Many thanks to Sebastien Robichaud who graciously recc'd my fic on his "The Ice Queen and Mister McCarty". He sent over some really lovely readers who have been very generous with their reviews.
Cookie-Gate:
In my last chapter, I used the term "cookie" rather than the more British "biscuit" to avoid confusion. As a number of readers have correctly pointed out, since my story is set in England, "biscuit" would have been more appropriate. My British pre-reader (whom I cheerfully ignored at the time) agrees with you. He couldn't be more mortified if I had burnt the Union Jack (British flag) while mooning the Queen at the same time.
I humbly, humbly stand corrected on the matter.
Chapter 7 – The Fête & The Wager
Friday
"Bella! Are you in your room?" Renee pushed into Bella's bedroom without warning. "I need to know where the..." Her eyes alighted on the book on Bella's desk. It was the "Pride and Prejudice" Bella's father had given her for her twenty-first birthday. When she agreed to the reading sessions with Edward, there was never any doubt in Bella's mind that this would be the first book she would take.
"Oh, I remember this. Your father gave it to you. It's such a pretty book. I'm glad the bank didn't get their grubby paws on it."
Bella could only hope that her mother hadn't notice the guilt colouring her face.
Renee picked up the book, running her fingers gently along its gilded spine. "I know I'm not clever like you or Charles..." Renee held up a hand to silence Bella's protests. "I don't read much, and I'm not interested in old books...but I loved him...and I miss him so much..." Bella put her arms around her mother as she began to weep.
"Mummy, he loved you too." Bella tightened her embrace. Her own eyes were stinging.
How long would it take to stop hurting?
"He would be here still, if not for the Cullens..."
"Mummy, shhhhhh, Daddy wouldn't want to see you like this." There was no point reasoning with Renee when she swung from grief to anger and started her tirade against the Cullens. The guilt she felt working for Edward was becoming heavier to bear. "Let's not be sad. Oh look, 'Cash in the Attic' is on. You love 'Cash in the Attic' don't you? Let's go watch the telly together."
When Bella arrived at the library, Edward was already there waiting for her. Ignoring him studiously, she headed straight for her desk without a word. He approached her cautiously, as one would a skittish animal. He was right – she was ready to bolt.
"Isabella..."
"It was a joke, We had too much to drink yesterday."
"I wasn't drunk. Not at all."
"Still, it didn't mean anything."
He looked at her earnestly.
"Am I so repulsive to you?" His low, quiet voice cut her unexpectedly.
Bella thought about the way she looked forward to 4 o'clock everyday. She remembered how gently he had cradled her face when he kissed her.
"No." Her truth was spoken in a whisper yet her lie seemed to shout. "But that doesn't mean I like you either."
She could not bear to look at him.
Edward left the library and did not return again that Friday.
Saturday
The next day, Bella was in the village to pick up some groceries when she heard someone call her name.
"Isabella! Isabella Swan!"
"Garrett!" Bella's face broke into a wide smile. Though she didn't know him well, the fact that Garrett was one of the last people to work closely with her late father Charles Swan was enough to guarantee a warm greeting.
"Isabella! I haven't seen you in the longest time! Come to the pub, I'll buy you a drink!"
Garrett Connor was one of Fork's favourite sons, a rags-to-riches success story. Raised by his widowed mother, Garrett was an exceptionally bright student who managed to impress his sponsor so much he was given full financial support to attend both an exclusive public school and Oxford, where he read law. Now based in London, he worked for a leading law firm and was one of the lawyers involved in the Swan-Cullen river rights suit.
Tall and lanky with floppy blonde hair, Garrett was blessed with an effortless charm that devastated men and women alike. In fact, they were stopped so many times by villagers wanting to chat to Garrett it took a good half an hour to walk down the short street to the pub.
Bella was grateful for the easy company of Garrett. Her university friends were scattered throughout the country; at home, she had to tiptoe around her depressed mother and Edward, well, she considered that bridge burnt.
"So, Garrett, what are you doing back in Forks?"
"To see my mother of course! And for the Winter Fête, wouldn't miss that for the world! Are you going?"
The Winter Fête was a yearly village event organised by Esme Cullen, Edward's mother, on the grounds of the Cullen estate. It was a lively evening fair with food and drinks stalls as well as games and activities to raise money for charity. Because it was a "Cullen event", Bella was never allowed to attend. Not that she would now, she was trying to save every penny.
