Just a Pretense
Chapter 9: Proposals
Author's Note: Sorry, sorry. I was supposed to get this done ages ago! But then I had exams (again!) and I've also started reading The Vampire Diaries Series by L. J. Smith (pretty good so far, but in my usual spoiler-happy fashion, I jumped to page 120 before I even got up to page 13…) … so haven't had much time. Anyway, the second half of this note is kind of old AND I'm really annoyed this chapter is a little shorter than chapters I usually write.

Anyway, once again I owe you a long overdue chapter. Though I couldn't exactly remember where I left off…. Hope this goes okay. Oh, and I got tired of keeping Esme away. ;) So she appears, for those who have been asking.

Disclaimer: Twilight is not mine. Neither is anything related to Tortall. They belong to Stephenie Meyer and Tamora Pierce.

--

Glancing back once, Jacob sauntered over the window as casually as possible as Mike danced with a girl in the throng of dancers. Mike had finally decided to dance with a pretty lady who had hovered on the edge of the dancing group and so Jacob had decided it was time to do what he had been planning. Jacob glanced at Mike peripherally again as he tried not to give his actions away. For some strange reason, it seemed something interesting was amiss outside the window he had noted before.

He waited for a while, counting the seconds in his mind impatiently – so asnot to rouse suspicion – before sweeping the curtain back slowly, cautiously, and peering outside, as if merely wanting a breathe of fresh air.

A girl twirled with a handsome young man, one what made Jacob cringe as he sniffed. It was the unmistakable smell of a vampire – overly sweet and icy cold. The other smell, however, one that smelt of flowers and honey, was too familiar. He focused on her face as she turned and his eyes widened.

"Isabella!" He shouted to her, without thinking.

Behind him, the ball stopped as everyone turned to look at him in confusion and annoyance. Jacob wasn't looking, however. His eyes were fixed on the girl who had faltered and stopped dancing, the boy turning to the window as well, an arm protectively around her shoulders and his eyes piercing as he took in the scene.

"What?" Mike pushed in beside Jacob, dancer forgotten, to gaze out the window also.

"Isabella Swan." Jacob said again, firmly, confidently, as he fixed his eyes on Bella and his heart leapt in his chest.

--

They were spinning, twirling, with a skill Bella never knew she had before. Although she was pretty sure that it was mostly because of Edward, she still felt a small pride at being able to dance this well – who would have thought?

Suddenly a voice called her name. One that was not Edward and yet, that she still could remember. A voice from a time long ago. She faltered and Edward glanced towards the window quickly as she turned around. He put an arm around her, offering protection and support.

Her mind raced as she watched Mike also come to the window and her two once-suitors stared before jumping out the window and approaching as the rest of the people at the ball gathered around to watch the scene. Curious as ever, they were. It was starting to become somewhat like a play.

"Don't worry." Edward breathed to her, his eyes on the crowd. "They don't recognise you," He looked down at her upturned face, "Even if you do look similar to Page Bel."

Bella gave a small nod, still anxious.

"Do you have a story made up for that?"

Bella glanced up at him again. Edward was offering his help. An unidentified feeling overcame her and she felt a little like turning and crying into his chest. She was grateful for his support, amongst other things. She smiled slightly and searched for Alice in the crowd at the windows.

Bella started walking towards Jacob and Mike and Edward followed. Jasper and Alice appeared from the bushes on one side and followed them slowly, offering help if the need arose. They were heading into deep waters. If Bella was found to have pretended to be a boy to try and be a page, she could lose her life.

They watched as Jacob and Mike struggled towards them, shooting glares at each other once in a while. Edward made a slight sound and Bella looked up to see Edward smiling in amusement.

"They're kind of immature." Edward said simply, still amused.

Bella rolled her eyes.

Everyone could see them clearly as Mike and Jacob reached them. The silence was deafening. Bella decided to act and dipped a curtsey carefully – not to mention rustily. She hadn't dipped one in ages.

"My lords."

She could see both Jacob and Mike's awkwardness and confusion. Awkwardness as they now stood before her, confusion as they wondered where she had been and what she was doing with Edward.

"Where have you been, Bella?" Jacob was the first to break the silence.

"At court." Bella replied, as truthfully as ever.

"We have searched, but we could not find you." Mike pitched in; ignoring the dagger-filled look Jacob sent him.

"My lords, you must know as well as I do that I do not enjoy balls. Or parties for that matter."

The crowd at the windows had begun to dissipate as they exchanged words. The music struck up once again and those bored with the conversation began to dance. The crowd who remained at the windows though, waited patiently.

"You…" One of Bella and Edward's fellow pages began. "You are…?"

"She is Lady Isabella Swan of Phoenix, if that's what you are asking." Mike snapped imperiously.

"But… what about… that… Page Bel of Phoenix?" He squinted. "She looks like him. I wonder why…"

Bella swallowed uneasily. She hoped the cat was not out of the bag. Trust one of her year mates to spill the beans on her – not that beans were something she should spill, they were precious – and now she would have to lie, though she wasn't ever any good at it.

"Page Bel?" Jacob asked, frowning.

