Summary: Inspired by Pride and Prejudice: Regency Era England, Bella Swan leaves town to live in the country with her family where she meets the respectable Masen family, and their intolerable (yet handsome) son.
All Human – AU.
Disclaimer: Characters are property of the lovely Stephenie Meyer.
Chapter Four
It was Lord Masen who stepped out of the shadows, and strode towards where I sat.
A fresh round of tears started as he approached me.
"Did you not hear me just now? I said I do not wish to talk to anyone at present."
He sat down next to me on the edge of the fountain and sighed.
"If I promise you do not have to talk to me, will you at least listen? Please, if only for a short while." He reasoned.
I was relieved that it was him and not James, and extremely curious as to his mood swing that evening, so I nodded and gestured that he should carry on.
"I find that I have given you a most un-gentlemanly impression of myself. I have done you wrong, I have treated you wrong – you are a lady I have only just met in the last few weeks, and I…" He trailed off, his face falling to his hands in anguish.
Instead of the pity he wished me to feel for him, it was anger that bubbled up inside of me.
"Yes you have done me wrong, you have treated me as scum, as a whore, and then in the very next breath pretended like you had not done so and treated me with equal indifference." I stood up, and pointed my finger at him.
"What do you have to say for yourself, for your actions? You could have ruined me and clearly not thought anything of it. This is the impression you have given me. What could you possibly do to rectify it in any way?"
He abruptly stood up to meet me.
"Miss Swan, I am going away, for the season at least – possibly longer. If it is as I fear, it will be a full twelvemonth."
I looked at him, perplexed.
"Well then that is a very good thing. I will no longer have to endure you and your inappropriate, rude, and un-gentlemanly ways." I said with spite lacing my tone.
I turned and began walking back towards the house, the sound of his boots following me.
I stopped when I reached the terrace outside the house, and turned back to face him. He was closer than I expected, his eyes blazing passionately.
"I will not see you for twelve long months," he said, his voice breaking.
I closed my eyes out of impatience, still not understanding the point he was trying to get across.
"Lord Masen, really, I cannot see how this is a bad thing."
"I am a stupid man. Ever since the moment I first saw you I have felt an undeniable pull towards you, Miss Swan. I have acted irresponsibly, and irrationally. I have hurt you, I have provoked you. I deserve to be struck down, but I find my punishment is far more severe. My father noticed. He sees my attraction to you."
My mind could hardly process what he was saying. My heart was fluttering.
"I am being sent to stay with cousins in the north. I am to 'learn how a proper son of an earl should act'."
My eyebrows knitted together as I looked up at him. Was this another show, or was this the true Edward within?
He placed his hands either side of my face, his eyes burning into mine.
"I have known you for only a matter of weeks, but Bella, I swear – I am in love with you. I was trying to reconcile my feelings. I couldn't believe it to be true, but it is. And I know you feel something too. I can see it in your face. In the way you react to me."
I took a long moment to consider this, breaking his intense gaze. I could not deny my attraction. He infuriated me to no end, but there was something between us. Despite what small attraction may have existed between us, it would be pointless to act upon it. First of all, I could not stand to be married to him, I was certain of that. We would bicker endlessly, and his track record so far had not proven to be very admirable.
And second to this, and perhaps a far more insurmountable obstacle, was that his father clearly objected to the match. If he would not approve there would never be any chance.
I bit my lip, my eyes meeting his again.
Seeing the pained looked in his eyes broke my heart. I could feel the tears forming in my eyes again, and for a new reason altogether.
"It doesn't matter if I care for you or you for me. Your father clearly objects. You and I being anything beyond amicable acquaintances is impossible. We should not even being having this conversation. Why discuss something that cannot be?"
His eyes tightened as I said that, his mouth opening and closing a few times as if he was about to say something.
"I…" He began his hands still on either side of my face. Closing his eyes tightly he shook his head slightly.
Opening them again he looked me right in the eyes.
"I love you Bella."
My heart felt like it was exploding. It was as if there was a flicker of light in my head, like a candle showing me the way. I could deny it all I liked, but in that moment I knew that I wanted him, that I wanted us.
Before I could open my mouth to reply, he was pressing his lips to mine. Heat rushed through my body at the contact, and I realised I had been longing for this. He threaded one of his hands into the back of my hair, and the other moved down my side to rest on the small of my back pulling me closer.
I reached for his shoulders, sliding my arms around the back of his neck. This was my first kiss, and I knew I would always remember this. I felt my back hit something solid and realised he had pushed me into the wall.
Everything was so new to me, but it felt right. My skin was on fire, every nerve end blazing.
After what seemed like an age, he broke the kiss and rested his forehead against mine, meeting my eyes and exhaling with a dark chuckle.
"Why did you do that?" I asked out of frustration.
He looked at me strangely.
"Did we not just go over this? I love you, and after that kiss, I am quite certain you love me too!"
I stamped my foot, the sound of the heel echoing across the courtyard.
"Be that as it may, we cannot be together! It is impossible. You and I both know that in this day and age love doesn't matter. You shouldn't kiss me again, because how can I be with another man, and be a good wife when I know how it feels to kiss you? How could I face my future husband everyday, knowing there was someone out there I liked better? It is best if we forget tonight, and each other."