"Come on, I'll buy you a ticket! We'll go together! It'll be a laugh!"
Despite her worries about meeting Edward at the fête, Bella readily agreed because "laughs" were so rare in her life nowadays.
The Winter Fête was in full swing by the time Bella and Garrett arrived. As social events in close-knit communities tend to be, it was welcomed with great exuberance by the villagers. Customers crowded the white tents decorated with lights and bunting while the delicious aroma of roasting meat filled the air. The village band churned out noisy tunes with cheerful enthusiasm, completely undeterred by their lack of skill. Garrett and Bella debated the merits of attacking the cider stand versus the star attraction stall featuring a whole pig which had been spit-roast over an open fire. They joined in traditional fête games such as snail racing. Contestants tried to outdo each other in giving their race snails amusing names like "Escargot", "Shelley" or "Gary" (after the Spongebob character). Garrett named his "Briskly Bobbing Bella" which earned him a glare from its namesake.
As the night wore on, Bella drifted away from Garrett who was regaling yet another acquaintance with one of his colourful tales. Left alone, she was free to observe Esme Cullen in action.
Though the Swans always regarded themselves as the Cullen's social equals, confronted with the buzzing success of the event before her, Bella was forced to admit that the Cullens were leaders in the community in a way that the Swans could never be.
Elegant and petite, Esme Cullen was every inch the gracious, beloved matriarch. Bella's eye followed Esme as she wove between the crowd, complimenting a stallholder here, sharing a joke with a customer there, completely in her element. A tall figure sneaked up behind Esme and surprised her with a hug. Bella sucked in her breath. It was Edward. He stood at least a foot above his mother.
He must have gotten his height from his father, Bella thought, remembering with a grimace her last awkward encounter with the elder Cullen in Swan Manor.
Mother and son were clearly affectionate with each other. Edward looked like he was teasing Esme and at one point, threw his head back in hearty laughter. She had never seen him so comfortable. Watching their easy interaction, she vacillated between fascination and envy.
She was caught off-guard when he looked up and saw her. His surprise was quickly replaced by a hesitant smile. Bella's heart raced as Edward started to pull Esme in her direction.
He's going to introduce me to his mother!
Then, just as suddenly, his smile dropped and his gaze turned brittle. He bent down to whisper in Esme's ear as he gently manoeuvred her in the opposite direction, his arms about her protectively.
Bella wondered what had caused the about-face.
Maybe I imagined it. Maybe he didn't even see me at all.
"Missed me?" Garrett thrust a flower in front of her. Really, the man could flirt up a storm with a stone statue.
"Oh, were you gone?" Bella teased.
"Ouch, that cut me deep. And to think I was busy collecting village intelligence for your benefit."
"Really? Oh do tell, what world-shaping events in Forks have gone unreported by the news?"
"Well, since you asked so nicely...Mrs Smith suspects Mr Smith of having an affair, but a close source tells me that really he's developed a late life passion for ballroom dancing but doesn't want to bring his wife as a partner because he was worried about dipping her. She has a fondness for pork pies you see...and Lauren Mallory's health issues? The village Figure-Watch Brigade noted that she went to London for a knee operation and came back with bigger boobs..."
Bella was laughing so hard she didn't notice they had walked straight into Edward and a woman she had never met before. The woman was an immaculate strawberry blonde almost as tall as Edward. She was clad in what could only be described as a city-dweller's idea of country wear. While the rest of the villagers attending the outdoors fête were dressed in practical waterproofs and muddy Wellington boots in readiness for the ever-present English drizzle, she was in pristine tweed, recently acquired and tailored too sharply to allow for much movement. Yet, even with her out-of-place attire, Bella had to concede that she and Edward made a handsome couple.
No one spoke. Garrett was staring at Edward, the two women at each other while Edward's glare alternated between Garrett and the flower Bella was holding in her hand.
It was Garrett who broke the awkward silence.
"Tanya! Long time no see!" Garrett turned to Bella in an aside, "We know each other from Oxford."
"Garrett! I had forgotten you're from Forks as well. Oh that's right! Wasn't your father a gardener for the Cullens?" Tanya looped a possessive arm into Edward's.
