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1.84% The Crown's Obsession / Chapter 16: Suitor at house

Capítulo 16: Suitor at house

When she fell asleep, Madeline found herself back in the castle—walking in the empty corridors that were not restricted by any guards. There was no one there but her. She could hear the sounds of the crickets coming from the garden as she walked on the clean cold floor. There were no shoes on her feet, and her footsteps made no noise.

Madeline was in the beige dress that she had worn for the ball, the ends of it trailing behind her. She continued to walk until she came upon a door that was slightly ajar. She pushed the door and stepped into the big room that had large windows with grills that were built in designs. The night outside was cloudy, hiding the stars and moon behind it and when she turned to look to her right, she saw a man stand.

His silhouette was lonely because of the lack of company next to him.

"Hello?" Madeline called the man, wanting to go back home.

As if on hearing her, the man turned around to look at her, "Wandering by yourself again?" asked the deep voice, and she recognized this voice.

When a thunderstruck in the sky, Madeline's eyes flew open and she looked up at the wooden ceiling of the room.

She could feel her heart beating in her chest over the dream she just dreamt a few seconds ago. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness in the room where she could see things much more clearly now.

Turning her head, she noticed her sister Beth was asleep. In her very own dreamland which Madeline believed was less haunting than what she had experienced. It seemed that the halls of the castle had come back to her because of what happened. Those eyes that had looked at her were dark red, keeping her captive.

Madeline had grown under the shadow of her sister which was why she was not used to the attention she had received tonight. At least not so intensely. She didn't mind the shadow because it gave her more room to breathe.

Like what happened in the ball today while both she and Beth were dancing, Madeline observed the already known facts about her elder sister. Beth enjoyed and basked in the limelight. She loved the attention she received, but that was how she had grown up, unlike Madeline who had received less attention. Beth liked being hovered and asked, to be given importance even when it came to her sister and Madeline didn't mind it. She let her do what she wanted, not wanting to upset her sister.

When the next day arrived, as expected, Beth had a visitor who had come looking for her and Mrs. Harris got the man to sit in the hall of their house and Beth was seated opposite to him. Though she was not dressed in a gown like last night, she still looked stunning compared to the pale walls and furniture that the family-owned.

Mr. Harris had gone out to work while Mrs. Harris and Madeline were in the kitchen with the doors closed. The older woman stood next to the door listening to them.

"I think Mr. Danvers likes her very much," said Mrs. Harris, moving away from the door with a pleased look on her face. Beth had indeed done an excellent job in finding a good man. The woman somewhat felt relieved that the money they had used for the clothes and the carriage along with the coachman would be covered. At least it didn't go waste, thought Mrs. Harris.

"Anyone will fall in love with Beth, mama. You don't have to worry about it," said Madeline picking up a fruit from the basket and taking a bite from it.

"That is true. If Beth gets married, it won't be difficult when it comes to your wedding. Who was that man yesterday?"

"Mr. Hanes?" asked Madeline.

"Yes, yes. That one. How did it go last night?" asked her mother, curious.

"He knew how to dance," Madeline said with a thoughtful expression, "And that is all it was," her mother gave out a sigh.

"You should put yourself out there more, Madeline. Do you know Mrs. Boyers' daughter is still unmarried. A spinster's life and no one wants to marry her because of how she looks," her mother shook her head.

"Mama, you worry for nothing. Your daughter won't die alone."

"Really?" came a sign of hope in Mrs. Harris eyes, who asked, "Did a gentleman ask you to dance then? Perhaps invite you for tea?"

Madeline pursed her lips, her foot tapping softly and she said, "I was thinking about Mr. Heathcliff," she noticed her mother's eyebrows furrowing. It wasn't that Madeline was in love with the man, but she found him to be nice.

"James Heathcliff?" her mother verified.

She smiled, "Yes. James Heathcliff. He asked me to accompany him in one of the following days. He is a good man." She liked the man for his simplicity, and he indeed was one of the few decent looking men in their village.

"Isn't he going out with Lady Catherine? Well, he is a good looking man," her mother agreed, "I did not know you fancied him. When are you going to meet him?" asked her mother, and Madeline smiled at the thought that her mother approved of Mr. Heathcliff.

"I am not sure about it. I refused him as Beth and I are going out to Aunt's house-"

"Why would you do that?" her mother asked with her eyes wide, her hand on one side of her waist.

"Because Beth will need-"

"Beth will be fine. She can take care of herself," said Mrs. Harris. Madeline wasn't as expressive as her elder daughter and if she liked someone decent, Mrs. Harris didn't see any harm in it. Beth would be getting married in a wealthy household while Madeline would be in a kind and humble home. It was also what would suit Madeline in a good way, "You can go meet him but not too far. Your father and I would want you to be happy."

"What will I tell Beth?" asked Madeline as she had promised to go with her.

