The next two days dragged on painfully as the council called in one person after another at account for the happenings of the queen. On the third day Lady Alyssa came into our rooms though I was the only in sitting room. Alice and Rosalie were in the study.
"Hello Alyssa," I smiled at her and her growing belly.
"Isabella, will you come to London with me, please," she pleaded after greeting me.
"Why ever do you need to go to London?" I asked her with a slight smile.
"Catherine is my brother's daughter, he has asked about her and I am concerned of her health," she explained and the smile slid down to a frown on my face.
"Of course, perhaps you should get her clean linens and some of her gowns," I suggested while marking the spot of the book I was reading. She nodded quickly.
"A ship will be going down their in just a little bit, we must hurry. Meet me on the Green," she nodded once more and rushed out of the room. I went to my bedroom to get my clock.
"I am going to London with Alyssa to see her niece is well," I told Alice and Rose after I had opened the door to the study and slid in, leaving my foot holding it open.
"Will they need you here?" Alice asked in apprehension.
Hurriedly I answered. "It's not likely; they are speaking with the staff today."
"Be safe," Rosalie said after Alice had nodded. I exited my bedroom and rushed down out of the rooms to meet Alyssa at the Green.
I took the bag she had with her and insisted that I carry it. We walked quickly a little way down the river until we reached the ship. They pulled the plank in after we were in.
Alyssa and I chattered the ways there, I tried to distract her from the fretting her mind was doing over her niece and we were in docking in the busy city of London in no time.
The tower guards fetched Catherine after they had verified who we were. The girl came out, her face pale. She was just a girl, surly not older then 13, a girl who should not be in the tower, let alone know its horrors.
"Oh Catherine," Alyssa wrapped her arms around the girl and she embraced her back, I stood back and the guard nodded politely to me.
"Are you well, being fed, treated fine?" I watched as she fussed over the girl as if she was a precious porcelain doll.
"I am as well as possible, my treatment is notable and I eat better then I did at court," she rushed to reassure her fretting aunt.
"What of the queen?" I asked her while giving the bag of her things to her. The guard I was standing next to had rummaged through a moment ago to make everything was normal.
"She cries all the time and when she is not she is praying or bickering with a lady who has been sent to cater her," I nodded though Alyssa did not seem to be paying attention.
"You will be back at court soon, I promise," I said to her and the soldier shifted uncomfortably.
"She cannot leave until the queen does so, it is her only request and you may not discuss this matter with her," his tone was apologetic. I nodded and thanked him for informing me.
"What is the queen charged with?" Catherine asked her aunt and me innocently.
"Adultery and treason," I answered shortly, the girl's eyes grew large; she was shocked.
"Is that why Sir Newton is in here?" She asked, putting the two together. Alyssa nodded and they spoke quietly to each other.
"Take care of yourself love," She kissed the girls forehead and hugged her once more.
"Will you take extra time to make sure she is always well?" I asked the guard while giving him some coins from my purse. He nodded and tipped his hat to me.
"Of course milady."
Alyssa and I boarded a ship that would passing Geneva and agreed to let us off there.
It was dust when we walked off and got back to the castle. The cool air signaled it would be an early winter and I was glad I had brought my clock along.
When we got indoors there were men and women scurrying about like mice at the sight of food. I caught sight of Rosalie and rushed over to her, Alyssa finding her own husband in worry.
"There you are!" She exclaimed; her tone was urgent and full of emergency. The whole court seemed to be hurrying around and in worry, not happiness.
"What is going on?" I asked her, my heart beating furiously in my chest. I got warm with perspiration from concern.
"Everyone is searching for you; the king is commanding your presence," she grabbed my hand and started to run up the stairs with me in tow.
"Why? What has happened? Is he alright?" I asked her one question after another as I ran with her. My heart was pounding in my ribs stronger then the night I gave myself to him.
"Lady Esme," was all she said. I struggled to keep on my feet for I felt like something had just pushed me down. My mind was forming the worst possible ideas.
I did not say more for we were in the outer rooms of the council and it was still crowded with people. They went silent as I came rushing in and parted ways for me. The guards at the door parted for me and opened the door.
