Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of its characters; they are all property of Stephenie Meyer.
Thank you Cullenfest for being the pre-reader for this story.
Please forgive any mistakes…
I found out that I have been nominated for a few different awards ...one U A…one for my one shot My Saving Grace(please take a moment to read it as it actually almost made my husband cry) And a co-written story called Within These Walls.
If you wouldn't mind taking a moment to cast a vote starting on Valentine's Day…it would really mean a great deal to me. I have been nominated…but have never won anything. It would be amazing to have my work recognized….and to know that my fans appreciate the work I put into it.
Thanks!
/vampawards/
A tale
Chapter 11
Edward's POV
The evening had dragged on as I sat and listened to that horrible man rant about the wonderful things he was doing with his land and the people who dwelled under his power. It was well known that Welshford was not a well producing county, but the land was rich a fertile leading our father, the King's right hand man, to believe that Sir James, the Baron of this place, was abusing more than the women he was rumored to be.
His very forwardness directed at the lovely Isabella was proof enough for me to know that he saw women as little more than possessions. He ignored his wife unless he saw fit to include her and he seemed drunk on the power his station provided him. I was surely going to report this flagrant abuse back to my father so he could seek to have Sir James stripped of his lands and his title, replacing him with someone more suited to the task of keeping the town and its people happy and productive.
While Sir James had been careful not to make another lewd comment regarding my supposed betrothed, he had continued to speak inappropriately of bedding women, comparing Isabella's comeliness to a woman he had used as a sort of concubine. I held my tongue as he commented on the how she reminded him on this beauty that he had claimed once her husband had no longer been an obstacle to procuring her. I nearly tackled the man to the ground as he described the ways he had used the poor woman for pleasure before he again commented on how Lady Isabella's wide brown, doe like eyes were just as alluring as the eyes of this other woman he had enjoyed.
Before I killed the man in his own home, making myself a criminal rather than righting the grievous errors that he had committed, I had to excuse myself. His constant jabbering was only showing me that he was thinking such thoughts about the woman I was so besotted with. Knowing he found her equally as alluring as I did was disturbing since his own words and tales had let me know he would just as soon bed a woman, than wed her.
A woman deserved loving and tender touches...adoration…reverence…glorification. Each one was unique, yet capable of wondrous works. Life sprung forth from their wombs…a task no man could accomplish…that alone deserved a level of respect that James obviously did not seem to bestow on the fairer sex. Even I…a man who had not until this very day found a woman I wished to bind to me for all the days of my life, knew that women were not to be treated as poorly as chattel. I felt sickened as I tried to rid the foul words he spoken from my mind.
I had just escaped the wearisome Baron and was retiring to my chambers to seek out some much required rest. I closed the heavy wooden doors, and dropped the latch into place to provide myself with some privacy.
"That lock wouldn't keep me out should I wish to gain entry." My brother's rich voice echoed from deeper within my chamber.
"I suppose not, dear brother…as long as it keeps out the vermin it will have to suffice." I retorted with a chuckle.
Emmett's deep laugh rang clearly through the room, accentuated by crackles from the fire burning brightly in the grate of the fireplace.
"I suppose it will do then." He added with a chortle. He sighed as he moved to sit in one of the cushioned chairs that faced the fire. Night was fully upon us, and it was a peculiar time for seeking out company.
"What is on your mind, dear brother?" I asked curiously.
"Many things….many things of late….but one more pressing than the others. Edward, are you aware that Lady Isabella heard you tell Sir James that she was your betrothed?" Emmett asked causing me to gasp in alarm.
She had heard me…she must think me some sort of scoundrel…Such words would surely cause her distress. I had spoken out of turn…. I know that Emmett assured me that she had no one…but what if he was mistaken? A beauty such as hers would not go unnoticed…the way she moved as if each step was carefully measured…with natural grace.
"Her anger must be great…I must apologize…I must ask her to forgive my brashness…to" I began to babble but my brother's next words stopped my tirade.
"She is agreeable to the marriage if it is what you truly desire." Emmett said softly.
"She…wishes…agreed…to?" I tried to speak but my mind could not form the thoughts. It was as if I was dreaming while awake…Could he have said what I think he said?
"I beg your pardon, brother…but your words have slipped past me so suddenly that I am not sure I grasped them…would you repeat them?" I asked, thoroughly befuddled.
"I said she is amenable to a marriage…to you…. Did you hear my words this time?" He asked lowly, his voice pleasant.
I sat down in the chair that opposed his. I had heard him correctly. Not only was she not angry…she was willing to allow me to court her and to make her my bride. My head swam with delight.
"But brother…I wish for you to tread carefully…You do not know the Lady Isabella very well…she is very special…but I do not wish for you…" Emmett began, but I interrupted him, incensed at his description of my beloved…the way that phrase moved into my head when referring to Lady Isabella felt so right…so glorious.
"She is beyond special, brother…such a simple word…it diminishes her extraordinary character…She is so much more than that!" I admonished him.