"I will tell her that you have an errand to complete," that would be better, thought Madeline to herself. She didn't know what Beth would say, especially when she had looked down upon Mr. Heathcliff's profession.


Capítulo 17: The order

Seeing Mr. Danver speaking to Beth for more than an hour now, Madeline decided to slip out of the house with dresses in her hand. Walking up to the shop, she saw Mr. Heathcliff, who was taking the measurements of a brunette woman who had come to stitch a dress. She waited until the woman finally left to be noticed by Mr. Heathcliif.

"Good afternoon, Miss Madeline," he greeted with a smile forming on his lips.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Heathcliff," she greeted back with a polite smile, "I came to return the dresses borrowed," she said that she had carried from her home to give it back. The man took the bag and then handed it to his assistant, "You can check for any wear and tear, but there's none," she assured him.

Mr. Heathcliff said, "I believe you. I don't know if I said this, but you looked beautiful last night," he did tell her, but Madeline took his compliment.

"It is because of your dress. They just happen to be pretty."

"I doubt as pretty as the girl who wore and brought out its charm," Mr. Heathcliff responded to her spontaneously, and Madeline's cheeks turned warm.

"You are too kind with your compliments, Mr. Heathcliff," she bowed her head in gratitude.

She wondered how to go about in telling him that she was going to be available as she didn't want to appear to be too forward in front of him. But somewhere she wondered if it was Mr. Heathcliif who she wanted to settle with.

Mr. Heathcliff noticed that she wanted to say something and asked, "Is something the matter?"

Madeline shook her head.

It was him who said, "You said you weren't free on Sunday and I failed to ask you, if you could spare some time on Saturday," Madeline blinked her eyes, "I hope I am not coming to be too pushy," he gave out an awkward laugh that had her smile.

"No. I mean, yes, I can make time on Saturday," Mr. Heathcliff gave her a nod.

"Nice. Okay, then."

Madeline gave him a bow, and he returned it, "Have a good day, Mr. Heathcliff."

"Have a good day, Miss Madeline."

Far away from the villages and towns where the forests were thick with trees, the castle stood tall and proud. A place where the lower beings were not allowed to step in and were to only look from afar, they had finally been invited last night to attend the ball of the Hallow, a celebration which was often called as Halloween by the lower class people.

Even though no one had dared to break into the castle, guards stood at every end of the corridor. Servants moved to clean the floor, walls and the ballroom spotless.

In the main room, the King sat with his back against the cushioned throne that was fixed on a raised platform. He sat leaning to his left, one elbow resting on the armrest with his hand that was supported by his index finger. A maid sat down at his throne, massaging his leg with his shoe that was placed on her thigh.

"My King, I assure you the rumours you have heard is untrue," a man had sat down on one of his knees with his head bowed, "It must a falsified statement to put me up against you," the man had a mixture of black and grey hair on his head. A square face that had turned old in time that he appeared to look in his fifties. Four men stood behind him, his trusted men,

The man then looked up at the King who was looking at him with, unsmilingly,

"There must be many enemies of yours to spread rumours like that," said Calhoun with a leisure tone and he picked up the glass that another maid was holding in her hand, "How unfortunate that an old man is being seen as a threat, Marcel," he hummed, his eyes looking at the man with amusement in his eyes.

Marcel's eyes hardened by the King's words, but he didn't speak a word. Instead, he smiled to have the King smile back at him,

"I am not going to perform treason. Not against your highness who is smart and intelligent-" said the man who got cut off by Calhoun, who said,

"If you and the others understand it, we shouldn't have a problem," said Calhoun with a smile were his lips pulled wide, as if to mock at the man who kneeled in front of him, "But then it makes me question where the rumours spark from. Don't you question it yourself, Marcel?" he moved his finger around the edge of his glass without taking a sip from it.

"Milord, they are trying to set me up. I have no motive to do it," the older man continued to pledge his loyalty.

Calhoun didn't bother to hide his thoughts, and he said, "Only time would tell of how loyal of the man you are, after all, you have been serving the King for far too long. The previous King. Without any intention, of course, I value a subject as yourself," he smiled before raising his hand to dismiss the man.

When the man left, Theodore who had come to stand next to Calhoun, said,

"We caught the man who was helping Marcel in selling information about the military to the next kingdom. Marcel has not only been trading information to dethrone you but he's trying to win the favour of the other lands to replace you."

Calhoun took a sip from the glass, his voice calm, "I hope you are being hospitable with the man," and in the King's words, it meant courting traitors in the dark dungeon who were tied and twisted, tortured to the point where they wanted to die.

"Yes, milord," answered Theodore, "Just as you would want them to be treated. I also received information about the girl and the man you asked."

"Tell me," ordered Calhoun, a glint of interest flashed in his eyes on hearing about the girl he had met.


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