Edward POV
I arrived at the hotel the ball would be held in two hours early. I checked in to my room and not even ten minutes later my tux was delivered up to my room.
'Figured you would need this. ~A'
I smiled and placed the note in the nearby trash bin and hung up the tux on the back of the closet door. Once that was done I sat on the edge of the bed and watch the replay of a football match until Alice had sent me ten text in a row to get ready.
I showered quickly. Changed into my tux and made my way down to the ball. Alice had out done herself again. Flowers and sparklie crap every where. Not my taste but not the worst thing ever.
"Ladies and Gentalmen the Duke of Warwickshire Edward Cullen." An older gentalmen announced as I appeared at the top of a staircase.
I shook the hands of the people that offered them as I made my way over to my table. My parents were already seated. My cousin James and his parents were there too. Neither James nor his father seemed to be in good moods. My aunt however was doing okay. Alice's parents were not there having traveled to America to be with Alice's aunt (from her mothers side) for reasons they refuse to tell Alice. Alice however was there right next to my mother talking about something girly I think. Her new boyfriend sat on her other side. I reconized him as the guy that saved me from being shot.
"Good to see you here." I told him as I sat down.
"Alice refused to let me do what I wold prefer to be doing right now." He replied.
"And what is that?"
"Fishing, riding horses anything outside really." He said.
"My family has a horse farm out near Ireland broader. You should come hang out sometime."
"Alice told me about that place. She wasn't sure if your family still owned it or not."
"Well we do. All she had to do was ask." I replied.
"Don't listen to everything he says Jasper. He likes to make jokes or at least he use to until he became a duke." Alice said finally turning her attention to Jasper and I.
"We were just talking about horses Alice." Jasper replied.
"What could he know about horses?" James said. "He looks like some ragamuffin that plays a guitar on a street corner."
"While I do know how to play the guitar I only do it at church or my basement. I also plan to join a military branch once I get back to the United States." Jasper replied. "I plan to do that so my mother doesn't have to use her hard earned money to support me like your dear mother clearly seems to do."
"Edward aren't you going to stop him?" My uncle asked.
"Why should I when he only speaks the truth." I paused. "You and James both live off of what she...(I pointed to my aunt) ...gets from the family estate every year."
"We do not."
"James does not have a job, nor does he go to school and you have not held a job yourself for the last six months and the last job you held was a 'hedge fund' barely making over five figures."
"It was just getting start..."
"And it quickly went under." I replied. "You haven't tried to find anything else since."
"Besides when I die my portion will go back to the estate." My aunt said. "A very small portion of that will go to James if he marries."
"What about all the money you spend on theses balls."
"One it is a family tradition to hold these balls by the new duke or duchess. Grandfather set aside a budget for them although a smaller one had my father chosen to take on the title."
"It should be james." My uncle replied.
"While James and I are both grandsons he is the son of a daughter and I am the son of a son and the son who was older than the daughter I might add."
That shut my uncle up. I did not see him and my aunt staying together much longer.
Bella POV
The dancing had begun by the time I arrived at the ball. I snuck by the person announcing everyone as they entered the ball. I didn't see myself as someone that needed to be announced. I found Alice and Jasper at the bar.
"Alice." I called.
"Your here." Alice replied. "You totally miss..."
A very drunk female in a deep purple dress bumped into Alice cutting Alice off and spilling a little wine on Alice's dress. The bartender quickly called for some one to take the woman away. Alice and I went to the nearest woman's restroom to clean up the stain which thankfully turned out smaller than we thought.
"Thank you for your help." Alice said.
"You got me out of the house for the night." I replied. "Even though I'd rather be doing something else."
"Come on you need to have fun. You only have a few months left here." Jasper said.
"He is right about that." Alice added.
"And I have plans for all of that." I replied.
"Speaking of getting out of the house I need you to pack all of your stuff up." Alice said. "We are getting you out of there."
"Tonight?"
"Yes." She replied. "But for now we party."
Alice then dragged me on to the dance floor where she made me dance with Jasper while she danced with a distant cousin.
"You are going to miss her when we leave aren't you."
Probablymore than I realize." Jasper replied.
"Have you thought about staying?" I asked.
"Sure I have but I can't and she understands that."
We were quiet after that. We danced for another song Alice came over and claimed Jasper for the rest of the night.
Tanya POV
My mother and I were a half hour late to the ball. My hair appointment was cancelled so I had to call someone to come and fix it. I really hope some ugly b*ch hasn't dug their filthy claws into my Edward. Tonight is the night he will annonce that he intends to marry me.
