CHAPTER THIRTEEN

I felt a great sense of accomplishment to get Bella over the first step and across the threshold without another panic attack. I could feel her channeling all her energy into squeezing my hand. It was a great indicator for when I would need to slow down and console her. I could see her taking a deep breath every couple of minutes as her gaze traveled around the grand entrance. I probably should have taken her through the back. It was a little less daunting. I guess I felt that every introduction to my home should be made through the grand entrance. The high ceilings and marble floors with tapestries and beautiful famous artwork hanging on the walls were something I took pride in.

The staff who had welcomed us, I was sure had been dismissed when I saw the house's head chamberlain approach.

"Isabella Swan, this is Bennett, the palaces head chamberlain. Anything you need or wish for, all you have to do is ask," I introduced.

"How do you know my last name?" Bella asked me out the side of her mouth.

I would have laughed at Bennett's face if the situation were funny.

"I saw it on your essay," I murmured.

Bennett didn't need to know why I was bringing home a girl who didn't think I even knew her last name.

"How do you do?" Bella replied softly.

"I am well Miss Swan. Your Highness, if I could have a word?" Bennett said turning to me.

I let go of Bella's hand, "Would you mind waiting a moment? Feel free to explore the room," I asked hoping she would be brave enough to be left alone. This unfortunately would be the first of many times I would need to step aside for a private word.

Bella gave a small smile and nodded. I walked with Bennett towards the side room. I needed to go over a few things with him as well.

"Sir, we have already prepared the Chesterfield Suite for your guest and I have assigned Miss Tanya to oversee Miss Swan's stay,"

"No, that won't do. Please put Angela on the Chesterfield Suite," I advised.

"Angela does not have the seniority nor the knowledge to handle such an important guest," he replied.

"I don't care. Miss Swan needs a friend more than a servant. Angela would be a better fit. I want Miss Swan to feel at home and comfortable here. It is imperative that this is achieved. If anyone should have a problem, please send them to me."

I knew Tanya would never be the person to set up Bella with. She was a gossip and catty. Angela was newer but her good-hearted nature shined through and that was exactly the kind of person I wanted near Bella if I was going to show her that living here was not only possible but great too.

"As you wish. I will reassign Tanya to Princess Rosalie."

My blood ran cold.

"Princess Rosalie is here?" I asked.

"She is set to arrive on Tuesday. Her Majesty made some indication that she could be here for a while."

Crap.

I sighed. "All right. I will deal with that later. I need to get back to Miss Swan."

"One last thing, Sir," Bennett looked a little uneasy, "His Majesty is set to arrive back with Queen Esme within the hour. Do you wish me to…brief them on our house guest?"

I gave a little smile, "I don't think that will be necessary. I have a feeling Mr. Whitlock has already taken care of that. If you could send Seth along with an assortment of fruit and breads, that would be greatly appreciated."

I turned and went off to find Bella. I wasn't so naive to believe that Jasper hadn't told my parents of Bella's impending arrival. He had to keep up the appearance of his position even if he had backed off from his duties while we were in Washington. It wouldn't do either of us any good to keep something so important from my parents until my arrival. In a way it would make things easier.

"Feeling bored already?" I asked when I returned to find Bella standing directly in the middle of the room exactly where I had left her.

"I've been afraid to move. I feel like one step in the wrong direction will have me knocking over some statue that has been here for hundreds of years and possibly tearing into one of these beautiful canvases. I don't know how you live here? If I grew up here I would have surly ruined something priceless."

I laughed, "Well, then I guess I would have to tell you about the time when Jasper and I were twelve and decided to have a fencing duel on the staircase that led to one of us, I won't say who, stabbing a portrait of my great grandfather King Henrik III that was painted by Thomas Lawrence himself. My mother didn't speak to me for a week and Jasper stayed home afraid of incurring my parents wrath."

"I could almost picture it," Bella replied.

"Come on, we can explore the house later. I want to get you settled in," I said taking her hand.

I knew I didn't have long before my parent's arrival and I needed to get Bella upstairs and stashed away while I went to speak with them. I didn't know what was worse; telling Bella the truth of me or the argument that my parents and I were about to have.

We started up the grand staircase, the first of many.

"There are handrails for a reason. I would appreciate if you would use them," I advised.

Bella let out a groan, "And I would appreciate if you would stop talking about my clumsiness as if that were the only interesting thing about me."

