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Someone asked if Rosalie slept with Edward. No, she didn't. She said she had an affair with him, because she doesn't really know that an affair involved more than kisses.

London, I fare thee well

Rosalie jumped from her bed and ran toward the window. A carriage had stopped in front of the house. Bella and Edward descended from the carriage, her sister hesitating a little before taking her husband's hand. Rosalie watched them walk together toward the front door, her pulse suddenly quickening.

She didn't want to go downstairs and face them. She had barely slept last night, thinking about the past few weeks, how she had ruined everything for her sister, for Edward. Emmett's words from the ball had followed her home, and the guilt was weighing her down.

You were making them feel uncomfortable. Everyone noticed that. I had to take you out of there. He had been right – she had embarrassed Bella and Edward at the church. Her eyes welled up with tears.

It had been Bella's wedding day, and Rosalie had barely talked to her sister. She didn't even get to tell Bella how beautiful she looked, how much she loved the dress or her hair or how sorry she was that it wasn't the wedding Bella had been hoping for. When they were little, they dreamt about this special day, how much they wanted to be at each other's side. She closed her eyes for a second, remembering Bella's hopeful eyes and smile. Rosalie hadn't seen that innocent, sweet smile on her face the other day, and it was her fault.

And she had also been unfair with Edward, disregarding his feelings for her, taking advantage of them because she was bored. She remembered both Edward's and Emmett's expressions when she went to talk to Edward a week and a half ago. Edward had been so cold to her, his eyes hard and his smile indifferent. Emmett had looked at her in disgust, resenting her for breaking his friend's heart. Walking away from the window, she sat on the bed and played with the fold of her dress. She realized that she hadn't truly apologized to Edward for her immature and selfish behavior.

Someone knocked on her door, and Rosalie started.

"Yes?"

"Your sister and her husband just arrived. They are waiting for you downstairs," her maid, Charlotte, said.

"Tell them I will be joining them in a minute," Rosalie answered. Charlotte nodded and closed the door.

Rosalie stood up and took a deep breath. Her palms were damp, and she wiped them on her dress. She left her room and slowly descended the stairs.

Bella was waiting for her sister and father in the drawing room. Her eyes kept going to Edward, who was studying the pottery. This morning, as they were eating breakfast, she had told Edward that she wanted to see her family one last time before leaving. He had looked at her with his intense, green eyes and nodded. She wondered if he secretly wanted to see Rosalie before he left. Shaking her head, she snapped out of her thoughts and realized that Edward had stopped looking at the vase and was looking at her instead.

She suddenly remembered the chaste kiss he had given her the other night, and her cheeks flushed. "Why didn't your mother want to come inside?" she asked quickly, averting her gaze.

"You should ask my mother that," he answered, walking toward her. "I don't understand her myself."

She looked up at him and saw his frustration. Her first encounter with the dowager countess of Melburn had been rather odd. She remembered how anxious she had been to finally meet her husband's mother.

Clenching and unclenching her hands, she followed Edward to his mother's bedchamber. He knocked three times, before Bella heard a raspy voice inviting them inside. As soon as he opened the door, Bella quickly planted a wide smile on her face, trying to hide her anxiety. She had heard many rumors about the woman, and none of them had been good. She didn't know what to expect.

"Mother, I thought you would like to meet my wife, Isabella Cullen," Edward broke the silence, and Bella looked at the countess.

She was sitting up in her bed, her bony arms folded across her chest. She was staring at them with a frown, and Bella felt her smile wobble a little.

"I am so happy to finally meet you, Milady," Bella said. "I am so sorry you couldn't come to the wedding. I hope you feel better now." Even though Edward told Bella that his mother hadn't come to the wedding because of her health, Bella knew better. The woman hadn't wanted to be there, and that quite upset her.

Elizabeth looked at Bella, then her eyes went to her son. "I have never felt better," she countered, raising an eyebrow.

Surprised, Bella realized the woman was practically confirming her suspicions. "I am glad to hear that," she said with a smile. "The wedding was very beautiful. Everyone was wondering where you were."

