Title: Scandalous
Summary: When he asked for her hand, she refused him. Now a scandal throws her on his mercy, will he marry her or leave her to her fate? Will she let him?
Disclaimer: I don't own anything Twilight.
Chapter Two: Repercussions and Resolutions
The Denali family was the first to come that evening. They were close enough acquaintances that they hardly waited five minutes on arriving to ask about what Edward was beginning to call 'the Sorbet Scandal' in his mind.
The Cullens, for their part, did their best to set the record straight on the innocence of all involved. Looking incredibly disappointed, the Denalis left with a promise to spread the truth.
They were not the last gossip mongers to visit, but they were the only ones Edward was able to interact with even half politely.
A week passed, and the story was holding strong. Edward stopped going out with his male friends after one, James, congratulated Edward on 'conquering the Swan' as he so stupidly put it.
He then started a comment that began with "I've been trying to get her to—," and ended with Edward's fist in his face.
He saw nothing of Bella.
After two weeks he begged Alice to visit her, though the two girls were only the vaguest of acquaintances. She left mid-morning and Edward paced the library awaiting her return until just before dinner time.
"Oh it's awful Edward!" She exclaimed first thing. "That cow Newton has been telling lies, embellishing what she saw until half the town is now convinced Bella was caught in flagrante in the garden at this point! She hasn't been able to leave the house at all!"
Alice's report went down from there. It was obvious to Edward, as he listening to his sister's distressed chattering, that the two girls had somehow made themselves friends, even in this circumstance.
While Alice spoke, Esme had come in to summon them to dinner and had listened with Edward to the shocks Alice relayed.
As they rose to go to the dining room, however, Alice separated to go to her room first and Esme turned to Edward.
"You know, Edward, there is only one way I can see Miss Swan coming out of this disgrace with her dignity."
She turned then, leaving her son stopped in the hallway to mull over her words.
The very next day Edward donned his best suit and spoke to Carlisle. Together they set off to the Swans house.
He had not, personally, intended for his father to join him in this visit, but Carlisle had insisted.
"Chief Swan may shoot you on sight at this point, at least if I'm there I can tend the wound while you say your piece."
Edward laughed despite himself.
As it turned out, Charlie Swan did not shoot Edward. Instead the men retired to his study and he poured them all a brandy.
"I thought you might be by earlier to tell the truth." Charlie said, surprising both Cullens.
Edward grimaced and looked into his glass. "Well sir, to tell the truth . . . I asked Bella to marry me last year. She turned me down."
His pride was still suffering from that near fatal wound.
Resolutely Edward brought his eyes up to see Charlie's surprised face. His eyebrows nearly reached his hairline. Carlisle was much the same. Though he had suspected something had happened between the two last fall, he had certainly not expected this.
"You asked my daughter to marry you last year?" Charlie repeated, almost as if he could not believe what Edward had said. "Skipped a few steps there, huh kid?"
The younger man winced at that, evidently less over his heartbreak and imprudence than even he thought. "I apologize, sir. It was . . . rash of me not to speak to you first." He glanced at his own father, "either of you."
At this Charlie just sighed, "I suppose you've been punished enough as it stands."
This Edward sincerely agreed with.
Edward paced anxiously back and forth in the Swan's front sitting room. His father watched from the settee, admirably hiding a smirk behind a raised teacup. Mrs. Swan sat across from him chatting politely. With a childish huff he all but threw himself into a chair and attempted to sit still.
Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime, he heard a door creak open and felt eyes upon him. He hesitated to look up.
Across from him, Carlisle and Renee continued chatting on, seeming oblivious.
Raising his eyes, Edward met the dark gaze of Bella. She was standing prone in the hallway outside her father's study with an unreadable expression on her face.
He stood, unsure, but she turned without a word and disappeared down the hall, a moment later he heard her footsteps ascending stairs.
A subtle throat clearing drew Edward's attention back to where he now realized Charlie Swan stood in the study doorway.
Edward felt his gut clench at the expression on the man's face. Charlie was frowning, his dark eyes—eyes so like his daughter's—were watching Edward closely. With a quick, almost jerky stride the man approached.
The other adults in the room had grown silent now, their polite conversation ended and both turned toward Charlie.
"Chief Swan . . ." Edward began, unsure where his sentence was going even as he started it.
"Edward." He flinched at the brusque tone, "is there anything else about your relationship with my daughter that I should know?"
His nerves were overruled by genuine confusion this time, and having no idea what the man was asking for, could only answer a quiet "No, sir."
If possible, Charlie frowned more. Edward darted a glance at his father and Renee, both of whom looked just as confused as he did.
Charlie began again, his tone harsher than Edward had ever heard it. "My daughter has asked that I refuse your proposal."
Renee's gasp of shock was barely audible to Edward, concerned as he was suddenly over his ability to keep his stomach inside his body as it attempted to drop out. Blindly, he gripped at the chair back beside him, fingers digging into the rough brocade.
"I am inclined to trust her judgement." Charlie finished.
"Please," Edward begged, "can I speak with her?"
Charlie paused, his gruff face giving way to calculation. He studied Edward's earnest expression.
"No," he said finally, "not today."
Edward didn't listen to anything else. His father stepped in to bid their goodbyes, going so far as to hand Edward his hat directly.
It was as they were leaving that a hand on his forearm drew his attention to the worried eyes of Renee Swan.
"I will speak with her. Do not lose hope."
Her quiet words stayed with him all the way home.
SSSSSSSS
Author's Note: Poor Edward, that's twice now she's turned down his proposal. Will he go for a third time?