"Should one speak to the king in a hot-tempered manner, one would be beheaded."
"Oh, lucky you, my lady, for the king has noticed you; he had not noticed anyone before."
"The other ladies would choke with jealousy, for they had not been the ones who were picked."
"Do you not wish for a fine skin, my lady? There is a special oil to help with your skin."
"Oh, dear lady, you look lovely. The king has fine eyes for women; look at you."
Madeline's head spun from their words; she did not even hear what the maids said as they sat her down in front of the mirror to do her hair and paint her face.
Her mind had been thinking of what this may be, what the king truly wanted from her, and why she was being treated this way. She did not have the ounce of strength or words to let the maidens know that she was not a bride to the king, neither was she from a noble home nor a dear lord, a duke's daughter.
"Has the king ever married?" she asked the maidens. She needed to know who he was and why he was making her attend a ball and why the maids thought he was to be with her.
"Oh, gracious no," the youngest maiden, the one who had gone to tell the king about her, spoke. "You are the first the king has ever noticed."
"Bu-," she clasped her mouth shut. She was about to say she had only come here for business and not to be the bride of the king, but let it be, the maidens would not understand.
Her hair was styled in loose coils that resembled a croissant, and her face was lit with blush and lip paint - a powder that dimmed her tanned skin. She looked beautiful, no doubt, but this was not her life to attend royal balls.
However, she let it be. Perhaps the king treated all his guests this way. She would obey what he said until he bought from her.
"You will sweep men off their feet; they will let go of their wine when they see what a fine lady you are," the youngest maid spoke again.
Madeline looked at her through the mirror. She looked no older than thirteen, her eyes sparked with curiosity and innocence that made her think of Josiah. Oh Jo, how was he doing? It has only been a day, but she already missed him.
"He has no mistress. I feared he was celibate as no lady has come near him," the youngest spoke, and the other lady slapped her. "Speak carelessly, and your head will be hanging on a pole in the castle courtyard," she warned.
"I am sorry. My mouth will not utter such nonsense again. Please do not tell the king," she bowed her head.
Madeline smiled. There was something about her innocence that would make one pat her on the head whenever she felt sad. Her eyes were round and big, and her hair was styled into two bunny ponytails.
"Say naught, my dear, for I will not tell the king," Madeline said. The tensed maiden relaxed, and she watched as the older one gave her a warm smile.
After they left, Madeline sat wearing the new fine dress. This one had a V neckline and was flared with a big round skirt. She watched herself in awe; it had only been a day, but it felt like she was staring at someone else who wasn't her.
The maidens had said they would be back to fetch her when the king asked for her. For now, she had to stay put in this dress that made her uncomfortable and a makeover that didn't feel like her.
Her mother would wear powder on her face and paint on her lips to look good. There was also Mrs. Sophia's daughter, always wearing fine dresses and powders on their faces. Madeline had only seen such things but had never worn them.
So, it all felt new and different to be seated there, wearing fine clothing and applying makeup.
She sat in front of the mirror longer than she should have, wondering when the maidens would be back and when the king would call for her. Was the royal ball starting now?
Madeline stared at herself in the mirror. With all this special treatment, she would have spun on her heel and headed back home. But then she remembered the very reason why she was home; going home was like running away from what could be their survival.
"Oh, could the king not even let his guest rest from her long journey?" she muttered to herself and snorted. "Who does he even think he is?"
Madeline waved her hands in the air, her eyes narrowed as she tried to mimic the king's expression. "We meet again," her voice even deeper now. "The maidens will attend to you, and you will be attending the royal ball."
Tsk.
"The king could have…could have," she bit back her tongue, then sighed. "Ahh, Madeline, be grateful the king spared your life for being so tied to him."
She tapped her fingers on the mirror stand, her eyes wandering around the room. Then she turned towards the door, where the maids had left, promising to be back when the king called for her.
"Why are they wasting so much time?"
She wondered if the king had asked for her, but the maidens probably were so engrossed in gossip at their quarters that they had forgotten to call for her.
The cold wind from the open window made her fear she would fall ill. Madeline stood by the window where she could see the courtyard clearly, with the gate wide open and lanterns hanging all around.
She observed different carriages coming through the gate, from which nobles stepped out wearing fine dresses.
The king made her wear a fine dress, but how would she fit in when she neither knew how to act like a polished lady nor walked in a manner like that of nobles and those of high status? When she did not know the taste of fine wines, nor did she know how to sway properly to the music set for dancing.