Beta: RandomatGedz (my Superwoman) :D
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
Living Royal
Chapter Thirty
The wedding date was announced officially through the Palace. Congratulations started flooding in right after that. People sent letters, gifts; all sorts of things to show how happy they were that Edward was finally tying the knot. Esme immediately started hatching plans for the wedding, the palace was filled with a flurry of activity, everyone wanted to get it ready in time for the nuptials, which were only a month away.
Edward and Bella discussed with Esme how they wanted it to be a small wedding with only family and friends invited, but Esme convinced them that it wouldn't be possible at all. There were protocols that needed to be followed, certain important people who had to be invited, otherwise they would feel insulted and that may lead to diplomatic problems between England and other countries.
Who knew that planning a wedding could be so much trouble?
Eventually, they reached a compromise. They would have the big public wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey, where Carlisle and Esme themselves were married, and invite everyone that needed to be invited, then afterwards they'd have a private party with only their close friends and family present.
Carlisle, of course, needed to approve of the plans they made. Surprisingly, he agreed without any objections whatsoever. Bella noticed that he'd been different since his last argument with Edward the other day when Esme blew up. She was really curious to know what had changed. She cautiously asked Esme about it a few days later when they were going over the guest list for the wedding ceremony.
"When you've been married for as long as Carlisle and I have been, you tend to know exactly what to do to make them do exactly what you want them to do." Esme confessed with a wink.
Bella chuckled; she suddenly had a new found respect for Esme.
'So, who have you picked for your maids of honor?" Esme asked Bella. "We need to know so their measurements can be taken for the dresses."
"Oh, Rosalie and Alice. Alice has appointed herself my maid-of-honor since we were children and Rosalie and I have grown really close lately, so I'd really like her to be a bridesmaid."
"That's wonderful, Bella. I'm so glad that you and Rosalie are getting along so well. She doesn't really have many female friends."
"Really? Why?" Bella was confused. Rosalie was a wonderful person, why wouldn't she have girlfriends?
"Rosalie finds it hard to get along with about just anyone because most girls choose to become friends with her because of her parent's money. They think they'll benefit from being her friend because her father is one of the nobility."
"God, does that happen to anyone who has money or power? I'm starting to understand why Car..uh, I mean King Carlisle was skeptical of me."
"He may have had a good reason, but nothing justifies the way he acted on it, Bella." Esme insisted.
Edward came about an hour later while Esme and Bella were still working on the guest list. They were now on guest number one thousand and twenty three. Bella's head was spinning fast.
"I came to spring you." He whispered to her. Bella nodded vigorously.
"Oh, go ahead Bella. There are only a few things left for today and I can take care of them."
Bella thanked Esme and Edward led her out of Esme's study where they'd been cooped up for the last few hours.
"Are you overwhelmed yet?" Edward asked her.
"A little bit, but I'm handling it."
"The moment you feel that it's getting to be too much, just tell me and I'll put a stop to it altogether. This is our wedding; we should be able to do it our way."
"I know, but do you really want to disappoint the entire country just so we could have a little privacy on our wedding day? They've all been waiting for this day for a long time; I don't mind having a big wedding if it will make them happy."
Edward gazed at his fiancée adoringly, "You'll make an amazing queen, you know?"
Bella smiled and kissed his cheek, "And you will make an awesome King."
His lips turned down, "I hope so."
"Hey," She turned his face towards hers. "I know you will be. There's no way you couldn't be. You're kind, smart and compassionate. You're everything this country needs."
What Bella really wanted to say was; 'You're nothing like your father.' But she wisely held herself back, not knowing how he'd react. No matter what Carlisle has done, he was still Edward's father.
"You know exactly how to boost a man's ego, don't you?" He grinned happily.
"No, I just know how to boost your ego." She giggled.
The next few days were spent in constant planning. Bella met the designer that the Royal family employed, Mrs. Cope, so that she'd take her measurements for the wedding gown. Bella chose a princess themed design for the dress, something simple but very pretty and regal, something fit for a princess.
Alice and Rosalie were invited to stay at the palace to help with the planning, as well. The three women went on shopping sprees for Bella's trousseau, something which embarrassed Bella to no end. It was bad enough going to lingerie shops by yourself, but having people along with you, even if they're girls, who demand that you try on every article of clothing that strikes their fancy and model it for them, was beyond mortifying.
She got through it though, just like she got through everything else that needed to be done.
By the time the wedding was one week away, Bella was exhausted. She had to wake up everyday and meet up with the wedding coordinator along with Queen Esme and then they'd go over everything that needed to be done that day, after that she'd spend the day on her feet checking everything from flower arrangements to seating charts.
When it all came down to it, a Royal wedding was surprisingly very much like a regular one except when it came to the guests…and the groom.
Bella was excited by it all, despite the fatigue. She was getting married to the love of her life, so it was all worth it. It may be cheesy but that didn't make it any less true.
To say that Alice was just as excited would be the understatement of the century, she was off into a flurry of activity as soon as she stepped foot inside the Palace, sometimes even contradicting what Bella wanted, because Bella 'didn't know any better'.
