(A/N: Wow, so…the last chapter was terrible to say the least. I was apparently quite sleepy when I wrote it but if you're still interested in the story after that terrible train wreck then I owe you big time. I didn't get one single review on that chapter, but I did get a PM in the form of a review, so thank you. …Flower123 was it? I sure hope so.

Anyway. I hope this chapter keeps everyone reading. I'm terribly sorry about last chapter. Really. It was painful for even ME to read. I rushed it too much. That's what happens when you all demand! Lol. Okay. So, I'm not going to put up the next chapter until I get at least TEN reviews. That could take months. So, review please. I need opinions.

Disclaimer: I am NOT Stephenie Meyer.)

EPOV

I was euphoric. There was no other way to put it. This was the second time in two days that I'd seen Bella. I wasn't exactly sure why I was so happy to see her, but I didn't question it much.

After Bella and Angela left the shop Alice and I finally picked out a suit for me. Alice was surprised by my tolerance for her obsessive shopping. I was in a good mood, and it seemed as if Alice knew exactly why. "You know, you have a lunch date with Lady Tanya today? Correct?" She asked me in a strange tone. It sounded as if she were questioning me for a trial.

"Yes, I'm well aware, Alice. Thank you. Why do you ask?"

"I just wanted to make sure you knew." Her tone of voice was still a bit on the strange side but she dropped the matter.

On the carriage ride home I decided to tell Alice about my feelings for Bella. It wasn't normal for me to feel like this. She reacted better then I would have thought.

"Brother," She spoke with a smile on her face. Something about my confession amused her. "You think I didn't know? I saw the way you talked to her today, and I've seen the way you talked to her years before. You've always been interested in her." I had to give it to Alice she was rather wise. I'd always cared for Isabella. Since we were children and Lord Charles would meet with my father to discuss manor laws and such. Isabella and I were best friends.

I remember she and I would read. It surprised me that she knew how; there weren't many people who could read even after the switch in text from Latin to the vernacular. Isabella explained that her mother knew how to read and taught her. I learned a lot from Isabella, and I learned a lot about her.

I learned that her mother was very important to her. When we were both about eight or so years old, Isabella's mother passed away, leaving Isabella the Lady of the House. When I learned the news, I felt terrible and I suggested to my father that we find a new wife for Lord Charles.

There was a woman named Jane who had two daughters. Jessica and Angela. Jane's husband had died years before and she was struggling to run her manor. I had remembered my father talking about her.

I suggested that my father introduce the Lord Charles and Lady Jane and he thought it was a good idea, and did. Bella wasn't excited and I remember several occasions where she had yelled at me for it. Around her fifteenth year, at the masquerade she told me that I ruined her life and she never wanted to see me again.

That night I had said something I regret. Still to this day I regret saying it. It may have been true, but I still regret it. "Isabella, you are the most ungrateful spoiled woman I've ever met in my life."

After that she and I rarely talked, but when we did, it didn't end pleasantly. Last year's masquerade for example. I had asked Isabella to dance with me. I danced with her sister Jessica right before. Jessica was polite, sure but I had a feeling that she liked dancing with me a little too much. I also recalled the fact that she talked horribly about her own sister. Although Alice sometimes bothered me, I'd never speak a word against her. I remember swiftly spinning away from Jessica and decided to asking Isabella to dance.

She danced with me, but I could tell she didn't want to. She must have still hated me for bringing Jane, Jessica and Angela into her life. I didn't blame her for disliking Jessica but it was improper to be so rude to a prince.

When I spun Isabella around she stomped on my toes and walked away. The only thing I was thinking at that moment was that I was so relieved I wore slightly large shoes.

Tea with Lady Tanya was not something I could say I was looking forward to. This was the woman I was to marry in a few short months. The last time I'd seen her she wasn't exactly someone who I'd be able to see myself courting. She was obnoxious at times and she wasn't exactly the tolerable. I found myself forced to tolerate her, simply because I knew she and I were to be wed.

Tanya was above board for sure, but sometimes it wasn't always kind.

I felt rather pathetic worrying about Lady Tanya while I was changing for our….meeting. I had put on some of my finest clothes just for this occasion. It was a waste in my opinion, however I didn't matter.

I ran out to our castles bailey, going out the door in the curtain wall so I came into the bailey where Lady Tanya couldn't see me. She was dressed in a light pink gown with silver trim and lace. A small crown was placed high atop her mountain of hair. The sight made me scoff. This woman thought she was already royalty.

I approached Lady Tanya slowly observing her. She fidgeted in her seat a little and stood to smooth her skirt. She sat back down mussing with her hair and replacing her tiara.

This woman is a nervous wreck. I thought.

I finally came up to the table and stood before her taking her hand and kissing it, as a proper gentleman should. Her cheeks became rosy. It's so much more appealing when Isabella blushes. I found myself thinking. I immediately took my seat across from Lady Tanya, while shaking thoughts of Isabella.

I waited for her to speak, I wasn't exactly sure what to say. She was silent for an immeasurable amount of time and it was just a little bit awkward. She just stared at me.

"What? Cat got your tongue, or simply bated breath?" I asked somewhat snarkily.

"Uh. I just, wasn't sure if I was supposed to wait for you to say something your Highness." She giggled

That's pretty much how the rest of the afternoon went. Awkward remark after awkward remark was made and there were a lot of obnoxious giggles from Tanya.

I had gone to bed that night in a jam. I was so worried and confused. It was during the tea lunch with Tanya that I realized I would never be able to marry her. She wasn't whom I wanted and she wasn't even someone who I could spend a month with. I certainly didn't want to kill her. But, I didn't want her to rule beside me when she couldn't even take control of a conversation. How would she do with a country? Our country?

The real problem though was that every thought of Lady Tanya led me back to thoughts of Lady Isabella. Comparing them in every way I distinctly remember thinking things like Isabella's laugh is so much more appealing or Isabella wouldn't sit there so crude as to think herself already a princess and then burp in my face.

I was disgusted by Tanya to say the least. Sure, she was attractive and somewhat kind, but she was vile. I hated to think about that, it made me feel rude thinking horrible things about her, but I couldn't stop myself. It was merely honesty.

While I lay in bed that night I realized two things. One, I couldn't be with Lady Tanya. Two, I needed to see Bella. It wasn't that I wanted to see her I needed to.