Part XVIII

BPOV (Bella)

"Bella are you ready?" Jacob asked as he knocked on the door.

I didn't reply, I opened the door and walked past him. I was equally upset with him as he was with me. I didn't want to go but he'd already agreed to it, we had to show up.

"It's going to be a long ride to London." He muttered.

I went down the door where the carriage awaited outside. I got in, not waiting for Jacob. He was right, I had to admit. The ride was long and silent. Even with Adela and Lea, it was tense. I had believed that Adela liked me but she wouldn't speak to me. It was as if she was hiding something. I wasn't sure what it was but it was something.

We arrived to a hotel where we got ready. Again, we did not speak or rather I did not speak.

"Bella."

I did not respond.

"Fine, as you please. We have nearly arrived."

The carriage arrived to St. James Palace. Adela and Lea left me and went to mingle. I was left with Jacob who soon left me alone. His excuse was to go talk to acquaintances.

I lingered in the foyer and I saw Rosalie enter followed by her husband, the Duke and Duchess. William, George and Emmett were there too. Behind them I caught a glimpse of the familiar unnatural bronze hair. I walked through the crowds but he was gone. I stopped and regained composure.

"Bella!" I snapped my head up and Rose stood before me.

She had parted from her husband and walked me into the ballroom. "Have you seen a ghost?"

I shook my head fervently. "I have seen worse."

"If you speak of Edward, he is no ghost at all. He arrived from France yesterday, shocked everyone, I might add. I'm surprised you didn't know, Adela was there when he arrived." I thought back to yesterday and realized that Adela and Jacob stepped out to talk, Jacob returned with a grave face but I thought nothing of it. These days Jacob was always grave. I now knew that he didn't want me to know that Edward was back.

"I don't think we should – "

"Who do you think you are talking to? I know you want to see him. He told me to tell you to meet him in that terrace over there. I'll leave you to it."

I was unsure of what to do. If I met with Edward I didn't know what I would say or what I would do. I wouldn't be able to help myself. Rosalie left me, she was in search of Emmett. She thought it was the only public place they would enjoy each others company. Nathaniel wouldn't allow them near each other because he was suspicious of their relationship.

Once again I was left alone. I was going to wait until the debutante were presented but a waiter came to me. "Mrs. Santillana." He inquired.

"Yes."

"I was told to inform you that a Mr. E.M. is waiting for you at the terrace."

I sighed. "I trust Mr. E.M. kindly asked for your discretion." He nodded. "He paid you?"

"I must tend to my work."

I nodded curtly and began to make my way towards the terrace. It was dark and it looked desolate. "I didn't think you'd come." My heart skipped a beat and I began to retreat. He caught my arm and pulled me towards him, gently. "Did you miss me?" He asked

"Where is your wife?" I whispered.

He smiled and stepped closer to me. I took a step back and my back was against the wall. He didn't halt, his face was so near mine our lips nearly met. "You look so grave, smile. I didn't come back all the way from France to see your frown."

"I can't be here. He suspects something like this would happen, it's the reason he didn't tell me you were here."

He smiled and pulled away. "The man surprises me. I sent my regards with his sister. I never dreamed he'd keep it from you."

"I am so unhappy, Edward I am miserable. I begin to resent him."

"I love you Bella and it hasn't changed."

"You are married."

He chuckled. "Who told you that?"

"You left with a woman whom you proposed to."

"Did you hear of a wedding?" I shook my head. "I haven't married anyone. I couldn't bear to do to you what you've done to me."

"I didn't have a choice."

He scoffed. "I didn't either. I have not a cent to my name, everything I have is because of my brother and my mother. Had I married her, I would have received my inheritance. My mother told me that I had to do it, I went to France with her and I was ready to accept my future but she called it off. She hated me for the way I treated her. I was cold and indifferent."

"Why didn't you say anything?" He looked puzzled. "At the wedding," I explained. "Why didn't you object?"

"You told me not to, you didn't want me to."

"How so?"

"You made it clear, you chose him." He closed the space between us. "Did anything change between us?"

"In these months have you been with a woman, any woman."

He didn't hesitate. "Yes, one. For a couple of months but not since I left for France. Don't look so surprised. It's my nature and I've tried my hardest to repress it, to change who I am. I don't like the person I've become, I want to be a good person and it starts with being honest with myself. I want you to be my wife and Santillana will not stand in my way." He pressed his lips to mine for a second I forgot who I was.

His lips were as sweet as the first day I tasted them. "Stop, I beg you."

"Why?"

"I'm married, Edward. I'm married and that can't be changed."

"I can't say that I'm surprised by what I see." I whirled around Jacob glared at me, he was disgusted by what he saw. "We're leaving now." He grabbed my arm tightly and pulled me away from Edward.

"Stop, you're hurting me."

He did not even look my way, he only held my arm tighter. "Stay away from her." He warned.

"Jacob." I whimpered.

