you understand me?" I waved my arms around frantically. "Oh, do not pretend that you did not hear me! I deman –"

"Lady Isabella, they are not going to respond no matter how much you raise your voice," Edward advised me bluntly.

"Well, we have to do something!" I looked helplessly and exasperatedly at Alice for support. "Oh, we are going to be stuck here forever!"

Without warning, my knees gave way as I crumbled down onto the ground, not caring that my dress would be utterly ruined.

"Of course, we will not, Lady," Alice rushed to my side instantly as she held my drowsy head in her arms, stroking my hair gently as I cried into her breast. "Of course not."

"We will not be stuck in here forever, Lady Isabella," Edward made his way towards me and crouched down in front of me. He searched my tear stained eyes with his blazing green ones in an attempt to comfort and settle me. "We will find a way out of here, I promise."

Edward and Alice both muttered consoling and soothing words of how we will all get out of this horrid place unscathed but I was remained uncertain.

I briefly noticed one of the guards telling the other that he was off his shift and for the other guard to keep careful watch over 'the pretty lassie with the pretty face' as he handed him the keys.

"You deplorable creatures! Have your mothers never taught you anything?" I shouted ferociously, alive again at his provocation.

Impetuously, Edward clutched Alice's arm as he made a motion that indicated for us both to follow him. He led us into a furthest corner of the pit as he placed his head next to ours, as if he were whispering a secret.

"Have you two ever heard of the phrase 'courageous man always surrenders to beautiful women'?" Edward asked us in a hushed tone, looking at me, then Alice and then back at me again.

"No," I was somewhat confused. "Why?"

Why was he talking of proverbs at a time like this? Alice's eyes were of utmost puzzlement too. Edward had better not be fooling around at a time like this, I thought angrily.

"Yes, well, neither have I. I just made it up," Edward whispered in a rush. He was clearly up to something.

"What do you mean by it?" Alice asked in a small voice. I hugged her closer to me – whether it was to comfort her or myself, I had no idea.

"I do not mean to disregard or insult either of you," Edward began in a hesitant but determined voice. "But I was thinking that perhaps one of you could …"

"Could what?" Her determination was fierce as she pressed. Whatever his plan was, if it had any chance of getting us out, she wanted to hear it – I did too.

"Allure the guards," Edward murmured hastily, his eyes avoiding mine.

"I beg your pardon?" I exclaimed, not bothering to keep my voice down anymore.

"Allure the guards with your womanly charms," Edward repeated, still averting his glance away.

I could not believe that Edward was saying something so disgraceful. "You are utterly –"

"Hush, Lady Isabella," Alice tried to calm me down before I was too worked up. If the guard suspected that we were plotting, he would surely that action.

"Alice? You can't possibly agree to what he is saying, can you? This is utterly absurd!" I declared firmly. I turned to Edward swiftly and hissed. "You expect us to flirt shamelessly with that revolting man while you run off, don't you?"

I pointed to the stout and nauseating-looking man who was still guarding the gate mediocrely. He did not seem to notice that there was a change in the atmosphere.

"Lady Isabella, I would do no such thing. My concern is only of your wellbeing, our wellbeing," Edward defended himself with a hurt look on his face, his eyebrows furrowed in a deep frown. I could tell that I had wounded him by doubting his motive.

"I am sorry, but I simply refuse to sell myself in such a degrading manner," I finally said as I stood up straight and proud.

"It may be our only way out," Edward argued before he added curtly. "Lady."

"I will do it," Alice whimpered as she looked straight at Edward. "Just tell me what to do."

Both pairs of eyes were on Alice, shocked. I was the first to speak. "Alice! Do not be so silly. Edward will do it, will you not, Edward?"

"I would do it, honestly. Except I do not believe that that despicable thing would find my feminine charms all that attractive," Edward muttered as he glanced cautiously at the still oblivious guard.

"Edward, you cannot expect Alice to reduce herself in the manner!" I was exasperated. "Alright, alright, I will do it."

I stood up steadily as I moved towards the bars, standing as close as it would allow me. "Eh! You, you fat scoundrel! Are you listening? Let me out immediately!"

Edward and Alice rushed to pull me back into the shadows. Edward was anxious and he hissed. "What were you thinking?"

"You wanted us to express our feminine charms," I hissed back in the same tone. "There you go."

"Your asinine ways could get us all killed!" Edward began pinching the bridge of his nose. I looked away, feeling a little guilty.

"Lady Isabella, I think that Edward is really serious," Alice added as she noticed Edward's rather dangerous stance.

"Of course I am serious! Look, if we have any chance of succeeding," Edward paused briefly. "You must listen to me and do exactly as I say."

The Duke of Normandy reveals his dark link with Edward and his past but where is Esme Cullen now? He also sends out his henchman, Felix, to make a proposal of marriage between Lady Isabella and Sir Demetri, how will it go? Edward has thought out a plan, which greatly enraged Isabella, to escape the clutches of James the Glorious to which Alice has agreed to help. Will they succeed in getting the guard to succumb to Alice's feminine charms? How will fiesty Isabella respond to the marriage proposal?

You would be surprised how many people put this story on alert and favourites but refuse to review. I swear, you people make me sad! If it's good enough to be on your favourites list, couldn't you spare just a minimum of 10 seconds of your life posting a review? ;puppy face; It will only bring you the next chapter faster! ;wink wink;

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