The Crown's Obsession (WN)
chapter-18

Since last night of the Hallow ball, Calhoun couldn't get the girl he had met out of his mind. He had thought he would forget her, but she never left his mind. The more he thought about her, the more he wanted her. Wanted to have her.

He had met and touched plenty of women and girls who were much more beautiful to look at. He had bedded attractive women had and been pleased with before letting them go but this girl, there was something about her. He moved his head back, his thumb running on the corner of his bottom lip,

"What did you find about her?" he asked Theodore who was the one who had brought the information.

"Madeline Harris, she lives in one of the villages in the West with her parents and one elder sister who is yet to be married. Her elder sister has been receiving proposals and is fairly popular-"

"What about the young one," Calhoun didn't care about her sister when he was interested in Madeline.

Theodore answered, "Not as many suitors as the elder one. She hasn't been associated with any man. The man who was with her last night was James Heathcliff, who owns the dress shop in their village. It is where they rented the clothes," it seemed that the village girl had caught the King's eyes.

Calhoun hummed hearing this. Rented. It meant they weren't able to afford dresses and that the girl came from a poor background which would only make things that much easy, thought Calhoun to himself with a smile, "How much does the carriage service cost, Theodore?"

"For a family with a poor background, it would be too much as the cost of carriage is as good as the dress rented. With the waiting hours in the castle, it would put a stretch on the family," answered the man. Theodore noticed how Calhoun continued to smile, which was in no means looked kind. It was a smile which meant something evil was being schemed. He then proceeded to say, "The assistant said he heard the girl and the tailor speak about meeting."

"Did they now," Calhoun turned his head to look at Theodore, "Send an invitation to the Harris. Tell them that they are being invited to lunch in the castle," saying this, he moved his leg from the maid's thigh who was massaging his leg. Standing up, he said, "Don't forget to add that if they fail to make it for lunch, they will have to face the consequences. Also, send them a carriage."

Theodore bowed his heard, obliging the King's words and inquired, "When would you want to have lunch with the Harris?"

Calhoun gave it a quick thought, "Tomorrow. Why wait when things can be done right away," saying this, Calhoun walked away from the central court to go to his room.

When he reached the doors to his room, the guards opened the doors for him and closed it once he had stepped inside his grand room.

When he had first set his eyes on her, Calhoun had thought it was him taking a mere fancy towards the girl, which would go, but it didn't. He had held her hand and waist, felt her heart beating, and her hands palpating, which he couldn't help but savour. The more time he spent apart from the girl, thinking about her, her words; it heated the blood in his veins.

She had been close yesterday, and all he wanted to do was bring her to this room, but looking at the fright on her face which she tried to cover up by showing she was brave, and he had let her go.

His mind drifted to her brown eyes and soft pink lips that had moved to reply and question him. Her frame was perfect. Her delicate shoulders and her petite waist that curved towards the bottom. His thoughts were interrupted by the maid, who arrived at his room to bring him a glass of wine.

Calhoun's eyes opened, and from where he sat on the edge of the bed, he saw the maid enter the room.

"Your majesty, I have brought wine," she informed him. Calhoun raised his hand and moved his fingers in a come-hither motion. Her eyes were cast down as she walked slowly and steadily towards him.

The maids in the mansion were pretty but not as beautiful as the girl he was looking forward to meeting. The girl had consumed his mind, and even though he could have had her, he didn't. When the maid placed the wine to his side and was ready to leave, he pulled caught hold of her wrist to stop her from walking.

"I didn't ask you to leave now, did I?" said the King, noticing her blush and the eyes she gave him, he said, "Remembering what happened a few days ago?

Calhoun stared at the girl to hear the maid speak nervously, "Milord?" It wasn't the first time this maid had spread her legs therefore he didn't see the point of her acting coy now. He got up from sitting on the edge of the bed, to stand tall in front of the maid. The maid looked up at him, her tongue coming out to wet her lips.

He looked at the maid with no expression on his face, waiting to finally have the maid start removing her clothes. Seeing she was taking her very own sweet time, Calhoun pushed the front of her body towards the bed, bending her down while bunching up her skirt to bare her bottom to him.

Though the maid's initial behaviour was reluctant, her body moving along with him wantingly. Though it was the maid who was in the room, he could feel his hands on Madeline's waist. Her lips moving and the way she looked at him, had him pushing further into the maid.

Calhoun didn't want to ruin the flower he had finally found but thinking about her was driving him to an edge he had never imagined. When he was done with the maid, he waved her away even though the maid wanted to linger longer in his chamber.

Once the maid was out, he fell on his bed with his hand over his eyes before moving it and his eyes opening, "Madeline."

As ordered, a letter was sent out to the Harris which was received by Mrs. Harris with trembling hands because she didn't know why they would receive a letter from the castle. As it was the time of the evening, Mr. Harris who was present in the house took hold of the letter to read,

"Mr. and Mrs. Harris.

We thank you for attending the Grand ball of Hallow that took place in the castle yesterday. We would be pleased to say that the King was pleased with your daughter and would like to invite the family to the castle for lunch tomorrow."

Beth and Madeline were standing near the bedroom door after hearing their mother shriek out of surprise because of the deal on the letter.

Beth quickly raised her hand to cover her mouth, "Oh my God!"

"The King has called us to join him for lunch?" asked Mrs. Harris with a shocked expression on her face. Madeline raised her eyebrows hearing this.

Mr. Harris read the letter one more time, this time in his mind, "It seems to be so," he said reading the last line which he had skipped to read to his family that spoke about treason if not joined tomorrow.

"Oh dear! What am I going to do?" asked Beth in shock, "I didn't know the King noticed me! What am I going to say to Mr. Danver?" the letter was automatically misunderstood by the family that 'the daughter' was Beth.

"It is the King," said Madeline shrugging her shoulders, "Mr. Danver will step away hearing the King likes you," Beth hugged Madeline and the younger one hugged her back, none of them knowing what was going to happen tomorrow.