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 and for getting these chapters read/beta'd so quickly.

This chapter was not pre read, so all mistakes in it are mine.

Please forgive any mistakes…J

I want to thank everyone for their reviews. I don't always get to respond, but I love everyone and they keep me writing. If you ever have a direct question, please ask me to respond and I will do so as soon as possible!

I had to use Brazilian purple heart wood as my husband built me a beautiful easel out of it…it is such an amazing color!

Jen

Chapter 26

Edward's POV

Esterbrook was a lovely town, but I was anxious to head home and to introduce Isabella to my family. I knew they would be surprised at my sudden marriage, but I was sure that they would be as enamored by Isabella as I was. I knew that before we would be able to journey homeward that we would have to make haste to York, where King Eric would be awaiting us to arrive with his guards.

The journey to York would take a few days. The large group of men who were guards to the King made me feel much calmer about Isabella's safety. Due to the long, strenuous expedition it was not feasible for Isabella to ride with me. It was sure give us both comfort, but I was sure she would have fared better inside the carriage where she could rest as she felt the need.

Isabella seemed very worried about Rose. The strong woman seemed to be faltering in her healing. She seemed stronger physically, but Isabella informed me she was constantly distraught. My brother, the vigilant and caring man that he was seemed to be taking her suffering to heart, but it didn't seem there was anything he could do to help the woman we were protecting.

As we followed the guard and made camp each night, Emmett personally stood guard outside of Rose's tent, only allowing Jasper and I to relieve him for a few hours here and there so he could sleep. He looked gaunt and worn from travel, but still he refused to relinquish his place outside her tent for a full evenings rest.

At night Isabella curled into my arms and I relished the way she fit against me. We allowed our bodies to delve into one another as we explored, touched and tasted quietly so as not to draw attention from those who surrounded us. Each night as we lay together, sweaty and sated, we talked openly about everything, each conversation revealing new wonders about the amazing woman I married.

It was during one of these conversations that Isabella voiced a worry that whatever was bothering Rose was not an illness of the body. She feared that it was an illness of the heart. Her words caused me to take pause and think. Emmett and Rose were both acting oddly, and yet we rarely saw them together…what could we have missed?

It was that night that we decided to slip on our nightclothes in order to see if we could discover any clues that would help unravel the mystery we had encountered. I held my love by the hand as we cautiously skirted the camp to make our way to where Rose and Emmett's tents were staked at the edge of the clearing. The stars were bright in the sky, coloring the heavens with their luminescent beauty.

As we rounded the last marquee that stood between us and our destination, we noticed a concerning detail…there was no guard at the entryway to Rose's tent. I felt Isabella squeeze my hand in alarm, but I stilled, listening to the sounds of the night.

You could hear the fires crackling as they burned low, trying to burn the last bits of fresh wood. There were soft voices of men in conversation, and low, painful moans from the area the prisoners were detained in. The soft murmurs of lovers reached our ears and I saw Isabella's face flush slightly with understanding, and I smiled as I gently squeezed her hand knowing that only moments ago our voices had been part of that cacophony.

I was cautious at the fact that for some reason Emmett seemed to have left his vigilant post at Rose's door, and it caused me to approach with great care. Once we were only a few steps away I heard speech from inside. There were two voices…a female voice that I assumed to be Rose, and a male timbre I knew well…my brother Emmett.

I felt horrendous, for eavesdropping was ungentlemanly and rude, but it had been unintentional. Their voices carried to us on the gentle summer breeze before we could move away.

"Why not Rose? I have given you my word…why won't you let me make my desire for you known…I will not pressure you before you are ready, I simply wish to court you...to…to eventually marry you. Never in my whole life have I met a woman who is as strong as you…I want to be able to brag to those around me that the stunning, resilient woman they admire so…is my wife…that she allowed me the honor of being her husband. I know that you have had no reason to trust any man…but I want to earn your trust…to show you not every man is filth like James and his followers. Why won't you allow me to let you see how it could be...how it should be…the way you deserve it to be…" His voice fell silent.

I turned to Isabella, my mouth opened in silent surprise only to find hers alight with happiness. She pressed the back of her hand to her lips in order to keep from making a sound. At that moment we turned to go, trying to absorb what we had heard, but before we had gone more than a step Rose's voice replied.

