Edward knew exactly what was going through Evelyn's mind. He had been in the park with her and escorted her home and he knew. He knew that she wanted to run. She wanted to run away from everything. She wanted to flee. Edward had been the one to stop her and now the gossip was circulating. She was to marry Robert Jacques by the end of the month. Edward had been warned to stay away from her, but he had to admit that he was struggling to do that. His thoughts were consumed with her and Esme and Carlisle could see it.

Sitting down at the piano at home, he couldn't even play. His hands hovered the keys, but that was all. He didn't move any further. He only sat there, his three-piece suit neatly formed on his body in contrast to his messy hair. He let out a frustrated sigh before looking to the ceiling, his hands moving to rest in his lap. He closed his eyes and heard the noise of footsteps approaching.

"Are you thinking about her again?"

Esme's voice entered his ears and Edward turned his head over his shoulder to look to her. She wore a soft green dress, her hair neatly coiffed on top of her head as she offered him a small smile. He couldn't manage to smile back to her, but he did not say anything to her. He watched her take a seat in the tall back chair in the corner of the room, sitting up straight as he swivelled on the stool to look to her.

"You do not need to hide your feelings, Edward," Esme spoke to him. "Evelyn Martins is a charming young woman, not to mention beautiful."

"And she is human," Edward replied, "and she was my pupil."

"That still does not stop her from having enchanted you," Esme said. "Carlisle and I know how you look at her. Besides, you have been in a foul mood ever since her engagement was formally announced."

"Because of what she told me of him," Edward said. "She said that he had been cruel and horrid to her. How could anyone act like that towards her? Whoever marries her should consider themselves lucky, not burdened."

"And you still wish to deny that you have feelings for her."

"She is a good friend," Edward managed to say. "She has done nothing but be kind to me since I began tutoring her. I know that she is my pupil, but I believe she is my friend just as much."

"And do you feel more than friendship? Does she feel more towards you?"

"I promised never to read her mind," Edward said with a shake of his head. "I can choose to if I so wish, but I have no desire. I want her to be open and honest with me."

"Edward," Esme sighed his name loudly. "Surely this must tell you something? You chose not to look into her mind. You have respect for her. You are trying to hide, are you not?"

Edward did chuckle then and look downwards, rubbing his hands together. After a moment he moved to his feet as Esme remained where she was, glancing up to him with an arched eyebrow. It was another moment before he spoke in a soft and gentle tone.

"We will move on eventually," Edward declared. "We cannot stay in Wahpeton forever. When Evelyn has turned thirty then I shall still have this complexion. I shall be seventeen forever and she will age. She will find out about us. Other people will find out."

"And do you think that means you should be denied a chance at happiness?" Esme enquired.

"I think that it would be selfish for me to remain friends with her or try to develop existing feelings. Regardless, I doubt she wishes for anything more than friendship. She…she is young…being forced into marriage…and I do not wish to complicate things with feelings that I do not understand."

"You are selfless, Edward," Esme whispered to him, moving to her feet and walking towards him, her hand going to his shoulder. "Evelyn is also selfless. You said that the girl was prepared to run and decided to stay here for her father. Perhaps it is time for both of you to be selfish."

…

Edward remembered the time Evelyn's father had told her to stay away from his daughter. Edward had been warned to stay back and he had done that. He had tutored others while Evelyn was preparing for her new role as a wife. He had heard that she was taking etiquette lessons courtesy of her fiancé. She had been forced into lessons and it was enough to make Edward clench his teeth. She was fine just the way she was. She was better than fine. She was perfect and that was the way her fiancé should see her.

Listening to the gossip of the town, Edward wondered if people realised they were still in the midst of the Depression. All Edward heard was of how lucky the Martins family were to have kept their home and that their daughter was young and pretty considering she had no dowry. She was relying on her husband to keep her and she offered nothing. She was supposed to be the fortunate one. Yet Edward could not help but think of how it should be the other way round. Her fiancé should feel lucky.

Yet Edward was finding his patience wearing thin. He didn't think that he could stay away any longer and that was confirmed when he was attended to her official engagement party. The entire town had been invited and Carlisle and Esme had deemed it necessary to attend. Edward didn't want to go, but he wanted to see her. He wanted to see Evelyn. He knew that her father would be furious with him, but he was failing to care. He had donned his smart suit and top hat and followed Carlisle and Esme into the Jacques household.

He could not deny that it was vast and filled to the brim with antiques and ornaments. The hallway had wooden floors covered in intricate rugs and a large fireplace, a portrait of the family hanging over it. There were waiters handing out drinks as they were led into the dining hall. The table and chairs had been removed and the vast space was empty except for all of the socialites who had been invited. The buzzing of chatter entered Edward's ears as the chandelier hung in the middle of the room, illuminating it and casting eerie shadows over the portraits.

Looking around, Edward finally saw her in the middle of the commotion. His eyes widened and he swore if he had a pulse it would have raced. He said nothing as his eyes remained fixed on her. She had her blonde hair neatly pinned at the back of her head, an expensive looking necklace around her neck. The chain was simple but a red emerald hung from the end of it. The dress she wore came down to her feet and was a cream coloured, decorated with large black leaves and flowers spontaneously. The sleeves were frilled down to her elbows while the skirt caught in swathes from her waist to the floor.

Edward could not deny that she looked stunning. Yet that was simply an aesthetic. He looked to her face and he saw the smile was fixed to her face. It was fake and her grip on her fiancé's arm was loose while his hand rested on top of hers, his fingers squeezing tightly onto it.

