Part II

BPOV (Bella)

"Pardon me." I was astonished he'd called me with such a voice.

He smiled a beautiful smile. "I said stay, come sit with me." He gestured to the seat next to him.

"Edward, no." William said with his jaw clenched.

"Why whatever do you mean by that, William." Edward replied unaffected by William's hostility.

"You said you wouldn't."

"I have no idea what you mean by that." He turned away from William and to me. "Bella will you honor me with your presence?" I was cautious, there was something not right but what else could I do? It would be stupid of me to deny him, no one denied these kind of people, the powerful people in this town.

"Of course." I said unsteadily. I approached him slowly and cautiously. I sat down.

He was even more beautiful up close. "No need to be scared. William has a tendency to overreact. I will not harm you."

His green eyes were mesmerizing. Before us William stomped off in a huff.

EPOV (Edward)

The girl beside me had a charm, something I hadn't seen in a girl. She nervously sat beside me. William stomped off in a huff. He knew he could not defy me. He could not take the girl away. I had authority over him, the Duke was my brother and he like Emmett and George were my cousins. He knew my intentions and he was right on. She was a beautiful girl and I knew she was not of class, she was nervous and that's what gave her away. She stared up at me almost hypnotized I have to admit I kind of liked her.

I made small talk with her, trying to make her less nervous. "I saw you arrive with Alice, she is promised to Jasper. Correct?"

"That is not set in stone."

Her awkwardness drew me in. "Do you dance?" I asked.

"Not well."

I arched my brow. "I saw you with my cousin, William, you can't be that bad." I held out my hand and gestured for her to take it. She stood reluctantly.

"Edward." Robert, my brother and the Duke, called me as I was about to walk off. He sat next to the duchess, Charlotte. From the day he was born, my parents and hers agreed they were to be man and wife. They had had many years to get accustomed to the idea. Robert is twenty five, seven years older than I, a very young Duke. He became Duke when my father stepped down, he fell ill and can no longer rule. My father is limited to staying in bed. He will not last too long. Although, being confined to home does not limit him from knowing everything that goes on. It is as if he has someone follow me around. He knows everything I do, with detail.

I've been sent with the intention of finding a wife, they want me to get married but I have no plans to get married I have expressed that from the beginning. Robert had been Duke for a couple months, the people are only now getting used to his rule. I had moved with my parents to central London. But they suggested I come spend a couple seasons with him back home, search for a woman to satisfy me. London was to infested with whores, I was too tempted. To their dismay whores infest every town.

In addition to finding a woman, they want me to learn from Robert, he is the golden boy and my father's prodigy. He is more important, I merely am hidden in his shadow, and I am the Duke's brother. It comes in my advantage, only publicly, in my family I live to preserve our name. A very bad job at it I do.

"Yes." I answered. I walked to him and the duchess.

"You will take her to your bed." He stated. He was my brother and knew me better than even my father.

"That is my choice to make." I challenged.

"If you must, do it discretely. Father will be angry if word gets out of your doings on your first night back in town, you are supposed to be an honorable man. I trust you want to live up to that."

I chuckled at the honorable man portion. "Why of course brother."

He sighed heavily. "Remember it is not only your honor you put at risk."

"Father has not let me forget that."

"Then must you insist on it?" he hissed.

"Unlike you and my father I could care less what this room full of people thinks of me, I do as I please."

"Evidently you do, you ask yourself why father prefers me." I acted as if his words had affected me. I knew father cared for him more than me, he always had. Robert was always better at everything, even at pleasing people. He subjected himself to everyone's desires, it was the reason we were so different.

"I don't put up a show for these people. I am not controlled by anyone. You know they secretly despise you as do I." I said coolly. Bella had not heard our dispute she waited right where I had left her. I walked towards her leaving Robert talking alone.

"I apologize for that." I said to her.

"It's fine." She smiled. It wasn't a real smile it was forced. "It was nothing." It was quite a relief that she hadn't heard a word. I was sure she didn't, she'd be gone by now had she heard what was said.

"How about we get some fresh air?" I suggested.

She deliberated. "Sure." She finally said. I walked her through the crowd suddenly we encountered a couple. I recognized the man to be Jasper Hale and I assumed the girl to be Alice Cullen. She was a dark haired girl with dark brown eyes, she seemed very…happy, so did her, it was a joy I sometimes envied.

"Bella! I haven't seen you all night, have you been alright?" She asked as she approached us.

She stole a quick glance my way and turned back to Alice. "I'm fine, how about you?"

"It's been delightful. Sir, how have you been this evening?" she asked.

"I have found great company. You must be Mr. Hale's future wife."

He smiled. "That she is, she has put me out of my misery and accepted my offer."

Alice giggled. "Mind you, I've been waiting for years."

Jasper took her hand. "I apologize for the delay."

I cleared my throat. "Congratulations." I said.

"Thank you…" Alice began to say but her voice faded off. It wasn't customary to call people by their first name.

"Edward is quite fine with me."

