Wow, you guys are so great! I got into my inbox and I had like 86 messages, I was like "whoa!"

Okay, so some of you are confused, and some of you probably don't really read things that are back with Kings, Dukes, and stuff like that.

If the King arranged the marriage and only told the Cullen's, they'd have to keep it a secret, and of course, the King is law.

Edward has to tell Bella because it is his place. The significant other's can only tell them, the rest of the family has to keep out if it. It's sorta like a code, ya know? Well I hope that clears it up, the next chapter wont really tell you what exactly they're talking about, but it'll shead some light on the fact.

and, I'm sorry, my mom is on Night Shift, now, so like she's always online and I barely ever get the computer, but lucky for you, I have a few note books I write in so that I don't fall behind *wink*

Dictionary: A shift is like an undergarment, like a bra, or underwear, it's like connected, as I'm to understand... Haha, I didn't know if you knew what it met, it is not really heard of sometimes.

Please enjoy.

-megan

Chapter Three. The Way It Were.

Bella shuffled her feet about the house, keeping busy, trying to forget that today was actually her birthday. Her eyes had to be red, her tears hadn't stopped until well over two in the morning. Edward never came to check on her, however, Rosalie and Alice, and so she pretended to be asleep. She knew that Alice and Rosalie ment well, and that everything would be okay, but she was still torn up on how her and Edward were to marry.

"Oh, Ms. Swan, could you help me?" Jessica asked as she cared a vase full of yellow daffodils.

"These are simply beautiful, whos sent them?" Bella asked, Jessica smiled.

"Sir Jacob Black, there is a note, as well." Jessica said handing the large crystal vase to Bella, Bella walked to her quarters and put the vase down on her cherry wood desk. She pulled out the piece of parchment which had Jacob's messy scrawl on it.

'Dearist Bella,
I've spoken to my King, and he says that it is true, that you are trapped in wed-lock with Duke Cullen. I cannot help, no matter what I do, I am sworn to stay out of the affair by the King himself.

Things are very hard to understand, and as I am to understand I am not allowed to explain any of this to you, that Duke Cullen has to explain it to you, that coming from him, it will be a very easy thing to understand coming from him. Your father is unaware of everything, and when the time comes, that you'll have to explain it to him.

The King, dammit, I am sworn to him and unfortunately I am powerless to release this, it is something that I cannot even understand why it must be, however, the King is sure that it will some how save the whole entire Kingdom.

I love you Isabella, and I am broken hearted that I cannot marry you, however, I know if you could help it, that we would be married, and that we would have children.

All of my love,

Sir Jacob Black.'

After Bella read the whole entire note she realized that he was talking in riddles, that nothing he said was conclusive and did not give her a chance to figure things out on her own... Edward has to explain something? Explain what? How the whole entire family knows of how she must marry him, and in hopes to have what? A strong family bond?

Bella paced in her room, nothing really coming of any good. Her lips pursed and her brows furrowed into one brow. Her eyes were in a haze of worry when there was a knock on her door.

"Come in." Bella said listlessly, Jasper walked in, a smile on his face.

"Good afternoon, Isabella." Jasper said bowing, Bella curtsied and smiled at him welcoming.

"Good afternoon Duke Whitlock."

"Alice would like me to invite you to the Theatre tonight, we're doing the play Macbeth. I do know how much you adore Shakesphear." Jasper said thoughtfully, Bella blushed.

Bella blinked and then answered, "how very thoughtful, Duke Whitlock, please tell Countess Cullen that I'd be delighted."

"Bella, do not talk to us like we are higher, come now, I am Jasper and Alice is Alice."

"Sorry, I get used to titles when I am without one." Bella said, almost bitterly.

"Well you shall have one soon, wont you?" Jasper said, he stopped, his eyes wide as if he had overstepped a boundary.

"I suppose so. What time is the show?"

"Six, Edward will take you in the carriage, Alice will meet you at the doors, I however, cannot, I'll be behind the cutain." Jasper said in a smooth voice, Bella nodded her head, she looked over at the fresh tea that one of the girls had brought in.

"Honey Tea, Jasper?" Bella asked, Jasper declined shaking his head.

"No, no. I mustn't, I have things to do, people to see, you know, that type thing. I do thank you for your offer though, I do enjoy it a lot." Jasper said, his southern accent reminding Bella of a long time ago when they were children. Jasper was one of her best friends, but they lost touch over the years until she came to work with Edward. For Edward.

"But of course, thank you and your wife, Alice for inviting me, wont you?"

