SMALL TALK
BELLA
"So what are you really doing here, Jacob?" I covered the roots of the bush I'd just planted with soil, looking up at Jacob as he wandered around the garden.
"What, you don't believe me?" Jacob laughed. "I'm such a simple guy."
"Jacob, if you're simple, Damian's humble." I said, packing the soil around the base carefully, before I glanced at him again.
"Ouch, two shots, one arrow, Bella." He placed a hand over his heart but was smiling at me.
"Stop avoiding the question." I got to my feet, basket in hand, walking around to the next plant.
"I did come for Damian and Karline." Jacob protested. I gave him my archest look. "...and I have some work here too."
"What is it that you do anyway?" I asked. Jacob had always been tight-lipped about his work, so it was a bit of a mystery. We knew he worked for the Council, but he had always been vague about what exactly he did. I had an inkling, but I wasn't going to ask him just yet.
"This and that, nothing that would interest you." He said vaguely, playing with the winding jasmine creeper.
"Nothing you want to talk about you mean." I sighed, crouching down. "Alright, I won't push."
"And that's why I love you." He smiled at me then and I smiled back. We understood each other, always had. If he hadn't worked for the Council, I might have felt tempted to tell him my plans, my secret. Maybe. But that wouldn't happen, not now, not with Edward as my mate. Clan loyalties were fierce, he would have no choice but to tell if he ever knew I was the future Clan Leader's mate.
"You're far away, Bella." Jacob spoke and I started, smiling apologetically at him. "So how are you getting along with Edward?" I shrugged.
"Alright, I suppose."
"'Alright'? The most sought after unmated male in the Clan lies half dressed in your recovery room and that's all the reaction you have?" Jacob asked, his eyes twinkling at me. I glared at him.
"You've been spending too much time with Em and Kals." I pointed my trowel at him. "Don't drink whatever they're drinking." He laughed.
"I'm not surprised they're teasing - you've got to be the one person in the Clan who is unaffected. You should see them in Volterra. That Guard of his spends most of their time keeping the panting hoards at bay, male and female." I pretended disinterest at this last statement, although my stomach had clenched uncomfortably.
"Well, I'm not panting." I said firmly, although I could hear my inner voice cackling liar at me. "And I have no desire to join the long line of partners who've undoubtedly warmed his sheets."
"Surprisingly, he doesn't do that. He's known for keeping people at arm's length. Which only makes them try harder." I tried not to think about how those words made me feel.
"Why are we talking about him?" I demanded. "I'd much rather know about you. I take it you haven't had anyone warming your sheets of late?"
"Straight to the point, as always." He made a face at me. I grinned. "And no, my sheets are cold at the moment. Unless you're offering?" I wagged my finger at him.
"What happened to the last one? The one Damian described as 'the stud'?"
"He moved on." Jacob shrugged, not seeming particularly bothered by it.
"And you're telling me that no-one - no-one - in Volterra, where everyone looks like a god, has tempted you?" I glanced at him. "And you accuse me of being immune to the Volterra charm."
"It gets old, believe me." There was an inflection in his voice that made me look at him, a sadness in his eyes.
"Jacob?" I said gently.
"You've never had anyone warm your sheets, Bella." He said suddenly, looking at me. "Why?" I was a little baffled by the shift, but I answered him.
"You really have been spending too much time with Emily and Karline." I put the trowel into the basket and stood up, dusting soil from my robes.
"Be serious for once, Bella." I sighed at his tone.
"Seriously then. I just never saw the point. Still don't." I picked my way carefully over to trim the vines. One half of the truth.
"Companionship? Physical satiation? Intimacy?" Jacob asked thoughtfully, following me.
"Temporary all." I snipped at a tendril. "Not that I think it's wrong or anything. Just that it seems like a waste of energy and time."
"And you don't miss those things?" He was watching my hands deal deftly with the dead and tangled tendrils.
"Frankly, no."
"You're an anomaly in the Clan." Jacob smiled affectionately and I smiled back, but the words scratched at an old wound. Too different, I had never quite belonged. And I'd always known. Still, I responded, my voice even.
"It's because I didn't drink whatever has been making everyone else randy as hell." He laughed and was about to say something when we were interrupted by one of the Guard from Clanholding.
"Bella, they're here." He was a little out of breath.
"Who's here?"
"From Volterra, for my Lord Edward. Riley sent me to get you back. Now." He said, glancing at Jacob, who had stepped back.
"I'll leave you, Bella."
"You're in town for a while?" I asked as I hurriedly packed up my basket. He nodded. "We shall continue this another time, Jacob."
"Yes, now go, don't keep them waiting."
I hurried after the Guard, wondering why I'd been summoned back. We'd been expecting them today but they weren't due to leave till tomorrow. Plenty of time to make the introductions, surely.
"No, Healer Bella. This way." The Guard was leading me into the main house, away from Healer's Quarters. I frowned as I followed.
"I need to change." I protested.
"Riley said immediately. Sorry." I huffed, annoyed and did my best to adjust my robes as we walked. What the hell was so urgent?
"Give me the basket." The Guard stopped and held his hand out. I looked up at the door we'd halted at and then back at him.
"This is the Council Chamber."
"Yes. Bella, give me the basket." I handed it to him slowly and then he knocked.
The door opened and another Guard poked his head out.
"Bella." My escort said, gesturing at me. The other Guard opened the door wider and ushered me in. As I watched the door close behind me, bewildered, he raised his voice.