Robert Jacques was a tall and slender man, no doubt well defined under the suit he wore. His blonde hair was neatly parted on his head while his blue eyes glimmered. He had a strong jaw and his lips were plump. To many he would be the perfect bachelor. He was good looking and there was no denying that. If he and Evelyn had a portrait hung up in the hallway then they would not look out of place. They would look perfect.

"Dr and Mrs Cullen," a voice drawled and Edward turned around to see Jack Martins moving towards them, a champagne flute in his fingertips. It was another moment before he spoke. "How lovely it is to see you both…and Edward," he added on as soon as he saw the young man.

"Thank you for the invitation," Esme said, beaming gently as she held onto Carlisle's arm. "I have to say, this is a lovely party."

"It is, is it not?" he responded. "Evelyn is fortunate to be marrying into such a family. Robert Jacques is the most eligible bachelor in a fifty mile radius."

"No doubt he is a pleasant man," Dr Cullen said. "I know his father more than him, but he is a charming man."

"Yes, well," Jack said, clearly struggling for conversation. "I should go and greet the other guests. Please, do go and help yourself to a drink. No doubt the happy couple will be thrilled to see you here."

They nodded their heads graciously and parted ways. Carlisle looked to Esme who simply rolled her eyes while Edward chuckled. It was only as they walked around the room, keeping to themselves, did Edward see what was happening in the corner. Robert Jacques had his back to Edward, but he was hunched over slightly, his hands clenched into fists by his sides.

It took another moment before he realised he was speaking with Evelyn. Moving around to get a better view, he saw the young woman with her back pressed against the wall, her head tilted away from her fiancé as though she was trying to escape him. He moved a hand to her cheek and pulled her gaze back to his. Edward waited a moment before he saw her snarl at him and then rush away, her skirts catching around her legs as she headed towards the door leading to the patio.

Her fiancé did not bother going after her as his parents suddenly distracted him. But Edward took this opportunity to move. Stepping out onto the patio, he saw her walking down the path of the garden in the dark. He followed her until he saw her come to a swing. She perched onto it as Edward moved to settle down next to her. He didn't say anything to her, instead he just felt her head move to rest on top of his shoulder as her body shook.

Wrapping his arms around her slowly, he inhaled her familiar scent as he felt her hands move to cling onto his arm around her front. He didn't read her thoughts, but he could feel the anguish.

"I am sorry," she sniffed after a moment, her hand going to wipe the back of her eyes. "You should not have to sit here and comfort me."

"On the contrary, I believe this is where I should be," Edward said to her.

"I know that my father told you that I did not require tutoring any longer," Evelyn commented. "That is why you have stayed away from me."

Edward gulped. "Your father made his feelings quite clear, Evelyn. I did not wish to see you in trouble because of me."

"I am always in trouble these days," Evelyn responded with a scoff. "I can do nothing right. I cannot do anything without being reprimanded, but now it is by my fiancé and not my father."

"What has happened, Evelyn?" he enquired of her.

"Everything is wrong," she scoffed. "Robert is cruel, Edward. He taunts me…mocks me…he acts like the perfect gentleman in public, but he is different behind closed doors. He acts like a brute."

Edward's brows furrowed. "Has he hurt you, Evelyn?" he demanded.

She looked away from him, seeming to stiffen in his hold. "He is to be my husband," she spoke in a matter-of-fact tone. "As father reminds me, I am his property."

She didn't answer his question, but she had no need to. Edward understood entirely what she was trying to tell him. He didn't even need to read her mind. It took him a moment before he moved to his feet and held his gloved hand out towards her. She looked up to him and Edward's eyes bore into hers.

"Come with me," he urged from her.

Her brows furrowed. "Where?"

"Away from here," Edward responded. "Evelyn, you are my friend. I cannot let them do this to you."

She managed a sad smile just for him. "What other choice do I have, Edward?" she enquired. "I have thought about running and you warned me not to. I was going to do it, but I…I did not. I am here now and my father needs me. He needs me to marry Robert. It is a business deal."

"And how many times did you state that you never wanted to be a transaction?"

"Things have changed," Evelyn shrugged. "My father needs me to do this."

"Your father knows what he is doing to you and yet he still stands by and allows this marriage to go ahead," Edward said. "You know as well as I that is cruel."

"And is life not cruel?" she demanded from him. "The Depression has been raging on and it has finally effected us. It has destroyed hundreds, if not thousands, of lives. Why should mine be any different?"

"Because I do not care about them," Edward said with haste. "All I care about is you, Evelyn, and I do not want to sit by idly while you marry some man who will hurt you."

"Thank you, Edward, but-"

"-You should not do this for your father."

"Despite his flaws he is still the man who has raised me and brought me up," she responded. "And that is the only thing that is keeping me here. Thank you, Edward, but I cannot run. I cannot do it."

Edward saw her begin to move to her feet and he grabbed hold of her wrist, stopping her from running away as she looked to him, her eyes wide and wet.

"What would it take for you to change your mind?" he enquired from her.

She smiled sadly. "Why?" she wondered from him. "Edward, you are my friend and I could really do with a friend now…just…so long as my father and Robert do not know."

Edward arched a brow. "You wish to go behind their backs?"

"If it means keeping you as my only friend then yes," Evelyn said. "There are many things I have been forced to give up, but I do not want for you to be one of them."

Edward said nothing as he felt her press her lips against his cheek. She moved from his grip and back towards the ballroom. He knew that he should have followed her, but he remained stood where he was instead. He watched her go and wondered just what, for once, was actually running through his mind instead of other peoples.