Rosalie was a great help to Bella as well, she helped reign Alice in when needed. Sometimes Bella found her sitting alone next to one of the windows gazing outside and playing absentmindedly with her locket, looking very depressed.
When she mentioned it to Edward, he told her that the locket was a gift from Emmett on Rosalie's eighteenth birthday and she had his photo in it. He also told her that a week ago Emmett had requested to be transferred to the frontline, that's why Rosalie was constantly worried. Bella noticed that so was Edward.
She immediately felt guilty that she'd been so wrapped up in preparing for their wedding that she hadn't noticed that Edward was anxious about his brother.
To make up for that oversight she requested that dinner be delivered to their room that night, so they'd have a quiet night together away from all the humdrum of everything that'd been going on.
An hour before dinner was supposed to be sent up to them, though, Bella changed her mind. She walked down the stairs and headed for the kitchens. The moment she opened the door and the servants and cooks noticed her standing there, they stood in attention.
"Oh, please, sit down. Sorry to interrupt your work, I just needed to ask a favor."
Mr. Wilson, the head chef, stepped forward quickly. "Of course, Your Highness, how can we help you?"
"There's no need to be so formal, just call me Bella please." She requested.
He nodded hesitantly and Bella knew that he had no intention of doing that.
"I'd like to prepare the dinner I asked for myself, if that's alright." Bella asked. She didn't want them to feel like she's encroaching on their territory or something.
"But you don't have to do that, Your Highness," Mr. Wilson replied, proving her previous point about not being able to use her name. "We can have dinner ready for you as soon as possible."
"I know, of course, I was just hoping I could make something special for me and Edward for tonight." She smiled.
Mr. Wilson finally agreed and he prepared all the ingredients that Bella would need, helping her every once in a while when she needed it. She was able to prepare it in record time and loaded everything on the serving table. She thanked them all for their help and then a maid helped her take it upstairs. The moment they walked out of the kitchen she could hear voices and chaos erupt inside.
"Forgive them, Your Highness," The maid that was helping Bella said. "They've never been visited by a Princess before."
"I'm not a Princess yet." Bella blushed.
"Oh, but it turns out you're better than most Queens." The maid replied. A second later she realized what she'd said and stopped short. The poor woman looked terrified.
"It's alright," Bella reassured her. "It'll be our little secret."
The maid smiled in relief. They took the table upstairs and then Bella told her that she'd handle it for the rest of the way.
While she was wheeling it down the hallway she heard whispering coming from one of the alcoves towards the end of the corridor. Normally she would've ignored whoever it was, but something in her gut told her to get closer. She left the trolley and walked slowly a few steps ahead trying to see who it was. It didn't sound like Edward, but it was definitely male.
"I've already done everything you've asked. What else do you want?" The voice said.
Bella looked around the corner and was surprised to find James standing there facing the wall with his back to her. He was talking heatedly to whoever was on the other line.
"Listen, I can't do this anymore. I could get caught and then what do you think they'll do to me?"
Bella was confused.
What had he done that was so horrible that he's afraid of getting caught? Had he stolen something?
"Why don't you just come down here and spy on them yourself? I'm done doing your dirty work." He spat.
Bella jerked back involuntarily at his tone. He was spying on someone? Who? The Royal family? But why would he do that? More importantly, why would he do that and for whom?
An idea suddenly struck her.
Could it be?
It's a bit far fetched but it could be true. She needed to tell Edward.
Bella walked back quickly before James caught her. She grabbed the trolley and headed to their rooms.
When she reached their door, she knocked softly.
"Room service," She announced.
She heard shuffling inside and then Edward opened the door smiling.
"I was wondering where you were." He said. Then he glanced at the table and frowned. "Did they make you bring it up here?" He asked, angrily.
"No, no." Bella replied quickly, before he did anything drastic. "I asked to bring it up here," She wheeled it inside, while Edward closed the door.
"Did you make it yourself?" He asked, surprised.
"Yes, I did. Mr. Wilson helped, but I did most of it."
"Thank God, I love your cooking." Edward grinned. He helped Bella put everything on the small dining table in the room and they sat down together and started digging in.
"Hey, I've been wondering about something." Bella said after they'd been eating for a while.
"What is it?" Edward asked while chewing vigorously.
"How the hell did Tanya know you weren't with me the day we had a fight?" Aha!
"I have no idea." He shrugged. "Maybe it was a lucky guess?"
"No, it can't be that. Do you think maybe… she has spies here in the palace?"
"No, that's not possible." He replied immediately.
"Why not?"
"It just isn't. Everyone here knows what the penalty is for leaking information about the family, no matter who you're leaking the info to."
"I don't know, I just can't find a reasonable explanation for that other than somebody telling her."
"Why do you think that?"
"Because, I think it was James."
(A/N): RandomatGedz (my beta) threatened to pitchfork me if I don't quote her, so "DUN DUN DUN!" :D
Yeah, I want to LIVE, at least until I see Breaking Dawn :D
So what did you all think of this one? Let me know!
Don't forget to add me on Facebook (Dee Pattinson) cause I created a group for this story and whoever adds me will be added to the group :)
Oh! And the Breaking Dawn premiere is today! Can't wait! I'm going to see it this weekend with my friends, how about you guys? What have you got planned?