The Crown's Obsession

After trying the inner dress for the wedding gown, Madeline had changed her clothes back to what she was wearing earlier, and she stepped out from the wooden compartment. She heard the assistant talk to James about the measurement and changes needed regarding the fittings.

Calhoun witnessed everything as he sat on the plush couch, watching both James and Madeline, his eyes cool and collected,

"How did it go?" he asked Madeline.

Madeline nodded her head, "It went well." The inner dress that was stitched was soft and smooth, something that stuck snug on her body. Madeline had always known that James was an excellent dressmaker. He was a talented yet humble man. However, she wouldn't deny that it was strange to be wearing a wedding gown that was in the making, by him.

Calhoun moved his hand from the side as if nonverbally asking her to sit next to him.

She noticed how his eyes tested her now. Madeline might have been naive before as she didn't know much about Calhoun the first time they had met each other or after that. But now she knew the way he looked at her. Just a few days ago he had caught her and James in the powder room which could have turned scandalous if someone else had seen them.

Madeline walked forward, taking a seat next to him on the couch before placing both her hands on her lap.

"If you don't like it we can get it remade. I am sure Mr. Heathcliff wouldn't mind it. Will you, Mr. Heathcliff?" asked Calhoun, his eyes shifting from Madeline to look at James.

"No, it's fine. I like it," she assured Calhoun. It had been a while Calhoun had pulled any tricks from under his sleeve and she wished he wouldn't.

Calhoun's hand moved up towards his face rubbed the bottom of his chin as if in thought, "I guess we will be looking forward to the wedding gown," he gave James as well as the female assistant a smile.

Lucy, who was considerate, asked, "What about your wedding, Mr. Heathcliff? If you need some help, do not hesitate to ask. We wouldn't want anything to come in between your wedding time. Isn't that right, brother Calhoun?"

The smile on Calhoun's face only broadened, "You are absolutely right, Lucy. We wouldn't want anything like that to happen. If you need more people in helping you with the gown and someone to look after your own wedding preparations, I will send my men to you," offered the King.

It would be easier to keep an eye on the tailorman, Calhoun thought to himself. Until the time James was not wholly out of the map, it was better to keep a watch.

James tried hard not to show the emotions that he felt on his face when the King offered his help. Madeline might have fallen to his trap, but that didn't mean James didn't feel or was unaware of the salt that was rubbed on the wound by the King.

"Thank you for your generous offer," James bowed his head and then said, "I trust my assistants will do the job without any extra' help. Thank you, milady," he bowed at Lady Lucy who was standing behind the couch. She offered a kind smile to him.

Lady Rosamund who saw that the tailorman and the assistant were of no use anymore in the room was ready to dismiss them when Calhoun said,

"Mr. Heathcliff, I think you forgot to make something that I asked you to do the first time when we met in court."

Madeline's eyes snapped to look at Calhoun. She had hoped he had joked the first time and the time when they visited James' shop, Calhoun had not brought it up. She thought he had forgotten about it, but she was wrong. With many others in the room right now, she only hoped Calhoun would not openly say the actual word of the dress piece.

On the other hand, Sophie, who had been quiet since yesterday, her mood brightened up as she remembered what it was. It was because she was there when Calhoun had asked this tailorman to stitch the garter by using her as a reference. But as the memory started to sink with the present, Sophie's hand clutched on the edge of her mother's chair, where she stood behind. The garter was not for her but for the human girl.

Madeline's hands pressed itself on her lap, and she hoped Calhoun would not use the word in front of everyone. Last time it had been subtle.

James stared back at the King who had reminded him of the garter that he had ordered with a specific set of specifications, "I have got it made, milord," he answered, and Calhoun looked impressed.

"Where is it?" Calhoun asked, his eyes curiously looking at the boxes that James had brought into the room.

Madeline's gaze shifted from Calhoun to James, "It is in the lower box," and she gulped. Lady Rosamund and Lady Lucy turned curious as to what Calhoun might have asked from the tailorman before.

Calhoun only smiled before he said, "I guess that is all for today. We will be looking forward to the wedding gown, Mr. Heathcliff." James pursed his lips and then bowed his head along with his assistant. He did the same with others, his eyes moving to look at the ladies and his eyes lingered longer than a second on Madeline before he left the room.

"Well," drawled Lady Rosamund to stand up from her chair, "I will be going back to my room. Sophie dear, why don't you come with me," said the vampiress for her daughter to accompany her to go out of the room.

Lady Lucy didn't see the point to stay in the room either; therefore, she excused herself to leave Calhoun and Madeline alone in the room.

With everyone gone, Madeline felt she could relax. She didn't care much about the box that continued to lay down on the ground. Calhoun had not tried to tease or torture her in front of others like in the past, and she felt relieved.