The Crown's Obsession

MR. MALCOLM'S SHOP

The roads of the village was busy with people walking and carriages riding along. Beth tugged her sister Melea by her hand, Melea saw her sister walking quickly and said,

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

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

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

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

Like many others from the village, Melea wanted to go to the ball, but her purpose of going was different from her sister. Her sister, Beth, wanted to place herself in the highest social position 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 spoken about it. The most Melea 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 from the messenger of the castle.

"Do you think he has so many gowns to give everyone?" Melea noticed how far the line was and there won't be any dresses left by the time they would go to receive theirs.

"Of course, he doesn't. The man barely has five to ten good gowns 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 Melea towards the door. She pushed her sister in the front so that Mr. Heathcliff would notice Melea which he did in few seconds.

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

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

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

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

Beth didn't know why the man took an interest in her sister as she was the 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 was going to use her sister to get the gowns from him.

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

The man gave a heart warming smile, "Very well, milady. The king gave out invitations today to some of the families in 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 measurements 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 her.

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

"You did?" he asked, surprised to see Melea 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 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 them the gowns in the same condition", Beth politely asked the man with a smile hoping he would agree.

They heard Me. 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 Melea 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 for a silk gown for herself, Melea looked on the other side to have Mr. Heathcliff assist her.

"I am surprised you didn't receive an invitation", said Melea 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 that being a tailor isn't of much 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", Melea agreed to it before her sister, Beth, called her help in choosing the gowns.