A/N

Thank you so much for your support for this story and for me as a writer and person. I don't normally get so rattle by negative reviews, as one thing I've learned from writing is you can't possibly please everyone, but I'd never come across anything quite so vicious before. I've learned how to moderate guest reviews and have deleted the abusive ones, so that should put an end to the drama, but I can't thank you enough for the kind words and encouragement.

Thanks to Katmom and NKubie for rebetaing this extended chapter. Here's hoping I've covered everything!

Chapter 21

The last time Bella had been inside the Great Hall, she'd been intimidated by her surroundings and terrified of exposure. In all other respects attending the king's ball had been a dream come true—albeit one she'd never dared to indulge. The location might be the same, but today's proceedings couldn't be more different. With all eyes looking upon her in judgement, and the accusations against her growing in severity, she felt like she was trapped in a nightmare. While determined to support Edward as he accounted to his father for their actions, she hadn't expected the king to choose such a public forum.

Seeing the pain of his father's betrayal in Edward's eyes. Bella's heart ached. Victoria's accusations were no less than she'd expected, but the king was reputed to be a just and reasonable man. Edward had always been loyal to his father; obedient, hard-working in his role as prince. In sharing his heart with her, he'd admitted his reserved nature made fulfilling his obligations difficult at times, and that there were those amongst his father's advisers who questioned his ability to lead.

Was this some sort of test of his character?

If it was, Bella questioned his father's judgement and wondered how Edward would recover from the insult. What she didn't question was the king's acceptance of Victoria's lies, as she knew only too well how charming and manipulative her stepmother could be. In the years since her father's death, she'd had no choice but to endure Victoria's slights and abuse, but the time for suffering in silence was past.

"My stepmother is lying!" Bella's voice shook, as she forced the words past the lump in her throat. "None of it is true. The servants only said what they did because they are afraid of her, of being punished or losing their positions."

"More lies!" Victoria gestured wildly. "This is the kind of thing I was telling you about, Your Highness. You cannot believe a word that comes out of the ungrateful wretch's mouth."

Refusing to flinch, Bella met the king's stern gaze. "I've sold my wares in the village market for many years, Your Highness, at my stepmother's bidding. You can ask any of the other sellers, and they'll tell you that I've always done whatever she asked of me."

The king's lips pursed together, as he appeared to consider Bella's words, and she breathed a sigh not to have been summarily dismissed. When he turned his attention on Victoria, her stepmother visibly reined in her temper, resuming the false air of gentility she liked to portray.

"You would trust the word of common folk over those of a lady?" she asked, placing a hand over her heart.

Bella's hopes plummeted. She'd not considered the risk to the people in the village if they spoke in her defence, in particular the danger to Alice. With her father's good name restored upon King Carlisle's return, his widow's position as a bona fide member of the court was assured. Bearing false witness against a member of the gentry or nobility was a hanging offence, a threat Victoria wouldn't hesitate to pursue in order to silence any opposition.

Her whole body shaking, Bella was about to withdraw her statement when Edward gave her arm a gentle squeeze.

"I thought an individual's ability to tell the truth was determined by their character not their station." He eyed his father pointedly, and another round of murmuring rose from the crowd.

The court was comprised almost entirely of individuals who'd benefited from Aro's rule. Well established in their perceived superiority, rumour had it they were unsettled by the changes Carlisle was instigating and feared an uprising amongst the 'common folk' they'd long exploited. To give weight to the testimony of mere market sellers against those of a higher station would seriously challenge the status quo, and Edward had put his father in a difficult position.

Before the king could respond, Edward continued, "But since, as Lady Swan so eloquently put it, a member of the court requires special treatment, should not all avenues be explored in Isabella's defence? She is a lady also, after all."

"Her status is irrelevant." Victoria raised her voice, a hint of alarm infusing her tone. "I am her guardian. You would question a child'sword over the parent's?"

