บท 25: Stealing what is mine
She couldn't believe that this was happening. She didn't want to stay here in the castle, and she wanted to go back home, which was where she rightfully belonged. Madeline could feel her anxiousness bubbling up in her throat, which didn't settle down and could be seen in her eyes.
Her father was unable to go against the King as he was just a man who cut woods and sold it, with no higher authority nor connections like other men who belonged to the higher society where he could try to haggle his time enough to hide his young daughter.
"Mama, please don't listen to him. Please don't leave me here," Madeline said with her eyes turning moist. Her mother shook her head sadly. Mrs. Harris had tried to pursuade the King to agree to bring her home for some more days before she would come to live here, but he had refused it right away.
"Oh, my child," her mother raised both her hands to hold Madeline's face, sorrow in the woman's eyes because she knew it was not what Madeline wanted, "Be strong. We will try to appeal to him again," he didn't listen to them now, why would he listen later?
She shook her head, "I don't want to stay here."
"I know, dear," her mother hugged her, patting her back, "We will speak to your uncle and see what can be done. Do not lose hope. It's only for now, it will turn better," her mother said, pulling away to look at Madeline and she kissed her forehead.
Her father looked defeated, and she didn't want to impose on him, knowing how helpless he was feeling.
She then turned to her sister, Beth, who was quiet since the King had spoken about keeping her here in the castle. She moved herself to stand in front of her sister, holding both Beth's hands in hers,
"Beth, please tell the King that I don't want to live here," said Madeline. She saw her father go console her mother who was troubled, and Madeline looked at Beth who was not looking at her, "He might listen to you, I-"
Beth turned to look at her, annoyed; her eyes brows were crookedly raised. Taking Madeline's hands off her arms, "Isn't this what you wanted?" asked Beth and Madeline looked at her confused, "I know deep down you want to live in a castle, a place where you will not have to work and will be dotted. What are you crying about?"
"What?" Madeline frowned, "You know those things do not matter to me. You know I don't wish for these things, and it is you who-"
"Finally, the truth comes out, isn't it?" Beth accused, her green eyes looking at Madeline with resentfulness, "Aren't you happy that you have earned his favour and interest?"
"Beth!" their mother scolded.
Beth took a step away from Madeline, "If you weren't interested you wouldn't have dolled yourself up for the Hallow here. If you weren't interested you would have refused to go, you would not have spent money on the dress," her words were hurtful to hear, "What are you crying about now?"
"I dressed because I wanted to go along with you. I had no interest to pay dress-"
"Then you should have picked a cheaper dress instead of trying to match others. Do not act innocent with me, Maddie," Beth looked in the eye of her sister, "We are sisters. When I told you that I was trying to persuade the King, you went and did something behind my back. You must have got tired standing behind me, wanting the attention which I would have understood if you didn't take away things like this."
Madeline couldn't believe that her sister thought she was trying to take away what belonged to her, "I would never do something like that to you. You are my sister."
"Why don't you tell how you charmed the King then? He seems more than interested when he could have someone better."
"You're crossing the decency of not understanding that it was never my intention to catch his attention," Madeline responded not liking the way her sister was blaming that it was her fault when she had done nothing.
"Her mother supported her, "Madeline is right, Beth. She would never do anything like that. She didn't have the intention to marry the King. Her interest lies in Mr. Heathcliff."
A dry, empty laugh passed through Beth's lips, "Is that so? Do you know Madeline was away from the ballroom for several minutes? Why don't you ask her where and what she was doing during that time?" Beth had her doubts the moment she had seen her sister missing from the room. She had looked all around but Madeline was nowhere to be seen.
But when her sister did arrive back in the room, she had noticed how flushed her face looked even though she had her mask on.
Mr. and Mrs. Harris turned to look at their two daughters. Madeline clenched her hands which was resting on her sides. Did Beth know what happened?
"She must have gone to look at the castle," said Mr. Harris, "Stop blaming her just because the King didn't shower you with the same attention as her. Do you know how difficult this is for your sister?"
The door of the dining room was knocked to have everyone go silent, and Theodore entered the room, "Your carriage is waiting for you, Mr. and Mrs. Harris, and Miss Beth."
Madeline had to swallow the distress she felt from not only having to stay here, but the sister she loved and cared for had accused her of taking the King's attention for her own.
Beth was the first one to leave who didn't care to say bye to her sister as she was more than upset right now. She had barely slept last night at the thought that the King wanted to meet them because of her but who knew that her little sister had gone behind her back to snatch her happiness.
