The Crown's Obsession (WN)

James, who left the castle, couldn't help himself but turn back to look at the castle and wonder on how things had turned out. He was unhappy with Madeline's denial, and he wished she had told the truth, but instead, she had flatly refused by saying she hadn't sent the letter. But somewhere at the same time, James questioned himself if what she was saying was true or if she was only trying to hide so that no harm would come to befall him.

Now sitting in the carriage, James turned back to look at the wooden wall in front of him that had no window to speak to the coachman. This carriage wasn't his, it belonged to the King and the castle which had picked him up earlier.

Yesterday when he met Madeline, he noticed how she had been relieved and happy to see him. But within a few minutes she had ushered him to leave her side and go back home. James had never seen or met the King before, this time being the first, he could tell that the King of Devon was an intelligent person. At the same time, he was handsome to look at and if James himself wasn't good looking, he would have felt daunted the way the King looked.

He wanted to help Madeline to get out of the castle. She had barely smiled today, and he had not missed the look on her face which was filled with nervousness. He had taken the measurement from the two men, and he was going to take the measurement of the King or so did he think as it was King Calhoun who had called him to the court today. But the King wasn't looking for stitching his clothes himself but he had given the descriptions for a woman's garter. Had the King done something to Madeline already? Had he seen her naked? And at that thought, James' hands turned to fists.

When he reached the village, the coachman dropped him and instead of going to his shop or house, he made his way to Harris' house.

He knocked on the closed door, and when Mrs. Harris opened the door, he bowed his head. The woman looked startled by seeing him. The woman was in her late forties, and she appeared to be tired.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Harris. I am James Heathcliff," he introduced himself by offering a bow to the lady.

The elderly woman returned the bow and greeted back, "Good afternoon. I know who you are," her eyebrows had drawn themselves together, "If you are here to look for Madeline, she isn't here," informed the woman.

"I have heard about what happened," the man tried to pay his sympathies for the recent events as their daughter had been torn away from them to stay in the castle, "But I am not here for her. Is the elder Miss Harris home? I had something to talk to her."

Mrs. Harris continued to frown as she didn't know what he wanted with Beth but she nodded her head and said, "She's in the backyard. Please come in while I go call her."

"That's fine. I will wait here for her," James said and Mrs. Harris didn't force the man. The woman nodded her head at the man and then got inside the house, calling for her elder daughter who came in,

"What is it, mama?" asked Beth with a little irritation in her voice.

Beth had a napkin tied around the top of her head and an apron tied around her waist. Her complexion had turned slightly pale by standing under the sun for a longer time than she was used to. Since from the time Madeline had been asked to stay in the castle, Beth had to take up Madeline's chores and help her mother, which had turned her dull and even more bitter. Mr. Danvers was still trying to court her for marriage which she was previously interested in, but after she and her family had falsely interpreted the King's invitation, she had lost interest in the man. And it wasn't just him but every other man who had tried to court her.

The life she deserved was stolen by her very own blood sister. She could have been reigning as the Queen of Devon, but here she was, working in the house by cleaning and cooking. Her hands were turning rough, and her nails had started to chip away, which she had tried to maintain for months.

"Mr. Heathcliff is standing outside. He said he wants to see you," said her mother who gave a look of suspicion. It was because Madeline had mentioned to Mrs. Harris about how she and Mr. Heathcliff were going to meet each other. So why was he meeting her older daughter?

Beth walked past her mother and stepped out of the house, "Mr. Heathcliff," she bowed her head to show her manners. The man bowed his head in greeting.

Seeing the man here all dressed, she wondered if he had visited the King. Because as far as her knowledge went, the tailorman never dressed like this in the village. The village that they lived in was a place that would not suit his current attire.

"How may I help you?" asked Beth.

James' eyes moved to the open door to see Mrs. Harris, not in sight and he then turned to look at Beth, "I had been to the castle today," he confirmed her suspicion. Beth was pleased that this man had come to be of some use but she couldn't find her sweet sister anywhere in sight.

"Did you see Madeline? How is she doing?" asked Beth in concern and her face turning to worry.

"She's being held as a prisoner in the castle. Not in the dungeons of course, but you know," murmured James, "I believe apart from it, she's being kept well. When it comes to clothes or jewels, the King has given those probably to make her happy."

What Beth wanted to hear was not this but James' information, instead of soothing her soul where she wanted to hear that Madeline was sad and suffering, this was like throwing more coal into the burning fire.

Beth had hoped to hear something that would compensate for the unjust feeling that she had been holding since the time she had found out about the King's interest towards her younger sister. According to Beth, when Madeline had found out about the King's interest in her, she should have taken the opportunity of declining the order firmly. Instead, she had been half-hearted. She was the older sister. She was to be given the first preference and her marriage was to come first but her sister had stolen everything from her.

"She must be doing alright then," came Beth's plain voice as she stared at the ground. What more did a girl want? Madeline could deny she didn't want the castle life but the truth was deep down she wanted those things too and Beth could tell it because she was her sister, "Did you speak to her?" asked Beth.

She had hoped that James would be of some use but if he had come back without Madeline, it only meant he was unsuccessful in it.