"When the step-parent doesn't deserve the title of 'guardian', then yes." Edward sent her a look of pure disdain, but before Victoria could counter, the king gestured them both to silence. A deep frown etching his brow, he sat back and stroked his well-trimmed beard. Taking advantage of the much needed reprieve, Bella looked to Edward, hope and fear entwining to form a knot in her stomach. It had been so long, she'd all but forgotten she was entitled to be treated like a lady, but Victoria still seemed to hold the upper hand.

"It's all right," he murmured while they awaited his father's response. "Whatever happens, you and I know the truth. I'll not let us be separated by your stepmother's lies."

"What I don't understand is that we were wed by a priest. What does it matter what she says about me?"

"It matters, young lady," King Marcus interjected, his voice booming loudly despite his failing health, "because it proves you acted rebelliously, ensnaring Edward in your web of deceit. Under the circumstances, the marriage can be easily annulled, freeing the prince you are clinging to so inappropriately, to do what he should have done in the first place and marry my daughter!"

Bella swayed on her feet and Edward's grip on her tightened. He didn't want to marry Rosalie, of that she was certain, but with no way to combat Victoria's lies, she feared they'd be torn apart regardless.

Or maybe not.

There was a way to prove her innocence, one that wouldn't put her friends in the village at risk, but a niggling fear had her questioning whether she should pursue it. When she'd first realised she cared for Edward, she'd considered acting on their attraction for one another. But all she'd hoped for was to know the touch of a gentle lover before she was required to submit to whomever her stepmother chose to be her husband. When that opportunity was lost, she'd dared to dream of freedom, never imagining a life spent at Edward's side. In the three days they'd spent together, she'd experienced more joy than she'd ever believed possible. Was it fair to want more?

Glancing around, Bella didn't doubt their audience thought the honourable thing would be for her to sacrifice her future for the greater good of the kingdom. But it wasn't just her happiness at stake. Looking to Edward, at the grim determination etched on his features, she knew what she had to do.

Edward loved her. He would fight for her, something she dared not risk, and if they were separated, he would be equally destroyed. She had to trust that his earlier assurances were correct and that, despite his threats and bluster, King Marcus wanted peace as much as King Carlisle. If it was true, then surely the two sovereigns could find some other way to form an alliance than by forcing a marriage between their children.

Taking a deep breath, Bella stepped towards the dais. "Trust me?" she asked when Edward would have pulled her back.

"Always."

His expression softening, they shared a smile. Then she turned to face his father, her knees quaking beneath her skirt.

"May I approach, Your Highness?"

"To what end?" the king asked, raising a brow.

"To show you something that will prove I'm not a liar, not the person my stepmother is making me out to be."

The king didn't answer straight away, and she feared he would refuse her, but then he gave a sharp nod. Ignoring Victoria's complaints and the whispers of the crowd, Bella carefully lifted her skirts and ascended the carpet-covered steps to the dais.

Before this very public denouncement, she'd have been mortified by the mere thought of what she was about to do. But with Edward's and her futures at stake, no degree of humiliation was too much to bear. Once standing before his father's throne, she took a deep breath and began to tug on the fingers of her long, white gloves.

"What's this all about?" King Marcus grumbled. "I've had enough of this nonsense and more than enough of this chit of a girl spoiling my plans. It's a travesty, I tell you."

"Please, Your Highness, give the young lady a moment."

Queen Esme surprised Bella with her support, and she sent the queen a grateful smile.

When her gloves were removed, she laid them over her arm then stretched her shaking hands out for Edward's parents to see.

"Are these the hands of a lady, Your Highnesses, a spoiled, pampered lady?"

The king recoiled, his wife's intake of breath clearly audible in the hush that had fallen over their audience.

"It's her own fault." Victoria waved a hand in dismissal. "She has ridiculous habits. Likes digging in the dirt . . . for the fun of it. She does it to spite me, as she knows it will discourage suitors."

