Madeline and Beth wanted to take a look at the contents of the letter, but their father put the message into the pocket of his coat. Mrs. Harris looked at Beth, to ask, "Didn't he give you his name?"
Beth shook her head, "The men I danced with last night had given their name, but none of it had the King's name. I didn't know I danced with him," her brows drew close in thought while trying to remember which out of the lot was the King.
"Maybe he didn't give you his actual name and gave a wrong one to hide who he was?" proposed Madeline because that appeared to be the more probable answer.
"It could be," Mrs. Harris agreed, "Good job, Beth," she couldn't tell how happy she was that Beth was able to gain their King's attention where the man had gone as far as to place a lunch to eat with them. It was a privilege to a family like theirs who had nothing to offer.
When both Mr. and Mrs. Harris retired to their room, the man couldn't help but go through the letter that had the King's seal on it. The letter had mentioned about the King being pleased by his daughter, but there was no mention of which daughter he had danced with. Somewhere it worried him with the thought that the King wasn't speaking about his older daughter, but the younger one.
He was holding a small book in his hand, but instead of reading he was staring at it, "What do you think the King wants from us?" asked Mr. Harris to his wife who was closing the windows because the night had turned cold and they didn't have enough logs of wood to use as they had to use it sparingly.
"Beth caught his attention. He might want to know about us, and maybe if things went well, he would ask for her hand in marriage," answered Mrs. Harris coming to sit on the bed, "What is it? Are you not happy about it?" his wife asked, looking at the pensive expression on his face.
Mr. Harris sighed.
"No, it is not that I am not happy about it. But the King didn't mention which of our daughter's it was. What if it is Madeline?" Mr. Harris was not supposed to have favourites, but he had a soft corner for his youngest child, knowing well how she was often shadowed under Beth's presence. But at the same time, it was what Madeline liked.
"Madeline barely danced with anyone. You and I saw her standing at the wall without talking to anyone," Mrs. Harris reasoned with her husband, "And even if the King is speaking about Madeline, we can always decline by saying she is going to be engaged soon."
The man gave his wife a look, "The King is no fool. He will find the lie the moment you utter about it."
"It isn't a lie. Madeline mentioned about Mr. Heathcliff's interest in her."
"The dressmaker?" asked Mr. Harris, "Why am I hearing this now?"
Mrs. Harris smiled. Getting into the bed, she fluffed the blanket and put it over her legs, "I heard about it today. Mr. Heathcliff is a good man, and he suits her," she said to him, "Madeline prefers a simple life, unlike Beth. If the King asks we will tell him that we have promised her hand to Mr. Heathcliff as they like each other."
When the next day arrived, the Harris family didn't have time to pick up dresses from the shop, therefore they wore the best clothes that they owned. With Beth who had woken up early to dress and look pretty, she had the top of her black hair tied while the rest was left open.
Beth had later tied Madeline's hair similar to how she had done hers, combing her sister's blonde hair to finally say, "Everything done," Madeline could tell that Beth was in a perfect mood. Her sister had wanted to see the King, and now he wanted to see her and her family.
Madeline didn't know if it was good news that they had been invited to have lunch with the King as not everyone had the luck to share a meal at the same table as the King, as he was someone of the highest standing in their lands. Beth was eager, so it was alright, thought Madeline to herself.
Once they were ready, Madeline was the first one to step out of the room. Hearing her father ask for a glass of water, who was sitting in the hall, she quickly went to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water and returned to her father's side.
Mr. Harris noticing his younger daughter who had dressed similar to Beth, after a sip, he said, "The weather outside is windy. Your hair will be all over your face and will need to be combed again," Madeline was blossoming slowly, and Mr. Harris knew one day his youngest daughter would surpass her elder sister in terms of beauty, "Maybe tying it will avoid the need to comb again."
Madeline smiled at her father, "Yes, papa."
The carriage from the castle had arrived to pick them, and Mrs. Harris was the one who shouted, "It is here. Come on, everyone!" she made sure her hat that seated on top of her head was tied with the satin ribbon that went to be tied under her chin. Madeline was the first one to step out of the house with her hair that was braided and tied securely.
Her father, who saw her place a kiss on the side of her temple. Madeline was young, and he felt the need to protect her, just so that the King wouldn't look at her but would focus his attention on Beth who looked like a doll when she stepped out their house. Having spent enough time in the circle of the posh people in the other towns, Beth knew how to carry herself like one of the social elites.
Mrs. Harris was quick to lock the front doors of their house, and the family stepped inside the carriage that was made of rich wood and metal that shined without a speck of rust on it.
It had attracted and gathered attention from their neighbours and people who were walking past their house, making them wonder what the carriage that belonged to the castle was doing here.
The carriage finally started to move, to travel to the castle.
Frances Harris sat in the carriage with her family, a carriage that was sent from the castle to pick them up. She had been married to her husband Mr. Harris for many years, a marriage she was happy with even though the neighbourhood they lived in was in poverty.
