A/N

WARNING!

I put this chapter up earlier then pulled it after copping some fairly heavy duty abuse, as I needed time to think. (I'm not used to being sworn at and threatened, and was a bit rattled.) Admittedly, this chapter is a bit shorter than my usual (only 2300 words rather than 3000 plus), but I've been sick, and I thought getting something up rather than waiting was a good idea. In hindsight...maybe not. This chapter takes the story in a direction some readers disapprove of, is quite angsty, and ends on a cliffhanger. Matters are resolved in the next chapter, which I hope to have up in a couple of days. Personally, I don't mind stories with shorter, cliffhanger chapters, as long as the author isn't taking weeks or months to update, but if this is something that bothers you a lot, you might prefer to wait.

Chapter 20

Edward could only assume the red-haired woman was Sir Charles' widow, and he could appreciate Bella's concern. She'd suffered greatly at the hands of her stepmother and was ill-prepared for her presence, as was Edward. Not that he minded. He wouldn't have chosen such a public venue, but he was looking forward to seeing the woman brought to justice. Although his priority was making sure Bella knew she was safe, and that her stepmother could never harm her again.

Limited by the setting, he murmured an assurance in Bella's ear in hopes of allaying her fears. Beautiful, as ever, in her sapphire blue gown, she graced him with a tremulous smile. Then raising her chin, she turned to face forward. Ignoring their unwelcome audience, Edward allowed his gaze to linger on his bride, as admiration for her bravery strengthened his own resolve.

Come what may, he would never regret making her his.

Then Bella flinched, her rose-tinged cheeks paling to alabaster, and Edward jerked his head to the front in search of the cause of her distress. Spying the brute who'd come close to claiming her for his own, he pulled Bella against his side. Her stepmother's presence he could somewhat understand, but what the hell was Felix doing there? He was supposed to be imprisoned, not standing with his father's most trusted advisors, an arrogant tilt to his bulldog jaw.

"We couldn't keep holding him." Coming alongside, Jasper answered Edward's unspoken question. "He's not broken any laws, as Lady Swan had given her blessing to the marriage."

"What of Demetri?" Edward searched the sea of faces as they slowly advanced. "Tell me he's still imprisoned."

Jasper shrugged and glanced to where Edward's betrayer, wounded but clearly defiant, stood shoulder to shoulder with other members of Carlisle's trusted inner circle.

It was Edward's turn for his steps to falter, as he tried to fathom what was going on. "How could my father approve his release? He abducted Bella and tried to kill me!"

A grimace of distaste twisted Jasper's lip. "Technically, you attacked him first. He merely acted in self-defence at the church, and prior to that, in yours and Volterra's best interests. Or that's the story being spun."

Bella's grip on Edward's arm tightened, and his protective instincts, already on high alert, roared fully to life. His right hand reached for his sword, forming a fist when it came up empty. Bearing arms to an audience with his father would have been unprecedented, but he sorely regretted the lack of a weapon. Something was wrong . . . very wrong. He'd expected an argument, that fast talking would be required to convince his father that his actions, while hasty, had not been rash and that the political situation was still salvageable. Now Edward feared he'd have a fight on his hands just to be able to leave the way he'd arrived . . . with Bella at his side.

Turning to face her, he waited until she met his gaze. "Don't be afraid," he murmured, raising her hand to his mouth for a brief kiss. "No matter what happens, we'll get through this together."

"Together." She gave a shaky, her eyes sparking with determination, and his admiration for her knew no measure.

She was so courageous, so lovely, and so help anyone who tried to separate them.

As they approached the dais, Edward saw the disapproving expression on his father's face, and pride in his beloved was displaced by the resentment that had been simmering within him for some time. He'd done whatever was required of him, given everything to prove his worth, and yet it never seemed enough. Despite his brother's recklessness, there were times Edward suspected his father would have preferred his charismatic sibling was the heir. There were definitely those who questioned whether Edward was strong enough to lead, to hold to his convictions and go after what he wanted, taking it, by force, if necessary.

