The Crown's Obsession

The roads of the village were busy with people walking and a few carriages that came to pass by them occasionally. Beth pulled her younger sister, Madeline by her hand. Tugging her arm as she walked quickly that the younger one had to keep up with her sister's quick feet,

"Sister Beth, the shop won't close right away. We still have time for the ball," Madeline had to remind her sister as she appeared to be in a hurry.

"Oh, hush, Maddie. You don't know how people are going to be swarming in the shop soon to get their clothes tailored or fitted. Knowing a lot of us cannot afford, there is going to be a line when it comes to renting the gowns," said Beth walking along with her sister as they made way to the village's esteemed tailoring shop owned by James Heathcliff, "It's right to take you along as the man fancies you. It would be easy to get our clothes from him. Just because you aren't interested in going to the ball and don't enjoy those things doesn't mean I should too, does it?" her sister let out a hearty laugh.

A smile appeared on Madeline's lips when she said, "I never said I didn't want to. I do wish to attend to the ball."

"Don't be a damp weather on a sunny day then," Beth smiled, giving a quick look to Madeline. If it weren't for the little laugh, one would have found how Beth tried to demean her sister, which the younger girl brushed it away by thinking it was her sister's playful words.

Like many others from the villages and a few towns, Madeline wanted to go to the ball, but her purpose of going was different compared to her sister. Her sister, Beth, wanted to place herself in the highest social standing than live her life here in the village. Madeline was slightly hesitant in going to the shop because it wasn't just Mr. Heathcliff who fancied her. She liked the man, but neither of them had ever spoken about it. The most Madeline had done so far was smile at the man.

Once they reached the shop, as expected, there were young girls and women, who Beth had seen receive the invitation letters from the messenger of the castle,

"Do you think he has so many gowns to give everyone?" Madeline noticed how far the line had been formed. By the time they would go to receive it, there would be none left.

"Of course, he doesn't. The man barely has five to ten good ones while the rest I believe have been given away by now," Beth looked at the entrance of the shop and then the line before she pulled Madeline towards the door. She pushed her sister in the front so that Mr. HeathCliff would notice Madeline which he did in less than a few seconds.

To Beth's calculated expectation, Mr. Heathcliff excused himself from the customer by handing the work to his assistant so that he could talk to her sister.

Madeline smiled when her eyes met with Mr. Heathcliff's pale green ones, and he smiled back at her.

"Miss Madeline," he greeted her first and then greeted Beth, "Miss Elizabeth."

"Good afternoon, Mr. Heathcliff," Madeline greeted him.

Beth didn't know why the man took an interest in her sister as she was better looking out of the two of them and Mr. Heathcliff was a decent looking man in this village. Not caring about it as she had to get the gowns from him, she used her sister as a means to get it.

"How have you been doing, Mr. Heathcliff?" Beth initiated the conversation.

The man gave a gentleman-like smile, "Very well, milady. The King gave out invitations today to some of the families in and around the village. It is why we have a line of customers waiting to get their clothes," said the man.

He turned around to make sure his assistant was taking the right measurement as it wasn't often they had these many people waiting in a queue.

"Are you here to buy clothes?" he inquired before his eyes fell on the younger blonde girl as if he were unable to keep his eyes off of her.

Madeline, who felt her sister nudge her back from behind, spoke, "We received the invitation too."

"You did?" he asked, surprised to see Madeline nod.

"Did you get invited to the ball too, Mr. Heathcliff?" asked Beth and the man smiled at her.

"I didn't," he laughed at the end, "I am guessing you are here for the gowns?"

"We were hoping we could get the gowns from your shop if it is possible. We will make sure we return the gowns in the same condition," Beth politely asked the man with a smile of promise in the hope that he would agree.

They heard Mr. Heathcliff say, "I don't know about that. Some gowns will be given to the ones who are first in the line."

"We don't mind gowns that look average," it was Madeline who said this to him, "Please," and he finally gave in.

Mr. Heathcliff opened the back door for them so that they could come in and have a look at the gown that were kept as rented gowns without it costing too much. While her sister, Beth, was busy searching a silk gown for herself, Madeline looked in the other side to have Mr. Heathcliff assist her.

"I am surprised you didn't receive an invitation," said Madeline as he helped her. It was because the man stitched and delivered materials of clothes for people who lived in the palace.

"My guess is a tailor isn't much of an importance. I would have probably felt less bad if I didn't know you were not going. I mean you girls," he laughed and then said, "I am happy that you are going to attend it. Maybe you can come back and tell me how it was."

"I will be sure to do that," Madeline agreed to it before her sister, Beth, called for her help in choosing the gowns.