CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I am somewhere between sleep and awake when then next morning greets me. I feel myself reliving every moment of my first time with Bella in this bed. It was near perfect if not for one thing. I was still frustrated that it ended the way it did.
There she was with her legs in the air as I took my time pushing in and out of her. I could see her fighting her frustrations as her nails dug into the wood of one posts on my four-posted bed. I refused to go faster or deeper wanting to draw it out as long as possible. Unfortunately for Bella when we would have make up sex, it was my way of revenge for the argument. I controlled when she would orgasm and making her wait brought me even more pleasure.
"Please," I hear her softly beg.
I give in all to easily because I know that once I see her cum, I won't be far behind. So, I up my pace and bury my face in her neck, nibbling on anything I find. I grab at her butt and pull her closer wanting to push myself as deep as possible. I'm awarded with her sighs of delight and she is ready. I pull back because I want to see her face to have this moment to recall at a later time. At the last second, Bella grabs a pillow and pulls it over her face, screaming into it. I continue attempting to pull the pillow off her face but with one last thrust, I can't help myself and I find myself filling her completely.
She pulled the pillow off her face and I pull out sliding down beside her, my hand brushing along her body as I go.
"Why did you put a pillow on your face?" I asked running my hand along the surface of her stomach. I was rather curious because in the times before this she had never done such a thing.
"You know why," She huffed.
"No, I don't, "I replied irritated.
Bella blows her hair out of her face with mouth and pulled herself up to look at me.
"Because…I don't want some…hand maiden or…chamberlin walking by to hear me screaming. We are in a whole different ball game here. I pretty sure all those expectations everyone keeps talking about, keeping my voice down during…amorous affairs is one of them."
"You're being ridiculous. The walls are thick and even if someone were to hear you, it is there job to not comment," I replied.
"Yes…and I'm sure there is no gossip mill in a place like this," she said with the roll of her eyes.
"And if I ever hear anyone disparage your name…I say off with their heads," I joked climbing back on top of her.
She giggled, and I couldn't help myself stop and appreciate how beautiful she looked when she was so care free.
"What?" she asked wondering why I had paused.
"I just…I feel guilty. I'm getting everything I ever dreamed of and you are giving everything up."
I felt sadden by my revelation, the scales didn't seem balanced. I worried it never would be.
"Do you love me, Edward?" she asked once again.
"More than anything, Bella."
She nodded and gave me a little smile, "Then…that's all that matters to me."
I laid back down beside her and pulled her to me. I asked if she was still tired and she nodded. I would let her sleep now but once we woke up, I needed to make sure that we didn't nap. We were never going to get on Caldonian time if we kept sleeping.
When I finally did open my eyes, I see that once again, Bella is not there. I hoped the fear I felt every time she wasn't there would soon go away. I needed to have faith in her. I look in my bathroom before heading off to her suite and once again, she wasn't there.
I felt myself becoming worked up when she rushed through the door and closed it quickly behind her as if she were being chased. Dressed in her pink robe with matching pink slippers, she attempts to calm her breathing as her fingernails surly make a mark digging into the solid oak door.
"Okay, I am like never going to leave this room again! I mean it's a pretty big room. I could probably clock a half mile if I walked the perimeter, including the sitting room and the bathroom and your room…"
She was babbling. It was never good when Bella was so stressed that she resulted in babbling.
"Bella, what happened," I cut her off from her rambling.
She looked at me and suddenly seemed very irritated.
"You know, it wasn't enough that I already met one royal member in my pajamas but now two royal members. This is not how I saw this going…"
"Wait a minute, what do you mean? What other person did you meet?" I asked once again interrupting her. There weren't exactly a lot of options left so I knew my question was silly but somehow I hoped she was being sarcastic.
"Your mother, Edward! The Queen of Caldonia herself. You told me she never comes to this side of the castle,"
"Palace," I corrected.
"Whatever," She snapped.