"Bull, nobody even realized I was missing from the wedding," Elizabeth exclaimed.

Bella raised her eyebrows in surprise at her choice of words.

Edward threw Elizabeth a smile. "Were you? Missing, I mean."

Elizabeth's eyes flickered to her son for a brief second, before she looked out the window. "Where is my maid? I need to take a bath. What are you waiting for? Bring me my maid."

With a short nod, Edward turned to Bella and put his hand on her waist, taking her outside. Bella didn't even have time to say goodbye to his mother, before the door closed.

"I don't think she likes me very much," she whispered, not wanting the dowager countess to hear her.

Edward met her gaze. "She doesn't like anyone."

The door opened, and both Charlie and Rosalie walked inside. Bella quickly stood up, and without thinking about it, her gaze swung to Edward. She was curious to see his reaction upon seeing her sister. If he felt anything, he hid it very well.

"Honey, it's such a pleasure to see you," Charlie said, wrapping his arms around Bella. "But you just got married yesterday. What are you doing here? Not that I am complaining."

"Well, actually, we came to say goodbye," Bella answered, pulling back to look at him.

"To say goodbye?" Rosalie exclaimed. "Where are you going?"

"To Hampshire," Edward said. "We decided it would be best to spend our first months as a married couple away from London."

Bella looked pointedly at Rosalie, surprised to see that Rosalie was trying very hard to hide her trembling lips. "Yes. We thought it would help us know each other better."

"That is a very good idea, sweetheart, although I will miss you," Charlie agreed.

"Father, can you leave us alone?" Rosalie asked. "Please."

Charlie frowned, confused. "What is happening here?"

"You don't need to worry about it," Rosalie said.

"Too late, I am already worrying," Charlie answered, crossing his arms across his chest. He looked at Bella and Edward, trying to understand what was happening. "I will leave you alone, but I want to know everything when I come back. You have all been acting strange lately, and I think I have given you enough time to resolve your problems. Now I need answers."

"And you shall have them. But later, father," Rosalie muttered.

Charlie shook his head in irritation and turned around to leave. Before he closed the door behind him, he threw them another frustrated glance.

Bella clasped her hands behind her back, not knowing what Rosalie wanted to say. She was a little nervous about their conversation, but it seemed that her sister was more nervous than her.

"What did you want to talk about?" Bella started.

Rosalie swallowed hard and looked at Edward, then at Bella. "I wanted to apologize," she whispered. "I wanted to tell you how sorry I am about everything. I have been reckless and selfish and stupid. I wasn't thinking." She stopped to take a deep breath, watching their guarded expressions. "I know this may seem contrived, but I am really sorry I played with your feelings, Edward. I shouldn't have, but I did and I broke your heart." Her hands started trembling, and she hid them behind her back.

Bella must have noticed, because she interrupted her. "Rosalie –"

"I have been thinking about this the entire night, and I realized that everything is my fault."

"Rosalie, please," Bella interrupted her again. "Not everything is your fault. I agree that this is strange and … overwhelming." She looked at Edward and met his gaze before she turned to her sister and laughed humorlessly. "I mean, you two have a history together – a small one, but a history nonetheless. My husband was in love with you. You hurt him; he used me to make you jealous, and now I am somehow in the middle. It is overwhelming, but you didn't push me and Edward into that room, and you didn't tell the duchess to open that door when we were both inside."

"If it's anyone's fault, it isn't yours or Bella's," Edward intervened, stepping between the girls.

He was getting tired of this subject, of always talking about the same thing – whose fault it was, how ironic everything was, what would have happened if Rosalie hadn't kissed him on that balcony. He just wanted to move on, but everyone seemed reluctant to do so.

