PS: Super long chapter incoming…
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Mrs. Harris was filled with joy when she had saw her daughter, Madeline standing at the door. Especially with the King not around her daughter, she had thought that either her daughter had run away from the castle or the King had finally let her return home. It had been more than two decades since she was married to Mr. Harris, having two beautiful daughters, that she often found herself imagining to marry them to a wealthy family.
And it seemed like part of her dream had come true, the same which she now found to be dreadful. Mrs. Harris knew both her daughters; after all, she was their mother. Someone who had helped them while growing up while giving them her love and care like any other mother would. When they recieved the invitation from the King to have lunch, like others in her family, she was delighted.
Both her and Mr. Harris had been alright only until the point before the King had ordered Madeline to stay in the castle while the rest could leave. Right now, the older woman wouldn’t even let Beth to marry someone so forceful.
But her happiness was short-lived as the King came to stand in front of her and she bit her tongue.
“Do you sell these?” asked the King as if he hadn’t heard her ask Madeline if she was back home for good.
“No, my King,” Mrs. Harris mustered a smile instead of the frightened expression.
“Please call me, son. It would be odd for my future wife’s mother to address me formally,” Calhoun smiled, knowing exactly what effect his words had on the lady. Out of purpose, he had stepped away from the door, letting Madeline stand there alone, and Mrs. Harris walked straight into the trap he had left.
Madeline’s mother looked queasy and his eyes shined in mischief. She bowed her head, “Forgive me, milord. I wouldn’t want to cause any disrespect towards the King even if the King is going to marry my younger daughter Madeline.”
Madeline turned around to look at Calhoun who had picked up a potato, “We have many more vegetables in the backyard. Mama has always grown them. Sometimes she gives them to our neighbours or other people in the village.”
“What a wonderful mother-in-law I have. Any praises to her would be less,” complimented Calhoun. His words were coated with sugar to please the lady and Madeline.
“Please come in,” her mother invited both of them in, and Madeline waited for Calhoun to first step inside, noticing how her neighbours were trying to catch the sight of the King, “Please take a seat,” her mother offered.
Madeline was happy to see her mother again. She was grateful that Calhoun had agreed to take her to see her family without expecting any favour from her.
“Is there something you would like to drink?” asked Mrs. Harris with her hands folded in the front.
Calhoun took a seat on the chair, and he gave a thoughtful look at the older lady. Unable to resist pushing the buttons, he asked, “I don’t think you might be having blood, would you?”
Mrs. Harris’ hands turned sweaty by hearing the King speak about blood. B-blood? Madeline quickly turned to look at Calhoun, where she was finally getting to know his ways, “The King loves tea, mama,” she answered, and Calhoun’s eyes shifted to look at Madeline before it went back to look at Mrs. Harris.
“Yes, tea would be wonderful,” he chimed. The woman nodded her head and went inside the kitchen, “Why don’t you go and help your mother, Maddie.”
Madeline was not sure why Calhoun was being sweet, letting her talk with her mother without him in the same room. She followed her mother, seeing how her mother picked up the utensil to boil the water under the fire. Going to the old, creaking cupboard, Madeline pulled out the box where the tea powder was usually stored in, and she brought it forward.
“Do you work in the castle?” asked her mother being curious, even though somewhere she knew the answer, she still wanted to know.
Madeline shook her head, “No, mama,” and Mrs. Harris nodded her head.
“Did you come here on some business?” asked her mother, doubting why the King was letting her talk to her daughter much more freely, especially after what she wrote in the note. Something didn’t feel right. She might have been a human, but she was old enough to know that nothing came easily, especially not when one was dealing with a vampire.
Hearing her mother’s question, Madeline didn’t know how to break the news, “We went to visit Mr. Heathcliff’s shop, for some gowns,” said Madeline, not able to bring herself to use ‘wedding gown’ as it sounded strange in her mind. In the back of her mind, she knew that Calhoun was listening to their conversation even though they were in a different room.
“Milord,” Madeline heard Beth’s voice, and she came inside the kitchen to see Madeline, “I thought I heard voices. What brings you here?” Beth’s tone was unwelcoming while she smiled at her younger sister.
“Beth,” said Madeline, a smile instantly rising up on her lips, “We came to see gowns.”
“Must be nice, isn’t it. To live the life of riches,” stated Beth when she came close to stand next to Madeline.
Madeline didn’t know what to say to it. When the tea was prepared, Beth took hold of the tray so that she would be the one to offer the King tea, “Allow me,” said Beth. At the same time, Madeline placed her hand on her mother’s hand. Squeezing it, she smiled that she was doing good.
Mrs. Harris saw her younger daughter smile, and she wondered if what was written in the letter were Madeline’s true feelings. That she was genuinely trying to adjust to the life that she had in the castle. If it was, Mrs. Harris would not ask her daughter to change the path. All she wanted was her daughters being happy. It was all that mattered to her.
