For the next month Tabby and I would sneak out of the estate and go see Brian for the sword lessons. At first I was horrendous. I could see Brian getting ever so impatient when I'd fail at something he viewed as being extremely easy. His rudeness never ceased and he was harsh in his teaching, but I had hand it to him, he knew his way around with a sword. All Brian's movements were swift in fluid while mines were jerky and hesitant. But after so long I had started to comprehend the art of sword fighting better. Even Brian complimented my quick learning.
Tabby didn't seem to mind attending these lessons. In fact she was always in a hurry to get there. Brian was nothing but charming to her which suggested his fancying of her. At first when I'd ask her about my suspicions she'd deny them. But soon she confessed that the pair of them had had a relationship prior to her becoming a servant at our the estate. Tabby told me about a different side of Brian. She talked of a man that courted her. A man that seemed all but ready to take a bullet for her. The whole tale was romantic and it made me feel a pang of sadness in my heart. I feared that I'd never have a love like that. At least not as long as I remained in Port Destile under my Father's command.
It was becoming harder and harder to escape in the night now that the ball was in a matter of days. My Father and Anna were busy constantly trying to perfect every detail. Home was becoming even more unbearable and Anna was becoming wiser to my nightly absences. I came to this conclusion one morning during breakfast. Tabby had came to collect our dishes when Anna opened her mouth and commented on how tired I looked. I insisted that I had just been up late reading. My Father didn't appear to care much about our conversation for the moment and to my surprise Anna shut her mouth and merely stared at me with a smirk on her face. I knew from then on that my private lessons were at jeopardy.
I awoke to Tabby prodding me. It was really late and the ball was in the morning so I had decided to not go to Brian's sword shop tonight.
" Go away!" I said my face buried into my pillow. " Not going tonight."
" Bella that is not what I came for!" She said in a hurried whisper. " Anna knows! Anna knows!"
Shock hit me instantly causing me to jump up.
" What?" I nearly shouted. " No! That's impossible! How?"
Tabby was wiping her eyes. I knew she had been crying. I knew she worried of her love's fate.
" Mary told me earlier when we were in the kitchen." She explained. " But I dare not say anything in front of the old she witch! Also I had to calm myself first. Oh! What shall we do?"
" I don't know!" I was bewildered. How could this be falling apart? And them again what was Anna true motive. It was not like her to wait to spill this information being the gossip queen she was. Why wait? Then it hit me. " The ball."
" What are you saying Bella?" Tabby inquired.
" She's going to do it at the ball! She wants to wait until she can truly ruin me! This is unbelievable! That cruel maniacal bitch!"
" Ruin you?" Tabby questioned coldly her eyebrows raised. " What about myself and Brian?"
I was taken aback. Was she trying to argue in a time like this? Then again I could understand her anger. This was my fault. Entirely my fault. Neither she nor Brian deserved this. Surely my Father would punish them both terribly when he found out.
" I apologize." I said sincerely. " I did not mean it that way. It's just. This whole situation. It's horrible for everyone. For You and Brian especially. I don't even care what my Father does to me anymore. I already failed him as a daughter and her has failed me as a father. I will take complete responsibility for this. I shall not sit aside and watch him destroy your guy's relationship."
" But Bella-" She started.
" Look if he isn't content with punishing me and comes to the two of you then I want you guys to flee."
" To where?"
I climbed from my bed and retrieved a black box from my closet. Within it I withdrew a sack of money and flung it at Tabby. She caught it looking surprised.
" Are you serious?" She asked quietly.
" I am." I assured.
That had been my money for emergency and this was an emergency in my opinion.
" Thank you truly Bella." She whispered. " I am sorry for you."
" Me too." I lamented.
All day Anna gave me smug looks which I returned kindly with hate filled glares. My theory was confirmed. She'd wait to expose my secret until the ball this way my Father's anger would be even more intense.
" Have you heard anything?" Tabby asked as she assisted me in dressing later that afternoon.
" Nope and I don't expect to until later tonight." I replied.
" Maybe we can stop her." Tabby suggested.
I chuckled coldly.
" How do you propose we do that with out in fact murdering her?"
" I don't know!" Tabby said frantically stopping her work. " I just can't believe this is truly happening? Why is she so cruel?"
" That merely how she is. You're actually lucky you didn't have to deal with her as long as I did."
Tabby sighed and finished readying me in silence.
I mused over how my life was sure to be after everything was out in the open. Never would I be allowed out anymore. So many limitations would come. And I'd have to do everything that my Father asked now. Or did I?
What if I could run away? Where would I go though? Elizabeth's? No Uncle would surely turn me in. Where else was there? I had no one. I knew no one. If only my Mother was still alive. Maybe then none of this would be happening. It was my turn now to sigh. I was hopeless.
As I expected many of people showed up to the ball. Pretty much everyone from Port Destile. I put on my facade of a happy proper lady like always and greeted guests as my Father instructed. Many of men couldn't hide their lustful glances at me which was becoming rather an annoyance. And after awhile I took a seat and waited for Anna to ruin everything. I, however did not get to sit for too long before he approached me.
" You look astonishing tonight dear Isabella I must say." Beckett said brushing his lips against my creamy skin. " Might I have a dance?"
No, I thought. But why get even more on my Father's bad side than I was about to be. I placed my hand delicately in his and allowed him to guide me to the floor. We were the same size so I was forced to look in his eyes.