"Silence, madam!" King Carlisle ordered, and Bella took courage from the softening of his expression as he beckoned her to come nearer. Gently taking hold of her wrists, he looked closely at the back of her scarred and battered hands before turning them over to study the palms. Three days was nowhere near long enough for her torn nails to regrow, blisters and cuts to heal, or calluses to fade. The break from having her hands almost constantly in water meant the rash that split the skin along her fingers and extended partway up her wrists wasn't as angry looking as usual. But there was no denying hers were the hands of a servant . . . the lowliest of servants. At least, Bella hoped that was the inference he'd make. If the king chose to believe Victoria's latest accusation, ridiculous though they were, she'd be left with no recourse but to fall to her knees and beg.

His silvery head remained bent over her hands for a long, fraught moment while Bella held her breath. Edward's father was a handsome man despite his advanced years, but when he finally met Bella's worried gaze, he seemed to have aged another ten. She was even more shocked to see the watery sheen covering his blue grey eyes.

"My dear child." His broad shoulders, so like his son's, rose and fell with a sigh. "It appears that a travesty has, indeed, occurred, one that began many years ago. It also appears I've been grievously misled." His voice hardening, he looked to Victoria, Jessica and Lauren, who stood not far from their mother's side. His gaze then shifted to Demetri and Felix, who'd begun to edge their way through the crowd.

"Detain them all!" the king ordered, and the guards quickly herded the prisoners into a circle. Felix made a half-hearted attempt to escape, but finding himself at the pointy end of several spears, he was quickly subdued. Demetri stood his ground, his eyes glowing with hate, while Bella's stepmother screeched and her stepsisters dissolved into tears.

Ignoring the uproar, Bella turned to Edward, relieved when he came to join her. First linking their arms, he waited for the noise to abate before addressing his father. "Does this mean you'll acknowledge our union?"

The king rubbed his face with his hands then glanced to King Marcus.

"I'll not give her up," Edward added, his jaw clenched. "I'll accept banishment if you decree it, though I had hoped to continue working at your side."

The king's eyes widened. "Of course you'll continue by my side . . . you're my son and heir. I'll hear no more talk of banishment."

"As long as you stop this talk of an annulment." Edward pulled Bella closer to his side, his tone brooking no argument. "I will do whatever it takes to see peace restored to the realm, but Isabella is my wife. I will not stand by and allow her to be disrespected in this manner ever again."

The alarm that had appeared in the king's eyes was replaced with respect, and he gave a thoughtful nod. "Agreed," he said, before looking to Bella, his expression softening once more. "I accept your choice of bride, Edward. I'm also coming to understand why you made it. Sir Charles' was a brave man, a trait his daughter appears to share. He'd be appalled to know how she has suffered at the hands of his widow . . ." He turned to Victoria. ". . . who is about to experience some suffering of her own."

"Me? Suffer? You can't be serious!" Victoria's gaze darted from side to side. "This is all a misunderstanding, Your Highness. It's not Isabella who suffered but me! I was married to a man who was nowhere near as wealthy as I'd been lead to believe and who died and left me to raise his daughter. I kept her fed and clothed. What more could have been asked of me, Your Highness?"

"Common decency, madam, of which you appear to have none."

Victoria began to curse, struggling to free herself from the guards who'd taken hold of her arms. Jessica and Lauren began to wail again, and Bella flinched at the sound of her stepsisters' weeping.

"Your Highness, what will become of them?" she asked after the king had ordered them silent.

"I'd say a period of incarceration is in order, wouldn't you?"

Bella swallowed, the sound of her heartbeat pounding loudly in her ears. She couldn't count the number of times she'd dreamed of seeing her stepmother and sisters held accountable for their actions, but the dungeon? Fearful stories of Aro's torture chambers had circulate the village for as long as she could recall, and a shudder ran through her.

"You won't hurt them, will you?" she whispered,

The king tilted his head to the side, his brow furrowing. "You're advocating clemency?"

"Bella, your stepmother treated you like a slave," Edward interjected. "She neglected you, tried to sell you. And from what you've told me, your stepsisters were little better."

"Not to mention that all three of them lied to their sovereign, their testimony contributing significantly to this fiasco," the king scowled, pointing to Demetri, "one instigated by this man who will not be extended any kindness."

"I understand they must be punished." Bella looked first to Edward then his father, her gaze entreating them to be merciful. "But I couldn't live with myself if they were tortured because of me."

