Disclaimer: I own many things but the Twilight series is not one of them. All rights are deserved to Stephenie Meyers. I also do not own the quote from Pride and Prejudice—that right belong to the wonderful Miss Austen.

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Love in Affliction

Chapter Ten: The Fallacies

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January 1, 1896

"Well, pleasant to meet you, Miss Dervish," Bella responded with a small curtsy. There was something peculiar about the Duchess, for the last Bella heard; West Essex was going to shambles. "Now, if you excuse me, I must go—"

"Please," Elise said softly, holding up a hand. "If you would give me a moment of your time, I will explain myself."

"Perhaps we can have tea tomorrow."

Elise glowered at the girl's impertinence. "It is dire that I tell you what I know right now."

"Very well," Bella sighed, biting her lip. She really did want to go inside and be with the Brandon's and Cullen's as they welcomed the new child to the New Year. "Shall we take a turn about the garden?"

"Lovely," Elise replied, dryly. She eyed Bella for a moment, her eyes widening with shock. A jacket was nestled around Bella's shoulders, and a necklace of Edward's late mother graced Bella's neck. Things had gone too far.

"What is the urgency that you speak of?" Bella asked, interrupting Elise's silent revelry.

"I am afraid you have been misinformed about Edward Cullen."

Bella stopped, refraining a scoff. "I know about his reputation, thank you."

"And have you heard it from the man himself?"

"Yes—"

"Then he has deceived you," Elise insisted.

Bella narrowed her eyes at the woman's accusations. "Pardon me if I do not take your words to heart. For one, I do not know a thing about you, and two, I have a good understanding and bond with Sir Cullen."

"And pardon me when I say that you have been fooled," Elise snapped, furrowing her eyebrows at Bella's obstinacy. "Has he told you everything? Has he told you about his many flirtations—"

"Sir Cullen is a ladies man," Bella drawled, "and every man is a flirt. Now if you excuse me, I must be going." She huffed angrily, marching off into the manor's direction, infuriated by Elise's brazenness.

Elise bit her cheek to stop herself from cursing. She glared at Bella's back when a thought had struck her. "Did you know that Edward is betrothed?" Her eyes danced with mirth as she saw Bella freeze in place. "Oh, I'm afraid he has not. Foolish Edward."

"Betrothed?" Bella whispered, her voice slightly cracking. The thought unnerved her, causing Bella to turn and walk back to Elise. "What do you mean?"

Elise took Bella's arm, wrapping it around her own, and patted it gently. "Poor dear," she said, feigning sympathy. "Years ago, when the late Viscount was still alive, he feared that his son's flirtations would leave him without a proper wife. Think of the scandals that would follow if the Viscount's son was off dabbling in mischief!"

Bella breathed sharply, taking in the information. "Go on."

"Well, before his passing and God bless his soul, the Viscount visited his old friend in West Essex, making an iron clad betrothal with his friend's daughter," Elise said, a demure smile appearing on her lips. "Me."

"How could I possibly believe you?" Bella asked, pulling away from Elise's grip, flustered by information. "How do I know that you do not speak of lies?"

"Because of this." Elise pulled out a piece of parchment, handing it to Bella.

Bella's hands shook violently as she stared at the letter in her hands. It had the official seal of the Cullen's, and finally the truth dawned on her. She did not have to read the paper. It was far too painful.

"I wanted to inform you," Elise confessed, inwardly pleased with herself. "I would not want a scandal to come about—you are far too sweet. I could not live with myself if I knew that Edward had fooled yet another conquest."

"But…he…" Bella stared down at the necklace which now bore a heavy burden around her neck.

Elise sighed. "He pulled that bit again? Pawning off jewelry as his late mother's, did he? How pitiful." She patted Bella's hand once more. "At least you have been informed about Edward before you felt something more."

"Yes, thank goodness," Bella gasped, placing an arm around her stomach, breathless.

"Well, I must be off." Elise turned sharply, walking towards the carriages. "Happy New Years, Miss Swan."

"T-thank you," Bella stuttered, her heart pounding rapidly. All color had drained from her face as she stumbled back to the manor, hurt and cold. Her body felt numb, a deep ache forming in the pit of her stomach. Elise's words echoed in her head. Another conquest.

And she was about to be another conquest. He had lied to her. Everything he had said was a lie. She knew that Edward could not be trusted and yet she gave him her heart so easily. To think that she was going to confess that she—no—the thought alone was too hard to bear.

You need not to fear me. I will not hurt you.

She had a reason to fear him, for he had hurt her in the most painful way possible.

Betray me not, Edward.

I won't.

