FANFIC THE RESTART - CHAPTER 06

Chapter 6 - The Marriage Request

Bella had already decided to go back to the farm if he could get away, had no other place to go, Aunt Victoria and Laurent would take to discover what had happened to James, if they found out one day. And while Edward was in port, it should leave the city, or would be discovered, he was sure he would assert his word and reviraria London your search.

However, even returning to the farm, this time would be different, she was determined to be independent and so could would the nearest town and look for a job. It was very hard to return, but impossible to all stay in London.

Along the way, thought of the complete change that his life had been, was no longer the same. Now a woman returned and no more that pure and innocent young man who left the farm, more than aware of the caresses of a man. Vowed that was not going to let shoot, marriage now would only bring him misfortune, it seemed that Aunt Victoria predicted what would happen to her, not marry, but men would want her to warm their beds.

What would the uncles? I missed you? No, that was not going necklace ... raise suspicions imitate, I had to think of something at least acceptable. Down the vehicle without looking back and the way he had to go on foot would give time to think about what to say. When we finally arrived, the sky was dark and the dinner hour had passed, approached slowly and knocked.

– Uncle Laurent, is Bella. Can I come in?

He heard a noise inside the house and the door opened abruptly. I would have wanted to meet first with Laurent uncle, but did not. Her aunt, standing in the doorway, looked at her in surprise.

– What do you do here? – Inquired, puzzled. It was time to tell another lie. Since the previous day had not stopped lying, and it troubled her greatly.

– On reaching London his brother realized he had to leave for Liverpool to examine some silks that wanted to buy – said the girl.

– I thought it was not appropriate to stay in the city unaccompanied. – Nearly choked on the words. The lie was very bitter.

– Good, you should be a little disappointed – Aunt Victoria snorted. – Believed that once in London this fall at his feet, right? He deserves it for being an arrogant beggar. Always believing it to be a queen; with those who had the air from almost I believe. I think we will again take charge of their tasks in the home.

– If you will allow me, aunt - Bella replied meekly, knowing that now your life with this woman would be even more difficult. However, it would be something better than what the captain had thought for her.

– It looks fine to me, young lady, and you'll be grateful to have returned home, all right – I told her aunt Victoria with a grimace of contempt, wanting just mean the opposite.

I accept without complaint the way the woman decided to treat it. Probably deserved it for being so vain and have believed that he was born to live comfortably in London. The only thing he could do was behave with humility and mend itself.

– Come on, go to bed - ordered Victoria aunt. – I want you to be awake and working at dawn. His uncle is already lying down.

Bella did not dare to mention that he was hungry despite knowing that her aunt had heard the noises that made ​​his stomach. The woman made ​​no reference and Bella knew that would not do. I had very little eaten that day with the captain sitting across from her. I felt your mouth water to think what would have enjoyed if the mad heartless had not been there.

Without sending word, he went to his corner behind the curtain and undressed. The blanket was still rough and probably equally ineffective to protects her from the cold. Despite the hunger that gnawed at his stomach, fell fast asleep. Morning came and with it the harsh and cruel insults of her aunt, who abruptly pulled back the curtain and threw the tattered dress over her sleeping face. He went over and shook her mercilessly.

Bella woke with a start and sat on her cot, blinking, trying to awaken. That morning his aunt looked more than ever a witch, and that alarmed her. He jumped out of bed quickly, with trembling body, and put the old dress, before the watchful eye of her aunt.

Only had time to grab a piece of stale bread before Victoria aunt sent her to seek firewood. When leaving the house, he found Uncle Laurent absorbed in his thoughts, without showing special interest in having a conversation with her. I was cutting the wood, and when he saw her, looked away.

At the time of going to bed, she fell exhausted on her cot. However, his mind was not idle. I could see the body lying on James as if still found in much, beside him, but that vision faded quickly after that the Birmingham captain's face emerging from the darkness. He saw his grin, his strong hands and brunettes extending it. Once again, he heard their laughter and with a strangled cry, buried her face in the pillow to stifle the sobs that shook his body, remembering well the touch of those hands.

Dawn found Bella wakes up and working before her aunt raised. After spending a sleepless night, the girl swore he would work hard until no thought or recall the torment. I find the pleasure of sleeping through extreme tiredness.

When Victoria aunt came out of another room wearing a peasant dress over large bust, Bella was already kneeling, clearing the ashes of the fireplace.The woman approached the stove, grabbed a oatmeal pie and looked at his niece with the loaded frown.

– It's a little pale this morning, young lady – Noted with contempt. – Did not you glad to be here?

