Chapter 5

The whole week passed in a blur, and now it was time for the coming out party. At the Higginbotham abode everybody was running, finishing with the last-minute details.

Alec was looking for Bella, her mother needed help to discuss what music to play with the band. Instead, he found Rosalie crying on a bench in the garden.

"Oh dear, come here. What is troubling you this much?"

"Sorry Alec. I didn't intend to bother you."

"You know it's no bother. Come on, we're friends, at least I think of you as a friend. You can tell me."

"Alec, of course you're my friend. I'm crying about nonsense. Things that I can't change, no matter how much I..."

"Rosalie, I've noticed how unhappy you are. Why don't come with me? I believe in Surrey you'll be happy. Away of all the sorrow that Forkshire brings to you. You can marry me, I mean, I'm not as rich as Mr. King, but I can promise you a comfortable life, and your family will be close."

"Oh Alec! You're the best man I've ever met. But you don't want to marry me, you think I'm a lovely companion, but I know you don't love me."

"But I could."

"No, we have a close friendship; but you don't feel the longing to be close to me, you don't feel that sense of completeness when I'm around, the need to hold me in your arms...

"Rosalie, are you in love?"

"Yes, and you know it isn't Royce who makes my heart beat; but I know it's impossible. You have to promise me something."

"Anything for you"

"We must help my sister, she and Edward are so in love, and I'm worried someone will try to interfere. I want her happiness, even when mine won't be." Alec kissed her cheek, and promised to help her. What else he could do?

Meanwhile, in the middle of the woods, Alice was waiting for Dr. Whitlock. He promised her he will be at the party, but she hadn't heard from him the whole week. Now she was worried. He had to come, it was part of her plan; otherwise her father may not be so lenient in breaking her engagement. She knew how much he despised Jasper.

Then she heard a couple talking. They hid behind a car. Her father's car. She tried to get closer to find out who they were and what they were talking about, but in that moment they decided to leave. All she heard was the man's voice: "After the party, tomorrow. Then no one could stop us."

Finally the party started. Most of the guests have arrived, the drinks were flowing, the music invited to dance...

Mrs. Stanley and her daughter Jessica were late, because Jessica had to change her gown; Mrs. Stanley wanted to show Jessica's better assets and the other dress wouldn't carry out that goal. They were surrounding the Cullen's house to cut the road to the Higginbotham's. Jessica noticed someone in the house moving around in Carlisle's office.

"Look Mother, the Cullen's are also late. Now we don't have to run."

"Jessica we have to make it before they announce Bella, that way they'll announce you too. So run."

Edward was waiting to see Bella. At the moment he was talking to Didyme, who was helping him to avoid Kate. That woman was determined to get Edward's attention, even though he never talked to her. Then he heard the music change, and he saw Bella, walking down the stairs. She looked like an angel, and the world disappeared to him. He heard people talking, someone calling to him, but all he could see was Bella, with her off white dress, showing her beautiful shoulders, her creamy white arms, her gorgeous hair pinned in a soft bundle over her head, how did his mother called it? Chignon, right. With a couple of soft curls falling on the side. Her eyes bright with emotion, searching for him in the crowd... Suddenly he felt someone yanking his arm, he turned around to see Kate trying to get a grip on his arm.

"So Edward, you will seat with me right? I mean, that way we can talk and maybe if they play a different kind of music we could dance..."

"Sorry Kate, I promised Bella to dance with her." What is wrong with this woman? She must have noticed how close we are, she almost made me loss track of where Bella is standing. He left Kate, now blushing in embarrassment. He knew Bella had to dance with her Uncle first, and later she would be his, or that was the plan. Her mother was talking to a very snobbish woman, she was dripping jewelry. That must be the Duchess, he must find Bella before her mother introduced her to that woman's son.

"Looking for someone?" A soft voice asked behind his back.

"Oh my sweet Isabella, I was looking for you, would you dance with me?"

"Sure. Now take me to the other side of the room, my family can be overbearing at this kind of events."

Honorable Michael Newton, son of the Duke of Saint Meyer, was curious about why his mother brought him to this party. She mention something about spreading his wings, and trying to be social, but he didn't see the point. When Mother would find him someone to marry, she will introduce the girl to him; he didn't have to mingle with this people. But wait, who was that girl with the white dress? She was a vision! Maybe now it was time to ask Mrs. Renée to introduce him, but wait, why bother? As soon as she notices him, she will be the one asking for him. He just has to wait, but standing near to where she's dancing with that man, she must see him first.

