A/N:
Got some new readers after the last chapter so I just want to welcome those! Hi there!
Title: The Duke & The Swan without Wings
Author: MarieCarro
Beta: Alice's White Rabbit
Pre-reader: Brierlynn03
Genre: Historical Fiction/Drama/Romance
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Edward Cullen, the Grand Duke and second son of the King, must find a bride. Isabella Sinclair, daughter of Countess Catherine and Duke Charles, was born out of wedlock and has neither titles nor land to her name. Could she be the bride Edward's looking for? But how is Isabella to marry a man of the royal family without a proper dowry?
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
{CHAPTER 15}
The Spensley estate looked even more awe striking when it was decked out for a ball, and Isabella didn't even have to feign her impression of it. Even Maria and Eleanor were in awe of its splendor as they exited their carriage.
As Isabella looked around, she didn't recognize a single servant and quickly understood Edward had hired a large number of them for this one night only. In a way, she was glad there was no one there who could recognize her from her last visit.
"Isabella, smooth out your skirt," the dowager duchess ordered her, and Isabella immediately looked down at the exquisite silk gown that had been altered for her. It was a pale ocean green color with a floral pattern hand painted on it. She had never seen either Maria or Eleanor wear it, so she had asked who it used to belong to.
"It belonged to the late Countess of Sunfield," the seamstress had said. She wasn't one of the regular staff but someone the dowager duchess had asked to come to them, and the woman had no idea what those words did to Isabella.
"It belonged to Catherine Sinclair?"
"Yes, ma'am."
She carefully touched the fabric to do as her lady grandmother had told her, and then looked at her for approval. She received a curt nod, and then their unusually large company made their way toward the entryway.
As per usual, there was an announcer standing tall where everyone entered the ballroom, and while Isabella was very curious to hear what lie the dowager duchess would tell about her to explain her presence, she had spotted Edward and was thoroughly distracted.
He was wearing extraordinary garments, the finest she'd seen him wear yet, and his long hair was smoothed back and tied with a neat bow at the nape of his neck. He was handsome beyond words, and her hands twitched to approach him and touch him, but she quickly occupied her aching fingers by fiddling with the fan that matched her gown.
She startled when the announcer loudly declared their arrival.
"The Duke and Duchess of Swanselm with their daughters, Miss Maria Swan and Miss Eleanor Swan! The Dowager Duchess, Lady Mariella Swan, and Miss Isabella Sinclair!"
As soon as her name rang out through the vast room, Edward whirled around to stare at them with thinly veiled shock. He found her eyes and silently asked her what she was doing there from across the room.
Isabella suspected the dowager duchess would keep a close eye on her, and as a noble lady, she would, no doubt, be well versed in the language of the fan, and so she didn't dare use that as a means of communicating with Edward. Instead, she steadily met his eyes before slowly looking over at her lady grandmother, and fortunately, it appeared Edward understood what she was telling him.
As they slowly began to move around the room, Isabella heard, for the first time, the dowager duchess's lie.
"Miss Sinclair is the late Countess of Sunfield's younger sister. Unfortunately, they never got the chance to know each other, but after their parents passed, as close acquaintances to the Sinclairs, we offered to take her into our home," she said, and Isabella felt nausea building at the back of her throat. In the story the dowager duchess spun, they were the heroes who saved her from homelessness, and the nobility swallowed the lies as they swallowed the wine in their glasses.
"Oh dear, I never even knew the Earl and Lady Sinclair had another child. How awful to lose one's entire family while so young," the Baroness of Clovermoor exclaimed with exaggerated distress.
"It certainly is. And even worse, she's not entitled to any inheritance until she's married, so she can't even return home."
Isabella froze in her movements, and she stared at her lady grandmother's neck with wide disbelieving eyes.
She knew. The dowager duchess knew about the testaments and stipulations, and she was using it to feed her lies. But why? What was her plan and motive for all of this?
The baroness smiled knowingly. "Oh, well, a beautiful young lady of noble blood should have no issues with finding a husband, especially one who comes with their own estate and titles into the marriage. There are more than a few available men here tonight."