"What's going on," I demanded while taking in the scene in front of me. The men had their sleeves pulled to their elbows and were scattered about, discussing things loudly and urgently while writing things down.
All of the men looked up from their work to see me standing their, my face flushed from the wind and now the running and my hair out of place.
"Isabella," Edward said and he rushed over to me, I met him halfway and he pulled me into his arms so I was engulfed by them. I wrapped my arms around his torso and held him.
"What's happened?" I asked him in a whisper, trying not to let my impatience leak in my voice.
"France has kidnapped my mother," he whispered, his voice cracking as he held me impossibly tighter, needing the comfort that it seemed only I could provide.
I clung onto him after I gasped and my mind fought the fainting that was trying to come over me. I had to be here for Edward.
"What can I do?" I asked him softly but misery leaking in my voice.
"Stay here; be with me; help," he said, taking a deep breath, trying to calm himself. I can only imagine him when the news first reached him.
The king released me so that he was only holding on my side and me onto his tightly, assuring him he would always have me and his mother would be perfect.
"Alright, I know Lady Esme and I can assist, but someone must tell me what is going on," I said, not caring that I was talking to England's Privy Council in this manner.
Some men looked up, others shrugged and some laughed. The king cleared his throat loudly getting all of their attention effectively.
"Each and every one of you will respect and listen to Isabella; she is the one I trust with a matter this important. If any of you have a complaint about this you may leave now." Edward's voice was hard and silently telling them he was not in the mood to be tested.
"Now, I ask this for the final time, what is going on," I put my hands on the table and supported my weight on them while leaning forward. The king kept an arm around my waist.
"A servant from Blackberry Ridge road here today with a sealed letter that was unmarked, he also gave the news that Lady Esme was not found in her bed this morning but this note instead. The staff is riding up at dawn to be questioned." Michael Ront explained to me while handing the parchment to me.
My eyes read over it quickly.
To whomever this may concern:
The alarming news of Princess Tanya of France's arrest has reached our court. We do not believe she will be given a fair trial and therefore we propose to make an arrangement with your court to our own.
You must drop the charges that have been warranted against the queen and release her at once. She will sign annulment papers but you may not send her to a nunnery or exile her; she will come to France and all will be well once more.
Lady Esme Cullen, is now in our hands, she will be unharmed if you release the queen. The king can have his mother back and we will get our princess in return. However if you do not follow with this deal and cause any emotional or physical harm to Tanya his mother will pay the price.
We no longer ally with you. We are pulling the troops back from the battlefields and staying out of this bloody war. If harm comes to the princess we will contact Spain and offer our services to them.
The king of France has approved of this deal and is willing to over look this if his daughter is returned. Lady Esme can be returned on the evening of November 1st with exchange of Tanya. We will be on the edge of the woods near Oakland Manor.
It was not signed by anyone. I read over it once more and then set it down.
"So what have you men came up with?" I questioned while setting the letter down.
"Compromise an agreement," someone said.
"Ally with the Scots," Lord Walter had suggested.
"Call it a bluff and continue our trial as we would have," Archbishop Lawrence said. Edward's face showed that he did not approve of that idea.
"Kidnap the prince of France." I had had enough of their foolish suggestions.
"Allying with Scotland will do nothing for us, if anything it will make it worse. Once this is resolved we must propose an alliance," there were nods and murmurs of agreement.
"I do not believe they are bluffing, and the consequences of ignoring this will end tragically. True, the trial should continue normally but that is not a possible now with the high risk at stake." My theory of women being the knowledgeable ones has only strengthened.
"How do you purpose we kidnap the prince?" I looked around with a cold face and raised eyebrow. None of them answered, "That is what I assumed. That plan is a complete waste of time and will only end in failure."
"What do purpose we do then?" The cardinal asked me impatiently after huffing at my logic to their ideas.
"Watch your tone Carlisle, she has proved to be more intelligent then all of you combined." I gave the king a sweet little smile before I leaned forward again. I was appreciating the support I was receiving from him.
"The French are interrupting our process of law and that is not acceptable. They are not in the place to be demanding we release a criminal. Esme is the only thing they have over us," I was thinking aloud to myself.
