Part XVII

EPOV

Months passed and the New Year arrived. I had yet to return to England, France was awful but I wouldn't return. I would drink myself to my grave. In France I knew no one, I didn't even know the language well enough to communicate with anyone. I stayed indoors for the better part of my time there. I had no where to go, no one to meet, I had nothing.

"Edward," Genevieve said timidly. She turned out to be very sweet but still extremely shallow. I could not speak to her about things that I spoke to Bella about, she didn't quite understand. "Please…I don't know what to do."

"I don't understand."

"You hate it here, you don't do anything. You hardly speak to me, what am I doing wrong?" She was on the verge of tears.

"Nothing at all."

"Do I repulse you that much? I cannot live this way, you are not yet my husband and we live a life of such distaste." She paused to catch her breath. "How can I please you, I try so hard but nothing seems to satisfy you. From the day you arrived all you do is ride your horse, the rest of the time you spend in here."

"I cannot fake love or happiness."

"You are like a child whose toy has been taken away."

"You're wrong. The truth is that I despise you. You were thrust upon me and it's in my blood to rebel and I cannot do so. I cannot walk away from all of this when I yearn to leave this wretched place."

"Do it." She whispered. "Just go, walk away."

"What?"

"Just go back to England. It's obvious that we are miserable, this will never work. You despise me and I cannot live with a man who is irrevocably in love with another woman."

"Genevieve," I muttered with astonishment. "I don't think I really understand."

"You love the maid more than anything in this world, all these months have served you nothing. Your devotion is very much in tact. Leave me. I shall not want to see you here in the morning." She left me alone and I began to gather my things. It was as if I had received an epiphany. All these months I had spent here alone and useless in all aspects. Perhaps I could not have her now but I would not let him win her love, even now I know it belongs to me. She belongs to me, I will never cease to love her.

I was done gathering my things within the hour and I called up a servant to take them down to a carriage. "Sir might I ask why you are leaving in the dead of the night?"

"You may not inquire a thing." Genevieve interjected coldly. "In the morning when my father asks where Sir Edward has gone you say nothing because I have demanded it."

"As you wish Miss."

He loaded the things onto a carriage and sent another servant with me. "Bring the horse back once he has boarded." She added as she headed inside.

I stopped her before she reached the door. "I would like to apologize for what I have done to you. I never meant to bring you any harm. What I said is inexcusable, I truly do not think of you that way. I'm angry that for the first time I…my brother is a force to recon with, I suppose he isn't a bad person but he likes to do things his way and he pays no mind to what others think. He's forced me to do as he pleases and I cannot stand do it."

"Just go, I wish you best even if I never see you again."

I nodded and mounted the horse.

BPOV (Bella)

There was a knock at the door. "Come in." I muttered.

Hannah, the maid walked in. "Mrs. Hale is waiting for you downstairs, Miss Santillana has welcomed her in."

I put my shoes on and went down stairs.

"Bella!"

I forced a smiled. "How's the baby?"

"Growing." She laid her hand on her stomach. "Soon Jasper won't let me out the house."

"My brother will be having tea in an hour." Lea muttered. "I'll be leaving now." She wasn't much for conversation.

"How have you survived with her all these months?"

I shrugged. "I don't know."

"You're so unhappy." She whispered sadly. "Bella, I don't understand why. Does he treat you badly?"

I scoffed. "No, I don't know. I can't stop thinking about him. He's been gone for months. He's supposed to get married soon."

"I can hardly believe this. He is a good man and yet you wallow, you mourn for a man that is probably already married."

I was insulted, she didn't understand. "You're welcome to stay for tea." I proceeded to go to the kitchen. I found comfort there, when Jacob was out I was left with his sisters. Adela was only two years younger than Jacob and she had made her own friends. I was sure she's particularly fond of William Narrinton. Lea, on the other hand was very committed to making my life impossible.

"Mrs. Santillana your husband doesn't like you doing housework." The cook said.

"My husband isn't here, is he?"

"Hmm, what else do you do while I'm gone?"

I whirled around and Jacob stood at the doorway of the kitchen. "I was just checking on tea."

"I think they can handle tea." He took my arm and led me out to the garden. "I have a surprise for you."

"Oh."

"We're going to London in a month for the Queen's Ball."

I nodded. "It sounds great."

"Bella, could – Alice, good morning."

She smiled. "Good Morning."

"I'm going to see how the tea is going."

"Bella." Jacob interjected. "We need a moment."

"I don't think we do. I'm sorry that I'm not the ideal wife. I'm a disappointment, it's obvious. This wasn't my idea of marriage either."

