When the Harris' family got back to their home, Beth, who was more than angry, was the first one to step out of the carriage. Without waiting for anyone, she headed straight into the house and went to her room. Her door closing with a loud bang that had both Mr. and Mrs. Harris look at each other worried.
Their daughter had not spoken a word in the carriage, and neither did they as they were worried about their younger daughter, Madeline who had been ordered by the King to stay in the castle from now onwards.
"What are we going to do?" asked Mrs. Harris in a shaky voice, the carriage rode away from the front of their humble house.
Mr. Harris had no answer right now as the person they were dealing with wasn't anyone but the King of their lands, "I will try to talk to Frances and see if she can try to persuade him." But, there was doubt in his voice as he was unsure and uncertain that the King would let his dear daughter return back home.
Mrs. Harris nodded her head, her eyebrows drawn together with wrinkles on her forehead, "Yes, that is one way to do it. You don't think he will hurt her, will he?" she asked in the end. Madeline was different compared to their elder daughter Beth, who would have agreed to do anything the King would ask upon, but the same couldn't be told when it came to Madeline.
They stepped inside their house, locking the doors from inside before walking forward into the small hall of their home, "Let us hope she is safe."
Beth had changed her clothes, but she was yet to remove the pins she had placed in her hair.
She came out to get a glass of water for herself. Going to the table and pouring herself a glass of water before she drank from it while overhearing what her parents were talking about.
"Madeline is a smart girl," said her father, "I am sure no ill will fall upon her."
"She was so unhappy when the King announced that she would have to stay there," said her mother and Beth's hand tightened around the glass, clutching it she heard her mother continue to speak, "Maybe we should find someone else to speak to the King, if Frances is unable to get him to listen to our request. Poor Madeline, she is there all alone now."
Beth didn't want to hear more of it, and she went back to her room. The door, this time almost thundering the house with the way it banged close. She was more than upset that Madeline had taken her place, she had stolen the opportunity right under her nose by telling she was not interested in the life of the castle. She should have known better.
She started to pull the pins around her hair, going to stand in front of the mirror.
She looked at her reflection where the girl in the mirror stared back at her. Eyes that were green and hair that dark in colour. There was no man in this village or nearby town who had never paid attention to her. And when the King had spoken to her the most today, she had believed the King had taken in by her appearance. She took the comb and started to comb her hair angrily before throwing the comb across the room in a rage.
"How could you…" asked Beth, her hands quivering in her anger for what Madeline did.
She had asked Madeline where she was that night during the time of her absence in the ballroom, but instead of telling the truth, she had told nothing had happened. She was her older sister; therefore, she knew something had happened between her and someone, and it so happened that someone was none other than the King.
"I will never forgive you, Madeline. The humiliation you have put me through," everything until the point of the meal at the table, everyone had been led to believe that it was her, but no...it was her sister who had stolen her place in the King's mind.
When the time of morning arrived, Beth woke up to go to the kitchen and help her mother, who was quietly working. She took the vessel of water and placed it on the fire, "How are you doing, mama?" asked Beth to her mother, going to her mother and placing both her hands on her shoulders for comfort.
Her mother shook her head and sighed, "I am worried about, Madeline. I don't even know why the King kept her against her will when we mentioned that she was engaged to Mr. Heathcliff."
Beth, who had her lips pursed together, said, "Why did you pick Mr. Heathcliff's name? He and Maddie barely spoke to each other. They only have exchanged greetings without having an actual conversation with each other. Bringing Mr. Heathcliff in the scene would put him in danger."
"There's nothing wrong in it!" her mother responded to her daughter, "They both like each other and I don't mind them getting married. They were going to meet this Saturday but…" she shook her head.
"Madeline told you that they were meeting?" Beth tried to confirm to receive a nod from her mother.
"Her heart must be broken," murmured her mother before going back to do the kitchen work.
Beth turned around and looked at the window of their kitchen. Her teeth gritted in anger which had still not evaporated. This little information only turned the ire in her more. Until now, Beth and Madeline shared everything with one other. With them being only a year apart in age, they did everything together, and if not done, they were sure to let one another know about what happened.
Madeline was hiding things from her when she was giving out every single information without holding back. She was here in this small house, working in the morning while Madeline would be showered with the luxury of not having to move anything. The King would surely treat her with clothes, jewels, and maids that she had always dreamt about.
Beth went back to her room. Pulling out a parchment, she placed it on the table and pulled out the quill and ink bottle to write a letter.
'Dear James,
I am sending you this letter because I am unable to come to meet you right now. I have been confined to the castle against my wishes. The King wants to marry me, but the only person I want to marry is you. You are the one who holds my heart and mind, I would not like anyone to take it away. Please do not ask my family about this, as they are unable to help me either, as it would mean going against the King's orders. I don't know what to do, therefore, I am sending this letter to you in the hope that you understand in what circumstances I have been placed in.