Bella bristled with indignation at Tanya's sneer. She waited for Edward's reaction to his companion's rudeness, but none was forthcoming. He was too busy locked in a staring match with Garrett. Bella mirrored Tanya's stance and circled her arm around Garrett's in a show of solidarity.
True to form, Garrett recovered admirably.
"Ah Tanya, I see time has not diminished your charm. Yes, my late father worked for the Cullens before he died when I was ten." Changing the subject rapidly, he introduced Bella.
"This is Isabella Swan. She grew up in Forks as well. Isabella, this is Tanya Denali."
"Oh, Swan! Didn't you used to live in Swan Manor?"
There was only one person that information could have come from. Bella glowered at Edward, hurt and surprised by his betrayal. Edward finally reacted.
"Tanya! That's enough!"
It was Bella who had had enough.
"Come on Garrett, let's go see if you're as good at darts as you claim."
She tightened her hold on Garrett and towed him away without looking back.
Once they were a safe distance away, she tried to comfort him. "I'm sorry Garrett, she was abominably rude to you. I don't know why Edward puts up with it."
"Oh Isabella, I know very well why he puts up with it. How well do you know Edward?"
"Not well at all." It was the truth. Bella's arm-length approach towards Edward had made sure of that.
"I'll tell you the story some other time. Come on, let's go watch me beat everyone else at darts."
Monday
By Monday, Bella was close to bursting with her questions. Who was Tanya? How long had she been with Edward? What caused the bad blood between Garrett and Edward? She arrived at the library early to get some answers.
1 p.m. No Edward.
3 p.m. Still no Edward.
4 p.m. Where the heck was Edward?
At quarter past four, just as she was ready to pack up and leave, she heard the library door creak open followed by the heavy staccato of footsteps.
Edward stalked into the room, but it was not the Edward she was familiar with. The Edward she knew was slightly rumpled with wind-blown hair. The same Edward who favoured cashmere jumpers and Barbour jackets, the practical uniform of a country gent.
The man before her was clean-shaven with slicked back hair and an exquisitely-fitted dark suit, bespoke Savile Row by the looks of it.
He must have had business in London.
And there was his demeanour. Edward, apart from their disastrous first meeting in the Swan library, was quietly self-possessed. This man was currently prowling the floor in front of her desk, his obvious agitation heightening the colour on his cheeks.
As she watched him pace back and forth, it struck Bella, not for the first time in the last few days, how little she really knew Edward.
Who is this man?
Tension radiated from him as his long strides struck the parquet floor with crisp clicks. His rider's back was held straight, and he shot furious looks at her from time to time.
Bella could not help fixating on his long fingers as he unbuttoned his suit jacket and removed it with an impatient yank. Tie and top button loosened, the cuff-links were the next to go with a brisk twist of his fingers. Still pacing, he began rolling up his sleeves, tugging sharply each time the fabric folded over his arm. She watched from behind her desk, fascinated. Under his sleeves, his forearms were firm and lightly-veined.
Edward Cullen had worked himself into a fine fury over something and the result was...she hated to admit, rather magnificent.
He stopped pacing abruptly and faced her square on.
"What is he to you?"
"What?" Everything she had been rehearsing to say to him fled her head.
"I'm talking about Garrett. What is he to you? Are you dating him?"
"That's none of your business!" Bella, who had been expecting to needle him for replacing her with Tanya so quickly, was surprised to find herself on the defensive. She rose to her feet, ready to leave.
He leaned over her desk and gripped her arms. "Isabella, please! Just answer me! Are. You. Dating. Him?"
"No." The desperation in his voice had caught her by surprise.
He closed his eyes and let out a breath, relaxing his grip on her infinitesimally. "Do you plan to?"
"That is none of your business."
"Garrett is...not to be trusted. Please, Isabella, stay away from him." He released her and resumed his pacing, running his hands over his face and hair.
"Why? Because he's the gardener's son?"
"Of course not!"
"Then tell me why I shouldn't trust Garrett."
"It's...it's not my story to tell."
He dropped into a chair in front of her desk and began studying her face with unnerving intensity. He was making his mind up about something.
Finally, Edward stood up and planted both palms firmly on her desk, looking straight into her eyes.