"Why would you go out there in the first place, especially in your pajamas?" I asked.
"We went out last night in our pajamas! I was looking for Angela or Seth."
I smacked my hand to my forehead. "Bella, you pick up the phone if you wish to speak with one of them."
"How was I supposed to know that!" She screeched.
"What did my mother want?" I asked hoping to get somewhere with this conversation.
"She wants to have tea in an hour. She looked me up and down and said, if that will be enough time," Bella replied in her best fake accent. "My god! I will never get in her good graces now. I could practically hear her inner monologue. Oh, you damn millennials and your loosey goosey ways.
"Okay first of all, my mother would never use the words millennials or loosey goosey," I replied trying to keep myself from laughing but seemed to be failing miserably
"This isn't funny, Edward!" Bella huffed.
"It will be okay. I will talk to my mother. You don't have to go," I said trying to calm her down.
"Of course, I have to go. You are determined to make me look like a coward."
"Well, you are kind of acting like one," I laughed.
"Shut up!" She snapped.
I took her in my arms and was thankful that she had the good sense to at least wear a robe when leaving the room. I couldn't imagine what my mother would have thought seeing her in that light pink lingerie. Bella and I might be having an entirely different conversation if she had done that.
"You are amazing and already you seem to have impressed my father and he is not an easy man to do so with so please don't worry and be the charming girl I fell in love with."
"I don't know if one would describe me as charming when you and I first met," She replied.
"Oh, you definitely were not but by the time I knew that I loved you, you charmed me then."
Bella seemed to be calming down. She turned to look at me a little less frazzled then she had been just moments before.
"When did you know you loved me?" She asked.
"At the coffee shop. Which is why I stupidly made the mistake of ending things with you. I already knew I was in love but didn't see this ending any other way, with you in Washington and me here. When do you think you fell in love with me?" I asked dying to know the moment.
"Washing dishes with you…I already felt strongly about you but as silly as that night was, there was a moment, and everything changed for me."
I began to kiss her and feel the need to be inside her once more but Bella feeling my intentions quickly put an end to it. She snapped back and then looked for the nearest clock and once again, she began to freak out.
"I only have forty-five minutes until I am supposed to be in the…Crimson Room. How am I going to be ready on time?" She asked running into the bathroom.
I sighed and went over to the telephone and picked it up.
"Angela please." I waited for Angela to come to the phone. "Miss Swan needs attending to."
I hung up the phone and went over to the door to watch as she whirled around the bathroom.
"Where is my toothpaste? It was right here!" She said frantically looking around.
"Was it near empty?" I asked already knowing the answer.
"Yes, so what?"
"I'm sure Angela will bring up a new tube," I replied.
"Okay…but I wasn't done with that tube and it was American toothpaste. Lord knows what kind of paste they have here."
"If it isn't to your liking, we will send out for some."
"Oh really?" She asked rhetorically. "And just who would pay for that super special toothpaste."
"The crown," I replied already sensing where this was headed.
"And where does the crown get their money?" She asked.
"From the taxes of the people," I stated knowingly.
"I thought as much," She replied. "I think I will do my part to not be so wasteful. I don't need to live off the hard earnings from the people."
"Why, your president does," I said already seeing the steam coming from her ears. I guess Jasper was correct. I did love a good debate far too much.
"Hey, you piss me off and right back at you!" I said quickly. "Besides who would you rather run the country? Your president or me and the tooth paste police."
Bella pointed a threatening finger at me, "You are just trying to pull me into a debate so that I am late to meet with your mother."
"You started it!" I accused her.
"Out!" She snapped pushing me out the door, "If you're not going to help me, then you are against me."
I rolled my eyes at her absurdity but acquiesced. I went over to the door and let Angela in.
"Your Highness," She greeted.
"Will you please help her get ready for tea with my mother in the Crimson Room. Perhaps give her some quick tips on tea etiquette. Also, please stay with her. She will need your help getting around the palace until she learns where everything is."