" Green eyes are always said to be the most alluring of eyes. Very rare you see. Especially with the light shade of your own."
" Thanks" I muttered trying to hold back my irritation. He had given me this compliment many of times since we first met years ago.
He began to speak again. This time I tuned him out and looked around for Anna. It wasn't too hard to find the wench. She was standing with my Father near the doors whispering in his ear. When she stopped my Father glared over at me. He knew certainly now of my actions this past month. Though he wouldn't dare do or say anything much of it while everyone was here. But once they'd leave it was over.
"- and you'd probably love to come along wouldn't you my dear?" Beckett finished.
I nodded not really knowing what he was talking about.
" Erm. You wouldn't mind if I went to the kitchen for a moment would you?" I asked. " I'd like to request they'd make my favorite pastry."
" Not at all." He said thankfully.
I maneuvered my way through the ballroom to the kitchens. Delectable aroma's hit me at once. Reminding me of my hunger. This morning I hadn't eaten playing it off as excitement for the ball when in actuality it was fear of this night.
There was so much happening in the kitchen. People running in and out carrying trays of food. People baking deserts now. People cleaning up messes. It was chaotic and it was getting hard trying to locate Tabby. Finally I found her basing a turkey.
" She's told him!" I said. " And he does not look happy!"
" What should I do?" She cried.
" Go get Brian and get the hell out of here!" I instructed. " I don't trust him one bit Tabby. So go! And be safe!"
I gave her a quick hug and with that she sped off.
" Are they going to make it? I do so wonder how it will taste?" Beckett asked me once I'd arrived back to him.
" Oh they are out of ingredients." I lied. " It doesn't surprise me with this big feast going on."
" I see." He said surveying me with a bit of disbelief in his eyes. "Anyhow your Father would like it if you and I would join him and your lovely Mother in the sitting room to chat. You know in a quieter place."
" Of course." I mumbled. It was time.
I followed silently behind Beckett. My heart was racing. My palms were sweating. I felt as though I was going to faint. Calm down it'll all be over soon. I told myself repeatedly but it was not working.
Like the little gentleman he was raised to be Beckett held the sitting room door open for me. Anna was beaming. She looked as though she had just be crowned Queen. My Father on the other hand looked like he could throttle me if I gotten any closer. Never had I seen him this angry. And I simply could not understand his ferocity. I knew I had broken plenty of his rules but it must've seemed to him like I got drunk, sold my body, got covered with tattoos, and went on a killing spree all in one day.
" Please take a seat Isabella." Anna sneered at me. " You're going to be sitting for a while."
I lost it at that moment.
" Oh shut it!" I shouted. " I am far too tired of your cruelty! I have never done anything to deserve this! You are nothing! You will never be anything without my father! Look at yourself honestly Anna! You are how old? And you get your kicks off of telling on a teenager! Come on!"
Everyone seemed a little taken aback by my outburst. It had all just been pent up in me for too long. I despised her truly I did. I wanted nothing but the worst for her.
" No more of that Isabella!" My Father snapped. " You have brought shame to this family. Nothing but shame! I am so disappointed!"
" Really? You're disappointed that I was for once in my life happy? Wow! You are just such a fantastic father aren't you?"
I didn't care what I said anymore. But my Father sure did. His hand struck my so quickly and with such force that I fell out of my chair. My cheek stung terribly but I would not cry. I would not show him that he hurt me.
" Don't you dare! Don't ever in your life say something like that again!" He screeched his face as red as a tomato. " I have tried so damn hard to raise you right! To just give you a proper life like you should have! Like I deserve! I am sick of your insolent behavior! I really have had it! Now you are going to start listening like you should have been doing!"
"Perhaps you are being a bit too harsh on her Governor Dawson." Beckett said taking me by surprise. "Yes Isabella indeed did disobey you to go out sword fighting and should be punished for her actions. However I find it… intriguing that this is her choice in a hobby. So unlike the other young ladies her days."
I dared a glance at Cutler a noticed him surveying me with great interest. His blue eyes met mine for a moment. I quickly glanced away from his uncomfortable gaze.
"If I may continue Governor," Beckett started. "I have come tonight to ask you something."
No. No. No. No. No. No! I thought knowing what he wished to ask.
"May I have your lovely daughter's hand in marriage?"
My father's face still a furious shade of red lit up with glee mingled with slight shock. Smiling broadly he responded. "But of course Cutler! You are no doubt the kind of gentleman Isabella needs in her life! It would bring me no greater joy than to see the two of you wed!"
Beckett looked as though he'd been rewarded with a spectacular prize as he faced me. "Thank you Edward. I shall care for your daughter well. And I will make a proper proposal to you Isabella in time."
My heart sank. They dared to plan my future without even caring about my feelings?!
"And what of my opinions?" I asked hoarsely.
"What of them?" Anna snorted.
"Does anyone wonder how I feel in the matter!?" I cried in disbelief looking to each of them.
With a vice like grasp on my arm my father pulled me to his chest. "Listen up child. You have two options! One, you marry Cutler and live a right and proper. Or I lock you up and you never see daylight again, your pick."
" I hate you!" I snarled ripping free of him.
Not caring how childlike it seemed I ran from the room, out the doors, and down to our beach.
I sobbed alone on the for who knows how long until I heard a new voice.
" What's wrong luv?"