Though she told herself to be content about what life had given her, she couldn't help but hope that her daughters would be married into a better house condition that what they were in. She had been looking outside the little oval window of the carriage when she heard her elder daughter Beth ask Madeline, her younger daughter,
"Why did you tie your hair?" Beth looked at her sister with a small frown.
"It is too windy today. I was worried where my hair would be all over the place. You know how hard it is to brush my hair again," Madeline smiled at her sister's words, "Do I look so bad?" she asked looking at herself from the reflection of the window.
"You look fine, Madeline. I just thought you looked better with your hair, half-open," replied Beth. Beth couldn't stop but make sure that she was looking good and Mrs. Harris could see the eagerness in her daughter's eyes.
One would think of her badly if they were to know that she often pushed Beth forward for marriage, but there was a reason for it. While Beth enjoyed the luxury being a rich man's wife, Madeline didn't share the same interest as her. Though Mrs. Harris would love nothing but have Madeline pursue her elder sister's footsteps, she didn't want to force it upon her.
Mrs. Harris had a sister who had been first in line for marriage. Her parents had given her hand to a wealthy man, but things had not gone well. In two years, her sister was found in the river as she had committed suicide. Unable to cope with the sudden changes of the living style. God forbid, she wouldn't want something like that to her daughters.
Beth was more ambitious when it came to placing herself a better man's attention on her. She wished to live in a mansion, buy expensive items and move in the high society. She craved and dreamt for it, and her mother noticed it.
Though the letter had not mentioned which daughter of theirs did the King fancy, Mrs. Harris had taken it was Beth as she had been dancing all night while Madeline had been the wallflower who wouldn't have taken the initiative to look for a dance.
"Now, girls. Make sure you are at your best behaviour in front of the King," said Mrs. Harris.
The carriage continued to ride the same distance and maybe a little faster than the carriage they had hired for the ball. Madeline's eyes traced the edges of the carriage from inside, noticing how the wood was carved and given importance like a door. The cushion they sat on was the softest they had ever had the pleasure to sit in, and it was much more spacious. It made her wonder how the King's own, personal carriage would be if the carriage they were using was like this.
When they finally arrived at the castle, the Harris' family stepped down from the carriage to stand in front of the castle's entrance. Now that it was day, one could tell that the castle was more prominent than they had seen during the time of night which was covered in shadows.
A servant man stood outside waiting for them, "Please follow me," the man bowed his head and started to walk inside the castle.
Madeline, who was walking behind with her sister Beth looked at the walls that were painted white in colour. The chandeliers continued to hang up in the ceiling, this time without lit candles. There were paintings up in the ceiling which Madeline had not realized during the Grand ball.
"How many people do you think live here," her mother whispered to her father who couldn't stop looking at the walls and their surrounding in awe. Madeline herself was surprised that the night they were here, she had failed to capture the beauty of the mansion.
As they continued to walk further and further inside the castle, Madeline noticed her mother, who had been speaking earlier now had turned quiet, her hand holding her father's hand as if for courage.
Madeline herself walked apprehensively, not knowing where exactly the servant was leading them.
They were finally taken to double doors of carved wood, that was pushed in for them to step inside the room.
"Please take your seat here and the King will see you soon," said the servant bowing his head and leaving the four of them alone in the room.
The door was soon pushed forward and in came a man who was tall and fairly good looking. He had brown hair that was combed to the side, his eyes red that had everyone look at him and they bowed.
"I am Theodore Chauncey, the King's close attendant," said the man with a polite smile, looking at each one of the Harris' family, "Please sit," he offered by waving his hand towards the chairs.
"Thank you, Mr. Chauncey," her father was the one to reply for the kindness offered to them and they moved to take their seats next to each other.
"I hope you didn't have any trouble on your way here," asked Mr. Chauncey and they all shook their head.
Mr. Harris said, "Thank you for sending the carriage for us. We had a pleasant ride."
"It's good to hear that you had a safe trip."
When the double door to the room opened again, Madeline who was sitting with her back facing against the door heard Mr. Chauncey say,
"Milord," she saw the man who was with them bend and she quickly turned around along with Beth to bow her head and offer her respect to the man.
Madeline spent a second more before she raised her head to look up at the person.
Her eyes had started from the expensive shoe that covered his feet that moved up to the sumptuous looking clothes that was on his body before her eyes fell on the man.
When Madeline had imagined about the King, she had thought about a man somewhere in his late forties but she should have known better.
This person here had his pitch-black hair was combed back, his cheekbones defined and his lips were pale pink in colour. His shoulders were broad that wasn't covered with a coat as she had imagined. Blood red eyes under his eyebrows that were looked as if they were slightly raised to demand attention while exuding the status that he owned.
When her eyes met his, there was something very dangerous that lurked in his eyes and he offered a charming smile.
The King was here.
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