"As you wish," Angela replied.
I went off to my room and hoped that Angela could work a small miracle of calming Bella down and getting her properly dressed. I knew that Bella had never been exposed to a tea before and worse off tea with the queen. I had a feeling that she would be returning to me in a state that would rival the one she was already in.
Before Bella headed down to see my mother she stopped by my room, so I could look her over. She looked perfect, in a white flowery dress and her hair pinned back, she certainly looked the part.
"You look amazing. Good job, Angela." I praised Angela who like I had requested stood by ready to escort my love. "Please try not to be nervous. It doesn't matter what is said or what happens. Nothing is going to change how much I love you."
"Thank you," She softly replied. "I needed to hear that."
I walked her over to the door and she went out with Angela.
Before she got too far I called out to her, "Oh…and just so you know. The dress…it was also provided by the people."
Bella's jaw dropped, and her face turned red. She prepared to storm back over to me, but I quickly reminded her she was going to be late.
"You better not be here when I get back, Your Majesty!" She yelled.
"Actually, my lady, it's Your Highness," Angela corrected her.
"I know!" Bella huffed.
I couldn't control my laughing. I did feel sorry for Angela. She didn't know that Bella was calling me that to mock me. It seemed as if like Jasper, she too felt the need to mock me with the title. I returned to my room where I would indeed await her return. I felt nerves begin to come.
I cleaned myself up and dressed for the day, but I kept checking the clock wondering how long this tea was to last. I didn't like the idea of Bella going out to have tea with my mother especially when the last time my mother and I were in the same room, we did not leave on good terms with one another. Was it too much to hope that Bella would win over my mother?
I sighed. No, I couldn't imagine that happening so quickly. My mother wasn't like my father. It seemed as if women always took their royal obligations a tad more seriously than the men. Bella had been brought here from a foreign country with no monarchy which meant that she didn't hold the same reverence for the crown as our citizens did. Bella wasn't even upper class which means she didn't have the same values that my mother was raised with. I already knew all the faults my mother could find with Bella and that was before we even discussed the baby.
I sat on the bay window in my room next to the door that separated our rooms, so I would have a clear shot when Bella did finally return. I kept reminding myself to calm down and that I could speak to my mother if needs be. I wouldn't have her chasing off Bella even if she didn't think she was good enough to sit beside my throne one day.
I had just looked back down to the book I was reading when Bella burst through the door of the Chesterfield Suite and ran towards the restroom.
Somehow, this did not seem like a good omen.
I quickly got up and went over to the bathroom to hear her hurling into the toilet. I took a towel out of the cabinet and went to her. I got down beside her and helped her place her knees on the towel while rubbing her back.
When Bella was seeming like she was nearly finished, she pulled on the handle and flushed the contents away. I tried to not focus on the smell knowing how unimportant it was.
"All I have to say…don't you ever expect me to eat another pork butter roll again!"
I cringed already fearing where this was headed.
"Bella…did you throw up on my mother?" I asked half kiddingly.
"No, I try to only throw up on one member of the royal family every year and thankfully that honor was bestowed upon you," She replied sarcastically.
"Was it as bad as you imagined?"
I was dying for information. If I had a little more notice I could have sent her in with a wire so I could hear everything being said. I should have gone and waited outside the Crimson Room, ready to take charge in case my mother said something to upset Bella.
Bella seemed to replay the whole scene in her head.
"No…I guess not. She was…actually quite pleasant," Bella replied.
I was so confused. How were my parents able to cool off so quickly from the news I had given them? Were they up to something?
"What did you talk about?" I pressed.
Bella sighed and began to stand up which I quickly helped her with. She went over and began to pull out her tooth brush and tooth paste once more to erase the taste from her mouth.
"We talked about expectations and timelines and …then she told me it was my duty to make sure you were sexually gratified."
"WHAT!" I roared.