The woman had never expected or dreamed of her daughters getting married to someone like the King, but with the way things were heading, she doubted if there was anything that could be done. Mrs. Harris was wise with her age. She knew that for what she had done before, it would have warranted death, but she had been spared because she was Madeline’s mother. She didn’t like the King, but if Madeline was well kept in the castle and happy, like her daughter, she would try to accept it too. Not to forget that her husband now had help. How could one refuse when it was this generous?
Madeline saw her mother was thinking about something, and she asked, “Is everything alright?”
“Yes, my child,” her mother replied, leaning forward to kiss her forehead, “Your father left an hour ago for work. He said he is going to visit the forest with the men.”
“I see. That’s alright. I will come to see him again,” hopefully, added Madeline to herself.
Mrs. Harris then realised something, and she tried to ask as softly as she could, “Did you meet…him?” It took a second for Madeline to understand who her mother was talking about, and she quickly nodded.
“Yes, we did. He seems to be doing well,” answered Madeline. It was James. It was best to keep her answers short and not get too deep on the topic.
Next to the kitchen where the hall was situated, Calhoun had taken the tea from Beth who stood next to him with the tray in her hands. He stared at the tea, without taking a sip. Noticing this, Beth asked,
“Is something wrong, milord?” Beth’s voice came sweeter and more pleasing.
Calhoun raised his eyes to ask her, “What is added in this?”
Beth smiled, happy to enlighten the King. It seemed like he didn’t know how the tea was made of, “It has milk, sugar, tea powder and a little water.”
“Are you sure?” asked the King, his red eyes looking at her.
Beth didn’t know what else was added, “I think that is all that’s there, my King.”
“I thought there might be a pinch of poison in here,” the King said it with a straight face that had Beth’s smile fall instantly.
“P-poison,” Beth stuttered, and the King laughed.
“I was joking,” and he took a sip from the teacup. Madeline and her mother who heard the King and Beth’s little conversation came out of the room immediately at the mention of the word ‘poison’, “My apologies. You can never be too sure about it.”
Madeline closed her eyes at the little joke that had got Beth worried as she looked pale.
While Calhoun took slow sips from the teacup, Mrs. Harris looked at him, wanting to make amends to the words that had escaped through her lips when she had seen Madeline at the door.
“Thank you for looking after my daughter,” Mrs. Harris bowed her head. The King was forceful, but Madeline was dressed in silk and jewels. She didn’t look like she was being starved or had turned to a mistress in the bed. Considering all those, she hoped the King would not do anything bad to her daughter. Mrs. Harris didn’t mind taking the blow, as she didn’t want her family to be on the receiving end of the King’s wrath.
Calhoun placed the teacup on the side table, making a clinking noise, “It is my duty to look after her. I was expecting to meet Mr. Harris here, in the house. I was hoping to have him present, but it must be something urgent if he has gone to the forest,” by his words, Madeline was affirmed that Calhoun was listening to the words she and her mother had spoken in the kitchen.
“I can tell Beth to go and fetch him, milord,” offered Mrs. Harris, but Calhoun raised his hand.
“I wouldn’t want to disturb him,” remarked Calhoun, his eyes looking at the things in the hall before saying, “In the next twenty-six days, Madeline and I will be marrying in the castle. As you are her family, Madeline wants everyone to be present in the castle with her during the time of the wedding. You can come and stay there for a while,” he informed them.
Mrs. Harris bowed her head, and Beth’s eyes popped wide and followed her mother. Beth couldn’t believe that Madeline was going to marry before her when Beth was the one who was older than her. Sure, she had answered the letter as if she didn’t mind, but she had expected Madeline to wait or at least put some effort.
Calhoun’s eyes fell on Beth, and a broad smile stretched on his lips, “Miss Elizabeth,” and this had Beth’s attention, “You look upset.”
Beth smiled nervously, “U-upset? No, not at all! I am happy for Madeline,” somewhere Beth cursed herself for not being composed.
She wanted to be the one to marry the King. A marriage with the royal family was what she dreamed, no that was not true. She had thought of marrying Dukes or the Lords, never considering the King because of the status. Now that her sister Madeline was getting married to him, she wanted to shout and cry but she couldn’t. Was there no way to gain his favour? She had often heard many stories of how the intelligence of words could sway a King. History had spoken about the King’s debauchery and how mistresses turned to queens. But Beth was no mistress.
“I am delighted to hear that, Miss Elizabeth. In times like this, sisters rarely show support to one another. I once heard that a sister was so jealous that she killed her very blood,” Calhoun chuckled like it was nothing but the family continued to stare at the King, listening to his words where Beth was the one who was most affected.
Beth said, “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to see my sister happy. She is a lamb. Innocent and gentle in nature,” and the older sister offered an encouraging smile to her younger sister, “I cannot wait to be part of the wedding.”
“That’s lovely. Madeline shared the letter you wrote back to her, are you sure you don’t want to get a suitor for yourself through my recommendation?” asked Calhoun.
As a vampire King, Calhoun was calculative, and he had seen many girls like Elizabeth Harris. The girls were beautiful and pleasing to the eyes. Words that were refined to suit the person they spoke to, which were smart but as much as they looked pretty, they were the females who were scheming enough to climb the social ladder. Not that he had anything against the scheming personality, but he preferred it was him in the end who was a better schemer in the room.
