Jasper and Emmett were still laughing amongst themselves when Edward came upon them in the courtyard. "I have been scouring the castle for the two of you. Where have you been?"
"Entertaining ourselves." Emmett snickered.
"Precisely." Jasper nodded with a grin.
"Anything I should know about?" Edward asked.
Emmett opened his mouth to answer but was silenced by a sharp look from Jasper. Edward's curiosity was piqued. "It must have been intriguing."
"It was." Jasper smiled. "Was there something you required from us?" With one sentence he shifted the conversation away from what they had been doing and back to Edward.
"We are having…problems again." Edward grimaced.
Jasper sighed, and Edward eyed him critically. They all knew what the 'problems' would be, the same ones they had had for the past two years since the death of Henry II, and the crowning of Stephen I. Some nobles followed the old King's demand, and supported Matilda, his only remaining heir, while others, unable or unwilling to accept a woman as ruler, aided and still assisted the old King's nephew, Stephen of Blois.
The Cullen's, by choice of Carlisle, quietly helped Matilda, adhering to a vow to follow King Henry's order of succession. Edward did as he was bade, despite the fact he did not believe a woman had it in her to rule a country, lacked the necessary strength to lead armies and fight wars. Jasper was of a different view, fervently believed that Matilda was a far more capable leader than her cousin would ever be, despite her sex. It was often a source of contention between the friends, most especially at times such as now, when they were forced to go undercover, for in these unsteady times to show support for Matilda was to lose your home, everything you owned, and most probably your life to Stephen's ruthless and greedy followers.
"What is it you need us to do?" Jasper's eyes narrowed, a glint of determination flashing in the bright blue depths.
"There is talk…" Edward began slowly, leading his two trusted friends away from the drawbridge and the knights stationed there and towards the side of the keep where there was less people, and less light. "That Stephen plans to invade Normandy, will attempt to wrest it from her control. He feels if he takes Normandy, she will be permanently broken."
Jasper nodded. "Which, I am certain, would be true."
"Someone will have to inform Her Grace." Edward said tersely.
"And that someone would be Emmett and I?" It would be much less obvious if someone was to send their knights, rather than going themselves.
"Yes." Edward said sharply, frowning.
"Then we shall be glad to assist. How soon do you need us to leave?" Jasper's eyes shifted between Edward and Emmett, his thoughts clearly planning ahead.
"Not until the fair. It will be easier to ride out unnoticed in the crowds."
"But that is so long!" Emmett complained. "Over a sennight!"
"That is when my father has requested you leave. Not a moment sooner. With Lord Swan arriving soon," Edward's mouth twisted, disgust coloring his tone "It is most advisable we wait. Swan is a perceptive man; it will require much to hide your absence from him."
"Much, such as the betrothal of his only daughter?" Jasper nodded knowingly.
"Precisely." The three men moved out of the shadows and towards the keep's door.
* * * * *
"We will win next time, Lady Rosalind." Luned laughed as the four women crossed the drawbridge into the courtyard. Bella glanced up, stopping suddenly when she saw Edward with Emmett and Jasper entering the keep across the village from where she stood. Alison looked up when Bella stopped, and saw them to.
"Sir Jasper!" She called, her eyes alight with joy. The three knights turned; Jasper and Emmett grinning when they saw their brides-to-be. Edward looked sullen, as if he had been deep in thought and the presence of the women had only served to interrupt him. Alison and Rosalind ran lightly across the square, stopping just short of leaping into their love's arms, Luned and Bella followed at a much slower pace.
"Where have you been?" Alison was admonishing Jasper. "I looked for you all morning."
"Oh?" He responded, eyes sparkling with hidden knowledge.
"As did I." Rosalind interjected, frowning at Emmett.
"We were practicing." Emmett grinned, glancing sidelong at Jasper. Neither Alison nor Rosalind caught their looks, as they scoffed and disagreed, but Bella and Luned did. Luned hissed softly. Edward turned to her in surprise.
"Luned. It has been a long time."
"Sir Edward." She ducked her head, slightly.
"How have you been? Have you settled in well?"
"Yes, my lord."
Satisfied that she seemed contented enough, Edward turned to Bella.
"Lady Isabella, are you faring better?"
"Perfectly fine, thanks." She couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze, this man that had vowed he would marry her, whether she wanted to or not. Every time she looked into his emerald green eyes, she found herself more and more confused, even as she completely resented his treatment of her.
"Will you share my cup tonight, lady?" He leaned forward when he said this, reaching for her hand, again hidden in the sleeve of her gown, the leggings chafing underneath the shirts. She briefly considered pulling her hand back but his warm, rough one felt nice, so she kept her gaze lowered and nodded once, quickly.
With astonishing speed he pressed her palm to his lips, breathing softly against the skin there, making her whole arm tingle in response. It was completely different to the feelings she had when his brother had kissed her; all she had felt then was revulsion. Now…well, that one kiss, to her hand of all things, had been far more exciting and erotic than anything she had ever experienced before. She shook her head slowly, trying to remind herself what an arrogant ass this man really was, but as he smiled gently and turned away from her to lead his knights away, the only thing she could think of was whether a real kiss from him would feel so good, or could it possibly be better?