"You are the Duke's brother, I hope your visit has been good." Here is where it all originated. People will know me as the Duke's brother. I loathe him more than ever, if Robert were reasonable then I would not, but our feelings are mutual. He does all he can do to be loved and accepted, I do everything in my power to refrain from that.

"Unfortunately he is my brother." It sounded humorous but it was nothing but true.

"Bella, Jasper and I are headed hom –" Alice began to say.

"I will make sure she gets home alright." I interjected, "if that is fine with you." I looked down at her.

"I should get home, my parents await my arrival, and I wouldn't want them to worry." I was not letting her go this easily.

"I assure you they have no reason to worry, I will keep you safe." She looked very stubborn and unwilling to stay. "Please I beg of you to stay."

"Uh…I'm not sure."

She looked over at Alice. "I can take you home if you want or you can stay." She wasn't leaning towards any side.

"I will stay if it is what you wish." Bella finally said.

Alice took Jasper's arm and said her farewells. They walked away a happy couple, it was very infrequent that a match like that would be made.

"Why is it that you want me to stay?" she asked.

Her question took me by surprise, it was so direct. "I enjoy your company."

She rolled her eyes. "You've only been around me for a few minutes."

I shrugged. "You're a lot better than other people I've met. Come, I've forgotten something."

"Excuse me?"

My lure did not persuade her quite so easily. "Just now I remembered my father asked me to give a letter to an old friend. I just spotted him." Lie, Lie, Lie. To me a lie was like a breath, sometimes I did it unconsciously.

"You want me to come?" she asked politely.

"I was put in charge of you. I cannot let you out of my sight."

"I suppose so, where to?" I took her hand and lead her to the staircase that led to my bedroom. For the first time I got a pang of guilt. I shoved it away as we walked toward the stairs, it was a foreign feeling and I quickly ignored it.

"Sir Edward, how are you this evening." The man worked for my brother, he was loyal and trustworthy. I was certain that he was told to keep an eye on me.

"Very well."

"Your brother has asked for you."

"I presume he has." I replied indifferently. I walked up the stairs pulling Bella at my side.

"You don't like him." She stated.

"Alexander is a fine man."

She shook her head. "Not him, your brother." She clarified.

"It's a mutual thing, a love hate kind of situation. Although we seem like the best of friends don't we?"

"You do."

I walked her down the hall. The halls were empty everyone was in the ballroom or in the kitchen. It was her and me only. I reached the door to my bedroom.

BPOV (Bella)

As we reached his room I realized that I was way in over my head. What was I doing here? My instincts were telling me to go…to go and not look back but something else wouldn't let me think straight. He was so charming that…..I couldn't resist.

He opened the room. "You don't plan on standing at the door, do you? Come in." I staggered forward. The bedroom was beautiful, glass doors were open, and they revealed a balcony. I walked across the room and out the door. The night was dark and the air was cool against my skin. I heard him walk up to me from behind.

"It's a beautiful night." He commented.

"It is." I agreed softly.

"You'll catch a cold come back in." When I turned I found his face inches from mine. I was motionless. All I could do was look into his green eyes. I took a step back but his arm pulled me back even closer to him.

Now he leaned in and I felt his tender lips on mine. He walked backwards into the room. His hands were running down my sides and teasing the strings on my dress. A man had never touched in that manner. It was then was when I finally realized why he had brought me here. I shoved him away with as much force as I could manage.

"This is what you wanted?" I hissed.

"Don't overreact." He said calmly. How dare he be so clam after what his intentions were?

"I'm overreacting? I'm such an imbecile. I can't believe I fell for your lies. You wanted me in bed all along. I will clear things up I am neither a prostitute nor a whore." I walked around him and walked away in a huff.

"Bella wait." He called after me as I was about to open the door. Against my better judgment I turned, my back was against the door. "Tell me you feel nothing." He took my face in his hands and forcefully kissed me. I could taste the wine on his lips.

"Let me assure you I feel something, I feel hatred." I shoved him away once more. I grabbed at something I could hit him with.

He grabbed my arm. "I apologize."

"I don't accept." I shook him off and walked out the door. I felt him pursuing me down the hall.

"Bella wait! Let me take you home, it's dark out, it's dangerous."

I scoffed. "Yes, I will be so much safer with you." I said sarcastically.

He caught up to me and stopped me once more. "I trust you will tell no one of this." Yes it would be logical to keep his name clean.

"Why would I tell a tale of losing my dignity? No thank you." I walked away rapidly. "Oh and I trust I will never see you again."

"I won't agree to that."

"You try to rape me and now you intend stalk me, you are quite the ladies man." I said repeating Emmett's words.

"I never intended to rape you. I would never force myself upon you." He looked offended by what I said. "But I will find you again. I will make this up to you." He promised.

"You've yet to find a woman to deny you." I said, he didn't deny accusation. "I'm sorry to bring you to reality, your money and your importance are not enough for me. I'm not a woman that will fall to your feet, I'm a sorry to disappoint you.

He was dumbfounded. He said nothing for a moment. "I am sorry."

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~Toodles.