Beth wanted a suitor, and she wasn’t planning to be a spinster for the rest of her life. She put a polite smile on her face, “If there’s someone in your eyes that you feel is worthy, I would gladly meet the person, my King,” she said with a bow.
“Maybe you can find someone in the castle when you come to stay for the wedding,” Calhoun said before standing up, “Isn’t that right, Madeline?” he asked the brown-eyed girl.
Madeline nodded her head, “It would be nice to have everyone in the castle.”
“We should get going. Please convey my regards to Mr. Harris. Until later then,” said Calhoun to have the women bow their head. Madeline hugged her mother and then her sister. Before she could follow Calhoun, Madeline asked Beth,
“I have a question to ask you.”
“What is it?” asked Beth curiously.
“Have I ever sleepwalked?” At Madeline’s question, Beth looked surprised as she was not expecting it, “Have I?”
“Not that I could remember. Why?” asked Beth at the strange question.
If Madeline had a lot of time in her hand, she would have stayed back to explain to Beth on what happened. But deep down in her heart, she felt that her sister would look at her strangely. They were sisters who had accepted most of the things about each other. But since the time the King had chosen her to marry, she could feel the invisible wall between them, not realising it was not the King but her sister Beth who had created the wall out of envy.
Madeline shook her head, “It was somthing that came in my mind,” offering a smile, she finally left her house to follow Calhoun who was waiting for her outside the gate.
On their way back, Madeline stared outside the carriage window deep in thought. It was possible that she had sleepwalked out of stress, and maybe it was a one-time thing that had not happened before, and she hoped it wouldn’t occur in the future.
Madeline was content with the way their trip had come to an end peacefully. There was no need to fear that someone would be beheaded. She questioned if it was her or him who had changed, or if it was both.
Calhoun noticed how Madeline stared outside, without actually looking at the trees but thinking. She was thinking about the card reader’s words which had been softened when she met her family.
“I didn’t know you have a brother,” blurted Madeline turning to look at him.
“Brother?” asked Calhoun, cocking his head on who she was calling his brother.
Madeline stared at Calhoun, “The one we met today. Mr. Sparrow.” They had different last names, but she had pegged that they were close cousins.
Calhoun rolled his eyes, “The closest blood sibling I have is Lucy. Raphael is not my brother.”
No? Asked Madeline confused, “You said ‘sister-in-law’.”
He laughed, hearing her words, “So that he wouldn’t get a wrong impression about you with me.”
“Is it because you have bedded many?” Realising how it sounded, she said, “My apologies. Please forget that.”
Calhoun shook his head, “I am very much interested in talking about it. To answer your question, yes, it is because of it.”
Seeing how she went back to looking outside the window, the smile on his lips fell. He wondered what the opposite of the vampires was. Dark creatures that took blood and were brutal. The humans were weak and fragile, easily breakable. There were only a few who had shown strength, but their heads only ended up on the spears.
Madeline’s family looked normal, but then even she looked normal. Having the family in the castle, it would be easier to confirm and see if something similar would take place even with the other daughter of Harris. It was apparent that Madeline was the child of Harris.
“Feeling better?” asked Calhoun.
“Yes, thank you for today,” she thanked him. Calhoun was pleased to see Madeline accept his help.
The royal carriage had left the village of East Carswell, riding through the streets that passed by the tailor’s shop where a man felt troubled when it came to his feelings. His thoughts went back to the time when the King and Madeline had visited the shop an hour ago, to give measurements of Madeline’s body so that the wedding dress could be made for her.
He stood in the room where many gowns were placed in the racks. His hand held the dress that was of beige colour. His fingers ran to feel the fabric. It was the same gown that was worn by Madeline at the time of Hallow. Though the red dress that her sister, Elizabeth, had picked up was a beautiful one, he had personally made the beige dress with Madeline on his mind.
It was made for her. Therefore undoubtedly, it would look good on her.
“Mr. Heathcliff?” the door of the room was knocked by Greg as James had closed the door.
“What is it, Greg?” asked James, placing the gown back in the rack carefully before going to the door and pulling it open.
“There is a man who is looking for you at the front of the shop. In the carriage,” Greg informed him.
James frowned, “Who is it?”
Greg shrugged his shoulders, “No idea.”
“Okay,” said James, walking out of the shop, he pushed the door and the bell tinkled that was attached to the door. He stepped out to see there was indeed a carriage parked outside. He walked towards the carriage to see the coachman, who stood next to the door.
Walking towards the carriage, he saw a man who had black and white hair on his head, wearing clothes that didn’t belong to a place like this village. A stern expression on his face who turned his head and James caught sight of the red eyes of the vampire. Out of politeness, James bowed his head,
“Take a seat Mr. Heathcliff,” said the man, his words came out more as an order than an offer.
James wondered if it was a new customer, and he stepped inside the carriage. Once he took his seat, the door of the carriage was closed, and he looked at the man wearily, “Don’t be alarmed, Mr. Heathcliff. I am here to talk. I am Issac Barnes. Father of Catherine Barnes.”