Bella started giggling through her toothpaste filled mouth.
"You should have seen your face," She mumbled with her mouth open. She spit really quickly, and I gave her a look.
"I don't know, Edward. Like I said she was civil and at least I didn't feel like she would love nothing more than to push me and my bastard child off your grand marble staircase."
"Of course, she doesn't," I said standing up for my mother even though I wasn't too sure myself.
"Look, it's over and done with. She is expecting us at dinner however. I guess she wants to talk with you and make sure we are all on the same page, my dear fiancé," Bella said placing her arms around my neck.
"Fiancé? We aren't even engaged." I told her.
"I was under the impression we already were."
"I haven't even proposed to you, yet."
"I was under the impression that wasn't necessary. And let me tell you, if you hadn't been upfront with me on this tasty little morsel, I might not have come back from tea."
"That may have been my mother's point," I sighed.
Bella shrugged and let me go heading back over to the bed.
"It is quite alright. I'm not the kind of girl that would get all poofy over a perfect proposal. It is certainly not needed," She said.
"Of course it is," I declared.
"Let's say you proposed. I mean, I'm sure it would have been a proposal that had been done a thousand times and for the most part, is there really any good way to do it? Ring in the Champagne. Unsanitary. In the garden. Bugs. On the beach. Sand. On the Jumotron. Cliché. On a boat. Frizzy hair. On a gondola. Tipping. During sex. Heat of the moment. At a grand ball. Hell no! Plus, I know you would only be proposing out of obligation so spare me. It's fine. I never thought I would be married so I had no childhood fantasy of this romantic perfect proposal."
Hearing her rattle off all the apparently worse ways a person could propose made me feel even more nervous. It was something that kept popping up in my mind since she agreed to come to Caldonia. I was most certainly going to propose and not out of obligation but because I wanted that moment. Now, it kind of felt like she stole my thunder. Any proposal I imagined up would probably be met with an eye roll from her.
"Bella, please don't think that I am proposing to you out of some obligation. In fact, I haven't proposed to you, so you haven't earned the right to call me your fiancé. I would appreciate if you would take that back."
She rolled her eyes at me and I could feel my palms begin to sweat. I would definitely need some help if I didn't want to be met with that sight when I finally did pull out the ring. I kept my frustrations at bay and knew who I would need to see.
"Let's forget about all this…how about we go and check in on Alice?"
"Alice is here?" Bella asked eagerly.
I may have failed to mention this information. I cringed hoping she wouldn't be upset with me.
"Yes…Jasper thought you might like to have the company. She's been staying in the Rose Suite."
"Edward, you should have told me. What I wouldn't do for just a little taste of home right now," She replied.
I took Bella through the palace, pointing out as much as I could on our way. The palace was built like a huge square and in the middle an outside garden. My parents stayed on the second floor in the North side. We were staying on the west side and Alice was in the apartments on the East side. I still hadn't managed to give Bella a proper tour, but it would have to wait. I wasn't sure if Alice would be in her room in the middle of the afternoon, but I hoped she would be there.
We knocked on the door and Alice sang, "Come in."
Bella looked at me before opening the door.
"Yeah, the walls are real thick," She replied with a threatening look. I guess there was cause for the pillow after all.
We entered the Rose Suite and Alice nearly bounced off the bed to come over and greet us.
"They're you are! Oh my god, isn't this just the most fabulous place in the whole wide world. Who would ever want to go to Disneyland after being here, with these amazing sheets and look at all this food that seems to magically appear."
It seemed that Alice had no problem adjusting to palace life.
I see Bella looking around and I almost wondered if she was mentally calculating every expense.
"This is a nice room. Where's Jasper?" Bella asked.
Alice went to lounge about on the seat near the window. I could see that Alice's things were strewn about in the room. I wanted to tell Bella, that this is why we had Sitting Rooms, but I needed to get in Alice's good graces and commenting on her mess didn't seem like the way to go about it.
