Chapter 107

Chapter 107 No trusting.

“I never expected to love the snow as much as I do.” Doris said aloud to herself as she glanced up the snow dusted window. She knew Enzo was long gone, but she couldn’t help but hope he would come back around to reassure her everything would be alright. He didn’t look entirely convinced that the rogues would fall through on their promises and she hadn’t slept for more than a few minutes at a time since she’d came.

There was still two days before they’d take her to the church to exchange her life for a recipe. She hated the idea that her life was once again out of her hands. She had to sit here and wait for her fate to be told and there was nothing she could do about it. How had her life gone so wrong in such a short amount of time?

Joseph hadn’t come by again since the night before. She had no concept of time or hour many hours had passed since then but it felt like an eternity on its own. Her plan that had started as a small seed had grown to life inside her mind.

All she had to do was let it out to bloom before it was too late. She didn’t want to end up as a pawn for Life Pharmacy just to be killed out of spite to the prince for all that he had done since his short visit to the north. They hated him enough that she knew it would be no easy trade. It was only a matter of how far they would go to get back at him. They knew they finally had something over his head and that something was her.

Joseph’s eyes lingered on her more than a gentlemen would allow. He checked on her more than any prisoner probably ever had been. She remembered how the only time she was checked on at the kingdom was when she was about to be tortured for more information. Never for polite conversation or kind concerns.

The door had a small lock on the inside that she assumed meant it locked from the outside, her fingers grazed the tiny hole. Nothing in her room was small enough to pick at it but it was too bright in the day to even try. Doris took a deep breath and knocked on the door as loud as she could in case he was close by. “Hello?” Doris called. “Is anyone out there?”

It took seconds before the door unlocked and pushed open. Joseph popped his head in and flashed a grin at Doris. It made her wonder if he had been waiting for her to need him. “Hungry?”

“Oh, yes. I was feeling so… faint in here.” Doris fanned herself. “I didn’t realize it could get so stuffy like this.”

Joseph opened the door a little wider. “Ah. I imagine it gets a bit stuffy in here, it’s a rather small area. Let me see if I can open the window for you.”

For a second, she thought he would leave the door open, but he closed and locked it right behind him before he crossed the room to climb on the desk. He pushed with all of his might and the window went up without an issue. He might have cracked it if he pressed any harder. “Oh damn, I thought it was stuck,” he chuckled at himself.

“It was! I tried so many times to open it on my own, I suppose you’re just strong.” Doris twirled a strand of her hair as she watched him climb down. He didn’t need to know that Enzo had been the one to open it first. Especially when he looked so proud at himself at her praise.

“I hope that makes you feel a bit more comfortable.” “Oh, yes. I just…” Doris sighed and glanced out the small window. She could feel the air brush across her face and it felt like it was teasing her.

“What is it?” Joseph tilted his head and stepped closer. A bit of concern crossed his features.

“I just miss the fresh air, I guess.” Doris plopped down on the bed.

Joseph kneeled in front of her. “Don’t worry, Doris. This will all be over soon and you won’t be trapped in here for much longer. I know it seems bad now.”

“I’d like to believe you.” Doris sighed again. Joseph grasped her small hands in his own. They were so warm compared to hers that felt like ice. It wasn’t proper for him to be touching her, but she supposed manners didn’t matter as much in the north.

“It would be a crime to keep a beautiful girl like you in here for much longer.” Doris allowed a blush to coat her cheeks. “Beautiful? Don’t tease me like that, please.”

His brows furrowed. “Tease you? I wouldn’t dare. Hasn’t the prince told you how beautiful you are?”

“He has no reason to, even if he wasn’t a man of little words.”

Joseph shook his head, frustrated with the idea. “He absolutely has a reason to. I always believe a girl should be reminded daily. Especially if she looks like you.”

Doris laughed. “Oh, do you? You’re quite the charmer, aren’t you?”

Joseph gave her a lopsided grin before he stood. “I’ve been told so once or twice.”

“Well, you should have been told much more than that.”

A loud knock made Joseph step away from her quickly before he remembered himself and went to answer the door. His face was flushed beyond repair even though he hadn’t truly done anything wrong.

“Mr. Hugh—“

“What are you doing in here alone with our guest?” Mr. Hugh asked as he eyed Doris still seated on the bed. She wanted to roll her eyes at the use of the word guest when they all knew she was here against her will. Joseph didn’t dare look at her as he moved out of Mr. Hugh’s way “Doris wished for the window to be opened so she could have a bit of air—“

“Get out and wait by the door like you’re meant to.” Mr. Hugh interrupted. Jospeh bowed before he quickly left and closed the door.

Mr. Hugh turned towards Doris again with a small smirk that curved his old lips.” How would your prince act if he knew you had a handsome young guard in your room?”

“Perhaps you should tell him and find out.” Doris said with a lift of her chin. Mr. Hugh laughed as if they were old friends.

“I thought I would stop by to see how you were doing but clearly you’ve been enjoying the views we have to offer. Even the ones inside.” Mr. Hugh dragged the chair away from the bed and elegantly seated himself. “You know, I find you very interesting. I couldn’t stop thinking about you all day. The maid that a prince is willing to bring war for, who would have thought?”

“I can’t guess why you’re so interested. I’ve been a maid for years and nothing more —there’s nothing else to it.” Doris brushed a few specks of dust off her pants.

“Did you know that the king had met William’s mother in the north?” He asked suddenly. Doris refused to let any emotions cross her face. “They were destined mates, isn’t that something?”

“I did know that, yes.”

“I bet William hasn’t tried to find any other family while he’s been here, isn’t that right?” 1 “I’m confused on the point you’re trying to make. Prince William hasn’t shared any of those personal thoughts with me nor has he ever.”

“Of course not. He doesn’t strike me as the kind of man to admit he has feelings. I would have thought that he would at least want to know more about his mother’s history.” Mr. Hugh laughed. “Every rogue here that matters knows where he came from. It’s a shame he doesn’t care to.”

“I think you should ask him yourself if you’re so concerned.”

“Perhaps I will when he comes to save his poor lady.” Mr Hugh smiled. “I’d like you to join me tomorrow for dinner before we leave for the church. I’d like to have a little more time with you before you go.” “Are you planning on releasing me?”

Mr. Hugh laughed again and stood. “You really are a delight. I’ll have the guards fetch you tomorrow.”

Doris watched him leave with doubt crawling up her throat. It made no sense why he wanted her to join him before they left. Shouldn’t he just pass her off and be done with her?

Doris was left alone for hours. A servant dropped off a tray of food but she saw no sign of Joseph again after Mr. Hugh left. Did he get in trouble for opening her window? Or being alone with her?

It wasn’t until Doris had finally dozed off to sleep, that Joseph finally came by again. He closed the door behind him and crept up to the side of her bed.

“Doris”

“Joseph?” Doris gasped and sat up. He held out his hands innocently. “Sorry for startling you. I wanted to ask if you’d like to take a midnight stroll.”