"Healer Isabella, my Lords."
I turned around and could feel my eyes widening.
Standing before me were Edward and his little coterie of friends, Riley, several senior Council members and a number of well built older males and females, all looking at me, but the one I was locked on was the one standing beside Edward. The one who looked like Edward probably would in twenty years' time. The one who lead our entire Clan.
Edward's father had come in person to collect him.
OOOOOOOOOO
They did the formal introductions, but frankly I couldn't remember anyone's name, I was so thrown. Don't cock up, Isabella, I told myself, watch your mouth. This is usually where my awkwardness showed up like the proverbial banana, ready to trip me up and land me on my ass. Not a good thing at any time, but even worse in this group.
"Healer Isabella." He said, his voice deep, gravelly, his grey eyes darker than his son's but equally intent as he gazed at me. "It is a pleasure to meet you." I swallowed and bowed my head.
"My honour, Clan Leader." I said, placing my fist over my heart in formal greeting.
"Thank you. For saving my son and for taking such good care of him. He looks better than I had expected." He said solemnly, sincerely. I bowed my head again.
"I didn't save...I mean, it was my honour to be of service." I amended, as I saw Riley out of the corner of my eye shake his head imperceptibly. Cock up #1.
"From what I have heard, you did save him, Healer." The Clan Leader said gravely. I wanted to protest I didn't but held my tongue and continued to look down.
"Healer Isabella is over modest, my Lord." One of our Council members spoke.
"As is seemly in a Healer." An older male, one of the Clan Leader's group, boomed.
"Is he fit to travel, Healer?" One of the older females asked me and the kindness in her voice made me raise my head slightly to meet her gaze.
"He was mauled by a bear, Mena." Someone said. "Just over a week ago."
"Healer?" The female asked again and I wished that everyone's eyes weren't on me, my hands were sweaty enough as it was.
"He is fit, my Lord." I said, looking only at her. "There is no risk to him travelling now. He will need some medication and ointments during transit, which have been prepared." She nodded and smiled.
"Good news indeed."
"Then we can depart as planned." The first male boomed again.
"We can." Clan Leader Carlisle affirmed. "But first. I am sure our Council here in Forks have made arrangements for our stay. Let us enjoy their hospitality."
"I will escort you to your chambers, my Lords." One of our senior Council said. "If you will come this way, Clan Leader?"
"I will speak with the Healer in private." I gulped. Great. The public torture was done, now it was the private one.
"Of-course, my Lord."
I heard the sounds of people leaving the room, but stayed still and kept my eyes fixed on the floor even when I heard the door click shut behind me.
"Is the floor more interesting than I am, Healer?" I heard the amusement in the Clan Leader's voice and felt my cheeks warm.
"No, my Lord."
"Then look up and be at ease. I'm not going to throw you in the dungeons with just a rat for company." My head shot up. He was smiling at me, eyes twinkling and that bastard son of his, who had stayed behind along with Riley, Emmett and Jasper, was too.
"You intimidate her, Father." Edward said, looking amused, "She's not normally this quiet." I wanted to poke his eye and by the way his lips twitched, he knew it.
"Tell me about my son. How is his recovery really coming along?" Clan Leader Carlisle asked me. I was silent, unsure of what to say, how to say it. He saw my anxiety and moved to stand in front of me, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "You are his Healer. And I am just a father, anxious about his son."
Those were the right words to say to me, for the tension slowly eased once I'd heard them.
"He is recovering well, my Lord, faster than expected. His wounds have healed up and I removed the stitches two days ago. There is no risk of infection or of the wound tracts reopening, but he must apply an ointment regularly for a while longer in order to strengthen the muscles and ensure they are completely healed. He has followed a strict regime of exercise and will be at full strength fairly soon, if he doesn't overdo it and become impatient." I glanced at Edward when I said this. His father caught the glance and smiled wryly.
"That might be hard for him. My son's not known for his patience."
"I'm aware of that, my Lord." I said, keeping my voice neutral. I saw Jasper stifling a grin while Emmett looked down.
"Are you?" He gave me a considering look. "He's been a difficult patient, then." He shook his head at Edward. "I will apologise for him."
"Oh, no, my Lord-" I said hastily.
"I wouldn't worry, Father. She's put me in my place quite often." Edward interjected, grinning at me.
"If only you'd stay there." I murmured without thinking and then froze. Cock up #2. I could see Riley close his eyes, as if in pain. There was a pause and then Edward and his father chuckled, while Jasper and Emmett were no longer hiding their reactions, grinning widely. "I'm so sorry, my Lord, I beg forgiveness. I did not mean offence." I stumbled over the words.
"None taken. I know my son. If you survived a week with him, that says something about you."
"My Lord, he survived a week with me. I'd say that says something about him." I glanced at Edward and then away. Clan Leader Carlisle chuckled once more.
"It seems you've had plenty of entertainment here, Edward." He said.
"You have no idea, Father." Edward murmured. His father looked from him to me and I could see the cogs whirring in his head, making unnecessary links. I wanted to poke Edward in both eyes now. Edward caught the expression on my face.
"You look like you want to add to my wounds." He said, his emerald green eyes twinkling at me.
"I was thinking more about slipping a strong laxative into your tea." I muttered and then clapped my hands over my mouth. I saw the horrified look on Riley' face. I gave up. "Just direct me to the dungeons, my Lord."
And that's when Clan Leader Carlisle, head of the entire Clan, began to laugh.