"Indeed." Jasper said as he walked out of her room. Bella sat down on her small sofa that sat near the tea china. She poured herself a cup of barely warm Honey tea... As she drank her tea she began to hum to herself one of her favorite songs as a child, Ring Around the Rosie. Such a pecular song, it was word to have to do with the bubonic plague. She hadn't cared though, she enjoyed the tune.

"Ashes, ashes, we all fall down." Edward said in tune with Bella's humming, Bella looked up, she was very distant, and her eyes focusing on the man which stood before her.

"My lord, I'm sorry, I hadn't noticed you came in." Bella said, her tea cup clattering with the saucer.

"Not to worry, not to worry, I noticed you were off in a dream state... Are you distressed, Isabella?" Edward asked as he felt the tea, it was now cold, he put it over the fire for a while to heat up.

"A slight." Bella admitted, Edward nodded his head, he ran his hands over his face and inhaled sharply.

"I do not know how to explain any of this. I do not wish for you to be unhappy... I just, before we are married, I want to train you to do what I enjoy. I know that you are going to think me wicked, but if we are already to be married, laying together would hardly be a sin..."

Bella bit her lip, to think of something better, "I am to be your Countess..."

"Yes."

"How long have you known that we were to be married?" Bella asked, her voice raised, Edward looked down.

"We've been betrothed secretly to each other since we were children." Edward said, his eyes darting around everywhere

Bella shook her head no, and she didn't want that as an answer, "no, that is not what I asked, how long have you known?"

"A few years..." Edward said, his voice light, and his eyes dark green.

Bella scoffed, her eyes filled with tears, her breathing enhanced almost so fast her breasts heaved out of her corset exposing themselves very well through her dress.

"Calm yourself! I did not go into this blind, I know how I feel about you, Bella. And we are to be married in two years." Edward said, he shook his head.

"However you ask me to be your submissive!"

"YES! To teach you how I will be with you! I do not want you to go into this marriage as blind as you went into the friendship, I am trying to protect you!" Edward said looking at her, Bella shook her head.

"Protect me from what?"

"Now is not the time... Later, we are going to be late, come now. Jessica! Get that pot off of the fire, Isabella and I are leaving." Edward paused, "tell Eric to get my carriage ready." He said to Jessica, Jessica did as he said.

"When is the time, My lord?"

"Soon. Get the green dress on, quickly." Edward said walking out of the room, Bella quickly dressed. Edward waited in the hall way, he was fighting with himself, he did not know how to tell her, he didn't know how to tell her the cold, hard truth about their marriage, and what it would produce.

Alice told Jasper, and he seemed fine with it, and Emmett told Rosalie, who seemed reluctant, but fine after thinking about it. Why did his match have to be stubborn and opinionated. Bella was much like Rosalie, however, she was not as confident or as happy as Rosalie was, Rosalie would be even happier if she could conceive a child for her Emmett.

Bella came out of the room, her green dress with gold trim on the lace sleeves. It was a dress that was actually quite chilly for such a month, it was a summer dress, but Edward liked it.

"You look beautiful, Isabella. Come, I've bought you a Shaw to match the dress." Edward said holding out a shaw made from velvet to keep her warm, the Shaw was the same shade of green, however, it was decorated with gold flowers, much like her lace sleeves.

"How extravagant, thank you, Lord Cullen."

Edward sighed, he was sick of her addressing him like he were a king, he decided to tell her. "You are to call me Edward." Edward said, Bella's mouth popped open in arguement, "no acceptations." Edward said as he walked her to the warmed carriage.

"Thank you, Edward." Bella said in a quite voice, Edward's eyes smiled at her, as his lips did, and he nodded his head, his hair almost flopping in his face. It was not smiled upon to have such long hair and of course, it being so unkempt was so horrible.

"You are quite welcome, Bella."

They rode in silence to the Theatre, and as sure as day, Alice as waiting for Bella in a black velvet dress with a sliver broach holding her black cloack on, she smiled at Bella, and hugged her closely. A smile never faltered on her lips when she scolded Bella for her careless dressing.

"Your shift is hanging out on the side, and oh my, this is a summer dress! Bella, you could catch your death out here!" Alice scolded fixing Bella's dress to hide her shift.

"I picked it out for her, Alice, do not worry, I've bought her a nice warm Shaw for it." Edward said, his hand stretching out to touch Bella's shoulder almost intimately.

"Yes, but still, you must take care of your treasures, not let them get tarnished." Alice scolded, and she turned her attention to Bella, "Come now, we've got box seats." Alice said pulling them both by their hands.