I stopped her on the stair and turned to look her directly in the eye, "There are about a thousand more interesting things about you. Some of which I can't wait to share with you when we are finally somewhere private. But, I know you and this is only the beginning of all the possible places for one who has the super ability to trip over air, and one tumble down these stairs would be catastrophic."

Bella rolled her eyes and exaggerated her movement of placing her hand to the stair hand rail.

"So, I guess sliding down the banisters on my stomach is out for now?" She quipped.

"As much joy it would bring me to see your ass in such a position, I can think of far better things I rather see you straddle until this baby is born. After that, we can revisit all the ways you plan on giving the royal family heart issues."

I directed Bella up the staircase and proceeded toward our destination.

"One, two, and three archways till we reach the third door on the left. If you come from the main staircase, this will be the fastest way to get here," I explained.

"How would the royal family feel about bread crumbs?" She asked.

"Probably about as excited as banister sliding, I would imagine. This is the Chesterfield Suite. Named for a famous battle fought in Chesterfield."

I opened the door and let Bella walk in first. With slow trepidation she walked through. I blocked her exit in case this too was a little too hard to handle.

"O…kay," She managed. "Nice…a little fancy for my taste but I guess it will do." She turned back to me, "I suppose this means no sleep overs…. which I totally understand since we are staying in your parents' house."

I smiled and shook my head.

"There is a reason why you are in this room," I walked over toward one of two doors and unlocked it with a key Bennett had given to me. "My room just happens to be through here."

Bella gave a funny smile and bit her lip.

"I don't think I will need all this extra space. I mean this place could fit the entire upstairs of my father's house in it. Unless you…need me to give you your space?" she wondered.

"No, absolutely not but for the sake of appearances until we are married, we have to pretend that we are staying in separate rooms…"

"MARRIED?" She began to panic.

We had never brought up marriage before and it was a slip I instantly regretted.

"I…mean…I would hope someday…you might think on it," I stuttered.

I already knew that someday would come sooner than planned but after the day we had, Bella didn't need one more thing to process.

"Someday…I can do someday…"

I breathed a sigh of relief. She was at least allowing for the possibility. Bella turned back around to appraise the room once more.

"Bathroom?" She asked pointing toward the door on the right.

"Yes, and through that door over there," I said pointing to the door on the opposite side of the room, "That is your sitting room."

"Sitting room? There aren't enough places in here to sit?" She asked.

"It isn't proper to accept guests into your private quarters. So, that is your sitting room," I explained.

Bella was having trouble keeping herself from laughing.

"So, you are saying that if Alice wanted to drop by with the latest issue of Teen Beat and discuss the Hunk of the Month, we would have to do it in there. Would we have to wear corsets and drink tea as well?"

I gave her a look.

"Oh no! There will be no indignant looks from you. I found out about all of this less than twenty-four hours ago. The looks I could give you would be a Royal Flush to your paltry full house."

I tempered my response knowing that I was probably never going to hear the end of this. As much as I loved arguing, she had a card to play that would beat me every time. Thankfully, a knock on the door came to spare me.

"Bathroom?" Bella asked suddenly.

I pointed to the correct door and she quickly made herself scarce. I went over to her door and opened it to find Angela.

"Your Highness," She said.

"Perfect timing," I replied meaning more than one thing. I opened the door and let her come in. "I am going to need a complete wardrobe for Miss Swan to be delivered as soon as possible. And I do mean a complete wardrobe down to undergarments. I'm sure she might try and fight you but please do your best on guiding her to make smart choices."

It would be nice to see Bella in nice lingerie. From what I was able to see when she was packing, Bella never spent money on anything but necessities. I'm sure she found lingerie to be senseless, but I know I would appreciate seeing her in something sexier than an old ratty t-shirt. It had been too long since we had sex and I could feel myself yearn for the evening. With my parents on the way, it would need to wait until after dinner.

"As you wish, Sir," Angela replied.

Bella came out slowly as if she were checking to see the coast was clear.

"It's all right, my love," I reached out for her hand. "This is Angela. She will be your lady's maid."

Bella walked out and gave an uneasy smile "Hi…" She said and then asked awkwardly out the side of her mouth, "Edward, do I need a lady's maid?"

"Yes, sweetheart you will." I knew I didn't need to be so formal in Angela's company. "Angela, will help you in any way you need. She is a wealth of knowledge so even if I am not around, she can advise you."

"She's not going to try and dress me, is she?" Bella asked out the side of her mouth again.

Feeling a little embarrassed I decided that Angela should probably leave for this next part.

"If you'll excuse us," I said to Angela.

