The Crown's Obsession

Madeline was this close where she could see her father. She wanted to go and talk to him, asking if he was doing alright and she wanted to meet her mother and sister. When they were in the carriage, it is what she thought she would be doing, which was why she looked at Calhoun with her eyebrows drawn together.

"I will return back. I won't escape, and you are here," she reasoned. They had finally come here, which is why she didn't know why he was only letting her see her father from afar to only take her back to the castle.

A smile rose on Calhoun's lips, "My sweet girl," he said, raising his hand to touch her face but Madeline took a step away from him, "This is the reason."

"I do not understand your reason," replied Madeline because she didn't.

"It is like us, sweetheart. You are with me, and I have done nothing but watched you," he explained in a calm voice.

"That's a lie! You have touched me!" exclaimed Madeline to hear Calhoun tut at her.

"That's a huge accusation at the King. Do you think that I have touched you the way I want to touch you?" he asked, his eyes skimming to look at her face and the dress she was in. Madeline had taken a step away so that if a person were walking past them, they wouldn't think wrongly about their relationship, but Calhoun wanted people to know Madeline was his, even though there was still time for her to give her heart to him. He took a step forward, testing her and he could tell she wanted to take one step back.

"I thought you- that I was going to meet my family," said Madeline, her eyes pleading at him.

Calhoun chuckled, "You thought wrong, Madeline. How can I let you go? Consider it to be a trade. You will be allowed to go meet them when we have made some progress." On his words, Madeline looked at him with a look of betrayal in her eyes, "Sshh," he said when he noticed her eyes starting to sparkle, "I brought you here to show that I have upheld the word which I gave to your family."

"What about me?" whispered Madeline, "I need people of my own!" her emotion changed to one where she now glared at him.

"You have me."

Madeline closed her eyes, trying to calm herself. He was vexing her as no one else had ever done in her life. She was not someone to feel like this, but Calhoun was pushing her.

She didn't know what to do with Calhoun. She was so convinced by his words today in the carriage that she would get to see her family. To talk to them and hug her mother. It seemed like the King didn't know how to love, "You claim to be in love with me, but this is not the way you do it."

"I guess you haven't been listening to me closely. Love doesn't have to be the same. We have our approach," reminded Calhoun, "Some are sweet, some harsh and some twisted."

"Twisted," whispered Madeline as she opened her eyes to look into his dark red eyes.

"Why do you resist?" he asked, "If you want to meet the tailorman, we can do it. Especially the way you both were looking at each other back there," and Madeline gulped hearing this. When did he notice it?

"So that you can scare him or embarrass me?" asked Madeline.

A wicked smile graced on Calhoun's lips, "I don't think I have to scare him. There's no point in scaring someone who is already scared. But I would love to check the progress of the garter."

"What makes you think I am going to wear it?"

"You will. It is just a matter of time you make another mistake." He then pushed one piece of her hair behind her ear, his finger trailing down behind the skin of her ear before letting go, "I am just waiting for it."

"I need to see my family…" she trailed.

"And you did that," was his response where she shook her head.

"You know what I mean. I won't take long and will spend only a few minutes," she pleaded with him. Her heart ached that she had come this near to only be pulled away, "I will cook for you," she said, and Calhoun stared at her.

"I have cooks for that," he answered.

Madeline clenched the sides of her dress and said, "You said yesterday it was different when the person you liked cooked for you"

"I am sure those were not my exact words," Calhoun said, his eyebrow raising and waiting for her to fix the words and tell him exactly what he wanted to hear. Though this wasn't a mistake he was waiting for her to make, it would be a lie to say he wasn't intrigued by the idea of eating what she made for him.

Not knowing what else to do, she bowed her head, "Please. Allow me to go and meet my parents, and I will cook the best I know for you," she then added, "I have never cooked for any man except for my father," she hoped he would listen to her request.

"Raise your head," he ordered, and Madeline listened to him, her eyes anxiously looking up at him, "Don't think it will be that simple," he warned her, letting her know he would be taking the privilege to have more than just the food.

She quickly nodded her head, "Okay."

"Come then," he finally agreed, and Madeline was quick to go to where her father's shop was set up while Calhoun sauntered to see the happiness bounce on the girl's face.

Before Calhoun could twist and change anything more, Madeline ran to the shop, "Papa!" she greeted her father. In the shop, it wasn't just her father, but there was also a man who appeared to be helping her father.

"Madeline?" her father looked utterly surprised, and he got out of the shop, making his way to her. Madeline hugged her father, and her father hugged her back, "What are you doing here? Did the King let you go?" he asked, not noticing the King's presence behind him.

Madeline didn't want her father speaking about the King when Calhoun was right behind him. She pulled away from her father to shake her head and say, "He gave me the permission to see you, mama and Beth."

"Oh," her father nodded his head while trying to take in the sight of his daughter, who had returned. She was dressed in rich fabric of clothes and jewels around her neck, "For how long?"

"Nineteen minutes," came the reply from behind and her father turned around to see Calhoun who was standing behind. Her father bowed his head. "Madeline said she missed her family. As we were in the village, we thought of dropping by." Calhoun gave a polite smile to her father.

Madeline wanted to correct that it was after minutes of negotiation Calhoun had agreed to let her see her family where previously he was not keen on her meeting them. With the way he said it, it appeared as if he had willingly brought her here to meet them out of his kindness, and thoughtful gesture.

The King was cruel, cunning, and a scheming man. She didn't know if he had stopped her initially from meeting her father so that he could take something out of it in his favour. Knowing she would agree and try to be on his good side. If his words to her father were true, that would mean that she had walked right into his trap again.

"Where is the other man who was appointed?" asked Calhoun, as there was only one person in here.

Mr. Harris answered, "Henry has gone to drop the woods at Mr. Swayers house." Calhoun gave him a nod.

"Thomas, look at the shop while Mr. Harris invites us to his home," ordered Calhoun to the helper who was assigned by the King to help Mr. Harris. Calhoun had a broad smile on his lips when he turned to Mr. Harris, who bowed his head to lead them to the Harris' house.

Madeline heard her father say to Calhoun, "If I knew Madeline and you were coming to visit, I would have asked my family to prepare something of your taste, my King."

"I wouldn't like to impose on Madeline's family," said Calhoun.

Her father's eyes met hers, and she smiled, not wanting him to worry about her, "How are you doing?" asked her father whose voice lowered for only Madeline to hear but the King had sharp ears.

Madeline nodded her head. She was trying to come back but Calhoun was obviously not going to leave her here. Therefore she decided to keep her words to herself for now. Speaking to her father in the presence of Calhoun felt strange, "I am okay. How are you doing?" she asked.

"I hope you are doing better now, Mr. Harris," interjected Calhoun, "As Thomas is helping you with the logs of wood."

"Yes, milord. Thank you for your generosity," agreed the older man, "He has been very helpful. It must have been some important work for the King to grace our humble village," said Mr. Harris. Now that Madeline was in the castle, he had to make sure that he didn't offend the King so that it would not affect his daughter. Not that he would have tried to do it in the past either.

Calhoun then answered, "Yes. I came here to witness the maid from the castle to be beheaded," and then there was silence.