Just as the dowager duchess was about to reply, Isabella felt a tingle traveling up her spine, and she instantly knew Edward was near. Her heart fluttered, and she fought against the urge to turn around and fall into his embrace.
Maria and Eleanor started twittering with excitement, and it alerted the duke and duchess of Edward's presence.
"Your Royal Highness," the duke said reverently with a deep bow, the duchess copying him, and soon thereafter, her sisters did the same.
Isabella slowly turned, met Edward's eyes, which communicated to her that he would maintain their cover even though he shared her longing, and then made a deep curtsy.
"Your Grace," Edward greeted with the steadiest tone he could muster, but Isabella saw his lips twitching from the hatred he felt toward the man before him. "I hear you're in a sizable company this evening."
The duke offered a smile that wasn't very genuine. "Yes, when royalty calls, everyone wants to join."
"I'm sure," Edward said tightly before turning his full attention to Isabella and his eyes lit up, but she wasn't certain if she was the only one who noticed. "I believe we haven't had the pleasure to meet, Miss ...?"
"Sinclair, Your Royal Highness," she said with an affixed timid smile. "I'm pleased to to make your acquaintance."
Edward got a mischievous glint in his eyes as he took hold of her hand and raised it to his lips. "Oh, no, Miss Sinclair, I assure you, the pleasure is mine." His gaze darted to something behind her before they were back on her, and Isabella guessed he'd measured the dissatisfaction on her sisters' faces.
Ever since they first started writing each other, Edward had said he wished he could show Maria and Eleanor how little worth they held in his eyes compared to her, and it was clear he was enjoying this opportunity.
"Regrettably, I have to walk the room," he said and let Isabella's hand fall lonely and cold at her side. "One of the downsides with being the host, but I do hope you will save at least one dance for me this evening, Miss Sinclair." He smiled widely before he disappeared in the crowds.
"Why did he ask you to dance?" Maria spat out with a sour grimace, momentarily forgetting the part Isabella had been bestowed with tonight wasn't someone she could speak to like that.
"Why wouldn't he?" the baroness reacted, still standing with their lady grandmother. She watched Maria with genuine confusion. "Miss Sinclair is, without a doubt, one of the rare beauties of the evening. Naturally, the host would notice. Miss Sinclair, do tell me"—she turned to Isabella—"who did you pay to make that stunning gown you're wearing?"
"It was my m—" At the last second, Isabella stopped herself from making the faux pas and corrected herself, hoping her cooperation would lend her some freedom during the evening. "My sister's. It belonged to Catherine."
"Truly? Just stunning."
Later in the evening, Isabella took a seat away from the dance floor to rest her feet. Never in her life had she ever danced as much and with so many different lords and gentlemen. As soon as the word spread that she was related to Countess Catherine and that she was—officially—available, she had been swarmed with men who asked to dance with her, to speak with her, and to bring her refreshments, but as wonderful as it felt to be addressed as an equal, she knew the only reason they showed her any interest was because her supposed dowry brought an entire earldom into the marriage. Had she been introduced as herself, she would have spent the entire evening where she was currently sitting without anyone so much as paying her any attention.
With the exception of one person.
"There you are, Miss Sinclair. I thought I wouldn't catch you alone for the rest of the evening." Edward gave her a smile, and she wished they could throw the pretenses to the side. She hated having to act as if she didn't know him.
"Your Royal Highness," she said and stood up to curtsy—for appearance's sake only because she knew Edward hated it. "I have to admit, if you're here for that dance, my feet are quite sore, so I might step on you."
A hint of worry colored his expression, but then he cast an eye over his shoulder and signaled someone in the room. Isabella looked out over the crowd and saw Rosalie and Emmett making their way toward her family. She looked back at Edward, and he leaned closer to her while lowering his voice.
"I was hoping you wouldn't be opposed to finding someplace more private."
