She felt as if the air was knocked out of her body when Calhoun squeezed her thigh, but that wasn’t all that happened. Her stomach turned differently, and it made her curl her toes, drawing her feet closer together behind the chair while her mind was focused on Calhoun’s hand.
Turning her head to look at him, Madeline whispered, “What are you doing?”
Calhoun turned to look at her with a calm expression, “Eating? It would be best if you ate too, than letting your eyes roam around the table,” he took a bite from the meat, his eyes staring deep into her brown ones.
She had only made eye contact with James and Calhoun was jealous with the simple action of hers that didn’t even mean anything, “Let go,” she gave him a sweet smile.
“What?” Calhoun asked with a louder voice, and Madeline could feel heat reach her cheeks. Some people at the table turned to look at them. Madeline took a bite from her fork so that there was no food on it and then looked at his hand, “Are you thinking to stab my hand?” he asked. Saying this, his hand moved up on her thigh, and his fingers in between her legs that made her gulp. Calhoun was being utterly shameless in the public while they were sitting with everyone in the round table.
Madeline didn’t answer his question as she had moved her hand away from the table and went straight to stab his hand with the ends of the fork. Just before the sharp ends of the fork could pierce through the back of his hand, the cutlery turned to a handful of petals in her hand.
She blinked, looking down to see petals of red rose that had appeared in her hand out of nowhere. Where did the fork go?! He suddenly held her hand that crashed into his, “People are going to notice!” she sent a glare at him, “Can’t you be normal.”
“You want normal?” asked Calhoun, his voice low and Madeline didn’t know if she pushed the wrong button, “Are you scared, if James will find out what we are doing under the table?” and Madeline tried to pull away her hand from his hold. Calhoun then let go of her hand to pick up an empty glass and hit it with the fork.
The glass clinked and the sound made everyone turn their attention to Calhoun, “I have an announcement to make for everyone. This lovely lady you see here, Madeline Harris. She hasn’t accompanied me here because I am bored but because I will be marrying her in less than a month. I have already spoken to her parents, and they have decided to give us their blessings,” Madeline’s mouth fell listening to his words, “Right now the news had not been made public, and you are the first ones to hear it. Madeline thought it was only right to let everyone know about it and I agree with her words. I wouldn’t want any man looking at my future wife in a wrong way,” Calhoun said, his eyes sweeping around the table, to pause when it met James’ eyes.
Madeline’s eyes quickly moved between Calhoun and James before it came to settle on Calhoun. The people around the table looked gobsmacked like Madeline. They hadn’t expected the King to drop news about him getting married.
Calhoun then continued, “That would mean no disrespect about where she comes from. I expect every single person to show respect towards her unless you don’t love your head,” said the vampire with a broad smile to show his sharp fangs. His eyes then moved at the man who had commented about Madeline’s status, “Madeline will be your future Queen,” he declared.
Everyone suddenly stood up, chairs screeching as they bowed down to the lady, and Madeline sat there like a statue.
Her eyes met James; they didn’t give away any expression as his face looked blank.
When lunch was over, more people wanted to talk to Madeline and make her their acquaintance. The same people who didn’t care to give her a look and were looking down at her now wanted to know more about her. She was overwhelmed with the attention she received right now, and she tried to keep up a smile on her face, conversing with them, when in truth she didn’t want to be around these people who were trying to win her favour.
Calhoun was talking to a man on the side, and she noticed they stepped out of the room. A minute later, Madeline excused herself.
“Lady Madeline.”
Madeline turned at the voice to see it was Lady Catherine. James was not with her, and the woman walked towards her. Madeline bowed her head, but Lady Catherine quickly bowed her head deeper. She observed how from being addressed as Ms. Harris, the vampiress had moved to ‘Lady Madeline’.
“Are you looking for the powder room?” asked Lady Catherine, “I was going there myself,” and Madeline walked next to the young vampiress.
“Thank you for taking me there. I was going to look for a maid or someone who could point me in the direction,” confessed Madeline.
“I am glad to be of your help,” Lady Catherine smiled and Madeline found it strange, how the demeanour of the lady changed since the time at the table.
As they changed two corridors, Lady Catherine said, “I would have never guessed that the King was going to take you as his wife. I mean, I never would have guessed that you knew each other. Just between us girls, how did you meet him? How did it all start?” questioned the girl eagerly.
“We met at the ball,” answered Madeline and Lady Catherine clapped both her hands.
“How romantic! I can tell that you are a fortunate girl,” chimed Lady Catherine and Madeline gave her a tight smile, “I must confess something to you. I thought you were into James because there have been times when he has brought up about you in our conversation. But this is such a relief now, to know that you are with the King,” she softly giggled.
Lady Catherine was the first one to enter the powder room and also the first to leave, leaving Madeline alone in the room. She looked at her reflection in the oval mirror that hung on the wall. She now understood Lady Catherine’s hostile behaviour towards her. It was because both of them liked James.
Before Madeline had the opportunity to get up from the chair she was sitting on, in front of the mirror, the door to the room opened, and she turned around to see James who had stepped inside.
“You shouldn’t be here. Please leave,” said Madeline because the room was used by women and not by men. If someone were to enter the room now, it would be a big scandal. James closed the door shut and locked it for Madeline to look at him alarmed.
James was asking for a death wish, and Madeline was going to be the next, “Open the door!”
“I will, once I finish talking to you,” he said to her.
“We can do that outside. Please,” she pleaded because she could feel the stress getting to her.
“He won’t let us have a conversation.”
“He will kill you and me if he finds us here like this,” she said, staring at him.
“Tell me, why did you refuse to accept that you wrote the letter to me. Are you scared of the King?” asked James.
Madeline felt nervous, and she kept looking at the door and then James. Calhoun was crazy, but James was crazier to think they could have a conversation in here!
She closed her eyes, parting her lips to say, “I didn’t write that letter.”
“What?” asked James surprised.
“That day, I didn’t get the chance to clear about it. Please unlock the door and leave, James. Lady Catherine is a good woman. She loves you, and she will keep you happy.” Madeline didn’t know what to say because Calhoun had declared in front of everyone that she was going to be his wife. And here, James was with Lady Catherine.
James furrowed his brows, “You don’t mean it.”
“I do,” she nodded her head. Madeline wanted her freedom, but that didn’t mean she would risk James’ life for it.
“If you think there’s something between Lady Catherine and me, there’s nothing,” assured James, “I-“
The door opened, and Calhoun entered the room, even though James had earlier locked the door.