She was in shock and anger to speak more. Something that was almost promised and was near had been taken away from her, and her sister dared to behave innocent and sad that she was supposed to stay here.
Madeline saw her sister pass through the doors. Her mother and father looked at her, her mother saying,
"We will write you letters, write us back," said her mother placing her hand on Madeline's shoulder and squeezing it gently. Her father only gave her a sad nod before they made through the doors to step out of the dining room, leaving her alone in this golden cage.
บท 26: Friction
Madeline saw her family get inside the same carriage they had come in, the door of the carriage closed and her hands that were on the railings tightened its grip. Standing in front of the closed multicoloured window to see the carriage take off from the castle and she watched until her eyes could trail it and it disappeared.
She was hurt over her sister's words. Madeline knew Beth was aiming for the King, and she never had the intention to pursue him. She was more than happy to settle down as Mr. Heathcliff's wife if he would take her. She had handled her sister delicately all these years, letting her decide what she wanted because Madeline didn't want it. She was more than content with her life, but with this...her sister would forever look at her to be the person who ruined her chance of living the life she dreamed about.
"Lady Madeline," a maid arrived at the dining room, "You have been summoned to meet the King."
Madeline turned her head sideways, "Tell him I need to go home."
The maid looked at the girl who stood with her back, facing her. She had a distressed look as she stood at the door.
The King was in the court had asked the lady to make her presence in front of him, but it seemed like this lady wanted to go home. The maid left the dining room and made her way towards the court where the King was sitting leisurely, talking to the ministers. Her legs shook when his eyes fell behind her.
"M-milord, the lady said she wanted to go home," her eyes didn't dare to look at the man and instead she stared at the ground.
Calhoun's lips twitched hearing this. His eyes looked at the maid, who had her head bowed. He had told that she was going nowhere, but it seemed like she had trouble understanding it.
"Tell her the King commands her to make her presence in front of him. If she disagrees she will have to sleep in my bed," said Calhoun before waving his hand off at the maid and as expected, in a matter of a few minutes, Madeline arrived with the maid.
Her eyes glared at him quietly, and if it were someone else, he would have gouged their eyes out of their face for their impudent behaviour. But this was Madeline, and he didn't mind it. Rather he enjoyed that there was a trait of anger in her, an emotion he was finding to be amusing as he sat there looking at her walk towards where he was.
He could sense the confused expression of the people who surrounded them in the full spacious room.
Madeline was a simple looking girl. If someone were to walk past her, they would have ignored her right away, but he had seen her in that sweet glorious night that he had spent a few minutes with her. He knew there was more than what the surface appeared to the eye when it came to her. He had heard her speak, and saw the way her mask had glided down and shown her face that looked like dewdrops in the morning.
A small smile crept up his lips, looking at her stare back at him.
"Milord," the maid bowed her head, thankful that she was done with the task and she could go back to her work than roam in front of a room full of the night creatures like the King. When the maid peeked up, she saw the King wave his hand for her to leave, his eyes staring at the girl who she had brought here.
Calhoun didn't speak to her, and neither did she. One pair of red eyes looking in amusement and one pair of brown eyes looking back with controlled anger. The room that had been filled with talk of words, discussing the nearest villages economy had turned quiet since the maid arrived with a girl they had never seen before.
"Welcome to Devon, Madeline Harris," he welcomed her, his voice loud and clear in the room.
Madeline stared straight into his eyes from where she was to say, "When am I going back home?"
Calhoun smiled further that unnerved her, but she tried to stand her ground.
He gave her a thoughtful look before saying, "I haven't thought about it yet but not any time soon. You have only arrived at Devon. I am sure you will like it," he smiled at her.
Madeline replied to him with, "I think I have seen plenty."
"I insist that you stay unless you want to hurt your parents. Think about your father. He's growing old and has no helping hand. Having to cut every wood by himself and bring them alone, how difficult," said Calhoun looking at the way her eyes softened at the mention of her father, "Your stay here will guarantee he has a helping hand. A shop of his own, how unfortunate that the daughter wants to rob those things from him," he shook his head as if he were not talking about her.
Madeline knew that he was trying to bargain her with her father's current working condition, but help could be found if asked, "If he needs help Beth and I could help him."
Calhoun's smile slowly fell back, and he tilted his head to the side.
"Do you mean to say that you will help in carrying the wood or chopping them in the forest?" the people who were in the room laughed lightly at the King's words, "I am intrigued to see it. Have someone pick up the wood and axe be brought up here. Let us see the skills that you possess."
Hearing this, her face turned pale. She had told it on a whim but who knew this person was going to make her chop wood in front of everyone?!
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