Michael decided to stand near to the Cullen's who had just arrived. Now Michael's attention was torn. He just saw Tanya Cullen. This woman also looked so beautiful, but the ring in her left hand told him she was taken. Oh well, the brunette then will have her chance.

Aro left the party for a while, after dancing with little Bella, he thought he needed some rest. If Didyme thought that his departure had something to do with the Duchess and her asinine son, well... that's true. Boy, nobility doesn't guarantee nothing these days! Look at him, watching Bella dance. He's appalled because Bella hasn't noticed him.

Jemima Stanley knew how to take advantage of a situation. If the Higginbotham weren't intelligent enough to snatch the Duke's son, well then it was their loss. She was pushing Jessica to him.

"Dear Jessica, if you only stand straight, your bosom may stand more... yes, like that."

Too bad Honorable Michael Newton was admiring another bosom... the one belonging to Tanya Cullen.

Carlisle was tired, his plan to have fun today was going to the drain. Firstly, Alice said she had something to ask him, and he was sure it has to be about Dr. Jasper Whitlock. What Alice didn't know is that Carlisle made a few calls in the morning , making it difficult for dear doctor to be present at this party. Maybe this time he could get rid of him, and this non sense of breaking the engagement will be finished. Except that Emmett McCarthy was the one who backed up from it. Carlisle knew he never liked Alice, and let's face it, it was a blow to any man's ego to see your fiancé frolicking around town with another man. But now, not even the promise of ruin and shame was holding Emmett back. He had to find another way to fix that. Then his earlier talk with Lady Higginbotham. He was so sure if he just talked to her alone, without that old hag, Didyme, she would had acquiesced to his petition of Isabella's hand in marriage. Isabella is young and beautiful enough to be his new wife, he needed another heir. But the old hag said it was immoral and showed lack of manners to speak of such propositions when Carlisle was still married. Like they didn't know about his impending divorce. He was so sure his position and financial security would garner him Bella's hand. Now if only Edward Masen wasn't in the way...

In another part of the ballroom, Edward was in heaven, holding Bella in his arms while both were dancing. He knew he had to let her dance with someone else at some point. It was her party after all. And if staking his claim on her was his intention, he could say it was a mission accomplished. Every man in the room knew by now they were together. Maybe not that stupid little Duke or whatever he was, or Carlisle, but Carlisle must be more worried about his daughter. Alice looked like she was about to scream, Bella told him that Dr. Whitlock was out-of-town and apparently he didn't tell Alice. He turned to look at Bella. How complete he felt while he was holding her in his arms! He was delighted to know that tomorrow they'll talk to her mother about their relationship, and if he knew the gossip in this town, by night everybody will know about their engagement. The only cloud in his perfect future was the possibility that Lady Higginbotham denied them permission to be married, Bella was still a minor.

"Edward, my mother is her way to interrupt us. So what do you say if we dance with other people for about twenty minutes and then we come to dance here again?"

Bella was ready to finish with the obligations that came with the ´party. She knew she had to dance with the pompous Michael Newton, and maybe with Mr. McCarthy to annoy her sister. She knew about Rosalie's feelings toward Emmett, and by the look of him, he returned those feelings. Maybe a few words with him will help. But first, obligation. She promised her mother she shall give Michael an opportunity, the Duchess was desperate to marry him and only they had the qualifications to make a suitable match. Apparently, despite Mrs. Stanley and Mrs. Denali efforts, their families weren't good enough to the Duchess standards.

"Well Bella, it was a pleasure. Let's repeat in fifteen minutes?"

Bella just nodded. Oh sweet Edward! She was so enamored with him. But her mother chose that moment to come with Michael in tow.

"Now Isabella, I think it's time to let Michael dance with you. Maybe he can tell you all about Eton, right Michael?" Renée said while she took Bella's hand and put it in Michael's awaiting one. Michael couldn't understand what had Eton of interest to talk with Bella. She was a woman! Surely, after their wedding, her only interest will be to make him happy. Maybe join a charity or a committee. Oh, and later on the babies. Perhaps she had an interest in his circle of friends, not that he had many of them. His mother was really picky about his acquaintances. she must have known he went to Eton. He was so lost in thought, he didn't notice that all he said to Bella was "Don't worry. After our wedding, my Mother will pick out the correct friends, never mind if they studied in Eton."

