A/N:
KELLLYOOOOOOOOOOO! I BEESSSS HEReSO!
haaaaaaaaaiiiiii bellerellerz!
HOLA! HOW"S IT GOING?:D
super duper excited over this chapter because it's kinda awesomeness that leads to more awesomeness. how're you?
Good. I was hyper before, but now I just want to sit down and read this awesome stuffs :D
SMeyer prolly wouldn't though evne though if I were her I'd like to see what others did with the characters... then again she's not a fan of smut so why would she read citrus?
She wouldn't. You know she's hanging out in the K+ fic
Totally. But you know what kinds of awesome people aren't G rated specific?
Our readers?
YEP!
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
So readers? Leave a review? Show some love for the M stories out there :D
EPOV
I returned to Pemberly post haste, mostly because I knew the odds of bumping into Miss Swan-any Miss Swan-again was highly likely.
It was a delicate torture being so close to her, and yet farther away than either of us could have imagined. Obviously, she was unreceptive to my advances, and was attempting to establish a friendly discord while I watched her as though she were an object. But how I should have loved to love her as my wife; as someone I could spend my life with.
But evidently, fate had other plans.
Rosalie was showing me her latest blossom (the daffodil) when we heard the rumbling of a carriage. "Were you expecting someone?" She asked, her nose rumpling up in the most adorable way.
"No." I said, kissing the tip of said nose. "Are you, my darling?"
She scoffed, laughing a little. "Edward!"
I laughed at her bashfulness, and tickled her a bit while we sat in the garden. If someone was coming to Pemberly, the butler would ring me. I wasn't worried.
Rosalie moved on to her other spring buds, including tulips, hydrangeas and day lillies. What that girl knew about flowers, I could only wish to possess about anything. She was so passionate and so vibrant as she spoke of them. It was quite disheartening to have only felt that once in my life, and for someone who was unable to return my affections.
After I'd decided she had enough mud caked on her body, I hoisted her up to the house and charged into the sitting room as she laughed. But I stopped completely when I witnessed Mr. and Mrs. Black along with Miss Swan drinking tea in my sitting room.
Most unusual.
I placed Rose on her feet, still wondering if I was in some kind of dream. "Good Afternoon."
Black stood, bowing slightly at the waist. "Mr. Cullen, Ms. Cullen! It is truly a pleasure. We did not expect you to be here. We came to visit the museum in your west wing."
Oh, the junk room. But I smiled, bowing slightly. "And I hope you've enjoyed it?"
"Actually we've just arrived. My wife wanted to stop for tea prior. And I believe you know my niece, Ms. Swan."
Miss Swan, who had stood as well, bowed. "Mr. Cullen." She murmured, her smile brightening as she took in my sister. "Ms. Rosalie. A pleasure to see you both."
Rosalie started hopping on her feet, a giddy smile bursting across her face. "BELLA!" I poked her. "MISS SWAN!" She recovered. "COME SEE MY DAFFODILS! THEY JUST CAME UP! AND...AND HYDRANGEAS!"
I put a hand on her shoulder, leaning down. "First, you must remove the mud. Besides, polite girls ask nicely."
She huffed a little, and even though I was standing behind her I knew she was rolling her eyes. "Miss Swan, after I...wash would you...enjoying viewing my garden?"
"I would be delighted." Miss Swan beamed. "And, please do call me Bella. The Miss Swan is for grown ups."
I squeezed my hand over Rose's shoulder before she sped from the room, slipping and sliding all the way. "Thank you for obliging her."
"It is my pleasure. I rarely get to enjoy gardens from an educational perspective. I am most certain I enjoy our time together more than she does."
I laughed, wiping my own hands on my trousers. "I highly doubt that; she's spoken of nothing but you since I mentioned bumping into you last month."
She blushed a light crimson. "You are very kind to say that Mr. Cullen."
Black clear his throat, calling our attention back to him. "Bella, Ms. Leah and I will be going on the tour of the sculptures. Will you be joining us?"
Miss Swan looked between us, as if the choice were clear. "Uncle, if it is possible I would prefer to wait here for Ms. Rosalie."
Black nodded, "Very well. We will meet you back at the inn. Mr. Cullen, would you be so kind as to escort my niece home when she has overstayed her welcome?" He joked.
I nodded to Mr. Black. "My pleasure. I hope you enjoy them."
He nodded ineffectually, and I turned back to Miss Swan. "I didn't know you had family here."
Miss Swan nodded, "I do. My aunt suggested I accompany them as they knew we were acqaintences, and that I had not had the opportunity to have a walk around your infamous grounds."
I raised an eyebrow, rolling up the cuffs of my shirt. "Infamous? Because of my sister's garden, I'm sure. I'm an awful parent because I've allowed her to wear pants and tend to it herself."
"I think that's very progressive of you." She smiled, leaning closer to me. "As I've said since we met, she is very lucky to have you."
I sighed, pushing a hand through my hair mostly to take in her proximity. "Well, I hope so. Clearly, I know nothing about women." I laughed, mostly awkwardly. I was completely hopeless.
"You know a lot more than you give yourself credit for." She murmured, chewing delicately on her lower lip. "Maybe, if you're available later and it does not intervene with any prior engagements we could... talk? I haven't had a chance... well.. there's so much..." She breathed, her voice coming out in a whisper. "The letter."
