Chapter 26: Friction

Madeline saw her family get inside the same carriage they had come in, the door of the carriage closed and her hands that were on the railings tightened its grip. Standing in front of the closed multicoloured window to see the carriage take off from the castle and she watched until her eyes could trail it and it disappeared.

She was hurt over her sister's words. Madeline knew Beth was aiming for the King, and she never had the intention to pursue him. She was more than happy to settle down as Mr. Heathcliff's wife if he would take her. She had handled her sister delicately all these years, letting her decide what she wanted because Madeline didn't want it. She was more than content with her life, but with this...her sister would forever look at her to be the person who ruined her chance of living the life she dreamed about.

"Lady Madeline," a maid arrived at the dining room, "You have been summoned to meet the King."

Madeline turned her head sideways, "Tell him I need to go home."

The maid looked at the girl who stood with her back, facing her. She had a distressed look as she stood at the door.

The King was in the court had asked the lady to make her presence in front of him, but it seemed like this lady wanted to go home. The maid left the dining room and made her way towards the court where the King was sitting leisurely, talking to the ministers. Her legs shook when his eyes fell behind her.

"M-milord, the lady said she wanted to go home," her eyes didn't dare to look at the man and instead she stared at the ground.

Calhoun's lips twitched hearing this. His eyes looked at the maid, who had her head bowed. He had told that she was going nowhere, but it seemed like she had trouble understanding it.

"Tell her the King commands her to make her presence in front of him. If she disagrees she will have to sleep in my bed," said Calhoun before waving his hand off at the maid and as expected, in a matter of a few minutes, Madeline arrived with the maid.

Her eyes glared at him quietly, and if it were someone else, he would have gauged their eyes out of their face for their impudent behaviour. But this was Madeline, and he didn't mind it. Rather he enjoyed that there was a trait of anger in her, an emotion he was finding to be amusing as he sat there looking at her walk towards where he was.

He could sense the confused expression of the people who surrounded them in the full spacious room.

Madeline was a simple looking girl. If someone were to walk past her, they would have ignored her right away, but he had seen her in that sweet glorious night that he had spent a few minutes with her. He knew there was more than what the surface appeared to the eye when it came to her. He had heard her speak, and saw the way her mask had glided down and shown her face that looked like dewdrops in the morning.

A small smile crept up his lips, looking at her stare back at him.

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"Milord," the maid bowed her head, thankful that she was done with the task and she could go back to her work than roam in front of a room full of the night creatures like the King. When the maid peeked up, she saw the King wave his hand for her to leave, his eyes staring at the girl who she had brought here.

Calhoun didn't speak to her, and neither did she. One pair of red eyes looking in amusement and one pair of brown eyes looking back with controlled anger. The room that had been filled with talk of words, discussing the nearest villages economy had turned quiet since the maid arrived with a girl they had never seen before.

"Welcome to Devon, Madeline Harris," he welcomed her, his voice loud and clear in the room.

Madeline stared straight into his eyes from where she was to say, "When am I going back home?"

Calhoun smiled further that unnerved her, but she tried to stand her ground.

He gave her a thoughtful look before saying, "I haven't thought about it yet but not any time soon. You have only arrived at Devon. I am sure you will like it," he smiled at her.

Madeline replied to him with, "I think I have seen plenty."

"I insist that you stay unless you want to hurt your parents. Think about your father. He's growing old and has no helping hand. Having to cut every wood by himself and bring them alone, how difficult," said Calhoun looking at the way her eyes softened at the mention of her father, "Your stay here will guarantee he has a helping hand. A shop of his own, how unfortunate that the daughter wants to rob those things from him," he shook his head as if he were not talking about her.

Madeline knew that he was trying to bargain her with her father's current working condition, but help could be found if asked, "If he needs help Beth and I could help him."

Calhoun's smile slowly fell back, and he tilted his head to the side.

"Do you mean to say that you will help in carrying the wood or chopping them in the forest?" the people who were in the room laughed lightly at the King's words, "I am intrigued to see it. Have someone pick up a log of wood and axe be brought up here. Let us see the skills that you possess."

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Hearing this, her face turned pale. She had told it on a whim but who knew this person was going to make her chop wood in front of everyone?!

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