For the shortest second, she hesitated because she wasn't convinced it was safe. All the guests at the ball certainly would notice if Edward left the room, and they would instantly see who was with him, but then her need to be alone with him won out, and she gave him the smallest nod. "Yes, please," she whispered.
"Then come with me." He held out his arm for her to take and made a show of escorting her to the gardens for any curious onlookers. When it was safe, he steered her toward the part of the castle that was prohibited to the guests, and then through a door that turned out to lead to a room with a long, polished wooden table surrounded by beautifully carved chairs.
He let her enter first and then closed the door behind them. When he turned to face her, his expression softened, and his affection for her illuminated his eyes. "Isabella," he sighed and strode closer with long steps.
"Edward," she responded before she was finally where she had longed to be the entire night—in his arms.
Compared to the last time they met, there was no hesitation in Edward as he cupped her face and brought her lips to his, and she melted against him.
"My love. My sweet, sweet Isabella. How torturous this evening has been. Watching you dance with other men who hope to win you. But not one of them deserve you. They're all vultures. Much like the duke."
"They can never win me because my heart belongs to you. I'm yours, Edward. Now and forever."
They leaned their heads together and just reveled in each other's presence for a moment.
"When I heard your name, I thought, for sure, it was a mistake," he said. "What happened? Why did your lady grandmother decide you were to come with them?"
"I don't know. She even fought with the duke over it, and he was as confused as the rest of us. He asked why she suddenly decided to show me kindness when she'd never done so before, and for once, I actually agree with him. I don't understand her plan, but Edward"—she grabbed his hands tightly in hers—"she knows about the stipulations for my inheritance. She's used it to make her lies more believable all evening."
"Can't say I'm too surprised," Edward said and knitted his brows together in deep thought. "Lady Mariella Swan is notorious for always putting the family name first. She's always the first to deny a scandal and the first to assume recognition when something is done right."
"Then what could she possibly gain by showing me off like a priced colt under false pretenses?"
"I'm afraid we'll have to wait and see. I'm sure she keeps her plans close to her heart."
Isabella nodded and placed her ear against his chest to listen to his soothing heartbeat. "It's a shame we'll have to discover another way for me to find those documents, but I'm also immeasurably happy to be here with you."
"I feel the same way. I dream of you every night, and when I wake, I miss you even more."
"Every night?" she asked shyly. She really liked the thought of being on his mind so frequently, and especially when he was alone. She leaned away to look into his eyes. "What do you dream about?"
His responding smile was very playful. "Mostly about you being truly mine. Other details might not be appropriate for me to share."
Isabella felt rather playful herself and decided to take a leap of faith. "Why not? You think me much too delicate to know of ... carnal desires."
Edward's eyes widened with surprise at first, but then his eyelids grew heavy as his mind fogged up, and his breathing turned erratic. He had always known there was a confident woman within her, but he had never even entertained the thought that she would encourage his less than noble wants so vocally.
"I have them, too," she said, and his heart did a double beat. "The dreams ... the desires. I know how I react when you are near me, and as much as I love your kisses, deep inside, I long for more."
He had to swallow hard as the fantasies her words procured in his mind became almost overpowering. It only made his want for her greater.
She started stroking his palm with her fingertips, and the tingles shot up his arm. "I know I don't really know anything about any of this. I only know the fundamentals of what happens between a husband and a wife, but I'll learn because if there's one thing I do know, it's that I don't want us to become like the duke and duchess. That part of their marriage was only duty, and they haven't shared a bed since Eleanor was conceived. I believe that was why he searched out my mother."
Edward's immediate desire faded and was replaced with concern as well as determination. He placed a gentle hand under her chin and lifted it up so she'd look at him. "I promise you, right here and now, we won't be like that, and as long as I live, I won't spare a glance for another woman." He kissed her softly on the forehead. "My love is reserved for you, Isabella."
A/N:
Lies are spun, but even a spider can be caught in the web at times!
Pretty much all of you theorized that Reneé and Philip should search the house in the family's absence. All I'm gonna say to that is maybe, maybe not and you'll just have to wait and see!
Until next time,
Stay Awesome!