Angela gave a slight bow and retreated.

I sighed and turned back to Bella.

"I know this is a big adjustment. There is a lot to learn…Angela will help you. I picked her for you because she is the very best kind of person you could have on this endeavor. If she has advice, I would suggest you take it. She is not going to steer you wrong."

Bella looked at me with a question in her eyes.

"You're upset with me," She stated.

"No…I am…"

"No, I can tell when you hold back. Even though you managed to hide all of this from me, I still can read you fairly well, you know." She raised a challenging eyebrow.

I went and sat down on her bed, "I am trying to have patience, Bella."

Bella nodded and replied, "I think you need to have more." She walked toward the window and looked down at the pond below that we were outside staring out only moments before.

"You know Edward, this is really hard. I fell in love for a man. A man who said he wants to raise this baby with me. I, for a brief time thought that everything was perfect. But I'm not stupid. The moment you told me about this. You being…Prince Edward," She shakes her head. Calling me by my formal title was difficult for her. "This changes everything. It was one thing to believe that you would be heir to a business empire. I thought the worst I would have to endure was a couple charity dinners and late nights at the office but now, this…this is a hell of a lot more. This is…something that will change you from who I thought you were. This is…going to change me and don't say that it won't. Because if you do, you are either lying or naive. The expectations that will be on me to learn everything that it means to be royal is going to take me some time so yes, I do deal with it by…sarcasm and silly remarks. Right now, it's how I feel I'm going to make it through this because I do love you and if there were any question to that love, I would leave and never look back."

"I'm sorry," I quietly apologize. "You're right. I know everything you will have to give up. I…have been afraid to even go there because I feel as if any moment you will leave and never look back. I am so afraid of being honest with you because if I told you everything…I wouldn't blame you for leaving."

Bella walked over to me and sat beside me on the bed.

"Let me make this easier for you. If you lie to me again…I'm out. I…can't stay here and do all of this if I feel like I don't even have you in my corner and in return, I promise I won't run. No matter how many silly or preposterous things you throw at me. I have to be able to trust you…and you have trust me too."

I nodded and looked away. It was now or never to see if she truly meant what she said.

"Okay, here it goes," I sighed. "My parents will arrive any moment. They already know that you are here. I have to go and have a lengthy conversation with them. They are going to be upset with me for allowing myself to impregnate a…foreigner. However, after they come down from their anger there will be…expectations. First, they will expect us to become engaged. They will throw us a stuffy party with champagne, caviar and Mozart and they will announce it to everyone there. Then, they will expect us to be married before this baby is born. Preferably before you are showing. We can't have a child born out of wedlock. They will give you a title and you will have a lot of expectations befall you. Expectations that will go against every part of your nature." I took a breath before continuing, "After my father passes, I will be king…and you will be queen consort of Caldonia."

Bella sat there not looking at me as she allowed my words to sink in. I was waiting for her to leave. Bella had far too much to process for one day. Surely, she would break.

"Edward." She said quietly. "I need to ask you something. I need really think about this. Are you sure, you want to do this. I won't be upset if you change your mind. Being a father is a huge responsibility…but to be a father to a child that is not biologically yours…especially when doing so would be the biggest farce in I'm sure your countries royal history, you don't have to do this. I implore you…"

"Bella…this isn't a choice for me. I need you. I will do what needs to be done to keep you. Please don't question my loyalty."

She takes a deep breath in and mutters, "oh my god."

"As long as I have you…I can do anything," I replied honestly.

Bella nods slowly and squeezes my hand.

"All right…Prince Edward, I am ready for Princess classes 101."

I smile a little and place my hand on her cheek.

"Please don't call me Prince Edward when we are alone. There will be plenty of times when it will be expected from you…I don't want to have to hear it from your lips more than needs be. I need to know that I will always be the Edward you fell in love with."

Bella smiled and nodded, "Okay…but then don't call me Isabella or Miss Swan more than needs be. I hate Isabella and now I'm going to be saddled with that name for the rest of my life. My mother and her stupid obsession with daytime soap operas."

"I love the name Isabella…but soon enough, they will call you something else and there will be very few that will ever refer to you as Isabella ever again," I replied solemnly.

That was one of the hardest things I imagine Bella was going to have to come to understand. Even your name is taken away and replaced with a title so that you feel a little less human.

There was another knock on the door and it should be Seth with the food I requested for Bella. I got up once more from the bed and Bella did the same.

"I'm going to go and take a bath. I think I need to wash off the day," Bella quickly replied.