He looked like I had just punched him, and in some way I felt that I had.
He gently grasped my chin with his hand and directed my face upwards towards his.
"If you can wait till I return, I promise, I will marry you."
I could feel goose bumps erupt all over my body at that thought, a tingle running down the length of my spine.
"How can you promise that?"
"I will make my father see reason, and you will be mine. I will spend every day we have together making up for every horrid thing I have ever said and done to you."
I thought for a few moments in silence, and finally grinned timidly at him.
"You could be a full year?"
His face lit up, and he beamed up me.
"You will wait for me? You will keep your heart for me?"
I nodded, and he kissed me again, this time a gentle chaste kiss.
He held me for a few minutes more, when it occurred to me that we had been gone for sometime.
"We had best be getting back, before someone notices our absence." I said, regretfully.
"Indeed," he replied, "I leave tomorrow, in the morning. I do not know if I will be able to write, but know that I am thinking of you everyday, and will return to make you mine."
I nodded, unable to say anything.
He glanced to the side, and my eyes followed his. Standing at the other end of the terrace was a dark figure.
My heart skipped several beats, wondering just how long they had been standing there, and how much attention they had been paying to us.
Edward froze, his eyes darting back to mine for a second. He mouthed "I love you" then turned to fully face the stranger.
"Father," He called, "I apologise for leaving so suddenly." He squeezed my hand and then dropped it, walking towards his father.
My heart was pounding, and I suddenly felt very dizzy. His father had seen us. Of all the people that could have witnessed what just transpired between us.
I sat down on the stone edge of the garden, staring at the ground and willing the black spots in my vision to disappear.
Whatever was exchanged between Edward and his father did not process in my mind. It was all muted mumbling, and I barely registered the loud bang of the door when they re-entered the house.
The dizziness subsided and I took a deep breath.
In a matter of minutes Lord Edward Masen had not only confessed his love for me, but then told me he was leaving for an undefined amount of time. And I had kissed him?
I had kissed a man that I was not even engaged to, let alone married to. If anyone found out I would be ruined for sure. I let out a panicked sob at the thought of Edward's father exposing us.
Before the idea could fully form, logic kicked in. I knew that his father would never do that as it would taint his reputation and that of his son.
How could I have been so careless, and allowed myself to get caught up in the moment? And now, I find myself quite in love with a man I was sure I resented until this morning – who I wouldn't see for goodness knows how long – and somehow promised to him.
Everything was moving too fast. I was thankful that I would have months ahead of me to process this.
I wiped my eyes and stood, brushing off my gown. Pulling my shoulders straight I walked towards the door and entered the house.
The only sound coming from the dining room was the clatter of dishes being cleared. Everyone had moved into the parlour.
I walked past the entrance way, on my way to the stairs and found my mother and the Masen family there.
She spotted me before I could duck away.
"Ah Bella, come here and help me plead with Lady Masen to stay for another round of cards."
I walked over bowing my head slightly. I was too afraid to look Lord Masen or Edward in the eyes.
I smiled at Lady Masen, "Please won't you grace us with another game?" I said with all the fake enthusiasm I could muster.
"Oh Miss Swan you are quite delightful, but we really must take our leave. Our Edward must have his rest for his long trip tomorrow." She replied.
My mothered stiffened at this.
"Your son is leaving us?" She enquired.
"Yes, his will be staying in the north for some time. We do not expect him to return home for a twelvemonth yet." Lord Masen interjected gruffly.
I flinched at his voice, and raised my eyes slightly to glance at Edward.
He had a sad smile for me, with a look of longing.
I gave him a small smile, only twitching the corners of my mouth.
I glanced back down as my mother bade them farewell, and closed the door after them.
"Well..." She began.
I interrupted before she could continue and asked to be excused.
She acquiesced and I headed towards the stairs, picking up my pace.
James was skulking near the foot of the stairs and started to open his mouth to say something.
"Not now, James." I said impatiently, hastily stepping paste him.
I hurried up the stairs and into my room.
My timing was perfect; Angela was in there turning my bedcovers down.
I asked her to help me to get out of my gown and undo the stays, the relief was incredible.
I never realised just how uncomfortable I was until I was released from the prison wrapped around my body.
She bid me good night and slipped out as I climbed into bed.
I had successfully distracted myself enough from the events of the evening, and could not bear to think on them at that moment. I just needed the sweet release of a dreamless sleep, and prayed it would be so.
I burrowed deeper into my soft blankets, and slipped into a peaceful slumber unaware of what tomorrow would bring.
-xxx-
AN – Can anyone say epic fail? Not only am I months late in posting anything, it's also a piddly little half assed chapter. I am so sorry.Thank you for all your kind reviews. I have to say they are definitely inspiring. Every time someone left a review over the last few months I'd open up word and write something, be it a few words or a page – so every single one helps.This one was especially hard to end, hence the absolutely weak cut off point. I am still struggling, so if anyone has any ideas... anything they'd like to see… please let me know.Now to finish the first chapter on the new story I'm working on. (Keep an eye out for it). :)