Chapter 10

"I will miss you, as well. May I escort you back to your room?"

"Thank you." Back in my room, I sat by my fire thinking about the differences between Anthony and Edward. Anthony was enjoyable to talk to you. He treated me as an equal. It was like I had known him in a previous life. When we kissed there was a spark, a familiar air but how I had only been kissed by one man. Then there was Edward, we couldn't talk about everything. But he loved me and our children. He held me and protected me through the last four years. He taught me to protect myself and ride horses, but he never asked my opinions. I'm so confused I said to myself as I fell asleep. I love them both and combine them into one Anthony's passion added to the rest of Edward. I fell asleep in my chair and I dreamt about both the men that night. When I awoke the next morning, I was in my bed and saw a note take care of yourself, Queen Bella. I got up and I was locked in my two rooms. Anthony had left new poetry books for me to read. Nancy kept me company during meal time. The guards took me for walks every day. They felt sorry for me and since I behaved myself; they actually took me for multiple walks every day.

On Friday night, I had finished dinner and was reading in my sitting room. When Anthony came in frightened, shaken and upset, "Anthony, are you sick? Is something wrong? You don't look well." I had walked over to him as he came in. Anthony looked so distraught.

"Queen Bella, let's go sit down by your fireplace. I need to talk to about many things and people with you."

"Anthony, are you sick? You look terrible. Please talk to me."

"No, I am not sick, Bella. I left here to protect the king. This is a guard group set up by the king five years ago to help protect the country."

"But he died within six months of me marrying Edward."

"Yes, he did and I've kept up the protection as much as I can do. We heard word that your King Edward was going on the offense against the revolutionaries at the southern border earlier this week thinking that is where you were being held. My group of guards went down to act as backup and aide in protecting him."

"Anthony, what are you about to tell me happen?"

"They were ambushed about an hour before we got there. The attack was further up the road than we were expecting it to happen. They were outnumbered until we arrived, but then it was too late. Half the men were dead and another third were injured. We were able to get the battle under control and send the revolutionaries back into the woods."

"Anthony, are you about to tell me that my husband, the King of France, King Edward is dead."

"Yes, my Queen Bella, your husband is dead and we brought the body back for you, so that you might believe me."

"That makes me the ruling Queen of France doesn't it?"

As Anthony started to say, "Yes, your royal majesty, but," and I had fainted before he ever got the but out. Anthony caught me before I hit the floor.

I was then carried in and laid in my bed. I came around a few minutes later while a cool cloth was laying on my forehead. "Anthony," and I started crying, "My husband is dead."

"Yes."

"Wait a minute," and I sat up really quickly. I pushed away from him and said, "How am I suppose to believe you? You could have killed him yourself because he wouldn't agree to your demands from the kidnapping."

"Bella, please don't push away; I did not kill him I swear to that. We really did go to protect him."

"But you said the king set up this guard to protect against the revolutionaries about five years ago. This could all be a line you're giving me because that is when all the battles started."

"Queen Bella, I do not want to shock you or startle you anymore because there is much more to the story. I do not know how you'll handle it; but I was really dispatched by the king to protect the country as a secret guard five years ago."

"Anthony, what about my family, Emmett, Rosalie and my parents? I have to get to them and protect them." I was up and towards the door when Anthony had his arms around my waist.

"No, Queen Bella, you can't. At least not yet."

"But they are my children and my parents. I can't lose them, too." I was snobbing in his arms.

"They will be fine. I promise you."

"But how the revolutionaries will head for the castle?"

"Yes, they will; but it will take them some time to get everyone back together after we caused them to scramble into the woods. They will need to meet up together first; they were all spread out before."

"But my children, let me go." I tried to get away from Anthony again.

"Bella, calm down. I don't want to hold you like this and keep you captive. If I let you go, will you calm down so I can tell you my plan and then maybe you'll start to trust me."

"No, I won't calm down but tell me."

"I sent ¾ of my guard that I was with to the castle to quote unquote kidnap them and bring them here to you; so they will be safe. As well as you, your royal majesty."

"Anthony, are you doing this so that you can then leave us here as your real prisoners and rule the country."

"No, I am not. Please stop fighting me and I will explain myself."

"You have twenty-four hours to get my family here and you'd better start explaining yourself now."