"Apparently there is a big to-do. Some…royal lady is showing up today and it's an all hands-on deck situation."
My stomach drops when I realize that she is talking about Rosalie. I did not want to have to deal with her presence just yet.
Bella looked over at me and I felt the need to clarify.
"My cousin is coming in today. I was warned of her impeding arrival," I explained.
"Warned?" Bella asked catching my tone.
"Rosalie can be a bit of a…what's the word…" I pretended to think. "Bitch."
"You mean…Princess Rosalie is coming here?" Alice asked.
"She's a princess?" Bella asked.
I sighed. "Yes, she is and believe me when I tell you, she won't let you forget it."
"Oh my god! Princess Rosalie is one of my favorites. She has thee best style out all the princesses," Alice gushed.
"You act like she's a Disney Princess. How do you know all of this?" Bella asked flabbergasted.
"I did my homework," Alice put her nose in the air, "On the plane ride over here, I began to memorize all the royals…thought it might be a good thing to know if I was coming to this country."
Bella sighed and sat down with her fingers rubbing her temples.
"I will never get all of this stuff down. I wasn't the kind of girl who mooned over celebrities and read People magazine. You should marry Alice! She is far more prepared for this life than I am," Bella said.
"You've only been at this two days," I replied going to her, "Besides, I am pretty sure Alice is spoken for. In addition, I know you and when you put your mind to something, you learn everything there is to learn. You read and educate yourself on nearly any and every topic."
"Yeah Bella," Alice chimed in, "Just pretend you're reading one of those long boring books of yours. Plus, you have me and I am like the Spark Notes on the royal family."
Alice picked up a plate and placed a few items from her tray on it.
"Pork butter roll?" Alice asked.
I would have laughed if I could, but the moment Bella saw the roll and turned a shade of green before she went flying off towards the restroom. Of course, she had the wrong door, so Alice quickly pointed to the correct door. Bella slapped her hand over her mouth to keep whatever was planning to come out, in for the moment.
"Did I do something wrong?" Alice asked.
I shook my head, "You might want to hide these."
Alice jumped up and went to put the rolls in her closet. I stood there knowing that it was the perfect moment to ask Alice about the proposal but felt awkward doing it.
"So, out with it," Alice said looking me over.
"What do you mean?"
"I've known you for nearly four months. You don't think I can't tell when you want to ask me a question? You always get this funny expression on your face and your feet do this weird move," She replied attempting to mimic me.
I sat down quickly and let out a long breath.
"Bella thinks that proposals are unnecessary and that I don't need to do anything special," I started.
"You do know that's crap, right?" She replied.
"She pretty much gave me a breakdown of how every way a person could possibly propose is either silly, stupid, a cliché or dangerous. She said she wasn't that kind of girl and I should just forget it, but I want to do something special. She may have not pictured getting married or proposed to, but I did. I would love nothing more than to see her face light up when I presented her with my grandmother's ring. To see her eyes, fill with tears…but now I'm scared that anything I do she will just mock," I confessed.
Alice looked at me with a soft reassuring smile.
"She was right you know. Most proposals to the outside viewer do look stupid or silly…you know how to make a great proposal?" She asked, and I impatiently awaited her answer. "You do something that means something. Recreate a moment that you and Bella had that really meant something to her."
"Recreate? You want me to take her back to Washington? All our moments happened there," I said fearing she would say yes. I did not want to take Bella to Washington, she might decide to not come back with me.
"No silly! You don't need Washington. You may have met there but it doesn't need to be the exact place when you first saw Bella. You met her at the Mad Rush Bar. You really think I am okay with you proposing to my friend in a bar?" She raised her eyebrow and gave me a menacing look. "Just think about it. I'm sure it will come to you and then you will know that it is the right proposal. If it helps you feel better, I know Bella. She would never mock you for sharing a piece of your heart."
