Chapter 15

#Chapter 15 I have no interest in you Doris stopped and turned towards the voice. Lady Jane slowly moved to face her, a ghost of a smile on her lips.

“Were you talking to me, my lady?” Doris asked with a polite smile.

“Do you see anyone else around that could play lady Melody so easily?”

Doris’ smile froze on her lips. “Play her?” Was this a joke? As much as Doris hated Melody, she would never dare play a lady. Especially not one so cruel. No revenge was worth losing her life over.

Lady Jane’s smile grew as she walked gracefully towards Doris. “Prince William has gone without an official lady for so long, it’s caused quite the jealousy between the girls at the palace. Those that fought with the other girls were never suitable for the title which was almost all of them. But Lady Melody was someone who had been marked by Prince William himself so he ignored her to see if she was fit enough for the role.”

Doris only blinked at Lady Jane as if she didn’t understand what the lady was implying.

“If you didn’t stop Melody’s bribery, she would have been worth nothing to the prince. She would have never earned the chance to spend the night with the prince in his own bedroom.”

Doris’s eyes widened when she realized Lady Jane knew exactly what Doris had done. How on earth did she find out Doris never gave the gold to Prince William’s valet?

It dawned on her that Lady Jane kept an eye on everything to do with Prince William, including his maids. Ms. Shirley had gotten her tip, but Peter never received the money. It must have been so obvious.

“I apologize for taking the gold for myself, but I only took it out of greed. Please forgive me.” Doris lowered her head, clasped her hands in front of her and spoke carefully. “I still don’t understand what you meant, my lady. If you say I’m good at what you referred, how is it that I’m still being punished by Lady Melody?”

“I’m not really sure why you’re doing this, but be careful. The Golden Palace is too ruthless of a place for someone soft like you to fit in here, don’t get yourself involved in things you can’t handle. It might devour you whole.”

Doris understood her warning. She was indeed helping Melody, because she had to. It was the only way to secure her release when the amnesty was signed. If Melody was happy and kept her title, Doris would eventually be free.

Nothing could devour her, she promised herself. She would do whatever she had to do and be free of this place. Even if it meant being kind to the last person that ever deserved it and swallowing all the abuse she suffered through daily.

Doris released a breath and smiled again. “I still don’t completely understand your words, but I’m thankful for the reminder, my lady.”

“Well, I won’t keep on if you’re not getting it. But if I were you, I would get rid of the gold as soon as possible. It will cause you more trouble than it’s worth.” Lady Jane turned to leave.

Doris hadn’t even considered what to do with the gold, but Lady Jane was right. She had to get rid of it before someone found it on her.

For the next few days, Doris anxiously waited to catch Peter alone. Every time she saw him, he was busy with some other matter that always had him surrounded by others. Each minute that passed only made her more nervous, the longer she kept the gold the more trouble she would be in. Would they throw her in the cell if Melody claimed she was a thief? The last thing she needed was to be marked as untrustworthy by the palace. No, she needed to get out of here. Not make more trouble for herself.

Finally Doris caught him alone when he was walking the opposite way down the same hallway. Doris quickened her step and greeted him with a smile.

“Hello Peter! How’re you doing today?”

“Oh, Doris. I’m doing very well, how’s your lady?” Peter slowed his steps to talk with her though he didn’t sound entirely happy. Clearly he was still burned about not receiving a tip the last time they spoke.

Unfortunately for him, Lady Melody was now Prince William’s favorite. At least to the eyes around the castle.

“She’s doing well. Though there is something…” Doris quickly held out the gold for him to take just to rid herself of it. She didn’t get to finish her sentence when Peter turned away from her and bowed. “Your majesty.”

Majesty? Doris swallowed and slowly turned to face Prince William. His face wore a mask of no emotion, she quickly curtsied. “Your majesty.”

“Peter, go tell lady Melody I will meet her for dinner in her room.” Prince William said with his eyes still on her.

“Yes, your majesty. I’m on it.” Peter bowed before he left down the hall, leaving them alone.

Doris nervously shifted her weight onto the other foot and tried to hide the gold in her hands. His gaze burned through her, she lifted her eyes to his own. “Your majesty, if you don’t need anything else I’ll be going.”

Doris turned, but the man grabbed her wrist and forced her to look back at him. “Who’s is it?” He asked between clenched teeth. Doris lowered her gaze to the gold.

“Is it your lady’s?” He asked.

“Oh! No, no.” Doris said quickly. “It’s mine…” She regretted the words as soon as they were out, she cringed at herself. How could she tell him it was hers! What was she thinking? Now he was going to think she wanted him in that way.

He loosened his grip from surprise and shot her a disgusted look. “Oh.”

Doris felt the shame crawl up her throat as he buried any shards left of her dignity into the ground. She looked down at her feet and wished he would leave her alone already. The sound he made when he found out it was hers was what she expected from a man that hated her so.

Prince William reached out his hand to raise her chin. She held her breath as he looked her over.

“Actually, you don’t look that bad.” He inched closer to her and lowered his head to her neck. She could feel his warm breath on her skin. Her mind screamed at her to run from him before he sank his teeth into her like he did in her nightmare.

He inhaled her scent, every bone in her body was frozen to his touch. “And you smell good.” He whispered.

Slowly, he raised his head until his lips hovered over her own. His blue eyes flickered down to her mouth and she wanted to push him as far as she could away from her. He couldn’t kiss her, this was not happening! Her body felt hot, too hot. As if he doused her in his own body heat from a simple touch.

What game was he playing? A moment ago he looked as if he were about to throw up at the thought of her wanting him, now he inhaled her as if she were his next meal to taste.

No, I don’t want this. Doris shouted in her mind. His hand curled around the back of her neck and she almost melted into him. What was happening to her? Her body was fighting her mind, she didn’t want this, she didn’t—

She heard the gold coins hit the floor beneath them as it slipped from her hand.

His lips parted, she couldn’t take her eyes off his mouth—

“But, I have no interest in you.”