“Milady,” the maid arrived at the door of Madeline’s room the next morning, “The King has summoned you in the seating room.”
“I will be there in a moment,” answered Madeline. The maid bowed her head and left.
Madeline had met Calhoun and the others in the morning during the time of breakfast in the dining room. She had thought the day had started peacefully until Calhoun mentioned about her wedding dress. She had been so wrapped around with other things, she had forgotten that Calhoun had spoken about her inner dress that was part of her wedding dress that was going to be seen today if it would fit her right.
She left her room, walking through the corridors and making her way to the seating room where Calhoun was present along with Lucy, Lady Rosamund and Sophie. Before entering the room, Madeline stopped for a moment, wiping her sweaty hands against the skirt of her dress. The door of the room was pushed open by the servant who stood outside the room, making way for her to step inside.
“How many layers are there in the wedding gown?” Madeline heard Lady Sophie ask, who had turned to look at her mother.
“I am guessing the humans have lesser layers compared to the vampire’s wedding gown,” replied Lady Rosamund. Her eyebrows lifted while she looked down at the dress that was hung in front of them without letting it touch the ground. The older vampires sat with her legs crossed on the couch.
“I think it looks great,” commented Lucy, who had taken the liberty to look at the inner dress of the wedding gown, “It doesn’t look heavy.”
Madeline’s eyes fell on James, who stood next to the dress along with the female assistant. Her eyes didn’t linger long because the moment she had stepped into the room, Calhoun’s eyes had shifted to look at her. Her eyes met his red eyes.
“Mr. Heathcliff is a well-known tailorman in his village and around the towns,” Calhoun complimented James without throwing an insult. He didn’t feel the need to taunt or insult at the moment as everything had fallen according to his plan, “It is why young Catherine has taken such keen interest in him.”
Lady Rosamund’s already raised brows moved further up, “So you are the man who has been the talk in the soiree,” she said, the vampiress scrutinized him up and down. Rosamund had heard about Catherine Barne’s wedding that was taking place with a human, but she would have never guessed that it was the same man who the human girl in the room liked. But then Madeline agreed to wed her nephew.
Like any other person, when it came to money and power, a person’s opinion could be changed, Rosamund thought to herself.
Madeline walked around the room, and her eyes finally came to meet James’ eyes. She bowed her head when he bowed his own head in greeting. She thought it was awkward, and it was indeed uncomfortable. Though both of them came from the same village and knew each other, they didn’t exchange a word with each other.
Lady Lucy being the romantic person, exclaimed, “How romantic!” she was unaware about Madeline’s previous interest with the tailorman, “I am happy for both of you,” she said to James and the man mustered a smile and a bow.
Madeline looked at James when Lucy wished and congratulated James about his upcoming wedding. Feeling her gaze, James looked at Madeline. If it was a few days ago, Madeline would have felt worse at the thought of it, but with her acceptance, it made things much better than she had thought it would, but the slight awkwardness was still there. She knew in time, things like this would turn to past memories, and matters like these would turn to little to nothing.
She gathered a smile on her face, offering it to James who didn’t react to her but he did bow his head over Lady Lucy’s words, “Thank you, milady,” he then said, “My assistant will help you with the dress, you can try it on. Tell us if you’re comfortable in it or if there needs to be any change to make,” James said to Madeline, his words calm and keeping it professional.
Madeline being the future queen, she didn’t have to move from where she stood. The assistant brought the inner dress that was stitched specially for her. There was a hard wooden compartment fold that was placed at the side so that one could change clothes.
She walked behind the wooden compartment of the room that hid her from other people in the room. It wasn’t strange to change clothes this way because, during the time in a tailor’s shop, one had to change clothes to make sure the fittings were right. She started to change the clothes that she wore to get into the inner dress that was made for her.
As expected, the inner dress was made out of expensive threads and fabric. There were details on it which she wouldn’t have noticed if she was standing with others in the room.
“How do you feel, milady?” asked the assistant with a smile. The assistant looked at the fitting, having Madeline turn around.
While the female assitant was looking at the fitting, Madeline heard Lady Rosamund question, “How long will it take for the wedding gown to be made?”
