Part XX

EPOV (Edward)

The days slipped by me and I had no word of Bella's condition. I decided that I would have to find out myself.

"You've gone mad." Emmett insisted. "This house has had enough the past few days. William has taken Santillana's sister without anyone's permission. I don't think he has told the Marquess of what's happened. Have pity on him."

"You don't know what she's going through, what I'm going through. You see Mrs. Dunbar on a daily basis and you can be there for her but I can't see Bella." He scowled at me, he hated it when I called her that. "The point is that I can't protect her from Santillana, he's changed, he was always the one to hold back his anger but it's not that way anymore."

"Why do you say that?"

"That night, the night of the Queen's Ball, he grabbed her with frustration, I suppose, and he hit her. To be fair, it was an accident but he showed no remorse."

"What happened to you in France? Since when did you become the protector of morality?"

"I would never hit anybody…a woman, I mean. That's inexcusable. It's shameful to say the least."

We continued to discuss the matter but were suddenly interrupted by an argument upstairs. He and I knew that it was our uncle, once again, scorning his wife. Ever since I had returned, I noted how harshly he treated her. He was extremely aggressive and many times I had to intervene so that he didn't hurt her. I did it for Emmett but also because he had not right.

Once we heard glass break and the cry of his wife we rushed upstairs. They were behind closed doors and I hesitated to open them but Emmett did not. The situation was worse than expected. A mirror was broken and blood ran down her face which was drenched in her tears. She covered her face once we entered.

"Out, both of you." He commanded.

I ignored his command and approached his wife. Emmett was frozen with anger. I picked up a cloth and held it up to where the blood was coming from. "Hold this here." I walked her out to the hall and found Claire in the study cleaning. "Claire, come here." She looked alarmed by the blood but did as I asked. "Take care of Mrs. Dunbar, don't –" A rumble from the bedroom alarmed us all. I could imagine what Emmett was doing to our uncle. He had never been present when our uncle behaved this way, I suppose our uncle wanted to avoid this exactly. "Just go."

Inside the bedroom Emmett was enraged and literally had to stop him from killing our uncle. "Emmett, compose yourself." As I dealt with Emmett our uncle made a lunge for him but instinctively I struck him in the jaw.

"I think it best if you gather your things and leave. This sort behavior is not welcome."

"You are no one here. You're only the black sheep who has returned, groveling for sympathy, still sore after not getting what he wanted."

"Nathaniel." My mother's voice filled the room. "I advice you to make arrangements quickly, you are no longer welcome here. This is my home and home to my sons."

"Son, you mean. This boy is not yours, he's son to one of your late husbands' whores." The statement struck me silent.

"Alexander!" My mother called out. Within seconds Alexander appeared at her side. "Escort Mr. Dunbar outside the gates, immediately."

"I leave with my wife." He sneered glancing to Emmett. He stormed out followed my Alexander.

BPOV (Bella)

I had succeeded into making myself miserable. I sat in bed alone and cold, I came to wish I was dead. The promise of peace was so alluring. Jacob entered, as he did every morning, perhaps to verify that I yet lived.

I sat at the very of the bed, as far away from him as I could. He would always sit in there for about an hour. He didn't speak much, he was very thoughtful.

"What have we become? What have I allowed to occur?"

I had no reply and neither did he seek one.

"You've been my curse yet my only desire. Never did I imagine I would seek comfort in rum and whiskey and in the arms of a woman who was not my wife. My very character has been mutated and all because of one woman, one insignificant maid, as my father would say."

Tears escaped me.

"Do not mistake yourself into think you were ever considered that in my eyes. I thought you a remarkable woman, one who was full of vigor of joy. I believed that you were as indispensable to me as the air itself."

"I did this. I am at fault for all your despair."

"So am I Isabella, you were filled with vigor and I sucked the life out of you, like a leech. I have destroyed you the same way you've destroyed me."

"Do we continue to bear the wrath?"

He shrugged. "The Marquess will disown me. I have let his youngest daughter run off with an Englishman to London and I have not yet guaranteed the survival of the Santillana name."

"I'm sorry."

"We're leaving in a couple of days. I must face my father and tell him where Adela is. We're heading out in three days."

"You said we –"

"I said a year but things have changed and I want to return to Spain."

I bit my lip. "I know this is stupid but I can't leave without saying goodbye to him. Have some pity upon me. I will leave with you, I have no choice but I need to say goodbye."

He stood up. "I'll send Hannah up to help you get dressed. The food will be on the table, you will join me and then we will discuss the matter."

EPOV (Edward)

It had been a week since my uncle and his wife were gone. Emmett soon followed, he went to London. I feared the worst, I feared that he would find them and that there would be a big ordeal about it. "Mr. Masen," Claire said timidly. "There is a man waiting for you on behalf of Mr. Jacob Santillana."

I nodded and went out to the door. There was in fact a man out there. "Yes."

"My master whishes to see you."

"Your master?"

"Mr. Jacob Santillana."

"What is this regarding?"

"I do not know anything of it."

"I will not delay, thank you."

The curiosity was too great to allow myself to delay a moment longer. I rode out meet Santillana, and apparently his wife, as soon as the horse was saddled. I hesitated at the gates but proceeded in after a servant. "He waits for you inside, Hannah will take you to him."

"This way, Sir."

"What is going on?"

"He wishes you to join him." We entered the dining room. "Master, Mr. Edward Masen has arrived." Santillana merely looked up and Bella gasped but remained in her seat.

"Hannah leave us, I'll call for the food when we are ready, let no one enter until I have commanded."

The maid left and soon it was only the three of us. "Proceed, let this end." Bella rose from her chair. He nodded and she lunged at me. Her arms around my neck, I was breathless but embraced her as she did me.

"What are you doing?" I whispered.

Jacob heard my whisper. "I'm granting her my pity. I am not the man you perceive me to be, I am not heartless. I aim to defend my character. If I did not love, if I did not have compassion I would have never allowed Adela to defy me. He's a proper man, she's pleased."

I dropped my arms and approached the table he yet sat at. "You summoned me at her request."

"I have said it already. Say your farewells."

I looked down at her. "We're leaving for Spain in three days. I wanted to say farewell to you."

"No, I would have rather you left without a word."

Tears ran down her cheeks and I wrapped my arms around her. "I had to see you, I would have not left without it."

I cupped her face and brought her lips to mine. "I'm in love you with you forever, till the very end."

She squeezed her eyes shut. "I love you and nothing changes. It's a terrible thing to say because I am leaving and you'll be here. I want you to move on and, I'm sorry. This is really all my fault."

He cleared his throat. "You test my generosity, Bella tell Hannah that we're ready for the food." She parted from me and did as he said. "Sit please."

I shook my head. "I wouldn't want to impose."

"It's the last time she see will you, sit and let this ordeal end."

"Why?" I asked. "Why are you doing this?"

"I've told you before. I am not a vile person. I love her far more than you know."

"If you loved her as you say you do, you would not take her against her will. I sacrificed myself to allow her a chance at happiness with you. I put my pride aside and let her marry you. She's not happy and that won't change."

"She –"

"I should be on my way, my apologies." I turned to leave.

"You won't say farewell." He asked.

I scoffed. "I can't say farewell to her. I won't because that means it's over but I still love her."