Chapter 22 - Grand Table

Madeline had started to walk after he had let go of her side, walking forward to talk to Beth, inquiring about their family more. Her heart was beating loudly in her chest and she tried to will it down but the anxiousness she felt in her throat didn't settle down no matter how many times she tried to calm it down.

From behind, she noticed the man's frame. He was tall, his shoulders broad from behind and the shirt that he wore along with the vest fit his body well enough to show his body structure. His hair from behind was short while the front was long that had been combed back. Even Beth who often was prideful the way she walked and talked now listened and spoke only when she was needed to.

Her brown eyes continued to look at the man, following them to the large dining room which was not the one they had been to two days ago.

While Madeline was behind, her footsteps careful, Beth, on the other hand, kept up a calm and composed, feminine composure around her. Smiling only when needed and her words polite but one could tell that she was confident with what she spoke.

"Madeline and I teach the children from the village. Basic words for them to learn," Beth said during her conversation with the King.

"It is always good for women to occupy themselves with work than idle chatter," said the King, a man who stood above all the people she had ever met.

She had never seen a man this handsome until now. Beth did not know why she was unable to recollect her time talking to him. His deep voice could do wonders to anyone. She came to the conclusion that it was perhaps because she was asked to dance by several men and their voices happened to mix along with the music which was why she didn't remember. With him talking to her and paying attention, Beth finally felt that God had answered her prayers to receive the attention of a man she was worthy of.

"I love children. It is much easier to teach them," attributed Beth, subtly pushing the information that she was ready for children.

"How about you?" Calhoun turned his head just enough to the side, letting Madeline know he was talking to her.

Madeline who had started to look at the paintings again felt like she had been caught off-guard and she asked, "Pardon me, I wasn't listening to the conversation," she bowed her head, her eyes scolding to chid at her lack of attention.

"Do you enjoy teaching, Madeline?" the way he called her name, even Beth noticed the difference and she pursed her lips but didn't interject.

Beth wanted to scold her sister for not keeping her attention here as this was not anybody to be taken lightly. The King didn't give his attention to everyone but when he did, one was supposed to keep it. People who didn't know to keep and respect it were often found beheaded for disrespecting the King.

"I do, milord," Madeline tried to keep her words as short as she could right now. Not wanting her words to bud so that she would have to answer more to him.

"You do?" he looked ahead of him, this time his voice much sharper.

Madeline's hands clenched together. Did she offend the man?

She then said, "Our father taught us how to read and write. Though we don't come from a rich background like others, we were provided with the privilege to learn. We had a distant aunt who continued our education for a year but she passed away. Putting it away would be a waste and when the same could be used to increase the income, Beth and I decided to help. I don't hate children or teaching if that is what you are asking me."

Beth was the first one to turn around with her eyes slightly wide with the way her younger sister had spoken to the man. They finally came to stand outside the dining room, Theodore leading Mr. and Mrs. Harris in when the King turned around to say,

"Wasn't that hard to speak now, was it?" his dark eyes stared at her, a smile on his lips before he stepped inside the dining room.

Beth pulled Madeline's arm for a second, stopping her sister from getting inside the room, to say, "What was that?"

"What was what?" Madeline asked.

A maid arrived at the door that had both the girls to step inside the dining room and take their seats.

Mr. and Mrs. Harris were treading carefully when it came to speaking to the King as they didn't want to do something that would be considered rude but Beth was not the same. After the King's little attention to Beth, the older daughter of Harris had taken that the King wanted her to be his wife. She also decided that it was alright to speak to him.

When only a glass of wine was placed in front of him with no food on his plate, curious Beth asked hime, "Are you not going to eat with us, milord?"

"I will when I want to," with those words, Calhoun had got the girl to not ask him unnecessary questions. He then snapped his fingers for the butler to start serving the family of Harris, "Feel free to request what you want to eat and drink. The table is all yours," said Calhoun, raising his glass up in the air.

When he brought the glass of wine to his lips, his eyes went to the girl who was sitting in the right on the other end, who had let her older sister sit near him instead. The Harris' family were swarmed by maids, asking them what they would eat. He noticed how Madeline smiled at the question of the maid and the grip on the glass he was holding tightened.

She was finally back here.

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