Every time there was someone at the door, I noticed Bella would try and make herself scarce. That was something I would get to the bottom of.

"Just wait a moment. There is someone I need to introduce you to," I told her.

Bella cringed and moved toward the bathroom door but didn't leave.

"Your Highness," Seth announced walking into the room with a large tray. "It's nice to have you home, sir."

"Thank you, Seth. Isabella, this is my valet, Seth, Seth may I introduce you to Isabella Swan."

"How do you do." Bella said standing behind the door with nearly only her head poking out. We would have to work on the proper way to greet it seemed.

"Pleasure to meet you, Miss. Swan" Seth took the tray and placed it on one of the tables.

"Before I take my leave, sir; the king and queen request an audience in the throne room," Seth said.

I sighed and closed my eyes.

"I will be along shortly," I replied. Seth left, and Bella was still hiding behind the door.

"My love, you don't need to hide every time there is a knock on the door," I said turning to Bella.

"I feel weird. Like I'm your dirty laundry…"

"You are not. So please stop acting so." I sighed.

"Thought it might be your parents…not sure if I want to meet them wearing this." She said brushing her hand along her t-shirt.

"You think my parents would come to my room?" I laughed. "Bella, it would take a small miracle to get my parents to this side of the palace. Why come here when they can order me to come to them?"

Bella seemed to relax a little.

"Can your bath wait until I return?" I asked.

"Why? Feeling a little dirty, Edward?" She jested.

"I don't want you slipping on the tile…" I started to say.

Bella threw up her hands and groaned loudly, "And on that note," She cut me off and turned to go into the bathroom. I followed on after her.

Bella turned on the facet to the large bathtub and I went over toward the cabinet and pulled a pile of towels out.

"Edward, you're driving me crazy," She said watching me place towels down along the floor.

"I am merely being preemptive," I explained.

Bella slowly stripped out of her clothes and stepped into the tub, sliding down to sit. Just seeing her naked was going to be my undoing.

"Care to join me?" She asked coyly.

"You know I have to meet with my parents," I replied irritated by her invitation. "Besides, I have dreamed of taking you in my bed for far too long and never thought it would be possible. Now that it is, that is where I plan on making love to you first."

Bella eased herself back to lay and allow the water to fill around her.

"It's a shame. At my father's house there were so many places we could make love. Here, I have a feeling we will be greatly limited," She said.

I came over and sat on the edge of the bathtub, "True, but there are so many positions we have yet to explore that I don't believe it could ever get boring for you."

I stood back up, "I have to go. Please be careful."

Bella rolled her eyes and I kissed her briefly on the lips before turning to leave.

"Edward," Bella called out after me and I turned back around. "You're going to the Throne Room? Is there really a throne?"

I nodded.

Bella fought her smile. "The throne that you will sit upon someday?"

I nodded again wondering what she was getting to.

"Then…perhaps when you're there today, just imagine me bouncing up and down on your dick while you sit upon it."

Instantly hard!

"Dammit Bella! Why would you say something like that to me now?"

She giggled and slide down further in the tub. I turned around refusing to see anymore of her naked body. It would take the whole walk to the Throne Room to try and calm myself down.

"I'll be getting you back for that, Miss Swan," I said leaving.

I found it rather difficult to get my dick to listen and calm down. Going in to talk to my parents while at full salute would not only be humiliating but would probably not do well for my case. I tried to picture anything but the naked Bella I had left and focused on the fight that was to come.

When I arrived, I saw Jasper standing outside looking nervous and irritated.

"It's about time," he said.

"Where's Alice?" I asked.

"I set her up in the Rose Room. I figured you wouldn't mind letting her stay. It would give Bella more allies," he explained.

"The pink room, how fitting," I replied. "You're right. I appreciate that,"

"Let's get this over with," he said leading the charge.

Jasper pushed open the door and there they were. My father on his throne. It was all a farce. He only did this because he knew it would make me nervous. Whenever I was in trouble, my father would speak to me in this room, believing that it gave him greater power. But today was different because I was not just fighting for myself; I would be fighting for my family.

"Mr. Whitlock. We will deal with you later," My father said dismissing Jasper.

"There is nothing to deal with, father. Jasper is not to blame for your house guest,"

"Your Highness," Jasper hissed under his breath to me.

"No," I said. "This is ridiculous, and you know it. You believed that my babysitter was supposed to keep me out of trouble, but Jasper is a friend and you will not take your anger of the situation out on him."

