The Heart Knows

Chapter 10

A day later and two more visits from the doctor, I was pronounced well enough to go home. I left with a new dress courtesy of Elizabeth who had deemed the old one beyond repair. This dress was considerably nicer than mine had been. Rose had to stay another week under the doctor's care. Amazingly, I wasn't punished at all. I didn't even see Jane that week. I almost got the feeling she was avoiding me, but I wasn't about to look that gift horse in the mouth.

Jacob had been officially re-assigned to another duty. After checking in with Jasper, we got the full story. Apparently Jane didn't go through the proper channels when she brought Jake to the Queen's House. She had bribed one of the men who oversaw the stables so no one would ask questions. But when Jasper came around asking questions and furious, the truth came out. Jacob was returned to Jaspers care in the palace grounds and out of Jane's grasp forever. Jane received Jasper's ire and a warning to stay away from him.

Alice and I visited Rose every day. We saw a lot of Jasper that week and of course Emmett. We found out that Emmett hadn't left Rose's side until she finally awoke. The doctor eventually kicked him out of her room on the grounds that it wasn't proper for him to be there so often. He was back again the next day.

Rose seemed to be enjoying his company as well. They played games and read books together and talked. I was happy she had his company, especially when we couldn't be there. Jasper seemed to be around a lot as well. Actually, between Alice and Jasper and Rose and Emmett, I felt a bit like a fifth wheel. They were all so engrossed in each other. I missed Ed but didn't have a way, or a legitimate reason, to contact him. I felt guilty for even thinking about my own desires while Rosalie was recovering and needing my undivided support.

Four days into her stay at the Royal Quarters, we were able to take Rosalie out for a short walk to take in some air. She was mostly better and the doctor felt she could go home in another day or so. The only physical reminder of the ordeal was her now yellow-purple eye. With Alice's expertise in makeup application, they bruising was barely visible. My own bruised cheek had healed almost completely as well.

The five of us, of course including our two newest friends Jasper and Emmett, set out for a short stroll through the adjacent palace courtyards. We had barely begun our walk when I received an unexpected shock. My heart jumped into my throat when I saw Leo, the giant beast of a dog, run out into the open courtyard. I automatically scanned the area for his owner. I hadn't seen Ed in what felt like a very long time. I had been so occupied with our ordeal and Rose's recovery that I hadn't seen him in over a week.

I finally saw him stroll into view, with a throwing stick in his hand. He looked beautiful in the afternoon sun, even better than I remembered. He didn't notice us at first as he called to Leo. The dog ran back to him, tail wagging and jumping for the stick he held over his head. He laughed and threw the stick in the other direction. Leo tore off after it. I stared at him, mesmerized. He was absolutely striking no matter what he was doing. My staring didn't go unnoticed by Alice.

"Is that him?" she asked in a not so quiet whisper. She sounded slightly awed as well. Our staring and whispering drew attention from Jasper and Emmett.

"Edward!" Jasper called out. I twitched in surprise at hearing his full name as Edward's head turned toward us. I didn't realize that Jasper knew Ed. I guess if Jasper and Emmett were friends, it would make sense. I felt extremely slow as I put together Elizabeth's comments about her nephew and other tidbits to complete the connection of their relationship. I felt like an idiot for not realizing earlier. Of course they knew each other, they were all cousins.

I rolled his full name around in my head silently as he walked toward us. Edward, Ed. The formality of it seemed to fit him a little better, but I still liked that Ed was a name only I used for him. His gaze held me for a long second, but he his previously unforced smile was stiff around the edges. He looked confused. He walked over to join us with a that forced, polite smile firmly in place. I hoped I would get a chance to explain about standing him up this week.

"Jasper." His smiled looked more genuine as he clasped hands with Jasper. He nodded to Emmett. "Emmett." He clasped hands with him as well and then looked to me. "Lady Bella," he greeted me stiffly with a nod of his head. He didn't make eye contact and his usual smile for me didn't appear. His obvious distance made my heart clench uncomfortably. He was definitely upset.