"You're lying."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I've been thinking about this over the weekend, and I've come to the conclusion that you're lying. You like me."
"That's preposterous! And breathtaking in its arrogance, I might add."
"You are not the type of girl to sell your kisses for anything, not even for a book worth several thousand pounds."
"You kissed me! I thought it was just going to be a quick peck, not..." Bella mimed an amorous Pepe Le Pew kiss-clinch. "Besides, 'Wuthering Heights' is one of my favourite books," she added lamely. Even as she tried to make light of the situation, waves of heat were rolling up her neck at the memory of the kiss.
"You can try to dismiss it now but I remember how your body responded to mine. Are you really not going to give this a chance because of a two hundred-year-old feud no one can remember?"
Yes. And besides, my mother would castrate you. Right after she's sold me into slavery.
"No."
"Then give me a good reason."
"I'm not attracted to you. We...we have no chemistry together." Liar liar pants on fire.
"That is complete and utter bollocks!"
"Edward, just what are you doing?"
"I'm trying to remind you how much chemistry we have together." Edward had moved around the desk and was now closing in on her.
Bella staggered backwards. "We...we are not lovers. We are barely friends. You...you can't kiss me like that again."
"Fine. Let's settle this how it started two hundred years ago. Let's have a wager. If you win, I'll give you a hundred books from your father's collection, and I will never bother you again."
A hundred books? Bella's interest was piqued. "What's the wager?"
Edward's gaze dropped to her mouth. Bella stumbled back into her chair. "I told you. No kisses."
"Not on the mouth perhaps. What about here?" He brushed a finger gently along her cheek. "Or here?" His finger traced her jaw as her eyelids fluttered shut. "Maybe here." The same finger slid down her throat. He murmured softly, "Give me until the end of the week. I'll prove to you exactly how much chemistry we have."
"How do you prove something like that?"
"Before the week is up, I'll make you say my name."
Bella frowned, perplexed. "Edward?"
"No, not Edward." He leaned into her ear. "Edward." His warm sigh tickled her skin.
Bella flushed. "You're being ridiculous. I am NOT attracted to you."
"Then you have nothing to worry about. Right now, I'm giving you a book a week for our reading sessions. A hundred books, that's almost two years' worth. And like I said, if you win, I'll never bother you about this again."
"What do you want if you win?"
Edward leaned against the edge of the desk and smiled. "A proper date, maybe a meal together. And I want to walk you home everyday. Walk beside you, Isabella, not behind you. And..." Edward hesitated. "And I want to call you Bella."
This surprised Bella. Only her parents and close friends called her that. But she could think of no real objection.
"But if you can't even kiss me on the mouth, then how...?"
"We'll limit the contact to the skin you show."
Bella looked down at her bulky, long-sleeved jumper and raised a brow. Did the man really think he could make her moan his name by kissing her face and neck? Cocky bastard.
"Well, fine. But you can't...you can't...you know...remove any of my clothes."
"Of course not! What sort of a man do you think I am?"
"The sort who would make a wager like this."
"Touché."
Bella looked down at her hands. "What about Tanya? I take it you're not together?"
"Tanya. Tanya likes my money. Tanya thinks living in the country means sitting in the drawing room in pearls and a cashmere twin-set sipping tea.
"I met Tanya at Oxford. We went out for all of two weeks. My mother invited her to the fête, not me. I don't want her, Isabella." His intense gaze was back on her face.
She had to look away. "So, when do we start?"
"Now."
British to American Translations:
Telly - TV
Public School – Fee-paying private school (confusing, I know)
Jumper – Sweater
Bollocks – Bullshit
- "Cash in the Attic" – A BBC programme where an antique expert roots through the home of a participant and finds (sometimes surprisingly) valuable items to sell at auction. Renee would have been interested given her former home and her current financial situation.
- To "read" a university subject is to study a subject.
- Law is available as an undergraduate subject in the UK.
A/N:
I apologise for the way snails (kidnapped, liberated or racing) have come to dominate my fic.
My pre-reader said, "You know that scene where Edward takes off his suit jacket? All it needs is some stripper music."
I don't need to tell you that the next chapter(s) will be citrusy. By citrus, I mean small, sweet and slightly obscure fruit, nothing too tart or overwhelming. We are talking kumquat-level citrus. Do you like kumquats?