See, that didn't take so long, now did it? Enjoy.

The American Princess

Chapter 27

EPOV

I whistle lowly under my breath. "You are a vision, Ms. Swan." I bow down to her then straighten up to take her hand and place my lips on it.

"You ain't so bad yourself, Charming." She murmurs as she straightens my bowtie and runs her hands over my shoulders when she's done.

"Your dress is missing something, though." I frown as I look her up and down.

"Well, nothing else is fitting in this dress with me." She jokes.

"This is just a small token of my devotion to you." I say as I reveal a small velvet bag. I remove the contents of the bag and dangle it in front of her.

She moves closer and her hand reaches out to touch the necklace.

"It's so pretty. Thank you." She sighs.

I motion for her to turn around and I take my place behind her. She gathers her hair up to expose her seemly neck. "What is it? It's not some family heirloom, is it?" She starts to turn towards me but I hold her still and fasten the necklace. I kiss her neck when I am done and delight in her shiver.

"No. I bought it off a site Alice led me to called Etsy. It's a sixpence. Just a piece of Britain to carry around with you."

I turn around and our eyes lock and we stand there lost in each other until my phone chimes. I take it out of my pocket and spare it a glance. "Our car is here."

"Okay. Emmett!" She yells. Emmett's door opens and he strides out.

"What took you so long?" Bella asks.

"I've been ready but I try to stay in my room when you two are together. Never know what I might walk into." He teases.

"It was one time. And I didn't know you were home."

"Sure, sure."

She throws him a glare before softening as she looks him over. "You look very handsome tonight, Em."

"I always look hot."

She lets out a scoffing sound then whirls back around to me. "We ready?"

"Yes."

She grabs her clutch and, on the way, out I grab an umbrella. Rain is on the forecast as per usual.

Marcus is waiting for us also per usual.

"If his nose goes any further up in the air, he might just drown tonight." Bella whispers in my ear. I choke down a laugh and school my features.

"Your Highness, Mr. McCarty, Ms. Swan." Each name got a different tone. By the time he was done greeting us, I could practically see the disdain dripping off his tongue. Bella remains stoic.

We all get situated in the car. Bella and I across from Emmett and Marcus.

"When we get there, I will escort your guests to a table I have arranged for them and you will join your family for the procession before being seated at your table."

Bella raises her eyebrow but remains quiet. I wonder if she is feeling ill.

"That won't be necessary, Marcus. Bella and Emmett will remain with me and will be joining us for the procession."

"You surely can't be serious, Your Highness? That is simply not done. Only family is allowed."

I look him dead in the eye. "Let me enunciate very clearly for you since you don't seem to be comprehending. I have decided that Bella and Emmett will be joining the family procession this year. Bella will be on my arm as my girlfriend. Emmett will be on Rosalie's arm as her date. No further discussion with you is necessary or wanted. That will be all."

Marcus nods once, curtly, then focuses on his phone.

"Way to go, Charming." Bella murmurs next to me.

"It's far beyond time I stood up for you." I whisper back. I kiss her forehead before I withdraw and there is silence on the way to the ball.

We pull up to Grosvenor House Hotel where my mother picked to have her party. There is a red carpet so Marcus gets out first, then Emmett. I look to Bella.

"You ready to dazzle them, Miss Swan?"

"How many times do I have to tell you? I was born for this."

I smirk then knock lightly on the window to indicate I am ready to get out. I exit the vehicle then bend down to help her out, ignoring all the flash photography and yells of the paparazzi. She lithely steps out and puts her hand in the crook of my arm. We plaster smiles on our face as we face the chaos our arrival has caused.

"Bella, are you the next Princess of England?"

"Edward, are you going to marry Bella? What does King Carlisle think of her?"

"Is this just for fun or are you serious?"

"Is no one in the UK good enough for you? Lady Kathryn said Bella is just a lacking replacement for her."

That one takes the mick out of me but Bella squeezes my arm in warning as she keeps her easy smile. We move past the rag reporters and pose for the actual press. Several with us and then I step away for her to pose alone. She is definitely in her element, making it look effortless. When she joins me again, we are ushered into the entrance to join my family in a side room for us to make our entrance. Marcus is huddled next to my father but when we enter the room, Marcus retreats to the wall away from the family.

"Edward. Ms. Swan." My father greets us.

Bella curtseys to both my parents. "Your Highnesses."

Once that's done, she kisses both of my mother's cheeks. "Happy Birthday, ma'am."

"Thank you, Bella. You look lovely."

