章節 19: Doubting the invitation
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.
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