But he had betrayed her so viciously.

She ran into the manor unnoticed, using the servants corridors to make it back to Alice's room, tears stinging her eyes. Her actions were all done in a hurry, blinded by the sheer humility weighing heavily upon her chest. Tears streamed down her pale face as she threw her possessions into her trunk. How could I be so careless? Bella thought, angered and embarrassed at both herself and Edward. I am an idiot, an utter idiot.

Things were much clearer to Bella.

Betrothed. Why did she not see it? Obviously Edward had been forward on first meeting. There must have been something to provoke his interest. Of course, she thought bitterly, a man could only pursue me if only against their will. As if the son of a Viscount would fall for a pathetic girl like myself.

And his promise not to seek her parents for her hand in marriage. That gesture was not honorable as Bella thought it to be. He never meant to follow up on his words in the first place. She was only but a mere toy for Edward's amusement before he would be tied down.

His anger when she commented on his flirtations was all a mere rouse. He planned every step of his malicious courting in order to amuse himself while humiliating her in the process. Edward sought out revenge because she rejected him upon first interest.

It is all an illusion, love.

She stared into the mirror, finding the mask still concealing her face. Her hands shook as she ripped the tearstained material off, choking out a sob. She should have stuck to her intuition. She should have walked away. She should have done a lot of things, but all was too late.

With that, Bella threw the mask in the corner, took off the necklace, and shrugged off his jacket. She packed up the rest of her things and called for one of the maidservants to carry her trunk to the carriages and to send her apologies to the Brandon's for the sudden leave.

Bella stared into the mirror once more and wiped away her tears. She would not let him affect her—she could not. He did not deserve the satisfaction of her weeping. With a deep breath, Bella walked out of the door and into the servant's corridors, leaving behind London and the fairytale that had so evilly turned to ruins. Monsters did not belong in fables and myths—they were real. Edward Cullen had proved the theory to be true.

He was the most fiendish of monsters.

Bella stepped into the awaiting carriage, giving the driver her wishes to go to the train station. She breathed in the New Year and waved goodbye to the bitter memories. It bothered her no longer; she would not let him inside her head.

After all, this all happened to the girl in a mask.

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Dawn brightened the skies of London and the piercing cries of a baby erupted from a room in the Brandon manor. Tristan Anthony McCarty was born on the New Year, carrying on his family name. The beautiful child had his father's dark, curly hair, and from what could be told at the moment, his mother's blue eyes.

Edward smiled with joy as they named him the godfather of little Tristan. He could barely contain his happiness and shouted to anyone of his new nephew. Even Amelia was thrilled at the thought of her new brother, sharing the same joy with her uncle.

The commotion finally quieted down as only the Brandon's, Cullen's, and McCarty's were left to revel on the small wonder. Tristan had silenced his birthing wails and was nestled in the arms of his grandmother.

"Oh, I cannot wait until I can spoil you," Esme cooed, gently rocking the child.

Amelia began to pout. "What about me, grandmamma?"

"Of course, darling! I will never forget about my sugar plum." Esme bent down and placed a swift kiss on her granddaughter's forehead.

Alice smiled, picking Amelia up in her arms. "Are you excited about Tristan?"

"Yes! Now I have someone to play dress up with," she giggled, clapping her hands together. "He can fit in my dolls' clothing."

Emmett's eyebrows furrowed. "Now wait just a minute there, princess," he said, taking his daughter from Alice's arms. "There will be no girl dress up with Tristan."

"I have boy clothing, papa."

"Sweat pea—"

"Leave her be, Emmett." Rosalie waved her hand, her eyes fluttering open for just a moment. "You will never win this battle. She does have my tenacity."

Edward grinned wryly. "Is that admittance, Rose?"

"Would you like to experience childbirth, Edward?"

"No comment."

Jasper laughed, hugging his fiancée close to him. "Are you ready for all this commotion?"

"Love, with your looks and my spirit, our children will be on the throne of England," Alice exclaimed wildly, staring at Jasper with ardency. "We only have a few short weeks left."

"We have a lot of planning to do," Clairice said, fanning herself. "Now have you decided on a maid-of-honor?"

"Bella said that she would love to do it."

"Speaking of," Edward said, suddenly remembering what had happened only a few hours before. "Where is Miss Swan?"

"I do not know," Alice said, "Last time I saw her, she was with you in the gardens."

"And you have not seen her since?"

Carlisle laughed at his worried nephew. "Do not fret. I believe it is time for us to take our leave."

"But I must speak to Miss Swan—"

"She is probably asleep," Jasper said, clapping his hand on his cousin's shoulder. "All is well."