"Emmett…you deserve someone who isn't soiled…a beautiful, proud lady…I am no lady…I am nothing…I never was. I cannot agree to marry you…It wouldn't be right…I know you mean well…but you are wrong…I am not the woman for you…." She said…her voice low. I felt Isabella's sob without needing to hear it. Her small form shook in my arms as her emotions poured forth from her. I swept her into my arms holding her to my chest as she let herself grieve for her dear friend. I carefully stepped around the linen walls and rope supports as we moved away. The last thing I heard was my brother's response.

"That would be for me to decide."

I moved away with Bella swiftly, sure that she had not heard Emmett's response. Her shoulders shook with sobs as I held her close and she tried to stifle any noises she made by pressing her face against my throat. I knew she was heartbroken for her friend, but at least now we knew why Rose was so forlorn…and why Emmett had been acting so oddly.

We got back to our tent, and slipped inside once more, wrapping ourselves comfortably in soft feather blankets to ward off the cool night air. At first we just lay together, wrapped in one another's embrace as we digested what we had just witnessed.

"Why wouldn't she accept Emmett's proposal?" I asked, in part to myself and in part hoping that Isabella might be able to provide an answer to my confusion.

"I cannot begin to imagine what Rose has been through…but if I were to attempt a guess, I would have to say that she does not feel worthy of his affections…no matter how heartfelt they appear to be." Isabella said softly.

"Not worthy? Why ever would she think that way…Emmett himself extols her virtues..I have never seen him so enamored before." I said honestly.

"Perhaps Rose fears that she is not worthy because so much has been taken from her…even if it was not by her choice. She may feel as if she has nothing left to give Emmett. You brother is also a man with a powerful title, I doubt that Rose would feel comfortable being his wife if she feels there are others that may be better suited to be his spouse." Isabella exclaimed sagely.

Her words gave me pause to think.

"Is that how you felt when I stated my desire to marry you?" I questioned softly as I tilted her head up towards mine so I could gaze into her expressive eyes.

"I was torn with emotions…" She began, pausing as if the words she wished to speak eluded her. "I was furious when I heard you were betrothed…I had no inkling that you had told Sir James that I was your intended. I felt as if fate was once again being cruel…but when Emmett voiced the fact that you were referring to me…I was joyous!" She explained shyly.

"Only moments later I was flooded with guilt, assuming that you were only drawn to me because you assumed I was a woman of nobility, and therefore an ideal match for you. From that point onward each time you gazed at me…those occasions when you bestowed gifts and favors…they only made me feel less worthy…. I suppose I understand the way Rose feels…because I felt the same way."

"It may be more so however, Rose was enslaved while I remained safely hidden…she bore much abuse at the hands of Sir James and his men…I cannot imagine the atrocities she endured…" Isabella said in a sad voice as a single tear slipped from the corner of her eyes and trailed down her ivory skin.

I grasped her tightly in my arms, horrific images of what could have happened to her had she not been discovered by my keen sister. I was momentarily afraid to release her, and held her firmly until she began to squirm. Only then did I allow my arms to relinquish their fixed grasp to allow my wife freedom to move as she wished.

"I suppose the only way to ensure that this is the issue, would be for me to speak with her. Would it be possible to have some time alone with her tomorrow?" Isabella asked as she pressed a kiss against my collarbone, leaving a wake of warmth from her touch.

"I am sure that somehow that can be arranged." I said as I turned our bodies so her small form was beneath me, breathing deeply as her eyes flashed with excitement. The woman would be riding in the carriage tomorrow, so Rose would not have much choice but to listen to Isabella's words. I leaned in to kiss my wife soundly on her lips, they were soft as rose petals.

I would assist her in any way I could to ensure that my brother stood a chance to win the woman who had ensnared his heart, only then would he be able to have even a small amount of the happiness I did.

**I want to take a moment to pimp out a writer that deserves some serious recognition as she is original, creative and funny as hell. Her name is Kismetian. She should be listed under my favorite author, as she is my utmost favorite.

Here is her profile link for those who feel like checking her out…every story is a winner.

.net/u/2137587/Kismetian