“We have already started the work since the King and the lady came to place the order in the shop. My assistants and I have been working on it. It should be done in a week or two,” answered James.
“Hmph. That’s some fast work,” Lady Rosamund replied to James words, “I remember one of the lady’s daughters who had to get married, and the gown never came on time. Of course, the tailor lost his hands for his inability, and the bride had to wear her mother’s wedding gown. Hopefully, you won’t delay finishing the gown because of your possible interest,” the underlying tone of Lady Rosamund told it all.
James looked startled, but he composed himself, “It will be done before my marriage with Lady Catherine takes place, milady. I will have the dress delivered in time,” he gave his word.
“Hm,” Lady Rosamund responded without another word.
James, who had come here to the castle, didn’t know how to face Madeline because of his past feelings. He wanted to see Madeline, wishing to speak to her, but with the King in the room and around her, it made it impossible for him to even look at her. It was because the King was watching both of them like a hawk, ready to prey with his one wrong step.
He was shocked when the King and Madeline had entered his shop to place the order for a wedding gown for Madeline. But the worse thing that had taken place was his meeting with Mr. Barnes. His threat had not been empty. James had only accompanied Lady Catherine so that she didn’t feel lonely, without knowing that the vampiress was only pretending to be lonely to get his attention and company.
He had taken a day to rethink about what Mr. Barnes said. Then came the second day where he was still trying to think about what to do. It was hard for him to go through with something that he never thought he would. He loved Madeline and not Lady Catherine.
On the second day, before the night had approached, Mr. Barnes had reappeared with a man to his house.
“What have you thought about it, Mr. Heathcliff?” asked Mr. Barnes.
James had not expected that Mr. Barnes would impose his daughter’s marriage on him. Truth to be told, he thought that Mr. Barnes would get Lady Catherine married to a rich man. James knew he came from a poor and humble background; therefore, he didn’t dream of big things in his life.
“My answer still stand the same, Mr. Barnes,” answered James to the vampire who was sitting in the living room of his house. Mr. Barnes stood up.
“I don’t think you understood what I said the last time when we met,” the vampire turned to look at the man whom he had brought along, “Dalton, please help senior Mr. Heathcliff,” upon his word, the man moved to stand behind James’ father.
At first, James didn’t understand what the man named Dalton was going to do, but when he placed his hand on his father’s shoulder who was sitting on a chair, James exclaimed, “Wait!”
Mr. Barnes had a dull look on his face, “One movement and I can make sure that your father won’t be in the condition to walk. Is that what you want? You underestimated me, thinking I wouldn’t do anything to you.”
“What you are doing is wrong,” James tried to convince the man, but he didn’t seem to be interested.
“You think you could go around and leave my daughter? Maybe I should ask Dalton to help you out. Dalton,” and the man appeared in front of James, holding his throat in his hand while pushing his body upwards against the wall.
Senior Mr. Heathcliff had a look of panic on his face when he saw his son was not able to breathe. He said, “Please, Sir! He will do as you have asked!” said the old man, coming to his son’s side.
Mr. Barnes looked pleased by the words, “I will take it that the marriage is mutual between both of us. The date and other things will be informed to you,” and they left the house.
James coughed, “Father, why would you-” he tried to speak but the old man raised his hand.
“Do not behave like a fool. You are getting a marriage proposal that is good. The girl was decent to look at. It would be best if you got married, James, than delay the time,” his father shook his head and left to go to his room.
James mind and eyes returned back to the present where he stood in the room with the royal family now. He wanted to fight it back, but was it worth fighting if the girl whom he initially wanted to get married was getting married to another man? The doubt that was there in Madeline’s eyes before had disappeared, and she appeared to be more in sync with the life of the castle.
Though he was being forced to marry Catherine, James was still in love with Madeline as she was the first person he had fallen in love with.
*
While waiting for this book to be updated, do go check other books of the author: Young Master Damien’s pet, Valerian Empire, Heidi and the Lord, Bambi and the Duke, Belle Adams’ Butler.
The books are mostly Romance-Fantasy based. Thank you for supporting the book!