Any other man with a bit of sensitivity would have noticed Bella's astounded and later murderous expression. In that precise moment any chance that Michael may had, which he hadn't, died.

Miss Emily and Mrs. Lauren Mallory were seated in a corner, dissecting and analyzing everything that happened at the party. From dresses, all too revealing in their opinion, where will England end; to the outrageous music the band was playing, that nefarious and decadent jazz. Worst, the women were smoking! Such a travesty!

"Look at Miss Kate, pinning for Edward. She's still waiting for him to ask her to dance. It's starting to look pathetic." Miss Emily said, with a fake worried tone.

"So sad. It's obvious he's more interested in Isabella Higginbotham."

"I don't know what to think, it's just like the last party. Poor Kate doesn't stand a chance, maybe if her mother send her to live with her family in Devon she will stand a chance."

"You're so right, she has too much competition here, let's face it, there aren't single men around here." both women nodded while looking at Kate with pity.

"I heard Carmen was at the bank in London."

"Please, do tell."

"Well, my source was waiting for her boyfriend to come for her after work, and she told me Carmen entered the bank and then she left after fifteen minutes crying."

"Hmm, that explain why she's wearing the same dress she wore at Mr. Masen's funeral."

Miss Alice was checking her watch. certain doctor was supposed to come to this party. She made the decision to tell her father, here at the party, that her engagement with Emmett was over; instead she was going to marry Doctor Whitlock. She had a plan to gain his approval. Her father was a man of word, and terribly worried about shame and appearances. If her plan won't work... well then she had plan B. To make matters worst, Edward Masen was pretty much attached to Isabella Higginbotham. She needed him to be with Kate, so Carmen would coöperate with her plan. But Kate was so stupid, just sitting moping in the corner. What man would like to court her ! Now Isabella was dancing with Emmett, they're talking. Probably she's asking him about some ridicule law she read in the newspaper. She had the most weird questions! Now it was the time to act.

"Edward, now that Isabella had finally set you free for a mnute, maybe you could dance with me?"

She said it loud enough to make him impossible to say no without embarrassing her.

"Sure Miss Alice, consider I'm not a good dancer so watch your toes." He said trying to joke.

"Edward you kept my poor friend Kate alone, when are you going to dance with her?"

"Well, Miss Alice, I'm sure she could dance with any of the other gentleman in the room. I think I saw Alec asking her for a dance."

"Pfft, Alec is dancing with everybody, I'm sure his feet will be killing him in the morning . Kate is such a shy girl, you know? The kind of girl you should consider to make a home with."

"Oh Miss Alice, but you see, I was dancing before with the woman I'm considering for that ."

At this particular moment, Tanya came to his rescue from the murderous glare Alice was giving him. Everybody knew about Alice tantrums.

"Excuse me Edward, they're playing a waltz, the only music I know how to dance."

"Tanya, I know you know how to dance."

"Don't you want me to save you?" She said looking at Alice.

"Of course, you're right."

From the corner of the ballroom, Alice noticed Rosalie dancing with Emmett. Normally, it wouldn't have mattered to her, she was ready to back off the engagement; but this time they looked so entranced in each other, certainly he never look at her that way. This was a party after all, everybody was dancing with another. But in this particular moment it made her blood boil. It was too much! First Jasper stood her up, then Edward not liking Kate, her Father ignored her the whole party, just trying to talk to Lady Higginbotham, and the last straw, Rosalie and Emmett together! This was too much.

She ran through the ballroom, pushing aside the dancing couples. When she passed besides Rosalie, she pushed her with force, making Rosalie fall. She continue running, until she reached Carlisle. She started to yell

"Daaaaddyy! Get me out of here. I can't stand these people!"

The room was quiet. The band quit playing. The couples stopped dancing. Everybody was looking at Alice with shame. For Christ sake, she was 24, she must know by now how to behave.

Carlisle had a vein in his forehead. It's pulsing was so notorious, that various of the present people were worried he could have a heart attack.

For a minute, no one knew what to do.

Aro was the first to recover, went to take Alice by the arm, and asked his sister to bring Carlisle to the library. The poor man needed a drink. Then Renée asked the band to play and took Alec to the center of the ballroom and started to dance. Bella and Rosalie followed her example. Soon the party continued as if nothing had happened.