Chapter 208

Chapter 208 Friends stay in your heart forever William didn’t take the news of Doris going into the village with Beth very well. He insisted that she take his guards with her, but that would only cause more curious glances. Eventually he let it go, because he knew he had to. This was the first trip Doris and Beth would have in their freedom.

a reas “Don’t you look like a doll!” Beth grinned when she saw Doris hurry down the steps. Doris wore a lovely light pink dress with a matching sun hat and cloak on top. The snow had finally melted off the ground and gave her a reason to want to dress pretty for her first outing “I had to try and look as lovely as you.(This novel will be daily updtaed at www.noveljar.com)” Doris grinned and wrapped her arm through hers.

Doris had made sure Beth was sent new clothes overnight so she didn’t have to look at the maids uniform any longer. She wore a light green day dress with a black cloak on top. “I’m surprised that William let you come out!” Beth laughed. They walked down the front steps and the guards didn’t pay them more than a glance. Doris even held her breath for a moment, expecting them to say anything. But they didn’t, they let them go because they were free. “He didn’t want me to. He wanted us to travel with a guard but I thought it would be so much more obvious if we did something like that.” Doris glanced back at the palace as they made their way down the path towards the nearest village. No one had followed. “I wouldn’t let you out if I were him either. Any man would fall over themselves just to have you!” Beth grinned. She seemed so happy and excited, she looked as if a large weight had fallen off her shoulders and it was the first time Doris had noticed it. She wondered if she looked the same.

The village walk took a lot longer than they expected, but once they arrived it was filled with excitement.

“Oh my! It looks like it’s a market day!” Doris bounced on her toes before she calmed herself. They were supposed to blend in, not act like fools.

Beth seemed to think the same. She instantly tried to cool her features as they wandered through the streets lined with small booths. There were some with flowers, jars of jam, books, even clothes. Doris saw homemade jewelry and leather notebooks for sale, it was all so exciting, The girls went to every single booth. Doris bought a few unique books that she knew would never be in the library as well as a jar of homemade jam. She knew she didn’t need any of it since she had all she needed and more at the palace, but it felt good to spend a little of her coin on simple things. It made her feel… happy. Beth was no better. She bought herself a dress, lovely little hair pins and marmalade.

When her back was turned, Doris bought a small gift for her friend and shoved it deep in her pocket before Beth could see what it was.

After searching through every booth, the girls ventured off the the main street and towards the middle of the village where it was a lot calmer.

“I’ve never felt such a rush in my life!” Beth gasped. Her cheeks were red as if she had just run a mile.

(This novel will be daily updtaed at www.noveljar.com) She looked down at her items with the biggest smile on her face, “No one even looked at me as if I was a maid!

They just thought I was one of them!” “You’re not a maid anymore, Beth.” Doris bumped her shoulder.

“You’re so much more and you always have been.”

Beth smiled a little and opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Doris pulled her friend towards a small bakery on the end of town. “I hope they have things for lunch, but I wouldn’t mind just eating pastries.”

Once they seated themselves in the back with their warm cups of tea and sweets, Beth gripped Doris’s hand before she could pick up her brownie. “Oh Doris, I can’t wait another minute. I have to tell you something.” “What is it, Beth? You can tell me anything!” “1–“Beth glanced around. The bakery was small, but enough people talked louder than they did and paid them no attention. “I’m leaving as soon as we get back to the palace.” “What? So soon? Where will you go?” Doris sat up straighter. Her hunger pains dulled instantly as if they were never there. Her best friend was leaving? “Well…” Beth’s cheeks warmed, she gazed down at their hands shyly. “Enzo asked me if I wanted to see the north. I mentioned that I always wanted to see a place covered in mountains of snow and he said it’s almost always like that there. And—and I can’t stand to live another minute at the palace knowing I’m free.”

“Oh, Beth…” Doris felt tears prickle her eyes. She had no idea Enzo was leaving too. “I’m so happy for you.” Beth looked up with a light in her eyes. “You are? I was so afraid to tell you, I didn’t want to break your heart.”

“Beth, you being happy makes my heart whole. I will miss you with every fiber of my being, but I will be at peace knowing you are happy out there.” Doris squeezed her friends hand and wiped her eyes. She knew she probably smeared the makeup she put on for today, but she didn’t care.

“You always have a room at the palace if you want to come back.” Doris continued. “Please don’t forget me, please don’t love another friend more than me and please write to me.”

“Love another friend more than you? Are you mad! There is no other friend I could ever love more than you, you will always be my best friend.” Beth smiled through her tears. “I always thought it would be you and me out there.” “Me too.” Doris whispered. “Promise you will come visit my baby when they’re born.”

“I’m coming for an entire month when you have the baby! You won’t be able to get rid of me!” Beth grinned. She reached across to wipe the stray tear from Doris’s cheek. “You better tell me when it’s coming so I can get here in time.”

“I will.” Doris laughed. “Enzo is a wonderful man, but no one deserves you Beth. Not even I.” Doris pulled out a small box from her pocket and slid it to Beth. “What’s this?” Beth took the box with an excitement.

“What did you get me, Doris Goodwin?” “I got you something to celebrate our first outing… and now for you to remember me by.”

Beth opened the box to see two necklaces with a flower pressed against glass as the pendant. One was blue for Beth, and one was pink for Doris. Beth didn’t have to say anything, she placed the pink flower one in Doris’s hand and quickly put on her own.

It wasn’t diamonds, it was a simple pendant on a chain that represented their friendship. Beth had to cup her mouth to keep in the sounds of her tears.

“Doris…” She whimpered.

Doris gripped her hand. “I’ll always be with you now, wherever you go.” She whispered. . Beth got up to hug Doris as tightly as she could. Doris didn’t want to let go, but she knew she had to. After they finally ate their food and walked back to the palace, a carriage was waiting at the front. Enzo leaned against it with his hands in his pockets and eyes to the sky. He smiled when they approached him. “I don’t normally like to break hearts on such a beautiful day, but I’m afraid it’s time for me to go.(This novel will be daily updtaed at www.noveljar.com)” Enzo said as he stepped up to Doris. He gave Beth one long lingering look before he looked down at Doris again. “I don’t know how I will get through my days without your voice, I might faint away to dust.” Doris said dramatically. Enzo grinned and pulled her into a hug. Doris closed her eyes and tried to pull back the tears that wanted to rush out of her eyes. When he gripped her shoulders and pulled away, she had failed—her tears poured out anyway. Enzo wiped them away for her.

“Send for me if you need me to kick a king’s ass. I will come to your aide as fast as I can with a smile on my face. Although, I know you can kick his ass better than I can.”

Doris laughed through her sniffles. “I don’t know what I’m going to do without your confidence in me, Enzo.” “You don’t need me to remind you that you are incredible. You’re a white wolf-No, even better—

you’re Doris. You are the best thing that could have ever happened to his kingdom.” “I’m lucky to know you, Enzo. Unfortunately for you—I also told Beth to call for me if she needs me to kick your ass.” Enzo threw back his head and laughed. “Good. I hold you to that.” Doris hugged him one last time before she threw her arms around Beth. “Please come visit me as soon as “I’m already planning to in a week.” Beth whispered. Doris wiped her eyes and stepped back. She watched her friends climb into the carriage. Enzo ever the gentleman as he helped Beth up. She leaned out the window and waved to Doris as the carriage pulled away.