"Edward…I meant no disrespect...I merely mean that Lady Isabella has many admirable qualities…some that are not viewed kindly by others…such as her unique outlook on the social classes…She does not carry the mantel of her station with pride. She feels she is unworthy. She would sooner do a chore herself than have a servant do her bidding…she see herself as their equal…not their superior." He explained.
I imagined Isabella doing the earthly chores of a kitchen worker…Even then I could imagine her natural grace and beauty would make her an exception among others as it currently did.
"I admire her ability to see the value in others…It is venerable that she is able to look past her station…many woman would not be so humble in their views. Lady Isabella is a woman among women." I replied.
"She does not see herself that was…She views herself as if she was one of those women." Emmett said slowly.
"Even if she were, I would love her still…and it is all the more clear why my heart has grown to love her so fully since the moment I first held her in my gaze…She is a woman of honor." I retorted quickly.
As the words left my lips Emmett smiled whole heartedly at me.
"Then perhaps you are worthy of her after all, my dear brother." Emmett said cheekily.
Bella's POV
I was in a tizzy as Mary –Alice led me to her dressing room. She helped me to loosen my dress and I did the same for her. Mary-Alice was chattering excitedly about how glorious it would be to see me wed her brother Edward.
"Mary-Alice!" I lamented as we removed our outer dresses. "I have no idea what I shall say...or what I should do…I have never had to be a Lady, mightn't Lord Edward be disappointed with me if I were to behave improperly…I would be such an embarrassment!" I almost whispered.
"I would never allow that to happened, Bella…and did we not already discuss not using such formalities amongst ourselves? I told you that I wished for you to address me as Alice when we are in on our own…I hold no airs unless I am required to do so." Alice stated shaking a finger at me to show the graveness of her words. "I promise to tell you everything that I can…and if all else should fail…follow my lead. I will do my best to guide you. If you have any inquiries at all, please do not hesitate to ask me."
I calmed at her words…she seemed so sure that her brother would not hesitate to admire me, regardless of any folly I might commit. I turned to see her smiling widely as she hastened to remove the lighter tunics that we wore beneath. I helped her pull the gown over her head before assisting her to pull on the much lighter shift that she would sleep in.
"Whatever has you smiling so wickedly?" I asked as she helped me ready myself as well.
Alice helped me pull on the soft linen, helping me smooth the supple material down my back. I inhaled softly with pleasure at the thought of sleeping in such a comfortable garment for the first time in many a year, then blushed profusely as I wondered if this evening's rest would be as pleasant and restful as the respite I had in Edward's arms only hours ago.
I shook my head to clear the shameless thoughts from my reflections. Alice once again tittered and I turned to see her smile go even wider.
"What is it?" I asked her, her smile both amusing and irking me at the same time.
"I imagine you were just having thoughts of my brother." She giggled. "Your face was a red as a finely aged wine….perchance were they as sweet?" She questioned. I jumped at her to tickle her good naturedly and she raced away, laughing jovially, calling out as she went.
"Oh, Edward…when I think of you…my heart pounds heavily beneath my breast!" She gasped with laughter as she jumped onto the heavily blanketed bed. My face only reddened further at her words, and instead of giving chase I grasped one of the downy pillows and buried my face in it to hide my discomfiture.
I felt the bed shake as Alice dropped beside me, breathlessly…but no longer laughing.
"Bella…do not have shame…it is the same for any woman in love. I imagine from the lingering looks my brother gives you his thoughts are no less than yours. Do you know, in my whole life…I have never seen him look at another the way he looks at you?" She asked as she stroked my hair soothingly.
I felt the heat receding from my flesh and I withdrew it from the pillow.
"Does your heart pummel your chest this way when you see your dearly adored husband?" I asked curiously.
"Truly…and even harder when he joins with me in our marital bed…his every touch makes my heart take wing." Alice said, her face serene as she thought of her husband. Her very actions were causing me to wonder at her words….she seemed to feel the exact opposite way my mother had when she discussed joining with a man….when she spoke of sharing a bed…it was with derision, though I understood why, due to the way she was treated by Sir James and his company.
There was the odd time though…when she spoke of men that my mother's face took on a wistful tone, and a small smile would alight on her fine features as she talked about my father. She rarely did such a thing as with her words often came a flooding of raw emotions. Alice now held that same wistful expression.
"Alice…I know nothing of marital beds…I only know what I saw done to my mother…but your words give me hope that a union can bring love…joy… and tenderness between to people." I told her, my tone full of longing for just those things.
Alice turned to me and as she did, she pulled the thick blankets up around us, snuggling down with me as sisters did as children. I relished the bond that had instantly grown between us and leaned my head against her shoulder.
"Bella, I think it is time that you and I had a talk about the way things should be between a man and a woman." She said softly. With that phrase I settled in and listened to the wonderful stories of love and love worship that she shared. Some were her own experiences and some were tales of far off places with heroes and damsels in distress. Her words held truth in them…I felt it deep inside me, and with that hope setting a seed within my heart I fell asleep dreaming of happy endings.
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