My father sat a little straighter on his throne and for only a second, Bella's words crept into my head and I pictured it. I tightened my fists. She was going to pay for this.

"Would you please leave, Mr. Whitlock. This is a family matter," My father said once again.

Jasper bowed slightly and backed out of the room.

I waited for him to leave before proceeding.

"What? No welcome home? No fruit basket?" I said sarcastically.

"Edward, would you please stop? This is a very serious situation." My mother spoke up. "We are not upset that you have chosen to bring Isabella home with you."

"You're not?" I asked surprised.

"When I last spoke with you…many months ago," She said, and I knew she was indicating that I hadn't called to speak to her again. "I knew then that it was a possibility. If I didn't want the girl here, I would have sent a plane straight away."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I thought my parents would be upset at me for bringing home a foreigner as my girlfriend.

"We just wished you would have let us know sooner. You don't always need to hide things from us. You're not a child anymore," My mother said.

"I didn't believe that you would be happy that I was in love with a foreigner. That you wanted me to marry someone…in good standing with Caldonia."

"You never liked the girls in good standing from Caldonia," My father grumbled.

"What we want and what you want are two different things but alas it is your life and you need to understand what bringing Isabella here means to not only us but for her as well."

My parents were being so unbelievably great that I almost hated to dash their speech.

"There's something you need to know about Isabella. I understand that what I have to say will upset you greatly. My apologies but…this will be the only apology you will hear from me."

My father and mother instantly held their breath and looked at me a tad freighted as they should be for what I was about to tell them.

"Isabella is pregnant."

There would be no word I could ever imagine to describe their faces. Silence as they both took in my words and I'm sure they were trying to figure out what to say first. My father seemed to be having some sort of fit. I could see his face begin to turn red but there were still no words. My mother looked grief stricken.

"How could you let this happen!" My father began to yell first. "Out of all the irresponsible…preposterous…dimwitted…"

Apparently, my father was at a loss to describe his feelings of me accurately.

"Was this something that she planned?" My mother asked and that pissed me off.

"WHAT? No! She didn't even know of my title till yesterday. And besides, she isn't that kind of person. She doesn't want all this. I imagine that she would rather us return to Washington, but she agreed to be here and do this for me and our baby."

"Our baby," My mother cried softly. "Edward, I know she comes from humble means and has no one."

"You had her investigated?" I asked.

"Of course, we did. When Mr. Whitlock told us that you would be bringing her home, we needed to do our homework since she will most likely be the next Queen," My father snapped. "I can't believe you would do something like this. You told us that we could trust you to go to Washington and now you bring home an irresponsible nightmare!"

"You can say what you want about me, but Isabella is anything but a nightmare. She may not have been what you wanted, but she is what you got. She isn't what I thought I could ever have…she is what I dreamed of."

"Edward, we have to look at this from every angle. Being what we are…" My mother started.

"As far as I'm concerned, mother, you have two choices as I see it. You can throw us out or you can get on board. Either way, I am not running from my obligations. Yes, I was stupid. I did a stupid thing. It was my lack of control and in the heat of the moment and now it has resulted in a baby. But I'm not going to walk away from my mistakes. I am scared. I am worried about the future, but this is something I have to do. It's not this baby's fault that his or her father was irresponsible. It shouldn't have to pay for Bella's and my mistakes."

My father and mother stood there refusing to say another word.

"I want to make you proud. To be the man you want to sit on throne after you, father but…I can't do that if I run away from this. Talk it over and let me know what you decide. I'll be in my room,"

I took a calming breath and went to take my leave. I pushed open the door to the Throne Room and quickly climbed the stairs nearly feeling as if at any moment my father may shoot me in the back.

It was a relief to have it over and out with but there was still an ominous feeling as I wondered what my parents were saying to one another. As much as I wanted to stick around and eavesdrop, I thought it would be better to get as much distance between them and I as possible.

Besides, I needed to get back to Bella. She was the only one who could help me now. I didn't want to tell her too much of what was said because I didn't need her to feel guilty. Taking on the responsibility to be this child's father would mean that I would take on the criticism as well, but it was worth it. I didn't care if my parents questioned my irresponsibility and blamed me for something I never did. In the end, if Bella and I managed to make it through this, nothing else would matter.

AN: THANK YOU SOO MUCH FOR ALL THE BIRTHDAY WISHES! TRULY ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF MY BDAY. SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG TO GET TO YOU. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ AND REVIEW!

DISCLAIMER: STORY IS MINE. CHARACTER BELONG TO STEPHENIE MEYER.