Chapter Nine

The next couple of days followed the same pattern as the first. I explored the ship, as far as they would let me go since I was a first class passenger, visited the library for new books, and went to planned meals with my parents. I had not forgotten what Edward had said to me, but although I had seen him, I hadn't spoken to him since then.

I didn't want to hear more about my failure to keep my emotions inside. As mother always said, a proper young lady never lets others see her true were now three days into the trip, and I had an unsettled feeling in my stomach. I knew that in a few days time I would be a married woman, and I'd never even met the man.

I knew that I would never forgive my father for forcing the marriage on me, but I would never verbalize my feelings on the matter. Father is entirely too logical to understand a young girls' opinion on the matter of arranged marriage. After all, he and Mother had learned to love eachother rather quickly, which he reminded me of regularly now.

I had resolved myself to my future, but I wanted an adventure before I settled into my new role, so I sought out to find and speak to Edward. I found him in the library again, so I walked over to his table and sat down.

EC: "Isabella. I thought I had offended you, and you would never speak to me again. I'm glad to see that I was wrong."

BS: "I couldn't be offended. You simply pointed out what I had been trying so desperately to hide. I apologize for the way that I left the other day."

EC: "I forgive you. This time. Tell me Isabella, how has your trip been so far?"

BS: "Please, call me Bella. Isabella is so stuffy. I'm not ready to be stuffy yet. My journey has been wonderful, aside from being bored stiff."

EC: chuckles "Ok, Bella it is then. Have you tried exploring the ship to pass the time?"

BS: "I've tried, but I can't get out of the first and second class areas. The stewards won't let me below decks. Not for a lack of about thirty different attempts, of course."

EC: "Come on, let's go!"

BS: "Where?"

EC: "To explore, of course!"

BS: "But I've already told you, we can't get below decks. It's impossible."

EC: "Nothing is impossible, Bella. It just means you have to work a bit harder to get what you want. That's all. Do you trust me?"

BS: "I don't know you! How can I possibly know if I trust you?"

EC: "Just say yes, and let's go!"

BS: "Yes. Yes, I trust you."

I began chasing after Edward as he twisted through hallways I hadn't come across yet. Before I knew it, we were climbing down a well hidden ladder. I wasn't sure how long we'd been going down, but I suddenly heard Edward jump down and land with a small thud. It looked like we were in the steerage area. We heard music, and started running towards it.