Once they were done washing each other and taking bath in the grand bath, Calhoun wrapped Madeline in a thick towel before helping her out of the water. Wearing fresh clothes, Madeline sat on the dressing table, brushing her hair as they had to go down and meet the rest of the people to have supper.
She saw Calhoun wearing his shirt, and she stepped forward, in front of him and placed her hand on his.
“Let me do it,” she said in a soft voice and his hand fell to his sides. “In the past, before things changed, I always wanted to do things for my husband.”
“And what is that?” he questioned. With her eyes on the button, Madeline’s hands started to button his shirt from the middle.
“I knew I would not end up marrying a Duke or a man who belonged to the high status. My dreams were simple, Cal,” said Madeline.
“Why did you think that? You are more beautiful than your sister Elizabeth,” stated Calhoun, “To tell you the truth, I was quite glad when I heard that you were unmarried.” It would have been a difficult situation if Madeline was actually betrothed to another man.
Madeline smiled at Calhoun’s words, “I did tell that I was content with a simple life. From where I come, we have, maybe one maid which is also rare. There are no people to help us wear clothes or have a cushion placed on the place where we walk.” At the same time, she realized how Calhoun initially didn’t belong to this world. His life was dire while hers had been peaceful. “I wanted to cook for my husband, wait for him when he goes out… things like those,” she left the top two buttons untouched and she dropped her hand to her side.
“If that is what your heart craves for, you can still do it,” Calhoun kissed her forehead, “You don’t have to think what others will perceive you as. People have the tendency to follow things that are done by the people of higher status, and that in itself turns out to be true. I doubt people would even dare to breathe a word about you.”
Madeline knew that. The last time the maids had spoken ill about her, Calhoun had beheaded them. It felt like weeks had passed since that happened.
“I will do it then…” Madeline whispered and Calhoun offered her a smile. Now that both of them were in a presentable state, they left the room to go down to the dining room to join others.
After supper, Madeline went to visit Beth who continued to stay in her unconscious state. While she stood against the wall, staring at her sister, the door was knocked and in came Raphael, who bowed his head at her in greeting.
“You should go and have some rest, milady. I will be here to watch over her,” offered Raphael, and Madeline felt grateful towards him.
“Thank you for looking after her, Mr. Sparrow,” she thanked him in a low voice so that it wouldn’t disturb Beth.
Madeline wondered what Raphael saw in Beth. Was it like other men who fell for her beauty or was it more than that?
“It is the least I can do,” answered Raphael, “Calhoun said he might be late. He left to go to Cossington.”
“Is everything alright?” asked Madeline and the man nodded his head.
“They are just following some of the protocols. There’s nothing to worry about,” assured Raphael, and Madeline gave him a nod.
Away from the castle, Calhoun’s wings flapped on his back as he flew in the sky. The snow had stopped and it made it easier for him to fly, camouflaging himself in the background of the dark clouds. His wings continued to flap, and he looked down at the land below him and his eyes caught sight of a carriage that had tumbled down. Flying close to the ground, Calhoun landed with a loud thump, his black wings raising the snow around him before it fell back on the ground.
As he thought, people in the High House weren’t fast enough when it came to finding things or people. With the incident that took place post morning, he doubted they would be able to find the carriage this soon. Making his way towards the carriage, the wings behind his back disappeared and he looked at the coachman who had a broken neck with his eyes open. The man was dead.
Calhoun then pulled open the door of the carriage to find Weasley lying there unconscious, who was dead.
“How unfortunate,” murmured Calhoun.
He pulled out a cigar from his pocket, placing it on his lips before lighting it with a matchstick. After using the lit matchstick, he threw it on the top of the carriage which was made of wood. He took a puff from the cigar, his cheeks turning slightly hollow and he blew the smoke through his lips. He looked around the forest that was on either side of the tumbled carriage, which was now catching fire.
When he heard the carriage creak, Calhoun didn’t bother to turn around.
“You know,” came the voice behind Calhoun, and the King took a long puff before breathing the air out.
“It wasn’t too hard,” said Calhoun, and his head turned to look at Weasley who stared at Calhoun. “Being a demon, we all know it takes time to kill one another. When you didn’t come to report, it wasn’t too hard to guess that you are involved in it.”
Weasley walked around the carriage that had lit up, coming around to stand in front of Calhoun, “You were going to burn me.”
Calhoun pulled the cigar from his lips, and said, “I didn’t see the point to keep a man who is disloyal. I would have not suspected you if it weren’t for the bitch who left you in the carriage. Though, I have to ask, didn’t you feel lonely in here, all by yourself?”
Weasley, who stood quietly raised his hand to attack Calhoun by using his demon ability, but Calhoun raised his hand to deflect the attack.
“I had company,” replied Weasley, and the demons who had been hiding behind the trees like shadows until then, stepped out.
Calhoun dropped the cigar on the ground before trampling it with his shoe which was quick to exhaust because of the ice on the ground. He said, “So I can see.”