"Where is Jacob Black?" I looked around the group of them.
"He has been sent to the tower with Michael on account of treason," the king muttered from behind me where he had released my waist and was now rubbing my lower back.
I did not have time to process this information or care for that matter. Silently I noted this in my mind to ask about in awhile.
"Alright, you need more ideas, what are you all writing?" I looked around though they had all stopped writing and were listening to me.
"We could offer money," A man shrugged, making me role my eyes.
"France is a rich country they do not need it." No one else spoke.
"Is this honestly how the greatest Council in the world solves problems? With foolish suggestions?" I demanded sharply, looking at each of their faces.
"What would you know? You are a social climbing woman who does not belong here," it was Jacob Black's brother, Samuel speaking in an irritated way now.
"Samuel, you are dismissed, leave now," the king said; his voice hard, "Isabella has been finely educated and has spent many days with my mother whom you do not seem to care about."
Some guards who were standing by walked over to his seat. He glared at me a little before the soldiers roughly grabbed his arm and escorted him to the door.
"Does anyone have any issues working with a woman?" Edward asked as I straightened myself up held his hand behind my back tightly.
"It shall be a nice change," Emmett said with an optimistic expression and a wink at me. I nodded and so did the other men.
"Continue," the king whispered while pulling a chair out for me, I shook my head. It made me feel weak to sit if all the rest of them were standing and right now I didn't feel weak, I felt equal. His eyes understood and he pushed the chair back in.
"I was on a walk the evening of the queen's arrest and at twilight I saw a dark figure riding south on a horse and quickly." I said, now realizing that must have been Esme kidnapper. I was filled with remorse that I had not told anyone.
"Did you see who he looked like?" Lord Walter asked me.
Then he came to me.
The room grew silent as I shook my head and starting thinking.
"We would exchange Esme for the queen at the same time, correct?" I asked, looking around. The men all nodded and Edward squeezed my hand, most likely in confusion that I was even suggesting this.
"What if we find a woman who has similar hair and eyes as the queen," it was a genius plan though none of the men seemed to understand where I was taking my thoughts.
"What good will that do?" Michael asked there was only curiosity in tone.
"If the lady had a cape over her head with her hair still showing though, we would be able to switch with her, for it would be evening and they would not notice the difference unless the king's himself was there," I said brilliantly. Some of the men understood and were grinning and already starting to write things down, others were confused.
"They will realize it is her if not there but only a little ways down the road and come back, if not kill her," Carlisle said, he had warmed up to me so to speak and I was not offended by his logical thinking.
"We must kill the man after we have Esme safely," I said grimly while releasing the king's hand and propping my weight on the table with my hands again.
"That may work," Lawrence said a little hesitant but I could see he was thinking. The men around agreed quietly with nods or low words.
"Now we need a woman with golden hair," I said, thinking of the women at court who resembled the queen and could be used a decoy.
"What of your wife Michael; Alyssa?" Emmett suggested making Michael stiffen instantly.
"She is with child," he said firmly.
"No harm will come to her," Emmett insisted.
"Alyssa will not be going, I am her husband and I say no," he harshly. Emmett sighed but I cracked a small smile, he truly cared for Alyssa.
"Perhaps we should have someone who has spent time with the queen and is educated in the French language." I said uncertainly.
"Rosalie," Emmett and I each said at the same time, thinking of our cousin with her golden hair and full body like the queen's who has also capable of speaking French.
"Mistress Hale?" A Lord whose name escaped me at the moment asked.
"Yes, of course, she should be perfect," I said, and with that a page boy was sent to fetch Rose while the Council chatted, taking advantage of the intermission.
"You stole my breath," Edward had not said a word this entire meeting which I had literally been running.
I turned to him with a smile and hugged him. He rested his chin on my head after wrapping his arms around me.
"You have much courage to take control of those men," the king whispered in awe.
"Anything to protect my family," I said with a smile against his chest. Edward and Esme were my family; my lover and my mother.
"Are you alright," I wondered in concern as I pulled gently away from him just took his hands.