– It makes me very happy to be here – muttered, looking away from the aunt.

Victoria approached her and gave her a slap, bruising the tender flesh of her niece with his thick hands.

– Her eyes are swollen - pointed. - I thought hear you cry in your bed last night and I see I was right. I imagine that causes you shame not to be in London.

– No – she whispered Bella - I'm glad.

– Lie! – Exclaimed Victoria - You hate to be here! What you want is to live in London very well, because you think it's what you deserve!

Bella shook her head. I did not want. Not yet. Not at all. Not as the captain Edward was there, looking for her all over the city. He would remain there even three or four months, selling their cargo and buying. He could not return.

– Leave the girl alone, Vic. – Intervened uncle Laurent, standing near the curtains that separated her bedroom. She turned to him with a grunt.

– Look who's giving orders this morning so early. Is not it better that she, always thinking about what has, always wanting what you missed!

– Please, do not start again – He sighed tired, shaking his head in despair.

– Not again, you say? – Inquired sarcastically. – Spend the day thinking about this woman. The only reason you married me is because he could not do it with her! I loved each other.

Been a week, then two, the latter slower than the last. No matter how hard to work, could not separate from his mind the unpleasant memories. They harassed on day and night. Often I get up in the dark, with his forehead drenched by a cold sweat, having dreamed that Edward was with her, imprisoning her in a passionate embrace. In other dreams, it even looked like the devil, laughing heartily terrified of her body. Bella awoke with hands over his ears. Dreams about James were horrible. Always I saw beside him with the small knife in his hand, covered in blood.

They spent another two weeks without Bella could rest, which began to affect it. His appetite was very variable. Now I was disinterested now had nausea or insatiable urge to eat. Suffered from drowsiness, an unpardonable sin according to his aunt, who continually persecuted because of it. Committed a lot of stupidity: the dishes fell to the ground or burned fingers with kettles on fire. That was enough to make a person become insane. And she could leave frenzied her aunt, especially after having broken one of his favorite bowls.

– I'm sorry, aunt – Apologized in a hoarse voice and tears in his eyes. – I do not know what's happening to me, I will sell my dress and you buy another bowl.

– And the other objects that broke young lady? How will you pay me? Asked Victoria with cruel eyes fixed on Bella.

– I have nothing, just my combination ...

– Does not worth even a penny, and I want go when the city becomes dangling teats there.

He spent nearly a month until allowed him to go to the small village with his uncle. I had been looking forward for weeks the moment when her aunt let him do it, and now that the moment had come, he feared his uncle. Continued looking at her strangely and made ​​her nervous greatly. He feared that, once away from the woman, he felt tempted to ask you some questions, as since returning from London Uncle looked at her in a strange way.

The community of the village hall, where they were set several ads were the contact of his uncle with the world and it was his habit to go there first.Bella scanned the notes discreetly, needed a cleaning lady, someone requested a governess, but should treat yourself to a lady of no less than forty years. His eyes quickly passed on all notes, praying desperately for there to be one that would fit his profile. I wanted to work as a cleaner, but if there was something better, accept with pleasure. There was not. His hopes faded. When his uncle turned to leave, she followed him in tears.

He led her to a store to buy replacement of the broken bowl of Victoria aunt. It did so very dejected, almost listless. When the uncle stopped the small car in the square, Bella had felt euphoric, as it had not asked him anything. Now, although still grateful for his silence, he wanted to get to a place where he could cry alone. He berated himself for being so impatient. It was likely that later there was a good offer.

You Peeves, the shopkeeper, took the bowl Bella pointed to him.

– Do you want something else, miss? A new dress perhaps? – Asked the man.

Bella blushed. It was not the first time the man mentioned the new dress. 

I knew that everyone was looking at her with pity and that young mocked the clothes she wore. But was too proud to show ashamed. As had life in the body, follow keeping the head high and pretend it did not matter.

– He did not answer. – Only the bowl.

– It is a beautiful bowl, well worth your money. There will be six shillings, Miss – Said the shopkeeper.

She took the handkerchief his pocket and untied. She counted the money carefully and delivered. Still were seven shillings, though he knew it would stop the hands of his aunt. Her eyes strayed to a live tape colors lay on a table next to her and looked at them with nostalgia.

To contemplate in the mirror, the one who was in town, Bella found herself for the first time with the dresses aunt. No wonder that people looked and mock her, she thought wearily.

The shop door opened and the young man left to look in the mirror. It was Jacob Black, a young tall, thin, twenty-one, which was long in love with Laurent's niece. Although Bella had never excited to woo her, he was always around when the young woman went to the village. He looked at her adoringly and narrowed her hand whenever possible. I like him, but brotherly way. He approached her and immediately smiled.