Ah. To tell me to retreat while I still have some sort of dignity intact. "Of course, Miss Swan." I replied, feeling the hole reopen in my chest. "Whenever it is convenient. But if you'll excuse me, I'll go see what's keeping my sister." I turned and headed for the stairs, trying to think of how to renew this relationship.
It would be done, I told myself. I could make a fresh start with Miss Swan.
BPOV
"These dandelions are new! Edward brought them to me to grow when he returned from town. Aren't they beautiful?" Rosalie informed rather excitedly as she raced to the small square section where the flowers had recently been planted.
We had spent a few hours roaming around the acres of land around Pemberly. My relatives were not exaggerating when they had told me the beautiful of this home. I could have easily spent weeks admiring and enjoying the luscious greenery.
"So how long will you be visiting us, Ms. Bella?" Rosalie asked, snapping me out of my daydream of laying in the fields under the warm sun.
"Hm? Oh... I shall be in the area a fortnight, but I shall be staying closer to town with my aunt and uncle."
She made a face that expressed confusion and slight displeasure. "Why must you stay so far, if you are visiting? Surely my brother would offer you a room."
I laughed, shaking my head. "I do not think that would be allowed."
"Why not? We own Pemberly, who would argue?"
Ohh, I do not know. Everyone?
"My parents for one. A man and woman who are not related are not allowed to live together until they are married."
"Oh." She quipped, and I watched as the wheels spin in her mind. "Well, then my brother will just have to marry you then." She decided with a serious nod of her head.
I laughed, and shook my head.
If only life were that easy.
Later that evening, the three of us sat in the obscenely large dining room, sequestered in seats at the far end of the dining table.
"Brother, Ms. Bella was telling me that she will be here another twelve days for holiday." Rosalie announced as the maid placed small salads in front of each of us.
Edward looked up at his sister, raising a curious eyebrow. "Oh?"
Rosalie nodded vigorously. "Yes, however she is staying so far!" She whined slightly. "So, logically, I invited her to stay with us - but she said no! She explained that is was due to a rule where a man and woman who are of no relation cannot live together unless they have been married. Is this true?" She pushed, looking at him wide eyed.
"Yes." He grinned, picking at his plate. "Your point?"
"You must marry Bella, post haste so that she will never have a reason to go." She stated seriously, punctuating her command with a poignant nod.
She then turned to smile at me with a grin of satisfaction, before turning back to her brother for a response.
All I could do, was blush. Deeply.
He let out a short laugh, taking a deep breath. "Or, you can simply invite her back tomorrow."
"But then she will not be able to come for breakfast or stay until bedtime unless she arrives very early and stays very late - inconveniencing her greatly. It really would just be simpler if you asked her to marry you dear brother." She argued, not even noticing that the maids had replaced her salad dish with the entree.
"And have you asked Miss Swan? What if she finds me disagreeable and will do no such thing?" He questioned, his eyes glancing back down at his plate of lettuce.
"If she found you disagreeable she would not visit us both. She would simply call on me and have us meet in town."
He let out a frustrated sigh, throwing his napkin down beside his knife on the table. "Rose, If you would like Miss Swan to stay, invite her to stay as your guest. It will do her no good to be forced into a marriage she neither desires nor can tolerate."
She calmed after that and we ate in a stale silence. Occasionally I would look up at Mr. Cullen from my plate, only to see a frustrated expression covering his face. When our dishes had been cleared, Rosalie was taken back to her room for lessons in Latin and French as she had missed them by playing in the garden all afternoon.
Mr. Cullen was quick to nod and bid his farewell from the table, remaining silent as he left the dining hall.
No, and no again.
I jumped up, startling the servant clearing the plates and I smiled apologetically. She returned the half grin and I walked steadily but quickly out. "Mr. Cullen!" I replied a few octaves above how I normally spoke, trying to get his attention from halfway down the corridor. He froze immediately and waited until I could make my way down to him.
"I would like to thank you for a wonderful meal." I began, looking at his pained face and yearning to be the one that quelled such stresses from his life.
"It was no problem; I'm glad you enjoyed it." He replied, shaking his head as if my mealtime addition had not been a complete imposition.
I nodded appreciatively. "I also would like to inquire if you might be available to sit with me for a moment?" I puffed out a dry laugh. "I promise I will not bombard you with questions."
He nodded curtly. "Gladly." His arm raised up to me and I took it, following his lead into the plush and ornate sitting room.
We sat down, he in a overstuffed leather chair, and me across from him on the matching sofa. I was nervous. I was scared his affections had changed after the letter. I was so anxious in fact, that I stood, feeling a bit like my cousin Mr. Newton with my fidgeting.
"I suppose I should start with a confession." I replied taking a deep breath and trying to stop my tone from sounding as if I was going mad. "Your letter affected me like no other single piece of writing has ever done. I read it from the moment I stepped into the cottage until dawn. In fact," I replied, pausing to laugh. "I've read it so much I have it memorized." I stopped again, continuing to pace around the room. "Mr. Cullen, I only wish that you could see that I am not short with you or apathetic because I feel no more affection; in fact, if it is possible I feel more with each passing day. The love I feel for you will not deteriorate in a month or year or a thousand lifetimes, I assure you." I stated, looking down and staring at the rug beneath me as I finally stopped moving about like a neurotic bug.
"And while it is not my place to do so, I must inform you that your statement at dinner to your sister was incredibly off point. You inferred that a marriage to you would displease me in some way, whether in behavior or in my lack of want and that is simply not true in the slightest."