"It's mine. I was older, I knew better than to get involved with Rosalie, but I did it anyway, because I was foolish enough to think that she felt something for me. I knew Bella didn't deserve to be taken advantage of, but I did it anyway, because I was hurt." He looked directly at Rosalie's bewildered face. "Yes, Rosalie, you are reckless and naïve and sometimes selfish, but I also know that you love your sister very much and hate to see her unhappy. As her husband, I intend to make her very happy and put the past behind us. I just want you two to do the same thing." He started toward the door. "Now, if you don't mind, I will go see my mother."

Bella watched Edward close the door, without looking once behind him. She didn't know what to think anymore. She wanted so much to believe him and trust him, but something was holding her back. Her thoughts were scattered, and her emotions confusing. He was still in love with her sister. How was he going to make her happy, if she knew that?

"I think we should sit down for a moment," Bella suggested, walking toward the couch. Rosalie followed her and sat next to her. "I don't know what to say anymore, Rosalie. You are my sister, and I love you. I don't want to be mad at you, and I really don't want to leave London without telling you that I will miss you."

Rosalie smiled. "I will miss you, too."

"I just … before I go, I just want to ask you something," Bella whispered, suddenly very hesitant. She didn't know why she wanted to know, but the thought was always in the back of her mind. "Do you love Edward?"

Rosalie's eyebrows shot up, and her mouth dropped open. "What? No, I don't. I never did."

"Then, why did you lead him on?"

Her sister sighed loudly and avoided Bella's gaze. "I don't know. I was lonely, I suppose. Ever since I made my debut, I have been surrounded by men vying for my attention, but I have never felt lonelier." Seeing Bella's hurt expression, she continued quickly, "I know you were always there for me – you practically raised me, but I didn't want to upset you with my foolish fears. Instead, I found Edward and took advantage of him." She laughed without humor, her cheeks flushing with shame.

Bella didn't say anything for a couple of minutes, staring at her hands. Looking up at Rosalie, she whispered, "Do you think things would have been different if our mother hadn't left?"

Rosalie clasped Bella's hand and squeezed it. "I don't know. I can't even remember her."

xXx

Edward leaned against the carriage wall, looking intently at his wife. Ever since she left the house, she had been quiet, pensive. She refused to look at him or talk to him, and he wondered if she was mad or upset with him. After Bella finished her conversation with Rosalie and it was time to say goodbye, Charlie had asked Bella to tell him what was happening between the three of them. He didn't know what she had told him, but Charlie had seemed a little frustrated when he returned.

His gaze slid to his mother's sleeping form. She had been sleeping since they left Bella's family an hour ago.

"What did you tell your father?" he asked, watching her eyes carefully read his expression.

"I didn't tell him everything if that concerned you," she whispered, lifting one shoulder. "I merely told him that you were trying to court Rosalie when you and I were found together, and we are now going to make this marriage work, that he shouldn't worry about us." After a short pause, she continued, "He was rather upset."

"It's understandable."

Bella looked at him, desperately wanting to change the subject. "How long are we going to be on the road?"

"There is an inn a couple of miles away, where we will spend the night. We will leave first thing in the morning. I suppose we will be in Hampshire by tomorrow night."

"Oh," Bella breathed out, thinking about the night ahead. Were they going to share a room this time? "Tell me more about your house in Hampshire. What does it look like?"

Edward noticed her panicked expression. He leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees. "You don't have to be afraid of me. I meant what I said the other night; I will never do something you don't want me to."

"I am not afraid of you," she whispered, but her trembling voice betrayed her. He merely raised one of his eyebrows, silently telling her that he wasn't fooled.

"You will love my house," he continued with a small smile, changing the subject. "It has belonged to the Cullens for over six hundred years, and it's full of memories – my father's weapon collection, the portraits of my ancestors. It has three floors and over twenty bedrooms and also a very beautiful garden. The curtains are made of silk; the walls in the drawing room are covered in blue velvet, and all of the rooms have their own unique charm. There is also a pond nearby."

Hearing him describe his house, Bella smiled a little. "Is that a passage from a book?"

Edward grinned. "I told you. You will love it."