"You're hurting her." Edward interjected. "Let go of her."

Again he didn't react. He turned around and dragged me along with him. Suddenly he stumbled back and he released my arm. I could not explain what was going on before me. The were fighting, hitting each other anyway they could. They were on the floor, hurting each other. "Stop!" I yelled. As soon as I opened my mouth Jacob punched Edward in the jaw, he groaned silently and I saw a drip of blood run down his chin.

"Jacob! Stop, we're leaving, just stop." They both returned to their feet and I saw that Jacob raised his hand again. I couldn't bear to see Edward hurt and I found myself stepping between them. Within a matter of seconds I was on the floor and my face ached like never before.

Edward dropped to the floor beside me. "Have you lost your mind?" He cupped my face and took a look at my face. "I can handle your beast of a husband." He wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head.

"Get up." Jacob hissed.

"No."

"Edward, stop. He's my husband, I have to go." I pulled away from him and got to my feet.

"If you hurt her –"

"Don't ever come near her again." Jacob muttered and he pushed me into the ballroom. He took me up out to the carriage and rode with me to the hotel room.

"This is not my fault, it's not all my fault."

I scowled. "I hate you."

"You kissed him, its more than has happened between us lately. You betrayed me by defending him."

"You've changed. You married me knowing I was in love with him, unconditionally. I've told you once and twice again that I would be intimate with you, if that's what you wanted. I never denied you that."

"I shouldn't need to rape my wife to get what I want. I wouldn't do that to you or to anyone. Do you blame me for wanting a woman willing to be mine? I'll warn you now, if I see you near him ever again we leave to Spain, immediately and you'll never see him again not even from afar." That night I went to bed alone. Jacob did not return till morning. He commented on the bruise on my face but nothing more.

That morning we returned to Havenport. The ride back was terrible. My head ached with such intensity. The right side of my face throbbed, a purplish bruise had appeared on my right cheek. Lea and Adela asked nothing of it, upon their brother's request, I'm sure.

When we arrived home I retreated upstairs and I did not leave. For days I remained there alone. Jacob would come in every once in a while. He would try and force me to eat but it was useless. I did not wish to eat nor to see him.

"Mrs. Santillana –" Hannah said. She was a maid but my closest friend in the house. She was the only one who did not despise me.

"You shall not refer to me by that name. Bella is what I wish to be called."

"Mrs. Bella – you must eat. You grow sick and weak. I truly pray that you will recover, the house is turmoil. Every night the master drinks till he has to be escorted to the guest room. He's gone mad with rage, I overheard him speaking to his younger sister, she wishes to marry but he's demanded that they both leave for Spain. Miss Lea is to leave soon. Miss Adela refuses to do so, she's begun packing but I have not the slightest idea where she is going."

I sat up in bed and took a sip of the tea she brought up. "If I ask you for a favor will you not tell your master?"

She nodded. "Of course."

"Do you swear to not say a word to anyone?" She nodded. "Find Edward Masen and give him a message."

"Mrs. San – Bella, I don't –"

I then realized the danger of what I was doing. "Never mind then, it's silly, he would never get through the front door. I wish to be left alone." She left hesitantly.

EPOV (Edward)

I strolled out in the garden, perhaps stroll was not an adequate word. I paced out in the garden. I didn't know what to do with myself. The house was busing. Robert and Charlotte were preparing a dinner which I would be attending. My mother, as always, was deciding what dinner would be tonight. My uncle and his wife were having another argument, I did not know what about but Emmett was locked in the study, listening in. William was packing, he was retuning to London and taking Santillana's sister with him. I had to say that it brought me great pleasure knowing that he was stealing his sister and therefore making his life just a bit harder. No one who knew had the will to stop him, Robert didn't know and if he did, he would not have allowed it. Emmett, George, and I didn't care what he did.

"Mr. Edward!" Up ahead Sam waved me over. I went over to see what he wanted. "I was looking all over the house for you, Sir"

"What is it?"

"Someone is here to see you. She works for Mrs. Santillana." I eagerly followed him wondering what it was all about. The woman was an old maid.

"Yes."

"Could we speak privately?"

Sam held up his hand. "I'm already gone, Sir."

"Proceed."

"I come at my own bidding. My mistress is lonely and desolate in that house. She is growing weak, she will not eat. She nearly asked me to come but she retracted her statement. I brought it upon myself to come, I know nothing of your story but I know that she loves you dearly. My master's honor withers away into nothing, he becomes a raging drunk at night. He is as miserable as she is."

"What do you suppose I do about that? That man would have me killed before he lets me near her again. His pride is not any different from any other man's."

"I will help you."

"Are you not loyal to your master?"

"I'm loyal to my mistress. I understand her grief and impotence. If you accept my proposition, tomorrow early morning the entire house will go to church, I will stay behind with her and allow you to enter through the back entrance. I must go now, my master will wonder where I am." She was gone before I could answer.