"Thank you."

"Is everyone ready to get this party started?" Alice asks.

We all nod our assent and I hear the music start. We line up in way of rank- Rosalie and Emmett, then Jasper and Alice, Bella and I, then my parents. I take Bella's fingers lightly and raise my arm up between us. The others do the same.

I look at Bella, "It's show time, as you Yanks like to say."

"We Yanks don't say that. Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice said that."

I shrug. "I thought it sounded quite swell."

"No one outside of 1950 says that either."

I cut my eyes and make a face at her which makes her giggle.

"Edward." My father admonishes as it gets near our turn.

I make a show of rolling my eyes and she stifles her grin, then takes a breath as it's now our turn.

I am not oblivious to the stifled gasps which I am sure Rosalie also received as this was simply not done. We make our way to our table that is sat up on a stage area. We remain standing and with a swell of music, my parents enter. Once they settle in next to us, we sit and then everyone else does as well.

Dinner is served. We dine on steamed fillet of halibut with watercress mousse followed by lamb with herb stuffing, spring vegetables and a sport sauce, a decadent strawberry sable with lemon verbena cream made with French sable biscuits stacked with cream and fresh fruit. Coffee and petit fours polished off the meal.

"I cannot eat like this every day." Bella groans.

"Well, it doesn't hold a candle to the Whopper but it'll do."

"I'll drink to that." She agrees, as she takes a sip of her champagne.

A clinking interrupts our private bubble.

My father is standing.

"Thirty years ago, I met a lovely woman called Lady Esme at the urging of my father. I was determined not to take a liking to her but as you all well know, that is simply impossible. My father did know best, I know now." I don't miss the pointed look towards me nor does anyone else I'm sure. He turns to my mother. "You are the best that has ever happened to me and you make me a better man and king. Thank you for choosing to stay by my side all these years. Happy Birthday."

"Happy Birthday," we all chant in unison.

"I am told the casino is set up in the other ball room so if you'll kindly adjourn towards that room. Thank you all for coming."

There is quite the loud bustling as everyone does as told.

"Well that wasn't at all obvious, was it?" Bella remarks.

I look at her expectantly.

"That side eye during his speech. If anyone was waiting on his public commentary on our relationship, they just got it loud and clear." She's not upset, rather bemused.

I am just focusing on the fact that she admits this is a relationship. Small victories are victories nonetheless.

"Never mind that. Shall we?" I offer her my arm and we join everyone in the other room.

It's decorated to the max. On one side, is the casino complete with card tables, craps and roulette wheels. Servers are dressed as casino workers. On the other side, is a dance floor complete with a stage that has a band playing instrumental music.

"I don't know what I want to do more; hold you close to me while we dance or school you in craps." I remark.

"As if, Charming, but dance. Always dance."

And dance we do. I relish holding her close as we spin and sway. She's a fabulous dance partner though halfway through, she removes her shoes. She shrugs at my laugh.

"My feet hurt and it's wholly unnecessary."

"I'm just happy you set them down. My nose just now healed. Or should I say h-e-e-l-e-d." I snort at my horrible joke as she groans.

"That was all sorts of bad, Charming."

"I think I'm funny."

"You'd be the only one." She teases.

Emmett cuts in at one point and I dance with my sister, but I can't stand being away from her so I steal her back.

"Can we slip out for a moment?" She asks.

"Yes. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine just a little warm."

I escort her to the room we were in when we arrived and she motions for us to sit. She suddenly seems nervous and now, so am I.

"What is it, Bella?"

"Nothing bad. At least, I don't think so."

"Okay." I patiently wait until she is ready.

"When we first entered this agreement, it was with the understanding that this was only temporary."

"I thought this wasn't bad news." I interrupt. So much for patience but I didn't like where this was going.

"Let me finish, Charming." Said so sternly, I almost cowered a bit.

"But as much as I fought this, I realized that I was fighting the inevitable. I know that we still have insurmountable obstacles with all this but I'm in. I'm all in."

"Are you saying…" I hated to get my hopes up but I had my hopes up.

"I love you, Charming."

I couldn't stop myself from dragging her up off the settee, picking her up and spinning her around the room.

I set her down and kissed her breathlessly.

"I'll make you the happiest woman there ever was, I swear to you." I promise.

"You already do." She says softly.

"Are you going to move here or are we going to have to do this apart for a while? I can be patient… to a degree. I know it's a lot to ask of anyone. I have a lot of luggage attached to me."