"Tortured?" The king sat back. "I don't torture females. I was thinking more along the lines of a few years spent in a dreary cell for your stepmother after which she can live out her days as an indentured servant . . . a fitting punishment for her crimes, I believe. As for your stepsisters, I'm prepared to show mercy if you wish it, but keep in mind that they didn't hesitate to speak ill of you." Glancing down at Bella's hands, he grimaced. "What would you say to their spending a stint working in the palace laundry?"

Bella blinked, stunned by the turnaround in events. He appeared to have had a complete change of heart, but she could hardly countenance that the king was asking her opinion. She glanced to Queen Esme, who graced her with a kind smile. Then she looked to her tormentors.

Victoria's chin was raised in defiance, and Bella felt little pity for her stepmother. But Jessica and Lauren were still young, and it might not be too late for them to learn the error of their ways. Bella didn't imagine change would come easily, as even shaking with terror and their fates in her hands, they stared daggers at her. Thinking back to all the hours she'd spent scrubbing their clothes and linen, the years of insult and complaint, and worst of all, the way they'd gloated over her betrothal to Mr Felix, Bella came to a decision. She wouldn't turn her back on her stepsisters completely, but a taste of their own medicine wouldn't go astray.

Facing the king, she nodded. "Yes . . . the laundry and maybe some time spent as chamber maids."

"What? No!" Jessica screeched. "We're ladies. We can't be expected to scrub clothing and mop floors. This was all our mother's doing. Punish her, not us!"

"This isn't fair," Lauren added between hysterical sobs. "We were to have new gowns, and proper ladies' maids, and generous dowries from the money Mama got for selling Bella to Mr Felix. She promised!"

"Oh, shut up!" Victoria slapped Lauren's face before rounding on Jessica, but before she could strike her other daughter, the guards intervened. With a nod from the king, Bella's stepmother and stepsisters were dragged, screaming and cursing, from the hall.

In the silence that followed, Bella struggled to catch her breath. Her nerves felt like they'd been frayed to the last fibre by the scene that had just unfolded and the feeling of a hundred sets of eyes trained upon her. She wasn't used to being the centre of attention, having perfected the art of fading into the background in order to avoid Victoria's ire. But as Edward's wife, that would need to change. Taking strength from the feel of his arm still linked with hers, she addressed his father.

"Thank you for believing me, Your Majesty. I realise I'm not your first choice of daughter-in-law, but I care sincerely for Edward and promise to do my utmost to support both him and the needs of the kingdom."

"I'm sure you will, Isabella, as it appears my son has excellent taste." The king eyed Edward ruefully. "It also appears that I owe him a rather large apology, several actually, but now isn't the time or place. What say we adjourn to somewhere more private to continue this discussion?"

"Oh, I don't know." Queen Esme stood. "You were the one who insisted we make this a public spectacle, so I would like to take the opportunity to publicly welcome Isabella into the family." She opened her arms, but before Bella could step into her new mother-in-law's embrace, they were interrupted.

"Now, wait just one minute!" King Marcus shook off his wife's arm and stood. "You told me you were getting rid of the girl, so Edward could marry my daughter. Do you want my support to end this war with Caius or not? I could always side with him, you know. He has plenty of sons who'd like a chance to rule in their own right, and I'm betting they'd not hesitate to bed her. She's a comely enough lass, even if your Edward is too blind to notice."

"Father!" Rosalie, who'd sat quietly throughout, stood to her feet. Her implacable mask had slipped and tears welled in her eyes.

"Oh, don't 'father' me," Marcus growled. "I know you think you can rule alone, but a woman needs a man to guide her just as my kingdom needs a king, a strong king. We all know I'm not long for this earth, and I'm determined to see you wed before I die. If you can't marry Edward, what else am I supposed to do?"

"Let me marry your daughter." Prince Emmett rose from his seat and came and stood beside Rosalie. "I'll take care of both her and your kingdom."

"Emmett, this is no time for one of your jests," Edward growled, and his brother faced him, the smirk Bella had noticed him wearing earlier replaced by a determined look.