The play was wonderful, and in the middle, during intermission Jasper came to visit them, and ask them how they were enjoying it so far. The play went on, and it was such a wonderful tale to watch, how of course, there were the heartbreaking parts, but Bella still enjoyed it all the same.

Edward's face did not change through out the play, it was an intense face and he looked to be enjoying himself. From what Alice said, he tries to find the flaws in the performance to tell Jasper about. Jasper is always happy to have Edward come and watch plays, to tell him what he needs to work on. Edward did not seem to show any displeased from the play at all. He seemed to enjoy it a lot

"That was delightful." Alice said after it was over, she looked over to see Edward's expression.

"The sixth act was a little bit rusty, but I did enjoy it quite a bit. Did you, Isabella?" Edward asked turning his attention to Bella, who looked quite happy.

"Wonderful, just wonderful." Bella said as she stood up, Edward helped her up, Alice smiled as Edward did the same for her.

"Thank you, dear brother, thank you Bella, for coming. And happy birthday." Alice said, Bella's eyes closed automatically and she cringed, but smiled any ways.

"Thank you, Alice."

"Would you be so kind as to join Isabella and I for a late dinner? Jasper is invited of course." Edward said smiling, Alice's eyes light up, absolutely thrilled at the thought of spending more time with Bella.

"Oh, what a wonderful offer, of course, We'd enjoy very much to come for dinner, I'll collect Jasper now." Alice said bouncing away.... Edward turned to Bella and smiled at her, his teeth shining in the dim lights of the theatre.

"Yes?" Bella asked as she saw his attention amusing.

"Are you happy to be spending time with Alice?" Edward asked, a smile still on his lips.

"Extremely pleased, thank you." Bella said smiling, Edward nodded his head and smiled.

"I thought you might need some companion time with my dear sister, she does miss you something fierce at times... Yes, as soon as you two are sisters we'll have to buy a boat and go out on it some time." Edward said as he pulled Bella to Alice and Jasper, who looked quite excited.

"Edward, how did you enjoy the play?" Jasper asked, his eyes bright and happy for the criticism to start.

"We'll talk over dinner, yes?" Edward asked, Jasper nodded his head as they followed Edward to the carriage.

After Dinner.

Bella sat with Alice, they were knitting, Bella noticed that Alice's knitting was the size of a small booties for a child.

"Alice, is there something you'd like to tell me?"

"Yes..." Alice paused, and smiled put down her knitting. "I do believe I am with child, Bella." Alice whispered, Bella's face became bright pink with happiness.

"Oh, Alice, congratulations!" Bella said hugging Alice tightly, Alice giggled and her eyes were filled with tears.

"Why not tell Jasper?" Bella asked concerned, Alice shook her head.

"Do you not remember the last time I thought I was with child? He was so heartbroken when Carlisle told him that I was not." Alice sighed, "a slight case of the flu." Alice looked down, her hand now on her small stomach.

"When do you plan to tell him?" Bella asked, Alice looked up.

"As soon as I can be sure that my monthly is in fact not coming this month." Alice said, Bella looked up, surprised.

"You're late?" Bella asked, Alice nodded her head.

"Indeed, three days, to be exact." Alice sipped the tea which sat next to her, which was the Honey Tea Jasper so very much enjoyed.

"All the same, I hope you are." Bella said, Alice blushed and smiled.

"Thank you, Bella. Rosalie and you are the only ones who know, I do not wish anyone to know other than you two as of now." Alice looked down, "and of course, my father is of course on alert." Alie said lifting her head sheepishly, Bella smiled.

"Understandable, thank you for including me in such a wonderful secret." Bella said, they went to knitting, Bella smiled to herself, she must make something for the child...

Two hours past, and Jasper insisted to pry Alice away from Bella, that it was in fact late and that they had an early morning tomorrow. Alice left Bella grudgingly, but hugged her fiercely and smiled at Bella, kissing her on the cheek, Bella did the same and smiled at her.

"Until later." Bella said to her, Alice nodded her head and left Bella to go to the carriage.

Edward and Bella stood together, they looked at the two who rode off together, the moon was full, and the night was clear.

"Next week will be All Hallows Eve." Edward whispered in a chilling voice.

"Yes." Bella acknowledged.

"Your training will start then." Edward said smiling to himself, he kissed Bella's collar bone. "Time for bed, go to your quarters, I'd like to cuddle tonight." Edward said lightly, Bella nodded her head and headed to her room where she removed her clothing.

Soon it will be their marriage bed... Bella whispered to herself, soon.