He may have chosen a hell of a time to stand up for himself, but this response was uncalled for, his frustration at the years of subtle insult boiling over into outright fury. It was obvious a plot had been woven against him, and he was determined to discover whatever lies fed the smug assurance emanating from his accusers. But his greatest anger was reserved for his father. He should have given him the benefit of the doubt, meeting with Edward and Bella in private to discuss what was, primarily, a family matter, not demanding they appear before a veritable inquisition. How he thought this farce could end in anything less than a circus was beyond him, and he could only imagine his father had been poorly advised . . . by Demetri?

Edward had never killed a man in cold blood, and he'd thought he was doing the right thing leaving his previously trusted mentor alive. He'd wanted to get to the bottom of what he suspected was a far reaching conspiracy, but he'd forgotten how convincing—and underestimated how devious—Demetri could be.

Halting in the empty space before the dais, Edward eyed his father boldly before looking to his mother. A born peacemaker, she hated conflict and looked close to tears. Her efforts to convince her husband to be merciful were usually expended on her youngest son's behalf, not her eldest, Edward not having needed needed her intercession since he was a boy. Uncomfortable at causing his mother distress, he gave her what he hoped was a reassuring look. Her face crumpled, tears spilling over onto her cheeks, and Edward's gut clenched.

What the hell was going on?

King Marcus, his complexion mottled and tinged with grey, glowered at Bella before turning his attention to Edward. His fists clenching repeatedly, the aged monarch appeared ready to take Edward on single-handed, despite the fact he'd only just inched back from death's door and looked as if he could cross the threshold at any moment. His wife, Queen Didyme, barely spared Edward a glance, her fretful focus on her husband.

Rosalie, impossible to read as ever, could have been at an afternoon tea party for all the emotion showing on her face, while Emmett—bloody Emmett—looked amused.

"Father, Mother, Your Royal Highnesses." Despite his roiling emotions, Edward made a respectful bow. "May I introduce my wife, Isabella?" Releasing his arm, Bella curtsied, the skirt of her gown spreading around her as she swept low. As soon as she stood, she reached for his hand, and he grasped it gladly. "Isabella's father was Sir Charles Swan, a courtier banished from Aro's court for his staunch support of your more temperate views." Edward hoped the pointed reminder would encourage his father not to emulate the despot he'd recently replaced, but he looked unimpressed.

"I've been made aware of the girl's identity by her legal guardian, Sir Charles' widow, but I question the assertion Isabella is your wife . . . regardless of whatever antics the two of you have been engaged in."

Bella's soft cry was all but drowned out by the murmurs of the crowd, and Edward gave her hand a squeeze. Refusing to be cowed by his father's provocation, he raised his voice so all would hear. "We were wed before the altar at the church in the village of Forks. Our vows were consecrated by the priest, a Father Benedict. I'm sure he'll vouch for us."

His father's eyes narrowed. "I don't doubt a ceremony was performed, merely its legitimacy. The girl was not free to marry, as she was promised to another."

"A brute who paid for the privilege so he could use her father's connections to gain access to your court." Edward drew in a harsh breath, struggling to maintain a civil tone. "Her so-called betrothed cares not one whit for Bella, and she had no desire to wed the man."

His father flicked his fingers in a dismissive wave. "Permission was granted by her stepmother, and the banns were read. You should have spoken up if you objected, before the ceremony, not that you'd have had just cause. Neither party are related or had been previously wed, though I suppose you could have made a case for the girl's lack of purity, though that was already in doubt."

His father's words hit Edward like a fist to his gut. "You've no grounds for making such an accusation. My wife was a virgin when she wed."

"So you say, and if that is the case, she has my apology. But since I doubt she is any longer, the outcome is much the same. You had no right to take her to your bed, as she was promised to another. A fact you were well aware of, since you broke up the wedding! If you think being my son means you can ride roughshod over those of a lower station, you're no better than my predecessor."

