Part XII

EPOV (EPOV)

The morning greeted me with a terrible head ache. I hardly remembered what had happened the night before. Emmett served to refresh my mind. "That's right, she was anxious to return home. She took my horse –"

"Mr. Masen, Mr. Wilfred, I apologize for the interruption but a Charles Swan has come and with him is Mr. Masen's horse, Argo."

There was fear in his eyes. "At what time did you awake this morning?" I demanded.

"Same time as always, Sir."

"What did you see?"

"I did not see a thing." His eyes dropped to the ground

"Liar, who did you tell?"

He did not say a word.

"Speak."

"I mentioned it to my wife, our daughter confirmed that she saw her. I didn't think it would spread around town so quickly. I suppose the rumor fueled the fire kindled yesterday as you walked hand in hand."

"Take Argo back to the stables and remove the saddle." He lingered. "Do as I say, quickly." I walked out to meet Mr. Swan.

"I bid you a good morning sir."

"I've come to return your horse and to demand that you leave my daughter. Her reputation has been lost and it is your doing, you can take nothing more from her. We are poor and humble but I beg you to let us hold on to our dignity. She has been forbidden to see you, may you find a woman to your liking elsewhere."

"Mr. Swan –"

"Good day, Sir." He interjected curtly.

"Mr. Swan, must I remind you where you set foot this fine morning. You are no one to demand a thing of me, not in my home, don't mistake yourself into perceiving me a fool. I'll do as I please."

"She will not go against my word, she was not brought up to be a brute."

"You insult me, Sir."

"As did you when you took my daughter to your bed."

"You think your daughter a whore."

"You've made her one."

"It's a shame you have no faith in her, Bella is as pure as she was when I met her."

"Good morning, gentlemen." Robert's voice resonated behind me.

"Your grace," Mr. Swan replied politely.

"Pardon my boldness but who are you?"

"He is Charles Swan, Miss Swan's father." I explained.

"Mr. Swan, what brings you here?"

Mr. Swan did not reply.

"Edward, explain." He commanded.

"Mr. Swan has come to return my horse. He came up loose last night."

"How kind of you Mr. Swan, Edward may I have a word."

I turned to Mr. Swan. "You have all my gratitude, Sir, Argo is highly valued, and his loss would have been tragic."

"No thanks needed, Mr. Masen, I'll be on my way."

I almost stomped my way inside. Fury boiled within me, he was right. Bella would never defy her father, not even for me. I had completely lost her, there was no way things would change. I could never claim her as my own, her father would never agree to let me have her.

"What have you done?"

"Not a thing, Robert. I've done nothing wrong."

"I could hear your argument from afar, something is the matter."

I sighed, frustrated. "He seems to be under the impression that I violated his daughter."

"Did you?"

"What do you suppose?"

"I wouldn't put it past you."

"We talked all night, I had a few glasses of wine and lost tract of time. She refused to let me wake a servant and I sent her home with Argo. One of the horse keepers saw her and told his wife, her mouth could not be controlled, it's the gossip around town."

"You baffle me, brother."

"I'm sure that smile will remain on your face when I tell you that I can never see her again."

"Your misfortune does not bring me pleasure. The maid can tame you but she is not a fit wife for you. You must marry soon." I disregarded his last words.

BPOV (Bella)

The days passed me by ever so slowly. I rarely talked to my parents. I resented them for not believing me, for denying me Edward. I craved to listen to his voice but I hadn't seen him for days. There was a void that no one could fill but Jacob Santillana seemed to be trying to do his best.

The days soon turned into weeks and then months. All I did was wonder about Edward but he stayed away and sent Emmett, of all people.

"This is not a situation I want to be in but being the good person I am, I have come to tell you that if you wish it Edward will come see you. He wants to see you but will not do anything against your wishes."

"I'm sorry I have put you in this situation, tell him that he needs not to worry about me. I knew that it would end and so did he." I began my way back inside the Cullen's home.

"What of Jacob Santillana? The man escorts you everywhere and he evades the Duke's invitation to dinner. What of him?"

"A close friend."

"More than that, I fear so does and Edward for that matter." With that, he was on his way and I was left to contemplate why I had refused his visit. I wanted to run into his arms and I wanted to him to tell me once more that he felt something for me. I yearned to see him but eventually I saw proof that it was all a fallacy.

Months after I last saw him he managed to repay me for having Jacob as my companion. He began to walk around town with a French girl, she was beautiful and eloquent. She looked perfect next to him. I would never admit it aloud but I envied her so.

"He'll marry her," Jacob whispered to me as I watched her walk into a lace shop with her, hooked to his arm. "Bella, it's already arranged, the whole town knows that."

"I don't know what you speak of."

"Your gaze softens as you look upon him, he does not deserve it."

I dropped my head with shame. He could read me like a book, it was different from the way Edward read me. Edward's very eyes penetrated my soul, he revitalized me.

"Marry me." He said ever so quietly.

I stopped walking and looked at him, panicked. "Stop…I beg you."

"I want a wife, I've been waiting for the right moment to ask but it will never come. I've asked for approval of both your parents and mine."

I scoffed. "Your parents will allow you to marry an English maid."

"I have riches to spare, I have the luxury of choosing my wife, my father is only concerned with Santillana Del Mar, I am his only successor and I will do as I please as long as I promise to care for his land and his people. My family does not look down upon the poor and the working class, we believe that every human deserves the same respect."

"I cannot."

"The Duke has arranged for his brother to be wed to Miss Genevieve Delaflote, daughter of Pier Delaflote. His brother is a fool but he'll never defy his mother, Mrs. Masen of Havenport wishes it to be so."

"You harm my very soul."

He took me in his arms. "He is not worthy of you, he does not look back upon you with fondness. Pardon me if I am too bold but you are one girl lost in the sea of women he's been with. You do not love me but I can wait for you to fall in love with me, I am a patient man."

"I cannot condemn us to a life of regret."

"Listen to me, I believe myself to be an adequate husband, more so than Edward Masen will ever be. Accept my proposal, end my misery. You say you cannot live a life of regret, do not refuse me. Do not wonder what it would've been like, you need not to wonder when you can live it."

My eyes wandered back to Edward and Miss Delaflote. She laughed and he smiled with her. She walked on with him, his back was to me and she took a flower from a basket, Edward paid the woman and Miss Delaflote smile grew wider and she reached up to kiss him.

I tore my gaze away and looked up at Jacob. "I accept."