"I've never been more serious in my life," Emmett said, though his lip twitched at Edward before he turned back to King Marcus. "My brother might not have wanted to marry Princess Rosalie, but I do."

The visiting sovereign's expression turned calculating, while his wife looked on concerned. Rosalie opened her mouth, to protest Bella suspected, but then Emmett lowered his head and murmured something close to her ear. Her eyes grew wide, and she stared at him for a moment before giving a sharp nod. Emmet's smile was triumphant, but his demeanour sobered when he turned to address her father.

"The princess is willing, Your Majesty. I might not be your first choice for a successor, but you have to admit I'm a sight better candidate than any of Caius' sons. Unless, of course, you'd prefer your kingdom was absorbed by our enemy? You'd be handing it to him on a platter . . . along with your daughter."

His words were harsh, almost provocative, and Edward hissed his brother's name. Ignoring him this time, Emmett looked to Rosalie, a flash of vulnerability in his expression catching Bella's attention. He wasn't nearly as sure of himself as he portrayed, and if she wasn't mistaken, he might even be smitten by Marcus' beautiful daughter. He was protective of her, at the very least, although how Rosalie felt, she couldn't say.

Bella's heart went out to the regal princess, standing with her head proudly aloft despite the embarrassment she must feel at being spoken about so callously by her father. Emmett had virtually cornered her into accepting his proposal, but what choice did she have? He couldn't possibly be a worse husband than an enemy prince . . . not that Bella thought King Marcus would go through with his threat. It would be madness. Then again, the man seemed a little unhinged.

Coming to a quick decision, she signalled for Edward to come closer. "You should endorse your brother," she whispered in his ear, and he reared back.

"But Emmett—"

"Cares for the princess. He won't let her down."

Edward looked unconvinced, and Bella squeezed his hands. "Trust me," she whispered, and he looked to his brother. They shared a long look, Emmett's expression unwavering and Edward's slowly turning from disapproval to grudging respect.

"You have something to add?" King Marcus asked, and Edward drew a deep breath.

"Emmett has my support, Your Highness, as does the princess," he said, bowing slightly in their direction.

"Mine also," King Carlisle added, though his brow was furrowed.

King Marcus, flushed in the face and with his legs failing him, slumped back in his chair. He looked from face to face before settling on Emmett. After a long moment, he mimicked his daughter's earlier response and gave his own, decisive, nod. "Very well then. The matter is settled. Now let's clear this rabble from the room, as we've wedding preparations to discuss and no time to waste."

"First things first," King Carlisle said, before stepping to the edge of the dais and addressing the crowd. "You were called here to witness the dissolution of my eldest son's marriage, a mistake on my part, and one for which I apologise unreservedly. Motivated by anger that had been fuelled by lies, I was doubly wrong to have made this a public event. The perpetrators of the deception, which I now see was a blatant attempt to manipulate my decision making, will be punished—all of them."

The king looked to Demetri and Felix, then shifted to land on several others. A ripple of noise travelled through the crowd, as worried expressions appeared on numerous faces. Bella recalled Demetri's taunts about Carlisle's reign being short and how easy his son would be to control when he was king. With everything that had happened, she'd forgotten to tell Edward about the man's threats.

Seeing the frown on her face, Edward bent his head close to her ear and murmured, "Don't worry. You're safe now."

It wasn't her safety she was worried about, but before Bella could explain, Mr Felix began to struggle against his captors.

"You've no right to detain me," he shouted. "There was nothing illegal about my contracting to marry the girl. I'm the wronged party here and within my rights to demand recompense."

Bella flinched, and she was grateful when Edward tugged her behind him, protecting her from the hulking man's angry glare. Edward would never allow him to get to her, but she couldn't stop shaking as images of what her life could have been like with Mr Felix for a husband flooded her thoughts. Bella pitied whichever poor girl he took for a wife in her stead, and she tensed in anticipation of the king ordering his release.

