Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight

A/N Sorry this one took so long. More tomorrow, promise!

Chapter 10

Prince Dazzling

Bella

By morning, I had convinced myself that Edward wasn't that type of man several times over. It remained in the back of my mind though. I couldn't eradicate it, because it made sense. What could he want from a poor girl, who could never hope to marry him other than… that. It made me sick to think of him that way, but I could shake the feeling that he was only going to hurt me. He couldn't marry me, and yet he continued to hang around, and force (maybe that's a bit strong, but he was quite insistent) me to stay. Heck, he had undressed me!

Still, I refused to leave him. I was falling in love with him, and I knew that being away from him would be harder than watching him dance with other girls, court other girls… even marry another girl. I would find some way to survive it all just to be with him a little longer.

I tried to dress nicely for whatever we were doing this afternoon, but most of my things were old and worn. Besides, Edward had seen me at my very worst, so it probably didn't make any difference now. But I did try.

I helped in the kitchen all morning to get the afternoon off. At midday I raced down the stairs, and ran right into Edward who was hurrying up them. We just so happened to meet in the place as last night. He caught me before I could tumble to my death… or my embarrassment. Either way, I was very grateful.

"Good morning," he laughed.

"It's afternoon," I said, and began down the stairs with him trailing behind me.

"So it is. Were you up all night wondering, where I was going to take you today?" He asked. Not exactly.

"No, I haven't thought much about it at all," I answered honestly.

"Oh, well how about we go to the kitchen and pack ourselves a little something to eat while we're out," he suggested. I nodded, and let him lead the way to the kitchen. Mrs. Cope had assembled our lunch already, and packed it into a cute little basket. Then we walked to the barn where he had a horse waiting to take us wherever we were going this afternoon.

It was just like when he brought me here. He helped me up, and then climbed up beside me. He took hold of the riens, and turned back to look at me.

"You'd better hang on, it's not the smoothest path to where we're going," he admitted. I locked my arms around his waist. I was trying to be reserved and proper after the wake up call I'd received last night, but he was making it incredibly hard. His warm body pressed so close to mine. He smelled absolutely divine too, of course. I could feel how hard his muscles were even through his cloak. I hoped it would be a short journey, or I just might end up kissing him, admitting I loved him or doing some other equally awful and embarrassing thing.

It was of course a terribly long journey, the majority of which was spent speeding through the forest on no path at all. By the time we stopped, still completely surrounded by trees, Edward looked like his perfect self, and I was no doubt a mess. I knew leaves had tangled themselves in my hair, and that my already pathetic dress was dirtier than before. Unfazed Edward helped me down, and laughed a little while rooting through my hair. He succeeded in removing all forest-like things, but it was still a tangled mess, that I couldn't fix without a mirror or some help. I tried hopelessly to smooth it, with no success.

"Don't worry. You look perfectly fine. And even so, it's not as if anyone's here to notice," he said, when he saw what I was doing. I sighed. I wanted him to notice. I wanted him to think I looked perfectly lovely, not just fine. Instead he hurried me to walk through the forest just a few more steps, so he could show me my surprise. Honestly, I was in no mood to be surprised. I was barely fit for socializing. I wasn't sure I could handle a whole afternoon alone with him. I wanted both to be close to him, and to maintain my distance. I couldn't have it both ways, and I knew it. How was I supposed to balance?

We had only been walking for a few minutes, but clearly I had let my internal debate distract me too long, because Edward was waving his hand in front of my face. God, even his fingers were perfect.

"Bella?" he asked. I jerked my head up and away from his hand to look at his all-too-perfect face. "Is something wrong? You seem a little distracted," he said, concern seeping into his voice.

"No, I'm alright. I just… I have a lot on my mind," I answered as honestly as I could without giving away that he was in fact what was distracting me.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked, looking far too worried about me again. Why was that? If he did just want that one thing, why would he ever ask me how I was or if I needed help? Why should he care?

"No, no, it's really nothing I can't handle. What were you saying, while I was off in my own little world," I joked, desperate for a subject change. If he kept asking questions I might end up spilling that I was worried he wanted something from me… something I couldn't, wouldn't give to just anyone.

"I was just saying that I'm sorry about how little time we got to spend together last night. I had to dance with all the eligible girls, and I did try to get through them quickly, but each dance takes as long as it takes. I couldn't very well hurry the music," he laughed. He didn't necessarily want to dance with Tanya then. Well, that did make me feel just a little better, but there was the possibility that he had wanted to dance with her. I couldn't bare that.

