Part XVI
EPOV (Edward)
"If there are any objections speak now or forever hold your peace." Everyone shifted nervously in their seats. Robert eyed me from across the aisle. Emmett cleared his throat. Even Genevieve reacted, her grip on my hand tightened around mine. To their dismay I would not say a word. I would not dare to deprive her of what she wanted. I asked her more than once if it's what she wanted and she made it clear that it was.
I looked up and she locked eyes with me. She was as expectant as everyone else.
BPOV (Bella)
I looked over to him but he did not move, he simply held my gaze. I wanted him to say something. I wanted him to take me away with him. I wanted him to stand up and say something to stop this marriage.
EPOV (Edward)
I took a deep breath, finally I stood and gasps filled the room. I didn't say anything I simply left the room. I was wrong. I couldn't bear to watch her slip away.
BPOV (Bella)
Edward stood and I stopped breathing but all he did was leave. He said nothing. I looked up to Jacob who smiled.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride." With his words tears managed to escape me, but I smiled for everyone's sake.
He put his hands on either side of my face and he pressed his gentle lips to mine. "I love you." He whispered.
"Me too." I lied.
EPOV (Edward)
I heard the crowd clap with joy and there it was. I was done. There's not turning back from a marriage. Genevieve approached me. "Are you okay?" She asked cautiously.
"I…I don't have an answer."
"Edward you shouldn't have come."
I ran my hands through my hair. "You didn't give me a choice."
"I'm sorry, I was just so upset but I am sorry."
There was nothing to be said of the matter, it was all very clear. I would leave England and forget these past few months. "We should go. We would want to miss the ship."
She nodded. "I'm not as malicious as you think I am. Please forgive me."
"We must leave now." I took her hand and tried to slip out the doors but I was not successful.
"Edward, be so kinds as to excuse yourself before you leave." My mother suggested. I parted from her without a word but my mother was not easily discouraged. "This is for the best."
"Obviously." I approached the Marquess and Marquessa who were still with Santillana and his wife.
"Congratulations." I muttered. "Unfortunately I cannot stay, our ship fro France leaves within a couple of hours and we cannot miss it."
BPOV
Edward left the scene as soon as he could manage. I saw him exit with the French beauty at his side. I knew I would never see him again. I didn't think he would ever return.
The rest of the night was dull. I didn't care for anything around me. I only wanted to go home and sleep but I knew that that night I would have a duty to fulfill.
"Congratulations cousin," Rosalie said with a smile. She successfully avoiding her husband and searching for Mr. Wilfred. "Jacob is a great man."
"Nathaniel was just the same, where are you now?"
She cleared her throat. "Nathaniel Dunbar and Jacob Santillana are nothing alike. Nathaniel is a terrible human being, I will never forget what he's done to me and the way he's treated me. You cannot blame me for wanting something more."
"You play a dangerous game. Mr. Wilfred will pay for what you are doing, his uncle will tear him apart. "
"Don't lecture me, had I met him before I married Nathaniel I would have never accepted Nathaniel's proposal. I'm ambitious but I feel and I love, I would have never condemned myself to a life like that."
"What are you saying?" I demanded.
She shrugged. "I'm saying you did this to yourself and it's no one's fault but your own. You could have had the love of your life and you made the choice to let him go to France."
I could not believe she had just said a thing like that. It was so insensitive.
That night, as terrified as I was, I was prepared to do what a wife is expected to do. This is not the way I expected for it to happen but I suppose that nothing ever goes as planned. I walked down the cool hall and entered the room hesitantly.
The door was closed behind me by the maid and I was left alone with Jacob. He half dressed and I in a night gown. He smiled and I tried to do the same. My smile was obviously not very convincing, he approached me, concerned and cupped my face. "Are you okay?"
I nodded. "Yes, I'm…yes."
Unsure, he bent down and kissed me. I tried my hardest to be convincing but as he toppled over me, I lost composure and began to flinch away from his touch. "Bella what is this?"
"I'm sorry…I….I'm scared." I whispered.
"If you don't want to do this, it's okay."
I scoffed. "It's not okay."
"I promised I would be patient and I will keep true to it. We will make love when you desire, not a moment before."
"You don't have to do this."
"I want you to love me and I'm willing to wait for you to do so."
Please, review.
~Toodles.