Chapter 59 - Cage And Shackles

Madeline looked at his face to make sure he wasn't joking, and he wasn't. He stood there with his hand extended in front of her, waiting for her to kiss his hand. She had heard how King's and Queen's hands were often given to their subjects to be kissed so that the servants would show their appreciation and loyalty to the King.

After what she had done today, where a stranger had almost molested her, she decided it was the least she could do. At the end of the day she was still a girl who was lower than him in status. And with that thought, she took a step forward towards him. That little action alone had Calhoun's lips twist in a smile, his eyes looking at her bend.

He had placed his hand down enough, that she had to bend. She moved forward and when her face reached his hand she dropped a kiss on the back of his hand and quickly took a step back.

"Where is the acknowledgement of thanks?" he asked, not happy with the incomplete gesture. Madeline gritted her teeth, and she moved forward again to hear him say, "I want a clear one."

Pressing her lips on his hand again, she said, "Thank you for saving me near the forest. If it weren't for you, I don't know what would have happened," she said the words just as he would want to hear from her. Giving him small answers would only end up with him having her repeat it until he got what he wanted to hear.

Calhoun was more than pleased with the kiss, but he wasn't satisfied with just a kiss. He saw how she didn't meet his eyes, her throat softly gulping down the nervousness.

Hearing nothing from him, Madeline took it that it was safe to step into the room and she turned halfway before she was pulled towards him and he pushed her against the cold wall. Her eyes widened, looking at him who was close to her. Her heart thundered in her chest.

"I did everything you asked me to do," she whispered. Her eyes were wide with a look similar to a deer that was caught by the predator.

"Did you?"

The question made Madeline think quickly if there was something that she had missed in the last few seconds. He had caught both her hands in his hands, pushing it to pin against the wall when she had tried to get away.

"It makes me wonder if you are going to try running away again. Makes me want to imprison you," his cold breath fell on her lips, making her shiver. He moved his lips close to her as if he was about to kiss her, Madeline tried to push him, but he had her just where he wanted. Her lips were parted, and she felt the invisible pressure that was turning her knees weak in anxiety of what he was going to do, "The next time you run away, don't forget you will be the one to kiss me with those lips of yours," he said with his eyes on her.

"I am here," she stated.

"Right now, yes, but I don't know what types of crazy ideas you will find. Thanks to you from now on all the carriages will be checked before letting them pass out of the castle gates." Hearing this, Madeline could feel her hope crush, "Don't look disheartened," he smiled, and even though he said not to be, he was enjoying her despair.

She could feel his hand firmly holding hers, "Understood?" he asked her. Madeline saw how his eyes moved to her lips before looking back into her eyes.

"Yes," she replied to have him step back from her finally. He let go only one hand of hers. The other hand of hers was raised to his lips, and he kissed the back of her hand while keeping his eyes on her. The dark ambience created a silhouette on his face, and when he pulled away, he said, "Let me know if you need any help in bathing or dressing you. I will be sure to provide you with assistance. Goodnight, Maddie."

He took another step back before leaving the front of her room, and she finally relaxed against the wall before making her way inside the room.

Calhoun walked away from Madeline's room, making way to his room to see Theodore, who was waiting outside for him. Theodore was a childhood friend of Calhoun's, but that didn't mean he forgot his manners in front of the King as he bowed his head in greeting.

"I brought the papers which Duke Hornebolt was asked to submit on the land disputes that are taking place. There are dates and name of the people who the land has been given to by the magistrate, which Duke Hornebolt claims to be in his name," informed Theodore.

"What else?" asked Calhoun, stepping inside his room who was followed by Theodore.

"The land hasn't been given out to the public, and it belongs under the King's name," replied the man to have Calhoun turn around and ask,

"Does Duke Hornebolt think that he's my brother, that he decided to claim the land to be of his own? People can be hilarious, thinking they can slip out without bearing any consequences." He removed the coat that he wore, "Pull out the documents that have been signed and placed in the governor's hands. Have the Duke come visit me tomorrow."

"Yes, milord," obliged Theodore, and he then said, "There's also something else that I found in the kitchen today."

Calhoun raised one of his eyebrows in question, and he saw Theodore pull out a small bottle from his pocket that had white powdered substance inside it. Taking it in his hand, Calhoun ran his finger around the bottle. Pulling out the little cap, he brought it close to his nose to smell it.

"Poison," said Calhoun.

"I have imprisoned the servant who was carrying it," Theodore notified, and Calhoun picked the coat he had removed to wear it back again.

"Time to go and see the fool."