"It was fun, anyway," I answered.

"There's going to be another in a few days, you know," he said. "King Aro of Voltera is coming with his daughter Jane. I've met her before, but never the King himself. It ought to be a good ball," he continued. I gasped. What if he recognized me, or was already looking for me? Didn't I have enough to worry about without this? I barely even knew what I was worrying about!

"Are you sure everything's alright, you seem a bit off?" he wondered.

"I'm perfect. What were you saying?" I said, trying ton regain my sense of calm. It was quite the feat to listen to the words he was saying.

"Well, it's also for King Eleazar and Queen Carmen. Tanya, Kate and Irina decided to extend their stay, so we offered for the King and Queen to come, too," he said. "Carmen and Eleazar are very nice. I'm sure you'll like them," he went on.

"I'm going to meet them?" I asked, surprised.

"Of course, of course, the only reason that I didn't introduce you to the Princesses is that they can be a bit snobbish. But Carmen and Eleazar will keep them in line, I promise," he swore.

"I… I'm going to be very busy, really. The last ball required everyone working for hours to set up, serve food and clean up. I don't think there will be time," I argued.

"I'm sure I could get you off for five minutes," he smirked.

"But I don't have anything nice to wear. I'll look completely ridiculous next to all of you," I tried, anything to get out of this.

"No one's going to mind at all, just wear the nicest dress you have, and I'm sure they'll understand," he smiled. How could I tell him I was wearing the nicest thing I had? How could I admit with finality how undeserving I was?

"I just don't think, that's a good idea. I just don't think, that's where I belong," I muttered. He didn't say anything, and we continued in silence through the dense forest.

"We're here," he finally said, but his tone was soft, not angry like I expected. I paused, but he gestured that I should go ahead of him. I stepped over the ferns, and into the sun. It was perfect. The meadow was beautiful and small with a riot of colorful flowers springing up on every side. He stood behind me quietly as I took in the beautiful field.

"It's amazing," I murmured, without really meaning to speak.

"I know. I thought, you might like it, and honestly I needed some kind of escape. Everything has been a bit hectic, don't you think?" he said. His voice was still low, and I felt terrible for offending him.

"I'm sorry about what I said," I answered miserably.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm sorry if I'm being an ingrate. I know you were just trying to be nice," I said feeling even lower.

"You have nothing to apologize for. If it makes you uncomfortable you don't have to meet them," he replied, his voice too perfect.

"It doesn't make me uncomfortable. It makes me hopeful and desperate, and depressed," I offered. I don't know why I said it. I just wanted him to understand.

"Hopeful? Desperate? Depressed? Why?" he asked. I still hadn't turned to look at him, but I could imagine his shocked face.

"Because… because it isn't me and I wish it was, more than anything I wish it was, but it isn't," I said truthfully. He was quiet.

"Why… Why do you want that? Money? Power? Something… else?" he asked. He sounded surprisingly hopeful when he had no reason to be.

"Something else," I answered, softly. He still heard me.

"What? What do you want?" he demanded. He sounded very alive all of a sudden.

"You," I muttered as quietly as my voice could be. He pulled in a breath, and I thought he might laugh or yell or just leave. He didn't though. He stood behind me for a long moment, and I almost wished he would leave. I was prepared to sit crying in this beautiful meadow for the remainder of the afternoon if that's what it took for reality to set in. He was a prince, and I was a kitchen maid. Things like that did not happen. There was a reason for that. Kitchen maids did not deserve a Prince. I especially did not deserve Edward.

Then his arms were around me. I could feel his lips pressed to my hair, and when I turned around they found my face.

"You… beautiful… wonderful… amazing…" he murmured between kisses. I somehow found the strength to pull away then.

"Kitchen maid," I finished. "And you're a kind, intelligent, charming prince," I added for good measure.

"That adores you," he pressed.

"That I cannot have," I stressed. Why didn't he understand? He sighed, and hung his head. Finally.

He took a deep breath, and lifted his face to glare playfully at me. "I'm not letting you ruin this moment for me," he answered defiantly. He grabbed me by the waist, and dragged me to him. Then his lips crashed into mine. I couldn't help myself. I kissed him back… passionately.