"Ed." I greeted in return. I wanted so badly to talk with him, to explain myself and to see him return to his normal self, but it wasn't the time in front of everyone.

"Ed? Since when have you let anyone call you Ed?" Jasper accused. Edward finally looked at me. It felt like he was trying to lift answers straight out of my head to figure out what was going on. It was an intense look and I felt glued to the ground. When Edward didn't answer, Emmett jumped in.

"Oh ever since he didn't want Bella here to know –"

"It's still Edward." He cut Emmett off with a look as he answered Jasper's question, but I felt a little sting. Was he trying to tell me that we were no longer friends?

Jasper introduced Alice who seemed to be nearly vibrating with excitement at meeting my mysterious friend. Emmett in turn introduced Rose. Edward did a pretty good job at hiding his surprise at her appearance, but I was watching him carefully. His narrowed eyes and clenched fists were a dead give away to me. Emmett explained what had happened last week to Rose and me. This time I was the one avoiding his gaze, but I could feel his eyes burning into me. I refused to meet them as I stared at my feet. After a long moment, he spoke to me.

"My lady, could I please speak with you in private?" He was still addressing me formally. He held out his arm, inviting me to walk with him. I was actually scared to reach out and take his arm. This was my opportunity to explain everything, but I could tell he was already angry. I tried to think of a way I could avoid talking with him, but nothing came to me. Alice jabbed me painfully with her elbow and I knew I had to face up to this conversation. I took his arm and he led me away from the group to the clearing where we first met.

When we arrived he stopped and turned to face me. He didn't say anything and I still couldn't bring myself to meet his eyes. Finally, he spoke. "Why didn't you tell me?" I could hear the anger in his voice.

"Edward, I'm sorry," I told my feet, "I didn't mean to not show up without any explanation. I was just so busy taking care of Rose and dealing with everything that happened." He didn't speak, so I continued. "I understand if you don't want to be my friend anymore." I waited for his rejection, my shoe digging nervously into the grass.

Instead after an agonizingly long pause, while I continued to refuse to meet his eyes, his finger lifted my chin until I was forced to meet his gaze. I expected to see anger there, but his expression was soft and filled with something I couldn't name. Whatever it was made my heart beat faster.

"I always want to be your friend," he said softly, searching my face. I couldn't help but smile at his words. His fingers moved from under my chin to stroke softly along my jaw. My heart felt like it was about to beat out of my chest. I wouldn't have been surprised if he could hear it. "I was really worried about you. I thought I had lost you for good."

I nodded, unable to say anything. The distraction of his intense eyes and his proximity was becoming disorienting. I had to remind myself to breathe. His fingers travelled up my jaw again and continued until his hand curved softly around the back of my neck. I felt my eyes close partially from the sheer pleasure of his gentle touch. He leaned in so close to me that I could taste his breath. I inhaled in the delicious scent of him. He smelled like a fresh summer's day – clean and sweet.

He closed the distance between us slowly with a lingering kiss on my lips. His lips were soft and warm and gentle as the moved slowly against mine. My frantically beating heart actually stopped as time stood still. He pulled back to look into my eyes for a long moment and then bent his head to kiss me on the forehead.

The tips of his fingers glided ever so softly over my bruised cheek and I watched as his brow furrowed slightly. Apparently, the bruise there was still visible despite time and Alice's careful makeup. I colored slightly at the realization. His expression changed from anger at my mis-treatment to delight as my cheeks flamed further. He kissed each of my cheeks in what would normally have been a fairly normal form of greeting, but made my heart beat faster as his lips lingered a fraction longer than customary. He released his hand from around my neck and took a step back from me, breaking contact. I almost whimpered at the loss.

He ran his hand unconsciously through his own hair waiting for a reaction from me. I reached up and smoothed down a messy bronze lock of his hair. It was as soft and silky as I had imagined. He gave me my crooked smile and I knew at that moment, that I was absolutely and irrevocably in love with him.