"Tanya sit up strighter. Slouching makes you look bad." My mother snapped.
"I am not slouching mother." I replied. "This dress does not allow me to do so."
"That's not all it does." I heard someone snap.
"Let's hope it snags you a new husband."
"Mother." I snap.
"Tanya, RuthAnn what a plesent surprise." Jannie Spearson said. "I thought you weren't going to be here."
"We stet a budget for these balls long ago." My mother replied.
"Clearly not enough if your daughter can't breath in her dress."
"I can breath." I replied.
The woman smirked (though it was barely notacieable) and looked me up and down again.
"Your jewels look familiar. Where did you get them?"
"They were costing pieces from my mothers jewler. A belated Christmas gift."
"Well the jeweler has no imagination if he recreates pices that were stolen."
"They are one of a kind." I snapped. "Mother I see a friend I just have to say hello. I'll be back in a little bit."
"Go ahead dear, just remember what time we are leaving."
"It is programmed into my phone."
Playing the dutifull daughter I kissed her cheek and disappeared into the crowed of dancers. Within five minutes I had bumped into several girls that I knew. Each one was weeding a dress similar to one that 'Cinderella' was wearing at the other balls. I mumbled hellos and the continued my search for Edward.
I found him by the bar. He was drinking a scotch of some kind.
"Edward?" I asked tapping him on the shoulder.
"Tanya." He said.
"Would you like to dance?"
"Not right now. I have business to take care of." He replied before walking away.
I grabbed his arm after thinking for a few seconds about what to say.
"I paid good money to dance with you." I lied. "Now I want my money back if you are not going to follow through with it."
"That is a lie. I don't charge money for dances as I dance with whom ever I choose." He ripped his arm from my grip and continued on his way.
Alice POV
"Edward were have you been?" I asked when I saw him pushing his way through the crowd.
"Escaping from a viper." Edward replied.
"Which one was it this time?" I asked. "The red head or the brunette from the last weekend in January."
"Tanya the read head I guess. But her hair did look blond this time."
"Oh well that doesn't matter you should still go and find a girl to dance with." I said. "Maybe even Bella she is here some where after all."
"Haven't seen her." Edward replied. "I need some air."
Edward walked away from me but soon after I found his mother (also my aunt) sitting down rubbing her feet.
"Are your shoes killing your feet?" I asked sitting down next to her.
"Very much so. I think I'll have Carlisle take me home after dinner is served." She replied. "I would leave now but we have to support Edward."
"Family tradition and you only have a half hour to wait for dinner."
"Thank you and maybe you should go dance with that nice young man you brought with you."
"You know I think I will." I said. "If I don't see you when dinner is served I'll see you at tea tomorrow."
"Alice we are seated at the same table." She replied "but I will see you at tea tomorrow anyway."
Jasper POV
I couldn't help but watch as Alice made her way over to me. I had a nice dance and conversation with Bella but I would rather be with Alice.
"Would you like to dance my lady?" I asked.
"I would but only if you don't talk like that."
Alice and I continued to dance until it was time for dinner to be served. She had become giddy with excitement once she saw that Bella was sitting next to Edward.
"How did you get to this table?" Alice asked.
"Edward found out that I was siting at a table where I knew no one and requested I join him once he found it that his uncle and cousin were remov..."
"Removed for drunken behavior that was sure to embarrass the family." Edward said cutting Bella off. The rest of the night was a good one. Edwards parents had stayed a little longer than Alice thought because of his mothers feet. The crowed however was disappointed when Edward left before announcing who he was going to marry.
"How is he going to fix this?" I asked Alice.
"We have a statement ready for tomorrow." She replied.
I was about to ask her something else but my phone went off. I looked down at it to see a text from Peter.
"It's Peter he needs help. A horse went into labor and his parents are gone."
"Jasper just go. I know these stuffy events aren't your thing." Alice said. "But you better call me when you get there."
"I will." I replied.
I quickly kiss her on the cheek and ran from the room.
Edward POV
I was sitting at my family's table by myself. Bella had left after saying she was tired. I told her goodbye and said I hoped to see her again soon.
I left the ball for a few minutes of fresh air. I was gone only fifteen minutes when I returned to the party everyone thought that I had left. I was about to sit down when I heard my mother scream. I turned to the dance floor to see my father laying on the ground clutching his chest.
"Call for an ambulance." I screamed as I ran over too him.