Part VI

BPOV (Bella)

London was a beautiful city. Alice had been right, I truly was enjoying myself.

Today I had let Alice go ahead of me as I slowly made my way to meet her. I made my way to a small stand where a man stood before the table finishing a wooden carving. I fingered a small wooden figurine and couldn't resist picking it up. It was a small wooden wolf. "Do you like it?" The man asked me.

"Sure it's very creative."

"Take it, I'm sure I have one to spare."

I smiled and blushed lightly. "I couldn't."

"Yes you can, take it and walk away." He ordered with a smile. I turned my back and walked away with the figurine in the palm of my hand. I walked down the street flooded with people. I sort of knew where I was going but there were so many people.

On my way to the shop I spotted a beautiful white stallion. It was most obvious his owner was close by. I walked by and I stroked the side of his face.

Clumsy as I have always been, I walked away and I tripped over my own feet and startled the horse. I fell onto the ground. The horse rose to its hind legs and I couldn't get up, my heart pounded with fear. I could already feel the pain coming. It was a massive creature. From the ground it seemed he was stories high. Just as the horse dropped his first hoof preparing to drop the next somewhere on me I was pulled up by two strong arms. They pulled me to my feet and held me steady. "Franz, calm the horse." The accented voice commanded. My heart still pounded and my eyes were humid with tears. The man was still supporting a portion of my weight behind me. He shifted himself before me though he sensed my unsteadiness and didn't let go. "Ma'am are you okay?"

The man before me was no man at all he was a boy seventeen at most. Youth was apparent in his child-like face. His skin was a copper tone with his shaggy hair a jet black. His dark eyes stared me down but they soon grew warm.

"Thank you." I stammered.

His brow arched. "I don't think you're going to be so thankful once you find out it was my horse." He said with a chuckle.

"I startled him."

"He shouldn't have been startled. I've been told he is around people most of the time.

"You've been told? I thought it was your horse."

He nodded. "It is but its only been mine for a couple of hours. I've come here from Spain to visit a friend."

"You are Spanish?" It was definitely not the smartest thing to ask when he has just stated he came from Spain.

He laughed. "Yes, that's what they call people from Spain."

"Sorry about that, and I'm sorry about the horse I got too close."

"No it's not your fault."

"No I think it is, I'm sorry." He dropped his arms from my sides. That's when I realized that there were people around us. After the horse was calmed by his friend, apparently Franz, assured everyone everything I was fine.

Evidently I wasn't as steady as I thought I took a moderate step back and stumbled back. I was sure I wasn't going to be saved from hitting the stone ground. I shouldn't have thought so fast, as I was inches above the ground he grabbed my arm and pulled it up forcefully, maybe with a little too much force my body slammed right into him.

This was too much embarrassment for a day. My face was a cherry red. "I am sorry."

"You did nothing wrong."

"Oh sorry…oh…um…I'm going to stop now." I began to ramble it was a small trait I had when I was extremely nervous though I never did it around Edward because I had been too mad at him to ramble.

He laughed. "Very well then. I've saved you from an injury twice it think I deserve a name, mine is Jacob Santillana."

"Nice to meet you…I'm Bella."

He smiled a child-like smile. "Bella." I was sure he pronounced my name in Spanish. "Bella you are. How about I take you to your destination? We wouldn't want anymore accidents."

"Mr. Santillana, you shouldn't trouble yourself, I think I can make it." I assured him.

"Jacob, please." Complying with him seemed close to impossible. As much as I objected to it, he was at my side as I walked away. "Franz, give me a minute. I will return soon."

We walked down the many shops. He was very chatty, in a good way.

"Hmm. So do you live here, in London?"

I shook my head. "Havenport."

"I was just there. My boat took dock there. I was looking for a friend but I heard I had just missed her. I was told she was here, I was actually heading to her hotel."

He paused by a girl with a basket filled with flowers. He picked up a white flower and paid the girl twice what it was worth. "It's the least I can do, my horse did attack you." He tore off the stem and placed it behind my ear.

"Thank you."

"How long have you lived in Havenport?"

"A few years. It's a fine town."

"That it is, my family sent me here for a season. I needed some clarity and I thought this would be the place to get it. I suppose if I can't find the Cullens, I should stay here."

"The Cullens, as in Carlisle, Esme and Alice Cullen."

"Yes, do you know them?"

I hesitated. I did not want to mislead him into thinking I was something I was not. "I work for them."

His brow rose. "Do you?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to mislead you. These clothes do not belong to me, I'm not who you think I am. I'm their maid."

"It's okay, it doesn't make you any different. Franz, works for my father, he is my friend nonetheless." I nodded. "Do you know where they are?"

"I'm on my to meet them for dinner."

"Do you mind my company?"

"Not at all." We walked to a restruant and they were already seated.

