章節 29: Troubled maids
During the time of the evening, in the King's room which was built lavish with a fine taste of woods and walls that were covered in paintings, the fire crackled in the fireplace. Calhoun had got back to his room after talking to the ministers in the courtroom. His hand reached for the lace of the red robe that he wore right now, pulling it free that fell on his feet.
Walking towards the bath that was built like a pool inside the room with pillars and candles burning around the room, he stepped inside the bath until he was completely immersed in the water by falling back slowly. He then got out with his body leaning back and his hands pushing his hair back that clenched the muscles on his back.
Water dripped down from every inch of his body. The droplets of water fell from the ends of his hair to fall on his neck and, sliding on his back where his body was inked with black markings. The marking started from the sides of his shoulders that moved down to his waist, where his body tapered into the water he was in.
Calhoun's features looked stronger with the touch of water on his skin and hair as it darkened his eyebrows and his eyes looked almost black because of the less lit light in the room. He was still in there when the man who had shown the lady her way to the maid entered the room Calhoun was in.
"Milord," the man bowed his head without looking at the King who was bathing with his back facing towards him, "I have got the dining room set in the garden-"
"Cancel it," ordered Calhoun, his eyes staring at the long grilled windows that were opaque and dull white in colour that indicated the age of this room and castle. The short man had a look of surprise on his face but he didn't question the King with the sudden change of venue as it was Calhoun who had ordered him to set up the table, "We will be having dinner in my room."
"Yes, my King," the man bowed his head.
"Did you assign the maids to tend Madeline?" asked Calhoun, moving to one side of the water fountain that was built at the sides of the pool.
"I had Nicola assign three more maids to tend to the lady b-but..." he trailed not knowing how to say it.
"What is it?" Calhoun snapped not liking to be left hanging.
The servant wrung his hands together, "There has been some trouble in helping the lady as she is not letting anyone touch her. She is not changing her clothes into what you have sent."
Calhoun's lips pulled up and he laughed hearing this. He didn't think it would be easy which was why he was going to enjoy having Madeline next to him. Reaching the fountain, the water fell on him and he helped himself while the man stood nervous of what the King had in his mind. Once the King stepped out of the bath with his full glory, the servant continued to bow his head and keep his eyes on the floor to not shred his little self-esteem that was still there after seeing the King step out like a devil from a hot steam-filled bath.
A maid who was waiting at the side walked to the King to wipe his wet body with a towel in her hand.
The maid made sure to dry every part of the King's body except for his hair as she couldn't reach. When she was done, she brought a fresh robe for him to wear.
In the same quarters where the King's room was, not far away was the room where Madeline refused to wear the dress that was placed on the bed.
"Milady, please step into the bath so that we can dress you," one of the maids tried requesting the lady they were assigned to wash and dress but the person was stubborn enough to not move from where she sat right now.
"The dinner is going to be in less than an hour-"
"Tell the King that I won't be joining him for dinner. That I have no interest to share a meal with him!" said Madeline looking at the wall, "You can go dress him."
The maids looked at each other, the lady was being difficult and didn't know the trouble she was causing them. Madeline was angry for Calhoun keeping her here against her will. There was something very dangerous with the way he spoke to her even though he had tried to be polite. She couldn't get her mind off with what happened in the court.
Madeline had met Calhoun Hawthrone during the time of the Grand Ball. He had trapped her against the wall as if taunting and teasing her before letting her go which was only for a very short duration. She was no fool to believe his words of lies. Apart from the clothes that were already present in the room, he had sent a dress for her to wear and join him for dinner. He must have lost his mind if he thought she would agree, thought Madeline to herself.
"The King won't be pleased that we weren't able to help," said another maid.
She heard one of the maids whisper to another, "She's going to put us in trouble for no reason. Can't she be reasonable?"
"Ssh," another shushed so that the lady wouldn't hear it.
"He's going to have our heads off," the maid continued to complain before looking at the lady. Had the girl not met the King and not know what he was capable of?!
Madeline's hand clutched the side of the bed where she had been sitting on the edge. She didn't understand why she was placed in such a compromising position. She knew to the maids she appeared to be unreasonable, but she was unable to accept the fact that she was held here against her will. At the same time, the maid who was named Nicola arrived at the room to see the maids who stood in front of the King's guest who had not even started to change her clothes.
"Milady," Nicola bowed her head and dismissed the maids who were in the room to step outside, "The King has arranged to have dinner with you in his room and he expects you to be there. I hope you won't cause trouble for yourself. You wouldn't want to anger him, he has quite a temper, you wouldn't want him coming and dressing you himself."
Giving some thought to what the maid said, Madeline finally stood up to hear the maid say, "Thank you."
Madeline was washed and cleaned as she had never been before. Her hair was brushed and pulled to be tied, her body being adorned with layers of clothes on her body. She wasn't used to this attention and it had turned her body rigid. The corset under her clothes had been pulled making her wince and made it difficult to breathe freely.
When she was ready, she was lead to the King's room which she realized wasn't too far away from the room she was given to.
The surface of the door was knocked by the maid who had led her there, to announce,
"Milord, Lady Madeline is here."
The maid pushed the door but didn't step in, her head bowed down. Madeline could feel her nerves turning errant with every step she took inside the room. When the door closed behind her, Madeline couldn't handle the pressure in the air and she quickly turned around ready to step out when a hand fell on the door to close it back,
"Where do you think you're going?"
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