“Edward I already told you, I want it!” I stood facing him in the lane, my hair whipping around my face as if my anger was causing it to move for effect. “You’re not being selfish; it’s the best thing! My parents are dead, my friends have left me, you’re all I have left, and I would do anything to be with you forever!” I was vaguely aware of a young man and his escorts on the main road as I stared deep into Edward’s eyes, trying to convey the importance of my desire.

“Lady Bella, you must understand that it is against mine and my father’s morals to change someone when they are not on their deathbed-,” I cut him off by kissing him then, not caring that the travelers would be dreaming up something scandalous.

“So put me on my deathbed then,” I whispered as I drew back, and I looked over my shoulder to see if the travelers were gawking or not. His escorts had kept going, but the young man sat on his horse with an expression of pure anguish. His hair was the exact same color as Lady Rosalie’s…

“I do hope you know that if you refuse to do it tonight I will be going straight to Lord Carlisle anyways,” I informed Sir Edward before turning on my heel, picking up my indigo skirts and marching straight back to the castle, a smirk upon my face.

The next day:

Jasper POV:

“May we please extend a visit to the Brandons, Father?” I asked politely as I bowed in front of Sir Howard of Whitlock’s throne.

“Pray tell have I not told you the answer before? No, Jasper, I would like you to stay with your family whilst you are home from Sir James’ manor, and that is final.”

I sighed inwardly and rose to my feet, “Very well then, Sir, I shall see you at dinner.” I turned and walked out of the hall and up the stairs to my room, where I took a seat at my writing desk and pulled out pen, ink and parchment. I had to speak to her through the written word, at least.

To my dearest Lady Mary Alice of Brandon,

I have not long to write you, but I had to contact you somehow, for I daresay I miss you terribly. Each second we must face apart I wish was a joyous hour spent together. But alas, my father will not be so willing as to travel the three days’ journey to your fief, and he forbids that I go alone. Just because I am home from my master’s fief, he says, does not mean I can have leave to visit you whenever I so desire. Only wait until I am knighted, fair Lady, and then we may be together. O how I long for that day! Only a year’s more time… O but something I have seen as of late has made me pine for you even more; my heart aches terribly to hold you in my arms! Just yesterday, on my way back home, I saw a young couple quarreling just off the main road, on the way to Cullen Castle, where you know the youthful Lord Carlisle and Lady Esme reside with their three children. As I was saying, the man of this couple looked to be Sir Edward of Cullen, whom we are both acquainted with and who has recently been knighted. The woman, however, I did not know. She had long mahogany hair and vivid brown eyes, and in the middle of their quarrel she looked up, then suddenly kissed Sir Edward full on the lips, with such passion I nearly cried out in agony as the thought of you, always an incessant dull ache, pierced me right through the heart. If I cannot come to visit you, I extend an invitation to you and your family to travel here and stay a few days. I will have Father send a formal invitation. Perhaps he will write the Cullens as well, and that mystery girl.