– I saw the car of his uncle - said the young man. – I was hoping you'd come with him.

– I'm glad you came back to see me, Jacob said she with a young sorriso.O blushed delighted.

– Where were you? I missed you. – Bella shrugged, looking away.

– Nowhere, Jacob. I was at home with Aunt Victoria – Responded.

I did not want to talk about his trip to London. He felt the gaze of his uncle about you, but did not care.

The shop door opened and Jessica went for it, looked like a little dog, always following Jacob, when he realized that she had entered the store glared at him. Their marriage had been arranged, the dowry agreed, but Jacob refused firmly to marry.

Jessica watched Bella with pure jealousy, enraivada the attention that Jake intended for her, Jessica cold anything to Jake propose marriage to her.

Realizing that Jessica approached, she told Bella: – I have to talk to you - whispered peremptorily grabbing her arm. - Can you meet me later on the lake?

– I do not know Jacob, I stay with my uncle, my aunt Victoria does not like me to stay only there.

– And if he watches could then talk to me? - He asked hopefully.

Bella frowned, confused.

– I suppose, but not for long - answered.

– Ask him to take her to the lake before they left – He asked hastily. – I'll be waiting.

Upon arriving at the lake, Jacob was waiting, leaning against a tree, the young man was speechless for a few seconds, looked at the brooding and tenderly observed every detail of her small, perfect features.

When he finally spoke, his voice was shaky and uncertain, full of emotion.

– Bella - murmured muffled voice - believed that her aunt would refuse? I mean, I believe not consider me good enough to woo her?

– But, Jacob, I have no dowry - responded.

– Ah! Bella, that does not worry me at all. I want you, not what can contribute to marriage.

I could not believe it. There before her was the suitor who never thought they would not have a dowry. But it arrived too late. It was not a virgin. He could never marry a man, tainted as it was.

– Jacob, you know as well as I that his family would never allow me to marry without dowry - he said.

– I will not marry if not with you, Bella, and my family want to have children. And they come very soon.

– Jake, I can not marry you.

The young man frowned.

– Why, Bella? Afraid to sleep with a man? If you approach it, be quiet. Do not touch her ​​until she was ready.

Bella smiled sadly. They gave him patience and love, and was not in a position to accept them. What a great difference there was between the man and the captain Cullen. I could not imagine the captain of Fleetwood being so patient with a woman. It was a real pity that he could not marry Jacob and lead a quiet life in the village. Create your children to that, she was sure, would love both. But it was useless to think about it, because he could no longer be.

– Jake - he added softly and quietly - would do well to do if Jessica. She loves him and would be a good wife.

– Jessica does not know you love - Jake answered sharply. - Always walk behind someone, and now is chasing me. And I wish YOU like my wife Bella and not another.

– I just want to look at you and think of you. Please Bella, I must get her uncle to give me permission to woo her. I can not wait for it to be my wife.

There it was. A request for her hand. Certainly her aunt would prove surprised. But it was too late. Now must convince this young man that he could not marry him. But not to listen. What was she supposed to do tell him the truth? If he did, he would repudiate, and she would feel humiliated.

– Jake, I will not ask my aunt would be willing to allow - explained the girl. - I can not marry you. It would not be fair. I would never be happy here. Do not you see? I grew up in a very different way of it. I'm used to that makes me everything and to get dressed with the most elegant costumes. I can not be happy being the wife of a simple shoemaker.

Jacob's expression made ​​Bella feel the worst person in the world, but knew it was much better that way. Just accept defeat and realize that he had a whole life ahead without it. She watched him with pain as he walked away with halting step, his eyes flooded with tears.

– Oh my God! - She screamed. - I loved her from the first moment I saw her. I thought no more of anyone during the last two years. And now you tell me I'm not good enough for you. You're a wicked woman, Isabella Swan! May God have mercy on your soul!

Jake came out crying faltering steps, barely able to move on. Bella turned and slowly walked to the car. His uncle was watching her. Always watched now. I never cease to do so?

– What happened to the young Jake? - He asked to come down to help her up.

– Asked permission to court me - muttered, settling beside him on the narrow seat. I did not want to discuss it. I felt a knot in his stomach and began to feel unwell.

– And you said no? - Insisted Laurent. Bella nodded slowly. If made ​​a sudden movement, vomit. She shuddered and fell silent. Thank God your uncle remained abstracted in thought, scrutinizing the horizon over the old horse pulled the cart ...