"Baggage. You have a lot of baggage." She gently corrects. "We have time to figure this all out. I just wanted to tell you and I couldn't wait any longer."

I hug her again. "I'm utterly thrilled you did."

"We should go back out there before we are missed."

I make an exaggerated display of gallantry and escort her back into the room. Along the way we pass Kate and her family but ignore their scoffs, the unpleasantries they are whispering loudly and Kate's knowing smirk. Because my Bella loves me.

We play some games and win some money for charity. Bella charms everyone who greets us and puts them at ease. She discreetly poses for some pictures and signs some autographs. She waves away apologies at them breaking protocol.

I have her in my arms once again as we dance to an instrumental version of Say You Won't Let Go.

I softly sing to her;

'I'm so in love with you
And I hope you know
Darling your love is more than worth its weight in gold
We've come so far my dear
Look how we've grown
And I wanna stay with you until we're grey and old
Just say you won't let go
Just say you won't let go'

Her fathomless eyes are just a bit teary as I lean down to kiss her.

However, we are interrupted…

"If I may steal Ms. Swan for a dance."

As well as I know my father, I also know this is not a request. I smile apologetically at Bella then hand her off to my father with more than a little of a warning look. My father is all false innocence as he whisks her away.

My mother takes Bella's place and I oblige her.

"You love her very much."

I don't bother denying it because my mother knows me and I know she is on my side privately if not publicly. She does not go against my father on many occasions.

"She's lovely."

"But?"

"No, but. What are you to do?"

"Whatever I have to."

She closes her eyes at what my answer indicates but says no more, instead choosing to kiss my cheek and wishing me luck.

I stare at the couple dancing several feet away and hope he doesn't undo all that's been accomplished tonight.

***TAP***

Bella

"I see where your son got his dancing ability." I remark, keeping my tone light.

"That is about all my son got from me it seems." He responds, his tone rueful. "You've been a formidable adversary, Ms. Swan, but I'm afraid your time here must end; at least as far as my son is concerned. I've let this ruse go on for a bit but he needs to start focusing on his future. And you're not it. I've decided to let him court Lady Kathryn which was his initial goal, was it not?"

I'm so speechless, I can't even hide even hide my surprise.

"It's nothing personal. You're breathtakingly lovely and under different circumstances, you would be exactly what I would want for Edward."

"Is this about me being American, an actress or my tattoos?" I ask, finally finding my voice.

"All of the above, my dear." His voice is gentle. "I have to find him a suitable queen."

"And you think Kathryn is?" I scoff.

"No, but up until you, she is who he wanted. My hands are tied."

"But Edward's aren't."

"I beg your pardon?"

"King Edward the 8th. Wallis Simpson. Does any of that ring a bell for you?"

His eyes are thunderous at my implication.

"I mean, Alice is most suitable to be queen. It could work out quite nicely."

"Are you threatening me?"

"No, Sir. This is not what I want or even my idea. I loathe the idea of having my name branded that way for all eternity in future history books. It's just a friendly warning of what he will do. He loves me, Sir. And against all my better judgment, I love him. Why can't you just accept it and we can figure this out?"

We stop moving abruptly. I guess we aren't playing nice in the public eye anymore.

"I will never accept this!" His voice is as thunderous as his eyes were. I back away from the his vitriol as everything around us becomes deadly silent. "You will never be his wife! You are completely unsuitable for the role. For this family. For my son! I will die first before this ever happens! And if you think he will forsake this family for you, you are sadly mistaken. I…I will...never...never...let...it...happen." He clutches his chest and falls to the floor in a crumpled heap.

Chaos ensues as his protective detail shoves everyone, including me, back. Esme lurches forward, screams her husband's name then cries for someone to call the medics. A doctor or two come forward to help, shouting for everyone to give them some room. The room is cleared as CPR is performed. His family, Emmett and I stand helplessly in shock as the medics come in record time and get him somewhat stable and into the ambulance before whisking him away.

Marcus takes control. "Your Majesty, we must get to King Edward's at once." She nods, fearfully. We all move to follow them. Marcus gets the Queen and the others in a car then turns to Edward. "Until your father has recovered, you are in charge. I know you want to be with him, but a press release must be prepared. Also, his list of medications is in his office, second drawer on the left. I will keep you informed but sir, this is your duty. I will see you upon your return."

Edward nods solemnly and we are guided to another car and whisked toward the opposite direction of where we need to be.

I can sense the turmoil and know he needs to process this quietly. So, I remain silent.

If only I had done so half an hour ago.

Next chapter hopefully up within a week or so.