The Crown's Obsession (WN)

James didn't know how to refuse her without hurting her feelings, but he doubted being polite would help in his case right now. He had been polite to her, but that was all, there was no other meaning to it, "You are a good woman, Miss Barnes-"

"Why are you calling me 'Miss Barnes?" she asked sadly, "Why are you doing this? Stop joking-"

"I am not joking," came the curt reply from James, "I never held such feelings towards you, nor did I have any intention when I accompanied you. I did it out of politeness and nothing more to it. Please do not search for more meaning in my actions when it comes to you."

Catherine shook her head, "No," she whispered, and her words turned louder than a whisper, "No, you can't do that. Every time the matter was remotely brought up in public, you haven't refused it. Why didn't you refuse it?"

"Because I didn't want to create embarrassment for you. It is not right to publicly reject a lady. A man's value is not easily broken, but a women's is. I was only protecting you from it," his lips pursed, not wanting to say anything rude to her whilst trying to get his point across to the lady, "I do not share romantic feelings with you, milady."

The vampiress found it hard to digest, and she stared at James, "I love you, James. I love you, and I am baring my heart to you. You do not have to live in this place. Your father will be taken better care of, we can live happily, just like now-"

James turned away. The headache from his fever was returning twice in pain, "Miss Barnes. I have accompanied you because you are a lovely woman. It was never in the intention of wanting to impress you. There has been a person whom I have liked for a very long time…"

The sadness in Catherine's eyes was replaced with sudden anger, "Who is it?" she asked him.

To people around, Catherine was an innocent vampiress who appeared to be harmless and gullible to the world she lived in. It was something that had made James oblige to her words.

But Catherine was far from being called gullible. She used her innocent face to get what she wanted, pushing people for her own purpose while acting oblivious. It was how she had trapped James in her world, trying to bring him where she was. But there was someone who was in his heart and her hands clenched in anger.

Bringing tears in her eyes, she walked around to stand in front of James as he had turned away from her. Repeating her question, she asked, "Who is that girl who has your heart when I was the one who had been standing next to you."

She had been watching James and his surroundings like a Hawk, making sure no girl would try to get close to him while she claimed him openly yet subtle in every soiree, that made people believe they were a couple who were together. So far, the only person Catherine had her doubt on was the village girl Madeline Harris. In the past, James had brought up Madeline's name, but Catherine had never seen them together. Not to forget, the girl was going to get married to the King.

"Is it that Madeline?" asked Catherine, not holding back her question.

"No, it's not her," answered James with a simple lie. He didn't want any harm to befall on Madeline. The King had announced about his marriage to her. James would have to do something as the person he was up against, was no village man but a person who held the crown. The highest position in Devon.

Catherine wanted to know who this person was, who was coming between her and James. Gritting her teeth while trying to calm herself, with her chin tilted upwards to look at the man, she said,

"Okay, if you don't want to marry me, I do not want to force you," Catherine said lowering her gaze from him, her eyes moist, "You should go and marry the girl then, that would stop from getting my hopes up."

James felt terrible that he was breaking Catherine's heart, but he didn't want to lie any more by keeping quiet, "You deserve a better man, Miss Barnes. A man with better value who will suit you," The girl did nothing but nod her head.

"Yes," came her small voice, "What is keeping you waiting? Is the girl someone I know? Something I can help you with?" asked Catherine with an ulterior motive. She was waiting at the top of her toes to get the name. Whoever the girl was, she would be pushed aside so that Catherine would take to love James and he would love her back.

"Thank you, but I would like to do that myself," James offered her a smile, "I should rest now," he said, and Catherine gave him another nod.

"Do take care of yourself," she bowed her head and left his house.

When Catherine entered her mansion, she walked to where her parents were and broke into fits of tears, "Mama!"

"What happened, Catherine?!" asked Mrs. Barnes in worry, while Catherine continued to cry, "Tell, mama," coaxed the older vampiress, wondering what made her child cry.

Catherine gave out bits and pieces of information regarding what James said, that would make her appear like the saddest soul.

By the time Mr. Barnes returned home, Mrs. Barnes had conveyed the news to her husband, "Isn't it good that he has refused?" she asked.

"How dare that the lowly man break's my daughter's heart," raged Mr. Barnes, "He should be grateful that we even thought of taking him into this mansion. It is also the King's orders that we are ready to marry Catherine to that man. I will see to it that he marries her. If he tried to marry any other woman, she will be killed."