The Crown's Obsession (WN)
chapter-51

Madeline had never stayed out of her house at this hour of the night, at least not near the forest, which made her worry and scared. Her eyes kept darting at every single sound that she came to hear. She could only hope that she was covering a decent amount of distance and she would reach the village.

Finally, like a ray of sunshine, horses neighed, and she prayed that it was someone who didn't belong to the castle. Not all rays were the happy ones, and with that thought, she came to stand in the path so that the coachman would be able to see her and stop. Raising her hands, she waved them. The coachman first didn't stop, and therefore she had to use her mouth to alert him,

"Please stop! Please!" she cried to gain the coachman's attention.

The coachman did stop, looking at the lady, "Milady what are you doing here in the middle of the forest?" asked the coachman. Whoever was sitting inside the carriage must have asked who the coachman was talking to as the coachman turned his head to say, "There's a lady who is standing here. Seems like she's lost."

Madeline quickly went to the window, and she saw it was a man who was inside the carriage who appeared to be in his forties.

"I am looking to go to the village that comes after this forest. Could you please give me a ride there?" she asked him, her eyebrows drawn together.

The man looked at her, looking at her attire and then her face, "How do we know you aren't a witch who is trying to get into the carriage and kill us?" he asked. His question surprised her, and for a second, she blinked at him.

"What?"

"I said how do we know you are not some stranded woman?" he asked her. When he moved his lips, the moustache on his lips moved along with his thin mouth.

Madeline closed her eyes. She was tired and exhausted but going back was her priority, "I was riding a carriage, but they didn't give me a full ride. They had me step down after a few minutes," she spoke the truth, hoping he would listen to her, "Please. All I ask is for a ride," she pleaded. The man leaned forward, and he opened the door.

"Just a ride," he said, and she gave him a look of relief.

"Thank you so much. Thank you," she bowed her head, but the man didn't say anything.

Madeline felt better now that she was in the carriage. With her hands folded together on her lap, she sat there quietly without a word. She could feel the man's gaze on her, but she didn't look at him straight. She bared the atmosphere in the carriage which was turning hostile even without any exchange of words, but the man then spoke,

"I am Anthony Bartholomew," he introduced himself, giving his hand and Madeline had to oblige by giving her hand to him.

"Madeline," she felt him kiss the back of her hand, and the little action made her skin crawl. Now that she thought about it, she realised how when Calhoun had kissed her hand she had never felt disgusted by it when they had first met.

"No last name?" asked Anthony and Madeline shook her head. She didn't want to build an acquaintance here when all she wanted was to finish her ride as soon as she could.

"No," Madeline shook her head, "Do you know what time it is now?" she asked him curiously.

The man pulled out his watch that was made out of gold. He said, "It is thirty-seven minutes past six," compared to the previous questioning gaze, the man was being friendly. She had to jerk her hand away from his hold, and she offered him a small smile, "Thank you."

Returning her hand on her lap, she heard the man say, "You seem to look rich. Was it your family who kicked you out of the carriage? Families can be impudent at times," the man tried to console her.

Madeline wondered if it was good to lie as she didn't know this man. Not to forget he was trying to get close to her by being familiar. She said nothing but gave him a half-smile before the smile fell from her lips. With the carriage that had started, she could only hope the villages would come in picture, and she would get down, to never see this man ever again.

"Where do you live, Lady Madeline? I can drop you to your home instead of having you drop in the middle," offered the man, a smile upon his lips now that made him look like a sleazy man and she knew she shouldn't be thinking about it. Still, with him continuously looking at her it was making it difficult to sit ignoring it.

"I am here to visit a friend of mine."

At the time of night? Now? Asked the man to himself. He could tell that she was lying else why would someone be stranded at the side of the forest at this hour of the day. He moved closer to her, sliding on the seat to sit in front of her and Madeline had to sit back with her back touching the seat.

The man smiled at her, one tooth of his at the side was made of gold, "I offered you a ride, shouldn't you give me something in return?" he asked her, placing his hand on her knee which she swatted away quickly.

"What do you think you are doing?" asked Madeline. Her words were careful while keeping her eyes on him.

"Getting favours of course," he said and the man placed his hand on her knee again, this time gripping it, "Don't act so poise-"

"Let go of my leg! Stop the carriage!" she shouted.

"Now now. Be good-" and without needing to be told, the coachman pulled the reins of the horses to stop the carriage from going any further, "Why did you stop here you idiot?" asked the man, "Women shout all the time. Doesn't mean you stop because of it. Start the carriage!" he ordered the coachman.

"Sir, we have another carriage stopped in front of ours. They aren't moving," the coachman answered.

To get away from this man who was trying to get his hand on her, Madeline's hand reached for the door, and she quickly stepped out of the carriage. The man followed her suit, and she walked only until she noticed the carriage that stood in the middle of the road. The black carriage was parked in a way to cross the road, stopping anyone from passing through. Four black horses stood at the front of the carriage tied to it.

The carriage's door flew open, and the dark-haired man with red eyes stepped out of the carriage. His entire demeanour made Madeline stagger back and her breath shuddered by the sight of him.

Madeline had not expected him to find her. Not now at least. She thought he would be searching for her with the guards and his wolf in the prowl.

H-he had found her.