The Crown's Obsession

63 Anxious nerves- Part 2

His hands released her and Madeline turned around with a deep frown until she saw who it was, "Mr. Heathcliff?" came the surprised voice of Madeline.

What was he doing here?! She looked at the door to see that it had been pushed close to avoid anyone from looking in.

"Miss Harris," Mr. Heathcliff bowed his head, and when a smile came upon his lips, Madeline smiled back at him. She was happy to see Mr. Heathcliff. The man she had admired for months, who had promised to spend time with her was standing right in front of her. Somewhere her heart ached.

It had been less than a week since she had last met him at his shop but spending time in the castle felt like an eternity had passed since she had last seen him. But from the time of the Hallow, Calhoun had made sure to invade her mind and thoughts until now. And at the thought of Calhoun, Madeline gulped to ask,

"What are you doing here?" she asked him, her eyebrows furrowing while looking at James' handsome face. He had dressed like one of the men she had seen in the courtroom talking to Calhoun.

"I came here for you," answered the man, taking one step forward towards her while Madeline took one step back. Mr. Heathcliff gave her a puzzled look.

"You should not be here," she whispered in worry. If Calhoun were even to hear a whisper about James being here, James would not step out of the castle grounds in one piece, and she didn't want that happening to this man.

James could see Madeline was concerned for him, and he took steps forward, taking her hand in his, "You don't have to worry about me. You don't have to feel alone when I am here."

Madeline appreciated his words more than anything as he felt like a ray of hope where she would be able to leave this place, but King Calhoun was not a person to let her go that easily. The man would behead James without blinking his eyes. When her mother had mentioned about James in front of Calhoun, he had lowly threatened about James's head that would be stuck on a spear and the image itself had made Madeline worry for James' life.

"You don't understand!" Madeline replied, shaking her head, "If the King finds out you are here, he will kill you," she whispered at the end.

James squeezed her hands together, "Are you not happy to see me here?"

"I am more than happy to see you here, Mr. Heathcliff, but you don't know the King. You haven't met him!" Did James think this was a typical brawl for love and attention that the King would let him off without harming him? "How did you enter the castle?" she asked him, looking at the door that was now closed before her eyes fell on James.

Madeline had a mixture of emotions running in her mind right now. The thought of him coming here to meet her brought joy to her lonely heart. She was happy to see James here who had come to see her, but at the same time, she was scared if one of the servants would find them here in the room. Not to forget, one of the maids would be now looking for her.

"After I read your letter, I decided to come to meet you as soon as I could," said James, before letting go of her hands, "Even though you said nothing about coming here, I felt it is what you wanted but couldn't tell it."

"Letter?" Madeline asked, slightly confused.

James nodded his head, "Yes. Beth was kind enough to deliver your letter as soon as she could. If I didn't get it, I would have never known what situation you are in. Frankly, I was a little surprised but thankful that your sister delivered it to me because there were times I felt that she was..." he paused trying to let the silence fill the sentence before saying, "Trying to gain my attention and affection but I guess I was wrong."

While James was talking about it, the only thing Madeline could think was that she had not written any letter to him. There was no way James would have known she was here unless someone told him about it. Did Beth write a letter to him in her name?

"Um, could you tell me what was written in there? I just seem to have forgotten about it," said Madeline with an awkward smile on her face.

James didn't question her request and recollected some of the contents that she had written to him,

"You mentioned how you were being forced to stay here against your wishes and asking me not to worry about you." Madeline pondered over his words. Why did Beth write a letter to him? James said he felt that Beth was trying to gain his attention, but with what she knew, Beth didn't think too highly about him. Not to forget, her elder sister knew the feelings she held for Mr. Heathcliff in her heart. Therefore Madeline could only conclude that Beth was only teasing and she hadn't meant any harm in the past.

"What's the matter?" he asked her.

Madeline shook her head, "Nothing."

She looked startled when James moved closer to her, and she blushed over their closeness, "I am sorry that you had to spend these two days here. I like you Madeline, and I know you do too. Don't be sad," he placed his hand on her shoulder for comfort.

Madeline could see the reflection of herself in his clear eyes. James had always been polite and was a gentleman when he used to talk to her or anyone in that regard.

At the same time, she heard the sound of the carriage. She let go of her hand that was on James' hand, and he let go of her shoulder. Her head turned, and she walked towards the windows, not realizing which part or side of the castle she had been standing in. The room both she and James were in was the room that came before the courtroom, and she suddenly turned afraid as the person who stepped out of the carriage was none other than the King himself.

Calhoun had returned to the castle.

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