"Not so fast," Lord Whitlock called out from his place to the side of the dais. Striding down the central aisle, he met another man, one dressed as a knight, who'd only just arrived. They spoke for a moment, then Lord Whitlock returned to where the king waited. "I have reason to believe the prisoner's intended marriage to Lady Isabella was a means to gain access to the court of Volterra."

"So?" Felix said with a snarl. "I made no secret of my desire to do business with the palace."

Lord Whitlock smiled and lifted the scroll he was holding into the air. "Yes, but you failed to mention you were an enemy spy. I have proof, Your Majesty."

Felix began to argue, and Demetri paled. Bella doubted he'd known, as he was desperate to see an alliance formed and Caius defeated. But it wouldn't auger well for the man who'd betrayed Edward if he was also found to have been in league with the enemy.

The king ordered both men removed for interrogation later, and Bella sagged against Edward's side.

"Are you all right?" he asked, and she managed a shaky nod.

"Returning to more pleasant matters." King Carlisle's sonorous voice filled the Great Hall, as he raised his hands to draw the crowds' attention. "I would like to call on all present to witness my son, Prince Emmett's, betrothal to Princess Rosalie, an unexpected outcome of today's gathering but one that has both King Marcus' and my blessing. With our two kingdoms united, the hope of finding a lasting peace is greatly advanced. I ask you to join me in offering the young couple our congratulations."

Emmett took hold of Rosalie's hand, and together they stepped to the edge of the dais. His expression was uncharacteristically grim, hers inscrutable once more, and they were met by only tentative applause. Murmurs rose from the crowd, and Bella flinched to hear the court members questioning how Carlisle's younger, wastrel, son could expect to be taken seriously as a ruler, and what, if anything, would thaw the 'Ice Princess.

"I'd also like to offer my congratulations to my son, Edward, on his recent nuptials," the king continued. "But first, I want to offer my heartfelt apology to the principle victim of today's proceedings, my new daughter-in-law, who I welcome wholeheartedly into my family. A brave young lady, she rescued Edward when he was shot and left for dead in the forest by Caius' men. Daughter of Sir Charles Swan, she shall, henceforth, be known as Princess Isabella . . . and will one day be your queen."

They stepped forward to be met by much louder applause from the crowd that now overflowed the great hall, their numbers swelled by the household staff who'd come to be a part of the momentous events. When the noise eventually quieted, Edward turned to Bella. Raising her hand to his lips, he kissed her knuckles then said in a voice loud enough for all to hear, "My beloved wife. You saved my life in more ways than one."

"As you saved mine." She returned his smile, relief swamping her at the realisation that the obstacles to their being together had all been overcome.

The future wasn't entirely certain, as she imagined it would take time for Edward and his father to adjust to the new parameters of their relationship. Somehow she doubted her husband would be as compliant as he'd been in the past, and she looked forward to seeing him prove the naysayers wrong.

Emmett and Rosalie's path was sure to be tumultuous, and Bella hoped she'd have the opportunity to offer her support . . . such as it was. She'd need to find her own footing before she could be much help to anyone else.

Looking out over the sea of noble faces, a wave of anxiety washed over her. Then Edward squeezed her hand, and the warmth of his smile boosted her faltering courage. Come what may, they would face it together.

~xxx~

A/N

So...what did you think? Not too many surprises, I'm guessing. I loved the way Prince Edward stood up to his father and Bella's courage in going forward. Did you think Carlisle redeemed himself sufficiently, or has he got a ways to go? I stayed away from a dunking in purple die, but there was a definite nod to Ever After in the stepsisters' punishment. I think Emmett might have his work cut out for him winning Rosalie's heart and proving himself worthy. And what of Jasper uncovering Felix as a spy? Somehow I don't think he's the only one.

I'm leaving a few 'loose ends' on purpose, as I'm hoping to write more stories in this series, but next chapter will wrap things up for Princeward and Cinderbella. If you've any particular HEA, fluff, or future scenes you'd like to see, let me know.

Thanks again so much for your support for this story.

Published story news:

Thanks so much to the readers who've left reviews for Innocence on Amazon and/or Goodreads. You guys are wonderful. The official release date for Protection is May 1st, but Amazon has made the paperback version available early. :)