Bella could see he was beginning to put two and two together. She hurriedly interrupted.

"Page Bel is my brother."

The eyes of all the people listening were on her again. Mike and Jacob had turned to her incredulously.

"Brother?"

"Yes, my twin brother who was adopted out when we were born. You know how twins are meant to be bad luck…" She hoped it sounded convincing.

Everyone exchanged glances. While this was true, sons were prized whereas daughters were usually not. Sons could inherit whereas daughters usually didn't, so therefore the logical choice would have been to keep the son and not the daughter. However, the Swan family was never known for their logic. It was plausible.

"Why did I never hear of this?"

Bella gulped, but then replied truthfully. "I have only recently learnt of him myself."

They seemed to accept it.

"Let's move on then." Mike said briskly, rubbing his hands together. "I requested to your father your hand in marriage before and I would like to request once again."

Jacob gave him a disgusted glare. "I would also. However," He glanced at Bella meaningfully, "It is entirely your choice, you must remember."

Bella blinked and looked up at Edward, whose arm around her had tightened. He was frowning and regretfully, he pulled his arm from around her and took a step back. Bella turned her gaze back at the two men.

"I am sorry, I must refuse." She said formally. "Both offers." She added as they both looked up in confusion.

Jacob's gaze flickered to Edward. "It's because of him isn't it?"

Bella did not confirm nor deny it. Jacob gave one resigned nod and turned, his shoulders shaking as he tried to control his emotions. Mike narrowed his eyes at Edward, who met them squarely.

"You have not heard the last of me." He vowed as he spun on his heel and disappeared into the trees.

Bella sighed as Jacob also left, running and shaking a little uncontrollably.

"I'll be waiting, Bella." Jacob called as he disappeared, looking unhappy.

"Your friend Jacob is a werewolf." Edward muttered into her ear.

Bella turned to him. "Yes." She looked towards the way Mike had disappeared. "And he is as stubborn as a mule. When will he learn?"

Edward chuckled. "Never, I think. His thoughts were very bent on getting you."

Bella rolled her eyes.

--

Emmett had been watching. Hiding behind the curtain with Rosalie, he had been listening to the exchange of conversation.

"Is that true?" Rosalie muttered to him as they heard of Bella's brother.

Emmett shrugged. He hadn't heard anything of that sort happen, but it was perfectly possible. There was a rustle next to him and he jumped.

"Alice, Jasper!"

Halfway through the talk, they had made their way back inside, Alice seeing that they could handle it themselves. They were here to tie up any loose ends which might have appeared.

"If you want to listen, don't skulk around." Jasper said disapprovingly.

Emmett rolled his eyes. "Well, this is their matter."

"And yet, so many people are listening in to this so-called private conversation." Alice grinned as she waved her arm to the general direction of the people at the windows.

Their attention was drawn for a minute as Bella refused the marriage offers and the people at the windows rejoined the party again. Emmett raised his eyebrows.

"That was unexpected."

"Really?" Jasper asked mildly.

"Hmm." A sweet voice interrupted behind them. They all whirled to face the speaker in surprise.

"Esme!"

Esme stood behind them in a gold coloured gown which matched the colour of her eyes as well as bring out tints in her elaborately styled caramel hair. Her gaze hovered to the window and out into the garden.

"It seems my son has learnt to love." Esme said as she watched Edward and Bella, a smile on her face.

"It does indeed." Carlisle replied as he came up behind her, resplendent in his finery.

"It is a pleasing thing." Esme continued, smiling hugely and leaning back happily against her husband.

--

"That was disastrous." Bella sighed. "I think."

Edward smiled crookedly. They had moved away from the windows now and deeper into the garden. It was peaceful here, almost as peaceful as before – before they had been interrupted.

"If that boy hadn't blurted that out." Bella shook her head. "He needs some lessons on tact. Are you alright, Edward?"

Edward's face was unreadable. "Why did you refuse them?"

Bella blushed and turned around to hide it. "I thought they made it clear."

"For me?" The voice was slightly mocking.

Bella gave him a glare. "Close enough."

"Oh, so that isn't the reason."

"It just," Bella gave a deep sigh, "I don't know what I'm feeling. I want to figure things out and," she smiled a little now, "I don't want to marry them all that much, actually."

Edward chuckled at that. "Alright, I won't bring this up again."

"Thank you." The gratitude was very obvious in her voice.

"No problem." Edward took her hand and they continued their moonlit walk.

But a pair of eyes watched them from the darkness of the shadows of the trees.

--

Author's Note: (Is the name of the chapter weird?) Hmm, I don't like how the talk went, but I think the beginning and end wasn't too bad. I will admit I did lose my train of thought, but hopefully it makes sense. Tell me if you find something you don't like, okay? I kept forgetting stuff.

Esme made her appearance!! Sadly, currently, she might not have much but a cameo. She'll appear later – because now I'm going to go back off the romance and a little back to the action.

Three guesses who was watching them from the shadows. xD;

Review?

Forgive me… I will try harder. (cry) And I will make the next chapter longer to make up for this short one – I insist! Hmm, I'm in a weird mood.