They arrived at the inn four hours later. The sun hadn't set yet, but they were tired and famished. Elizabeth was particularly grumpy as she descended from the carriage and immediately retreated to her room, only telling the footman to bring her something to eat and drink. Edward had made sure it was water.

After leading his mother to her room, Edward came downstairs to talk to the innkeeper. Bella was waiting for him at the base of the staircase.

"Our room is on the second floor, two doors away from my mother's," he said. "We can get ourselves comfortable. The footmen are going to bring us something to eat."

"Oh, I thought…" Bella trailed off, realizing she was going to say something stupid. They were married – of course it was normal for them to share a room. "Never mind." She quickly shook her head and walked ahead of him.

"You thought we were going to sleep in different rooms?" he asked lightly, immediately guessing her thoughts. With two long strides, he reached her side. "The innkeeper would have thought something was wrong between us, and the rumors would have reached London by midnight. Besides, I already told you that I am not –"

"I know, I know," she interrupted him. "Forget about it. I am just being foolish." She stopped a few feet away from the door and looked up at him. "I just… I never slept with… I am used to sleeping alone. Sharing my bed with someone, even if that someone is my husband, is unusual for me."

He stared at her intently, starting to make her uncomfortable. Then, he said, "Should I be worried that I will wake up on the floor?"

Not expecting that, she chuckled. "I will be careful you take your pillow with you."

He smiled, placing his hand on the doorknob. "That's very considerate of you." He opened the door and they both stepped inside. It was a small room, but warm and pleasant.

After the footmen brought them their dinner, and they were sated, Bella realized how tired she really was. Her eyes were drooping. Looking at Edward, she saw that he was taking off his clothes. She quickly looked away and wondered if she should bring her maid to help her with her dress or ask Edward. Since he was her husband, in the room with her, and he had already seen her in her nightgown, it didn't seem so absurd to ask him. Nonetheless, her heart started pounding in anticipation.

"Edward?" she squeaked.

"Yes?"

"Can you help me with my dress?"

"Of course."

Leaving his unbuttoned shirt on, he came behind her. Gently, he brushed her hair over her right shoulder, his fingers softly touching the skin on her neck. She might have stopped breathing for a second.

He didn't say anything as he unfastened her dress. When he was done, she hesitated a little before letting it drop to the floor. She still had two layers of clothes on, but she felt almost naked. As she bent down to grab her dress, Edward took his shirt off and threw it on the bed, his hands immediately going to his belt. Feeling her eyes on him, he looked at her.

"Should I keep them on?" he asked, referring to his trousers.

Bella blushed and stammered, "Yes. I mean no. Make yourself comfortable."

"I will keep them on, then."

"Edward –"

"I have already made up my mind, Bella. They stay on." Smiling, he continued, "Should I put my shirt on, too?"

"The cloak, too."

He laughed as she quickly discarded her petticoats. Then, she got under the covers and waited for him to join her. A minute later, he climbed into bed next to her. They were both staring at the ceiling, neither one of them saying anything.

"Well, this is awkward," she whispered, turning her head to look at him.

He chuckled and propped himself on his elbow, looking down at her. "I believe we should do something about that."

"What do you suggest?" she asked, frowning in confusion.

"Honesty," he murmured. "If you feel uncomfortable about something, I want you to tell me, no matter how foolish your fears or thoughts may seem to you. I promise to do the same."

He seemed so sincere. His eyes were serious and gentle at the same time; and his lips were parted. She wanted to reach over and run her fingers through his messy hair, feel his lips on hers one more time.

"Did you tell the truth?" she said, her eyes growing soft. "When you told Rosalie you wanted to make me happy and put the past behind us."

He nodded slowly. "Yes."

"Then, I promise to be honest with you. I just want you to promise me something else."

"What?"

Taking a deep breath, she hoped that her voice would not falter. "Can you promise me that you will try to be happy? With me."

Edward saw the hope in her eyes. She was already acting on her promise - she wasn't trying to hide her feelings from him. She was vulnerable and honest, exposed. Taking her hand in his, he whispered, "I promise."