* * * * *
When Bella emerged from the staircase with Rosalind and Alison for the evening meal, she was surprised to see James glaring at her from other side of his father and mother than he usually sat. Edward waited, seated beside his father, for Bella to make her way to the empty chair beside him.
Before she had a chance to ask, Edward explained; "I think our courtship may be easier, without my brother leaning over my shoulder."
Bella's nostril's flared. Courtship, indeed. She was of a mind to stalk away from him right now, escape from this dratted place…except where was she to go? Into the woods? On the way back from the clearing, she had spoken with Alison, who had warned her that in these troubled times; outlaws were common, and much more desperate than normal. "Hence the reason it was such a shock to see you arrive without a guard." She had finished, before continuing to taunt Bella and Luned over their loss.
So, instead of scooping up Edwards wine cup and flinging in his face as she wished to, she picked it up and drank from it slowly, deciding that if she obliterated her surroundings, it would serve the same purpose as not being here at all.
She was two thirds of the way through when his calloused hands covered hers. "Do you not think that is enough, my lady?"
Her brown eyes locked onto his green ones, and neither of them moved, both too stubborn to relinquish their hold.
Gradually, the warmth of Edwards's fingers seeped into Bella's hand, and red cheeked, she released her grip. His firmer one closed around the goblet, and he placed it to his left, where it would be out of her reach, before he speared a piece of meat with his knife, and held it out to her. "Eat, Lady Isabella."
She frowned, irritated again by his demands and expectations. "I'm not hungry."
He sighed. "Please." He ground out, unused to asking for that which he could demand. "I do not wish for you to become ill after drinking so much wine without even a mouthful of food."
"Why?" She hissed. "Will it affect my ability to have babies? Or to run a household?" The wine was already rushing to her head, and her voice began to slur slightly.
"Not at all, my lady. But it will affect your ability to keep your seat."
She watched as his mouth curved up at the corners, even as she realized she was slipping to the side. Laying his knife carefully in front of her, he slipped his hand around her waist and with little effort, raised her until she sat upright again. Picking the knife back up, his eyes danced.
"Please, Lady Isabella."
Knowing she would make a complete fool of herself if she didn't do something, she lifted her chin, and nodded, feeling like she was vindicated when he placed the piece of meat on her side of the trencher, allowing her to spear it with her own knife, and slide it slowly into her mouth.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Edward's posture change from one of arrogant amusement, to stiff and wary. Thinking she had managed finally to get through to him with an insult, she smirked, and leant over him to slice another piece of the meat off for herself.
It wasn't until his sharp intake of breath, and Rosalie's gentle chuckle on Bella's right that fully realized what she was doing. She was leaning in so close, that the top of her head was touching Edwards chin, and the hand that wasn't reaching for the meat, was using his thigh as balance. Blushing furiously, she flung herself backwards. Instead of diffusing the situation, her knife clattered on the table and fell into Edwards lap, even as her sleeve trailed along the trestle and through the gravy spread over their trencher. Without thinking, her hand shot out to grab the knife before it could do any damage, only for her to yank her arm back in alarm when she skimmed the bulge under his tunic.
Rosalind was laughing openly now, and Emmett was grinning widely.
"Oh, I'm, I…" Her face red, Bella leapt to her feet. "I am so sorry!" She moaned, before spinning around and scooting behind Rosalind and Emmett to the end of the dais. The whole hall was watching now, as she managed her final humiliation for the evening. In a desperate attempt to flee from Edward's presence, she tried to hop gracefully off the edge and onto the stone floor.
It might have helped if the floors weren't covered with rushes. It might also have helped if one dog, smarter than most, had not known the best scraps came from the high table.
Unfortunately for Bella, the floor was covered, and the dog was there, so when she jumped from the edge, her feet slid on the fresh straw, and as she tried to regain her footing and stop herself from falling, she tripped over the now cowering dog, to land on her face on the ground.
Within seconds the hall was ringing with laughter.
Bella lay in the rushes, her face flaming, not even daring to look up. She knew what she would see. An array of people; burly knights, serving woman, probably even the rest of the damn dogs, laughing at her continued clumsiness. It was better not to have to really know.
A large pair of hands gripped her under the arms and hoisted her to her feet. Without opening her tightly shut eyelids, she spun into Edward's warmth, his masculine scent; leather and metal and wine and horse; and hid.
"Allow me to escort you outside for some air, my lady?" He murmured in her ear. She nodded against his soft tunic, and, with one hand around her waist, he led her out. She kept her eyes closed until the chill of the night air hit her face.
"I am so sorry." She repeated slowly, not yet daring to look at him, instead staring resolutely upwards at the flaming torches in their brackets, lighting the way on the battlements for the sentries on night duty.
He chuckled softly, still not releasing her waist from his grip. "For what, my lady? Bringing me the most amusement I have felt in a long time?"
Bella scowled. "Glad you thought it was funny."
"Not just I, Lady. The whole hall it seemed, laughed more than they have in two years."
"Great. I'm the new court jester."
"Not at all." With little effort, he forced her unyielding gaze to his, his hand warm and soothing against her cheek. The firelight sparkled in his emerald eyes, like dancing ocean waves. "You are much too beautiful to be a court jester."
Bella's breath stuck in her throat as Edward's hand caressed her cheek. Her eyelids drifted closed, and her lips pressed together gently as she tipped her face up to his.