Yours,
Madeline Harris'
Folding the parchment she neatly placed it inside the envelope and stood up to look at the envelope in her hand. It was time to deliver it, thought Beth to herself.
Beth continued to look at the letter that she had written a minute ago which was now concealed in an envelope. Given that Mr. Heathcliff had never received a letter from Madeline before as they had never written to each other before, Beth found it to be safe to write the letter on behalf of her sister.
If what her mother said was true, this would work just wonderfully. Putting the envelope in her dress, she stepped out of the room.
"Mama, I will be stepping out of the house to go to the central market," informed Beth to her mother who was still in the kitchen. Her mother who noticed her dressed, asked,
"Why are you going to the central market?"
"Madeline happened to leave the gloves here that we took from the shop and forgot to return it. Seems like she was in quite some hurry when she went there," said Beth waving the red gloves in her hands, "I will be back soon," and with that, she left the house to walk to the central market where Mr. Heathcliff's shop was situated at the front.
Her shoes walked towards the shop, and reaching there, she made sure to give the letter to the assistant of Mr. Heathcliff so that he could hand it over to the man along with the gloves, but before she could leave, Mr. Heathcliff arrived at the doorstep.
"Miss Beth," greeted Mr. Heathcliff, looking behind her to see if Madeline had come along with her, but it seemed like it was just the older daughter of the Harris who had come to the shop.
"Mr. Heathcliff," Beth bowed her head, "Madeline forgot to return the gloves, so I came here to give it to you," she saw the assistant hand him the envelope which she had given, "She wished to come here, but she's unable to do it," she added when he read who the letter was from.
The man had a smile on his face, not knowing what the contents were about, thinking it was a love letter sent by the woman he had been trying to court but hadn't done it for so long. Beth who saw the eagerness in his eyes and face decided to burst the bubble herself and said,
"Madeline said to make sure that you received this letter. She was worried about you," said Beth, creating doubt in Mr. Heathcliff's mind.
"I am perfectly fine," the man chuckled but seeing the look on Beth's face, he asked, "Is everything alright?"
Beth pursed her lips, her eyes darting left and right, "You should read the letter she wrote for you…" Mr. Heathcliff's eyebrows drew together in slight worry, and he looked at her before opening the letter she had brought, which was from her younger sister, Madeline.
The man's eyes quickly went to read the letter that was addressed to him, and as if once was not enough, he read the letter one more time. The smile on his lips was gone, and his eyebrows continued to frown.
"I don't understand, Miss Beth," said Mr. Heathcliff, putting the letter down, "I saw her two days ago," Beth nodded to his words, her face sad and her shoulders drooped down, "They can't keep her there against her will!"
"Unfortunately, that is how it is, Mr. Heathcliff. The King refuses to let her leave the castle now, and she is imprisoned there. Unhappy for what has happened because she is in love with you and she said she wanted to have a future with you," she shook her head, her words merely a whisper only for him to hear, "But even though she is sad about it, she will get through it one day. Or maybe never," added Beth, her eyes glancing at the man who had a look of disbelief on his face.
"I will speak to the King. He can't keep her against her will," declared Mr. Heathcliff.
"Don't do it. My parents begged and pleaded and believe me when I say this, Madeline has no interest to live in the castle. But the King won't allow it. He has threatened to kill if any of us try something-"
"That doesn't mean I am going to watch the woman I love and who loves me back to be taken away from me. It doesn't mean I am going to sit here doing nothing, Miss Beth," Mr. Heathcliff clutched the envelope in his hand.
James Heathcliff was one of the man in the village who was a bachelor with a decent status and money. Not to forget he was a handsome man who some of the women were trying to aim for but James had fallen in love with a young woman named Madeline Harris. She was a beautiful woman, her words always polite and her demeanour simple.
He had been wanting and waiting to court her for months, but it was only recently, did he take the courage to ask her, wanting to make sure his feelings were not one-sided.
If Madeline had written and left him this letter for him to read, it only showed how anxious she was right now. It was clear that they both liked each other and the King was forcibly keeping her in the castle when in truth she wished to return back home.
Beth, on the other hand, was glad to see that for what she had come here had turned out just like she had expected. Giving Mr. Heathcliff enough push and knowledge that Madeline was upset and sad.
"Please don't do anything brash," Beth tried to convince him as if she had not come here to rile his feelings for her sister, Madeline.
"Do not worry, Miss Beth. I will make sure no harm falls on your family. There should be a way to change the King's mind," he said thoughtfully.
"I can only hope for my sister to be happy were her happiness lies," replied Beth with a small smile, "I should get going before my mother worries. Thank you," she bowed her head and Mr. Heathcliff bowed his head.
Beth who turned around walked down the streets with a blank expression before a small smile returned on her lips.
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