Chapter 22

Beth’s grin widened at her own suggestion, but Doris only stared at her as if she had lost her mind. “We can’t ask Prince Martin for help, Beth! What are you thinking?” There was no way Prince Martin would be able to help her, let alone care where she ended up. He had more important things to worry about than a maid who was being mistreated. He was the crown prince, after all. Doris bet she never even crossed his mind since she’d left the library. Why would she?

“I saw Prince Martin in the library the other day,” Beth lowered her voice and neared Doris with a quick glance over her shoulder to make sure no one was listening. “He looked as if he were hoping someone might show up, and I think he was hoping it was you.”

Doris furrowed her brows at her friend and would have laughed if her ribs didn’t hurt. Beth did love her gossip, but this was ridiculous. “Perhaps he was waiting for his lady to join him, Beth. Don’t be silly.”

“In the library? I’ve never seen her go anywhere near there, let alone with Prince Martin!” Beth said. “I don’t know, Doris. Perhaps he misses your company and was hoping you would return. If that’s the case, he would be more than happy to help you relocate from Melody!”

Doris didn’t want to break her friend’s hopefulness—but she knew Prince Martin wasn’t standing around waiting for her to show up at the library. He was kind to her in the past, but he was always a kind man to everyone he’d met.

Doris knew how much Prince Martin enjoyed the library, it wasn’t odd to hear he’d been there looking lost when she was sure it was most likely because he couldn’t find the right book he wanted to read. Doris herself had caught that lost look on his face many times before. She briefly wondered if he was still writing small notes in that same copy of Moon Rising he loved.

Doris offered a small smile. “I don’t think he was hoping for me, Beth. Why would he waste his time hoping a maid would come by to visit him?”

“Doris, I saw the way he looked at you that one day.” Beth crossed her arms over her chest. “I think he misses having you there to talk to, the very least.”

“He is a kind man, Beth. That is all. He’s not going to help me with Melody.”

“Will you at least consider asking him?” Beth pleaded, Doris let out a small sigh.

“Yes, I’ll consider it.” Doris knew she wouldn’t change her mind about the subject, but Beth wanted some sort of hope to hold onto. She was grateful for her friend that cared so much, but it wasn’t as simple as she thought it was.

Doris moved to get up, but Beth made her lay back again.

“Oh no you don’t, you still need to rest. Don’t worry, I won’t go anywhere.” Beth seated herself by Doris’s bed and opened a small book. “I brought something to read to you, I know how much you love stories and I thought this fairytale might help you feel a little better.”

Beth stayed with Doris for hours, never once hinting that she wanted to leave. It wasn’t until Doris felt she had enough strength to make it back to her own room that she allowed her to finally stand and dress. Even then, Beth tried to convince her to sleep for another few hours before she even attempted to leave, but Doris was tired of laying for so long in the same spot.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to walk you back to your room?” Beth asked as they passed her room—Doris’s old room.

“I’m positive, there’s no need for you to go back and forth, I’ll make it there just fine.” Doris offered a smile and squeezed her friend’s hand lightly before she turned away.

Each step was its own small agony. She felt the pain shoot up from her feet and vibrate through her body—right to the areas Melody kicked her the hardest. The doctor wanted her to rest more, and Doris wished she was allowed to fall into bed and sleep for days until it all went away. The only thing that stopped her from doing so was the thought of Melody forcing her from her rest just to shine her shoes or some other useless task. There was no point in hoping Melody would leave her be until she fully recovered, it was only a matter of time until she was summoned.

Doris moved slowly down the emptied halls, at least no one else was around to see her this way. As she rounded a corner, she bumped right into David and swallowed her thoughts. His scruffy hair and charming smile were on full display when she looked up at him. He reached out to steady her and his touch shot a lick of pain right through her. His smile faded when he saw her wince and looked down to see her bandaged hand.

“Did you burn your hand again?” He reached for her arm, Doris pulled it out of his grasp before he saw the rest of her marks. At least he hadn’t seemed to hear the gossip about her—yet. She didn’t exactly feel like telling anyone about it either. Did that mean only the maids spread gossip? Or did David just not pay attention to any of it as it swirled around him?

“Yes,” Doris lied quickly. “I was making tea and some of the water splashed over.”

David shook his head with a ghost of a smile on his lips. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the small tube of ointment. “I’ll tell you what, why don’t you keep this one since you seem to have a habit of burning yourself. I have a ton in my room.”

“Oh! I couldn’t—” Doris flushed, he must think she was so clumsy.

“I insist, my lady.” He gave her a cheeky grin, she almost rolled her eyes at him calling her a lady. A foolish boy. What if a real lady had heard him say that? Another thing that would get them both in trouble.

Doris glanced over her shoulder and saw the hallways were still empty around them. Slowly, she turned back to him and bowed her head a little. “Well, I appreciate this, thank you.” She smiled a little as she slipped it into her pocket to put on later. She wasn’t sure it would help with the type of injury she had, but it was worth a try. He truly was a kind boy, even if he also happened to be a bit reckless.

“Don’t mention it, truly.” David smiled and brushed a bit of hair from his light eyes. “I was hoping I would run into you, actually.”

“Oh really? And why’s that? Were you hoping I had another strawberry cake?” Doris teased.

David scratched the back of his head and forced a smile, he looked a little nervous. “No, but I wouldn’t turn any dessert away if you did happen to have any.” He blew out a laugh and cleared his throat. “I was just wondering if you were going to be attending Luna Queen’s birthday party? Since your lady is hosting it, I just was curious if you’d be working it.”

Doris almost flinched at Melody’s name. She looked down at herself and bit her lip. “No, I won’t be working the party. My hand is too injured to be any good for it.”

Doris looked up to see the tension in David deflate, he grinned at her normally again. “Oh, it’s a shame but I’m glad you’re putting yourself first over a silly party.”

Doris almost snorted at his comment, but it wouldn’t have been appropriate. It wasn’t her choice to have been so injured, she doubted Melody would want Doris showing her bruised self anywhere near the party. A bigger part of Doris was glad to have the excuse. It meant she wouldn’t have to be around Melody or Prince William that night.

“I’m sure it’ll be one big bore.” David started walking backwards down the hall with his eyes still on her, “I’ve got to get back to my duties, but I’ll see you later. Perhaps next time with some cake.” David winked before he turned and disappeared out of sight.

Doris laughed a little to herself as she watched him leave. It was a wonder how he of all young men had been selected to protect somebody as cold as Prince William, but she was happy to see such a kind face at the Palace.

Doris started towards her room once again, but stopped in her tracks.

Why did he seem so happy she wasn’t going to be there?