"What is it that makes you so miserable? Is it that I'm not Edward Masen? I hope you realize that he's long gone. He's in France, married to Genevieve Delaflote."

"He asked me go away with him, the night we had dinner, he asked me to let him walk into the living room and pronounce his love for me."

He clenched his jaw. I knew I had just made him extremely angry. "You should've said yes, while you had the chance." He hissed.

EPOV (Edward)

Five days after I left Genevieve I arrived to the port city. I decided I wasn't ready to return to Havenport and I stayed in the city for almost a month. It was well spent. No one knew who I was and no one had any opinion of me. I was free to roam the town as I pleased. I enjoyed the city but eventually I had to return, no one knew a thing of me. Genevieve thought I was in England and my family thought I was in France. I was still in France but not yet married as they thought. I warned them that when I married I wouldn't inform them, no one would be invited. My mother was devastated to say the least but I was still sore and everyone knew that.

It took a couple of day from my departure to arrive to Havenport. When I disembarked I was immediately recognized by Sam. "Mr. Edward you've returned. Just in time for the Queen's Ball." It was the perfect reception, the perfect place to meet Bella. Santillana would be there and so would anyone of importance.

"I have, you must not tell anyone nor will ask question of why I've returned."

"You've no ring."

I nodded curtly. "No questions, Sam. Come board the carriage, you tell me of what's occurred in my absence." I told the driver to take me home and on the way I urged Sam to tell me everything he knew.

"Your mother has grieved your absence, even your brother mentions you nostalgically. They wish you had told them the date of your wedding, they long to see you."

"They shall see me now. What's happened around town, anything of note?"

He paused. "I suppose there is one person you wish to know of." I waited. "She's unhappy Mr. Edward. I see her from time to time, the smile I saw when she was with you is no more. There are rumors –"

"Rumors? What sort of rumors?"

"It's been months. There is no sign of a child."

"That means nothing. My brother has no heir. He's been married for three years. Just because they have not conceived a child –"

"Mr. Hale is soon to have an heir, they've only been married for a couple of months longer.

"The servants say their sheets have been clean since the first night. They say he's not had her, they hardly sleep in the same room." I'd be a liar if I said this wasn't grand news. I was nearly giddy, it appeared that their marriage had not been consummated.

The carriage went through the gates and I got off as soon as it reached the entrance. "Sam have someone take my things up to my room." I entered the door and no one seemed to be around. In the back window I caught a glimpse of William and a girl whom I didn't know. Her hair was a charcoal black. She was young from what I could tell.

It was time for tea, perhaps the family was out in the garden. I went out to investigate and my mother was the first who saw me. "Edward! My son." She embraced me with a hug and numerous kisses. "Oh, Edward."

"Mother, I'm perfectly fine, put your worries to ease."

"You're heartless, a terrible person. You let no one attend your wedding, not even your mother."

I was a mute. No one knew that there was no wedding.

"Where is your wife? Has she come with you?"

"Mother, let's sit down." How I could I bear to tell her that I defied her. "I must confess something to you."

"What is it?"

"Genevieve and I did not get married. She and I called off the wedding a month ago."

She was shocked beyond words.

"A month ago," Charlotte repeated. "Where have you been?"

"A port city in France. Mother, you forced me to promise her I would be her husband and you know that I do no put up a good pretense. I cannot fake love, you and Robert –"

"She's married Edward, I do not want to hear anything regarding you and her. She is a married woman and you've trampled your name far too many times. I will not protect you against Mr. Santillana." My mother interjected. I almost laughed, I didn't need to be protected from him.

"I do not accept that. I did not return because I wanted to fight about this. I returned because I have yet to accept my fate. I will do as I please, as I've always done. If it is necessary I will find another situation –"

"Don't overreact, Edward. Miss Delaflote was my attempt of changing your life. I wanted you to marry and to start a family but I underestimated your stubbornness."

I sat down and looked out into the garden and William and the girl remained. "Who is she?"

"Adela Santillana –"

"His sister, is it the older or the younger?"

"The younger, they're both here in town. Their parents returned to Spain days after the wedding. His sisters are staying for a few months."

"William likes her."

"She likes him." Charlotte added. "She's here almost every day."

"What is this I hear of the Queen's Ball?" I asked.

"The King is having a reception in the Queen's honor, it's her birthday. Miss Santillana is a debutante for the Queen."

William looked up surprised, he brought Adela with him. "You're back. Where's –"

"I didn't get married, Genevieve is in France where she will be staying." I turned to Adela. "Miss Santillana, how are you?"

"Well."

"Hmm, I have business to attend t, be sure to say hello to your brother for me."