"I am, thank you; for everything. These men needed to be woken up it seems, they would still be discussing how to kidnap a prince if not for you," he chuckled and I beamed proudly.
At the time it had not seemed as if I was talking to the Privy Council of England, it did not seem as if I was the first woman to have had a say in the law since Esme most likely and it did not acquire that I was calling them foolish until this moment.
And I was glowing in pride.
Rosalie came into the come and we whispered a few words privately, she was shocked that I was in here while the council was in session, I told her I would explain later.
Someone offered Rose a chair at the end of the table and she accepted, though confused as to why she was here.
"Miss Hale," the king addressed her, finally speaking other then to me.
"Yes Your Grace?" She asked him graciously.
"We have a proposition for you," she nodded and he continued.
The plan was explained to her. Some men who were also speaking were talking to her as if she was an incompetent woman. Rosalie may be content with women's treatment but she was one of the most intelligent, confident people I am acquainted with.
"We will grant you payment of eight pounds," the cardinal declared after Rosalie seemed to be pondering the idea. That was a very fair payment.
Rosalie nodded, "I will help you."
"We thank you," Edward smiled brightly at her. Rosalie granted the council and small smile before leaving the chambers.
The council and I discussed the plans of safety for the next hour. I was witness to many arguments and disagreements that would dissolve after only a few moments.
The largest argument that was held was between several men, all wanting to escort Rosalie to the woods. The men fighting, my brother included, were all excellent swordsman.
"Mistress Swan," A man named Tyler summoned me. I stood up from where I had been leaning towards, Lawrence, Simon and Michael over a map on the table.
"You cannot have her decide, she will of course choose her brother," another man argued. I sighed in irritation while walking to their side of the table.
"I presume you have not decided upon a man?" They shook their heads.
"Rosalie would be honored to have any of you mine men," I started out cautiously, trying not to set off anyone's temper, there were men.
"Yet I do think she would feel more secure if her cousin escorted her," I had not even finished my statement before argument were set off.
The king came over to see the problem and I took that as an opportunity to glide swiftly out of that argument.
In the end it was agreed by the men that Emmett would be the wisest choice. The other three men would go along but turn before they were in the predator's sight. They would be in hearing range and Emmett would shout a word if needed and they would come out of hiding.
Two soldiers were going along just for extra caution. This was the king's mother, every angle of the situation had been assessed and it was midnight when the council was finally dismissed.
"Thank you," the king said sincerely, once again. I leaned up and touched his cheek.
"You're welcome, though I'm sure you would have figured something else out," I smiled humble as I placed my arm in the crook of his elbow and we walked out the doors.
Very few people were still on in the outer rooms. They sleepily curtsied and the king sent them to their chambers.
"A woman's logic is much less blinded then a man's at times."
"Probably," I agreed.
"You deserve a rest tonight," he kissed my forehead and blinked while the tips of my lips curved up.
Edward left me at my doors and then walked down the hall a little ways in his rooms. I entered mine, expecting Alice and Rosalie to be in their rooms and in slumber.
"There is our lady of parliament," Rosalie teased from where she say, curled in her robe on the arm chair.
Alice also had her robe wrapped securely around her tiny body. She was seated on the couch.
"Explain everything," Alice demanded, I rolled my eyes and went to my bedroom. Alice followed along. I put on my night gown and found my robe. Rosalie came into my bedroom and we all lounged lazily across my bed, forgetting the late hour completely.
I told them everything that happened inside the closed walls of the Privy Council of England. Alice was shocked by some things I did inside there and Rosalie just smiled wistfully.
I ended up fall asleep when I was talking about our plan for the 1st. I had bad dreams that night, Esme was in each of them and one she was running and screaming down a dark hall. I tried to reach out to her but she did not see me, a man was chasing after her and he did see me. His eyes were cold and black while he stalked towards me.
I love this chapter and how strong women could be even in that awful time for us. Bella may be known as his whore but she's breaking down the rules that seem to apply with that term.
The two are getting down and dirty and you guys get a lemon next chapter. I know, you love me. What else is new?
Love it? Loathe it? Let me know!
~Carmen