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Chapter 42 Stay down
The carriage was packed and ready by the time Doris finally arrived to the stables. It was much smaller
than the other carriages the prince’s usually traveled in, she assumed Prince William wanted to remain
as discreet as they possibly could by taking the smaller one. It was typically used by lower ranked
members of the royal party, never by a prince. Prince William turned the moment she stepped around the
corner as if he sensed she was there. A heat of rage spiked through her veins when their eyes met, she
quickly looked away in case he caught her anger. She wanted so badly to give him a piece of her mind
about what he did to Beth, but she knew it would only make things worse. She had no right to speak to a
prince that way, even though she silently screamed at him in her mind. He deserved it, but she would
never allow herself to do
1. it.
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He was leaned back against the side of the carriage as if he had been waiting there for hours. Dressed
head to toe in a sea of black fabrics, it made his eyes look startling against his snowy features. Doris
calmed her rage and finally looked up at him once she was able to form a mask strong enough to hide
her emotions. “Sorry I took so long, your majesty. I was saying goodbye to a friend.” Doris said evenly as
she curtsied, careful not to let her voice waver. Prince William furrowed his dark brows, a bit of suspicion
crept into his features though she couldn’t tell why. “Who were you saying goodbye to?
down “No, another maid named Beth. She’s a good friend of mine.” The same maid you tied my fate
around. Doris added silently. She watched for recognition to spark in his features, for any sense of
acknowledgement for what he’d done. His blue eyes remained distant and stormy, not even a flicker of
anything sparked on his features
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“You’ve kept us long enough, let’s go.” He pushed off the side of the carriage and didn’t bother to wait for
another servant to open the door for him. He pulled himself up and left the door wide open. Doris
glanced around, but no one moved to close it.
ward and started to push it closed for him when his hand shot out and held it open. “What do you think
you’re doing?” He asked. “Oh, I’m sorry. I was just closing it for you, your majesty.” Doris dropped her
hand and stepped back. “Do you plan on standing out there all night? You’ve already costed us a good
part of the hour.” He leaned out and grabbed her wrist to pull her inside the carriage “Oh!” Doris stumbled
a little and quickly pulled herself up into the carriage to seat herself opposite of him. It was so much
smaller than she imagined, one bump and she would be on top of him. “I didn’t realize I would be riding
with you, your majesty.” Doris smoothed out her thick skirts and leaned back against the leathered seat,
she wondered if he could hear how loud her heart raced Prince William slammed the carriage door shut
and turned to look at her. “Where did you think you would be riding? With one of my guards on the back
of their horse?” “I don’t know, your majesty. I suppose so.” Doris glanced out the small windows and
gripped the
seats as the carriage pulled away from the palace. She definitely didn’t need to accidentally fall onto
Prince William snorted and shook his head, he looked out the window on the other side of the carriage.
He looked as if it was ridiculous of her to think she would’ve traveled any other way but in this carriage
with him. Normally servants had their own horses or carriages, it was unheard of to ride with a royal
member. Let alone a prince. Since this was the only carriage they were bringing, she assumed that was
why she was sharing the carriage with him now. All of his guards rode on black horses that surrounded
every angle of the carriage. Doris watched as the palace grew smaller in the distance before she closed
the curtain and looked away. She wasn’t sure how long it would be until they returned, it was strange to
leave it behind for the first time in forever. Thank goodness she brought the book Prince Martin had given
her, it might be a long ride before they stopped and she didn’t think Prince William would be a good
match for a long conversation with a maid. She pulled out the small maroon book and gently ran her
fingers over the shimmering cover, it was so much more beautiful than she remembered. She opened
the book and smiled at Prince Martin’s neat handwriting. When Doris looked up, Prince William had his
dark gaze already on her. She silently closed the book.” How long has it been since you’ve traveled
outside of the palace?” He asked. “Oh-about five years, your majesty.” Doris glanced down at the book
on her lap. “I haven’t been outside the palace’s grounds since I first arrived as a maid when I was 16.” 1
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asked, she shifted slightly under his gaze. “I used to love working in the library, your majesty.” His gaze
narrowed a little. “Why there of all places you could be?” “I suppose I liked to read whenever I wasn’t
working. Not many people ventured into the library so it was the perfect place to me.” “Not many people
visited the library,” He leaned his chin on his palm as he slouched back against the wall of the carriage. “I
know that can’t be true.” “Well, not many did. Prince Martin came by once a week for a short time and
some of the other servants would pop in to grab something to read but most of the time it’s just me in
there.” “You seemed to have made an impression on him nonetheless.” He said with an edge to his
voice. His eyes flickered to her book and her fingers tightened on it.
“I don‘t know what you mean, your majesty.” Prince William leaned towards her, resting his elbows on his
knees. “Perhaps it would be wise for you not to refer to me as a prince on this journey. If anyone had
heard you, it might tip them off once we get closer to the north.” “What should I call you, then?” Doris
asked cautiously, she leaned back further into the leather seat away from him. “William. Nothing else.”
His eyes grazed the book once more, when his blue gaze retumed to her own -she felt as if she could
drown in the color. He was so close, she could smell the scent of pine on him. She wondered if he had
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmgone on a walk through the trees after they left his mother’s cottage. Her fingers itched to pick out the
small leaf that sat in his soft dark hair. He would surely throw her out of his marriage if she tried
something like that Derhane he
would make her run next to the carriage if he got angry enough at her. He stared at her with his head
tilted as if he was waiting for her to say something. His dark brows raised impatiently, she swallowed
when she realized what he must have been wanting to hear
“William.” She said hesitantly. It felt strange to refer to him by his first name. Daniel was easier since he
was a friend before a prince to her but Prince William had only ever been a prince to her and he was so
much more intimidating than Daniel. Doris cleared her throat and spoke more clearly.” Yes, of course I’ll
call you by your name, William. If that’s what you wish.” Doris thought she saw the corner of his mouth
move up slightly, but she blinked and it was down again. “It is.” He leaned back against the seat and
turned his attention out the window to watch as the trees passed them by in a blur of motion. His dark
lashes lowered a little as if he were in thought, she let out a slow breath and picked up her book again.
She sensed their time for conversation had come to a close and most of her was thankful for it. After a
while of reading, Doris quickly understood why the prince loved this poetry book so much. It was filled
with hope and wonder for the future and love. She felt herself dozing off after the first chapter and
glanced up to see Prince William still staring out the window. Doris closed her eyes and allowed herself
to rest.
Doris woke the second the carriage started to shake erratically. How long had she been asleep? She sat
up quickly and gripped the black cloak that must have been laid across her as she slept. What was
happening? Where were they?
Her eyes immediately sought out Prince William for answers-he was glancing out the window trying to
see what was happening when he suddenly turned and threw himself on her. “Stay down!” He shouted.
William held onto Doris tightly as the carriage tipped and darkness took over.
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