"It is important that I talk to her," Edward insisted.

Esme smiled at Edward. "Such persistence you have. No. It is time to take our leave. Perhaps you can see her at brunch. There is nothing more frightening than a woman whom lacks sleeps."

"Very well," Edward muttered to himself. He had been distracted by all the excitement that he did not get to speak to Bella, and he was sure something was to be said. In the pit of his stomach, the New Year could not have been any better. A new nephew, a new opportunity, and perhaps, a new love.

"She is not here, mum." A young maidservant entered the room, bowing before her company. "Miss Swan left earlier, only hours ago."

Edward's eyes widened. "What?"

"What do you mean, she left?" Alice yelled, her eyes filled with confusion. "She was supposed to leave within a week!"

"She said that she had much to do, but left these," the maidservant said, handing Edward a box and Alice a letter.

Alice opened the parchment, her eyes scanning the letter. "She thanks us for the hospitality and said she was pulled away upon the result of an emergency," she said, disappointed at her friend's words.

Edward's eyes gazed at the boxed and noticed his jacket lay folded on top, the glimmering necklace hanging from one of the pockets. He ripped open his own letter but only found a passage from Pride and Prejudice:

"From the very beginning— from the first moment, I may almost say— of my acquaintance with you, your manners, impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form the groundwork of disapprobation on which succeeding events have built so immovable a dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry."

"No…" he whispered dryly, rereading the words once more.

"Edward?" Esme asked, in a worried tone. "What is the matter, darling?"

He narrowed his eyes, suddenly becoming aware of what had happened. "Elise," he hissed under his breath.

"What do you mean, Elise?"

"She was here," Edward groaned, clutching the necklace in his hands. "She was here. How could I have been so easily persuaded? Of course she did not have previous engagements—she planned this all the moment she knew I was bluffing about not attending the ball. That vile woman! Hideous shrew!"

Alice tilted her head to the side. "And who is this Elise that Edward is bad mouthing?"

"Oh, bugger," Jasper muttered under his breath. "Well dear, my uncle made a betrothal contract between Edward and Elise."

"You scoundrel!" Alice screeched. She clawed at Edward, and would have been successful in her wounding if it were not for Jasper's hold around her waist. "How dare you, Edward! I cannot believe you would do this to Bella!"

"I did nothing!" Edward retorted, defending himself.

Jasper, in his attempts to calm Alice, glared at Edward. "Well if you had been truthful in the first place—"

"So I deserve this mockery?!"

"If you were not so secretive!"

"Silence!" Everyone stared at Carlisle in shock, who at the point became aggravated. "Enough of your banter, all of you. It is not wise to speak before the whole story has been told. The bottom line of the contract is if Edward does not find a suitable wife before his eighteenth birthday, his betrothal to the Duchess will be activated."

Alice huffed angrily, still glaring at Edward. "You are low, Edward."

"Dear…" Clairice said, patting her daughter's head.

Emmett shook his head in disdain. "So Elise has told Bella everything?"

"I have a feeling that not all has been told," Edward growled, infuriated by the circumstances. "And I damn that bint to the deepest pits of hell!"

"Watch your tongue!" Esme said, gasping in horror. "We have all warned you, Edward. We told you to catch her before she would get away."

"I intended to do so," he said lowly, bending his head down. Edward held out the chain for everyone to see and sighed. "I gave Miss Swan my mother's diamond charm in hopes to further our courting." His hand clinched into a fist, mad at the thought of almost hearing those words he so longed for. He now knew the true meaning of the saying so close and yet so far.

"I will never forgive you, Edward." Alice turned, tears in her eyes, and ran up the stairs to her room.

Edward sat on the couch, his hands between his head, emotionally drained. He was livid, and yet fragile. At the moment he did not know whether to cry or break something. "I have ruined everything."

"She will forgive you within time, mate." Jasper sat down next to Edward, attempting to console his friend.

"No, I am afraid you were right, Jasper." Edward stared desolately at his surroundings, his mask soaked with perspiration and tears. "I gambled away something more infinitely precious than what I deserved. I was blinded by my conceit and arrogance, and now I must suffer from the vices and follies I have inflicted on others. I lost," he murmured, horrified at his behavior. "I lost the game, I lost my pride, and I lost the person I truly loved."

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Authoress Note: Aw, what a sad chapter. Sorry folks that it took a while to update! My fingers are better so I can type, but more exams are coming up. I thank you all for your kind reviews and I must especially thank those for the well wishes and thoughtful comments. I received some of the most encouraging reviews—they have put tears to my eyes…in a good way! Much love.