Gasps and murmurs sounded all around him at the insult, but in contrast to the shocked reaction of the crowd, Edward felt a wave of calm settle over him. His father thought he was behaving like Aro . . . arrogant, self-serving. His sense of justice had been offended, but only because he wasn't aware of the truth.

"Would it help to know that upon her father's death, Isabella, a mere child at the time, was forced to work as the lowliest servant in her family home? Or that the woman in whom her father entrusted his daughter's care treated her with utter contempt, abusing her daily for years on end?"

Bella ducked her head, not that Edward blamed her. Her reputation had been maligned, and now her painful, private business was being discussed in open forum. He wished he could stop to comfort her, but fighting for their future took precedence. "Irrespective of my feelings. I was planning to see Isabella's so-called guardian brought to justice."

His father rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, based on the lies the girl told you."

"Lies?" Edward pointed at Bella's stepmother. Bitterness had etched harsh lines around her mouth, but she was still an attractive woman. It wasn't difficult to see how Sir Charles might have been taken in by her deceitful charms—just as his father was, apparently. "The only liar here is my wife's stepmother."

"I doubt that. According to Lady Swan, Isabella was a troubled child, prone to fits of rage, spoiled, disobedient. Lying to get her own way seems rather in keeping with her poor character." Bella made a whimpering sound, but when Edward opened his mouth to defend her, his father cut him off. "In recent years, the girl has taken to running away, going unchaperoned—"

"Unprotected, you mean!" Edward took a step forward, barely able to contain his rage. "Braving dangers that few men would willingly face, armed and in company, she was forced to go out in the forest, alone, to forage for herbs and the like. All so that she could make money for this greedy, heartless woman who cares nought for her stepdaughter's safety!"

"Enough, Edward! You will show respect for the Widow Swan."

Edward shook his head, not caring one iota for Bella's stepmother, who was holding a hand to her forehead as if to ward off a faint.

"I stand by my accusations." He ground the words between his teeth. "The woman is a bully and a liar and deserves to be punished . . . severely."

"It is Isabella who deserves to be punished for playing the harlot!" Lady Swan's strident voice rose above the murmuring of the crowd. When silence had been restored, Edward expected his father to admonish the woman, but he joined in on the denunciation.

"Be reasonable, Edward. You claim the girl was a virgin, but you'd not be the first man to be tricked into believing a lie. Why do you think she was still unwed at her advanced age? With her reputation ruined, and her dowry wilfully squandered, her stepmother couldn't find a man willing to marry her. So what if her legitimate betrothed wants to use her connections to further his business dealings? The man deserves some recompense for taking her on, especially after the way he's been treated."

"The way he's been treated?" Ignoring their setting, Edward wrapped his arm round Bella's shaking shoulders. He'd expected to face his father's ire over defying his wishes, but he'd never imagined he'd take it out on Bella. Publicly humiliating an innocent young woman was out of character for the man he knew, and he could only assume that Victoria, with Demetri's help, no doubt, had been very convincing. "Whatever you might have been lead to believe, Isabella is the victimhere. You need only question the other servants in the Swan household to verify her story."

Bella's stepmother made a triumphant sound, and Edward looked to see a return of the smug smile she'd worn earlier. It was mirrored on the faces of Felix and Demetri, who'd risen to stand beside them.

"What do you take me for?" His father scowled, and the knot in Edward's gut twisted. "I would never make such accusations without proof. I've spoken with Lady Swan's daughters, and her staff have been interviewed at her insistence. They confirm her version of events. It's time you faced the truth, Edward. The woman you think you married doesn't exist."

Yep...horribly angsty, but I've promised a HEA, and it's just around the corner. Next chapter in a couple of days.

Thank you to all the lovely readers who've been so supportive of my writing. You guys help me to keep going when the temptation to go hide in a corner becomes a bit overwhelming.

Thank you, also, to the fans of Innocence who volunteered to post a review and to read and review the ARC for Protection. If I missed anyone, please email me again at elisedesallier at gmail dot com.