I was beginning to think that Alice was at the palace for me more that Bella. I needed her if I was going to acquire the life I wanted with Bella. Alice was a car, she could go slow and serious but out of nowhere speed up all the sudden; leaving one in the dust. After our moment, she began to frantically babble on about what I should wear. What I should have Bella wear. Was the ring big enough? Did it have sparkle. Thankfully Bella saved me exiting the bathroom and causing Alice to desist immediately.
We stayed and visited with Alice until Jasper came back. I could tell by his face that Rosalie had arrived. She managed to bring most people to their knees until they admitted defeat or requested a quick execution. I knew I was being over-dramatic but my how I loathed Rosalie. Why would my mother ever think bringing her here was a good idea, especially when we wanted to enjoy the Christmas holiday?
I took Bella the long way around to head back to our room weary that we would have a run in with Rosalie. But my attempt was futile. The servants were decorating the grand entrance and Great room, so it left Rosalie to have to use the East side drawing room to take her tea.
"Edward, were you stopping by to greet me?" Rosalie asked.
I felt my hand tighten on Bella's hand and I knew I needed to introduce her, but I felt the duty to protect her instead. Bella had enough royal run ins for one day.
"Rosalie…how was…your trip in?" I asked scooting only slightly towards her table.
"Feverishly dull, as I'm sure you can imagine," She replied.
"And who is this?" She asked turning her attention to Bella.
"Isabella Swan, I'd like you to meet Princess Rosalie," I said doing so with my best effort to remain civil.
"Pleasure to me you…Your Highness," Bella replied.
"So, this is your little souvenir you picked up while away," Rosalie said without even acknowledging Bella.
I could see a look on Bella's face and as much as I wanted feisty Bella, it wouldn't do well to have her at this precise moment.
"She is my girlfriend," I acknowledged.
"Your mother didn't tell me very much when we last spoke a couple of days ago, other than to say she would be here for the holiday. When is she planning to return to America?" Rosalie asked.
"Currently, I have no plans to return back to…America," Bella replied. I could tell she was mocking Rosalie by the way she said, America and I could almost feel the war that was surly to come.
"We plan to be married soon," I said to Rosalie.
"The Queen Consort…such a fancy title? Are you prepared for that?" Rosalie asked Bella.
"Consort?" Bella asked. I hadn't explained what the title meant.
"Consort. You see…Isabella, only people who are royal by blood may sit on the throne. Consort refers to a person who is royal by marriage only. So…whomever Edward decides to finally marry, they will be merely a decoration," Rosalie explained arrogantly.
"Thank god for small favors. I guess it's a good thing that I don't measure my self-worth on where I sit," Bella replied.
"Being a princess is a lot harder than the Disney movies make it out to be. You people think its…easy ride in the lap of luxury," Rosalie challenged.
"Believe it or not, not every little girl dreamed of growing up to be a princess. I wanted to be an Avenger or a part of the Justice League. If you told me that Professor Xavier had a place for me at his special school, we would be done here."
Rosalie looked at Bella as if she suddenly were speaking a foreign language. I know I shouldn't have been happy with the conversation, but I loved how Bella was standing up for herself. I took Bella's hand and smiled at Rosalie who looked as if she had just found a fly in her tea and I gave her a short bow.
"Rosalie, I must get Bella ready for dinner. If you'll excuse us," I said turning around and taking Bella. Feeling Bella's bravery, I couldn't help myself. I stopped at the entrance and turned back around, Bella looking confused.
"Oh, and by the way…in a couple of months, you'll no longer be second in line to the throne," I replied softly rubbing Bella's stomach.
Rosalie nearly dropped her tea as her mouth became wide enough to catch a fish in it. I guess my mother hadn't told her everything.
AN: I am so honored and happy that so many of you have enjoyed this story. I hope you will continue to enjoy it because this is a very personal story but we will get to that part later. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and review!
STORY IS MINE. CHARACTERS BELONG TO STEPHENIE MEYER.