I walked in first and he followed in slowly.

"I'm sorry for the delay."

"No worries." Mrs. Cullen assured me. "Sit – Jacob." She said surprised. "Sit down."

"Good evening. I apologize, I was the on that delayed Bella's arrival."

"You've met." Alice asked.

"She and my horse had an altercation, all is good. I arrived at Havenport this morning but no one was home. I was told you were in London and I thought I might run into you all."

"It's been three years, you traveled alone?"

"My father wouldn't have it, a friend came along with me, he's at the hotel."

"Are you here for long?" Mr. Cullen inquired.

"For a while, I'm not sure where I will be staying, I did not properly announce myself. I'm sure you understand, I came for many reason but the most prominent is peace for everything."

"Your home is lovely." Mrs. Cullen said softly.

"It is for you, the stay is very different for me. Inside and out, there is commotion everywhere."

"We're glad you are here and we insist that you stay in our home, we leave in a few days. Alice is planning her wedding to Jasper Hale."

"Congratulation Alice."

"Thank you."

EPOV (Edward)

Emmett was proving to be very perceptive. I was losing my sanity. All I wanted was to go out to town and see her. It's all I wanted, it was the pathetic thing. I was literally pacing in the study, waiting for something to take my mind off of her.

The door creaked open and in came Emmett. "Get out. I'm not in the mood."

"Evidently." I heard him close the door but minutes later it opened again. I didn't even turn.

"Get out!"

"I am sorry." I turned to find Charlotte. She smiled brightly, she was the one who brought joy into this household. Everything about her was perfect and joyous.

"Oh….I apologize I thought it was Emmett."

She smiled kindly. Sometimes I wish she was my sister instead of Robert my brother, things would have turned out differently. I always preferred her to Robert. As children, when Robert was out and I was home we used to play together. When we grew up she became a sort of confident to me. I told her a lot of things. She asked me once why I hated Robert, after she heard my side of the story she couldn't always be at his side. She tried to make his amends but I never paid much mind to that.

Robert wasn't a horrible person maybe self absorbed, selfish and impulsive but he was a decent person. I had become all those things he was, my dad once told me that if I did these things for attention that it doesn't matter because he already knew who I was. I never really understood that. It could've been a good thing or a bad I would never know.

"It's quite alright." She walked over to take a seat. "You know he's sorry for what he said."

I should've known that her purpose was to make my brother's amends. "I'm sure he is." I looked away and out the window.

"The girl, she haunts you." She sounded astonished.

I turned to her. "Why do say that?"

"Edward I know you too well. You've never obsessed over a girl that way, a simple girl with no name. From what I hear you haven't even taken her to bed. That's…that's unimaginable. You walk around here like you're ready to sprint off when you hear of her return." She was more right than she thought. I had gotten to the point where I sent out a servant every morning to see if she had gotten back. "You don't go out at night during the day you're restless."

"That doesn't mean a thing."

She scoffed a laugh. "Well I came here to tell you she's back."

My heart skipped a beat. "Don't play Charlotte."

She threw her head back in laughter. "And you don't care."

I scowled. "Funny."

"Admit it you care about her much more than you'd like us to believe. You've changed and it appears to be doing of that girl."

I sighed she was going to tear it out of me anyway. I took a seat across from her. "I just…I feel different when I'm with her. It sounds ridiculous since I've met her twice. But she brings something out in me…..she makes me want to be better to leave behind my past."

She smiled. "Go after her, if you feel that way don't let her go."

"She's not too…she doesn't have the best image of me."

She arched her brow. "What did you do?"

"The night of the ball I…"

"Had a glass too much." She guessed.

I nodded. "I led her up to my room and….I was half out of it and I tried –"

She nodded curtly. "Make her see that's not all you have to offer."

I nodded. Suddenly someone stormed in. I snapped up my head and saw a breathless man. It was Abraham. I had him watch for Bella's return. "I apologize your grace, Sir it is very important." He was breathless.

"Proceed." I said.

He was silent for a minute. This meant nothing good. "Good heavens, speak." Charlotte pressed.

"Yes, your grace a man has arrived from London and has brought this for Sir Edward." He turned to me. "For you and for your brother but the Duke is not in. It is from your parents." I was afraid to take it, I was afraid of what it might say. "It was written this morning. It was to be given to you immediately and he was not leave until you read it."

I stared at nothing in particular and said nothing. "Edward, are you going to take it?" Charlotte asked. I was unresponsive. A letter with this urgency meant nothing good. I let my mind wander and I came up with one possible reason that it was so urgent.

I stuck my hand out for the letter. I broke the seal and took the letter out.

My beloved sons,

Your father's health is worsening and he feels his end is near. It is his final wish to see you two and say his final goodbyes. Hurry, please.

Love,
Elizabeth Masen