The dining room Doris was brought to was a lot smaller than she expected. A table fit for two had a beautiful emerald cloth and matching plates that were already piled with food before they could even sit down. One of the servants pulled out her chair and Doris couldn't help but feel embarrassed with how messy she looked. It was no palace, but it was still beautiful.
Doris tried to smooth out her greasy hair and ignored the dirt on her arms as she discreetly tried to wipe as much as she could from her hands beneath the table. Mr. Hugh took the chair across from her and smiled widely as if they were old friends. She couldn't help but wonder what his motive was behind that grin.
"We're set to leave after dinner to the church, I thought it would be wise for us to get there a night before your party arrives." Mr. Hugh said as he placed a napkin across his lap. She watched his every move just as he watched her own as if it was a game between them.
"We're going to wait all night for them?" Doris asked. She eyes the food on both of their plates and saw they were laid out exactly the same. "I would think it was unnecessary to arrive that early."
"Well, we can't be unprepared. A trade this big deserves a bit more of our preparation, wouldn't you say?" Mr. Hugh said lightly as he picked up his fork for the first time.
"I-"
"Besides," he continued as if Doris hadn't said anything, "I wouldn't put it past your prince to be just as early as us." Mr. Hugh winked across at her. Doris only blinked. It made her skin crawl each time he referred to William as her prince. As if he was in on a secret that was just between the two of them.
"Is there a reason you gave me-the honor-of a private dinner with you?" Doris asked. "Not that I'm ungrateful, but I can't help but feel as if there is more you wish to talk about."
"I appreciate your need to always get to the point." He leaned back in his chair. Doris felt her stomach grumble from the delicious scents in front of her, but he hadn't taken a bite yet-and neither would she. "Normally, I'd expect a bit more conversation to soften the mood but I have to admit, I'm more like you." Mr. Hugh spiked a piece of meat with his fork and took a large bite. Doris finally did the same and almost moaned from the taste. If he wasn't in front of her watching her so intently, she would have devoured the entire plate in seconds.
"I know that you're aware of the real reason the prince has come all the way to the north. I was told he came to find some plant but I know that can't be the whole truth."
"His lady was poisoned by a plant that's only found in the north. We came here to try and find who bought it and why they would poison her." Doris said calmly as if she had rehearsed it a hundred times. Mr. Hugh raised his brows, her grip tightened on her fork.
"His lady? I was told you were his lady." He said, amused.
"I'm not his lady, I'm just his maid. His lady is back at the palace." Doris said carefully. She willed herself not to blush but her cheeks never listened to her. "He's come all this way to find who wished her harm."
"Interesting. Does his lady know how close you are with the prince? Or is it normal for him to be close with his pretty servants?"
Doris swallowed her food and set down her fork. "As I said, we're just here to find the poisonous plant."
"And have you found it yet? With all of your time here?"
"We have. He already discovered who was responsible." Doris straightened her shoulders. She knew that William hadn't tried to find exactly where the plant was bought since he already knew Luna Queen had done the poisoning. Mr. Hugh didn't have to know that they hadn't been investigating that mystery, though. If he thought Doris was easily intimidated, he was sadly mistaken.
"Ah, so who was the one responsible?" He asked.
"I'm afraid only he knows. He's very private about his matters and he doesn't care to share the information with his maid." Doris said a little loudly as if it would get the point across more. "He's a man of very little words."
"You expect me to believe that the prince came here to discover who poisoned his lady when he could have easily sent someone else in his place?"
"I don't know what you believe but it's true. We were set to head back the day you attacked Enzo. The prince prefers to handle his own matters."
"Hmm." Mr. Hugh leaned back with a smile that never wavered. It gave her the chills. "I think the prince had another intention coming all the way to the north with only a handful of guards and a maid."
"A prince always should have at least one servant with him to meet his needs-" Doris blushed the second it was out of her mouth and Mr. Hugh laughed.
"I bet he does. Though, I didn't expect him to go through so much trouble for any maid. I heard he goes through plenty at the palace. But here he is, ready to trade valuable information for you."
"He feels responsible for his people. He wouldn't want me to suffer because of him-he's a good man."
Mr. Hugh leaned across the table and eyed her closely. Doris kept herself as even as she possibly could even though his stare made her want to shrink back into herself and disappear.
"I think we've treated you kindly enough considering you bed our enemy. I would've hoped you'd be more willing to be truthful with me." Mr. Hugh said. She could hear the patience running out of his voice.
"You locked me in a dark cell all night." Doris glanced at her dirty clothes and arms. "I wouldn't say that's the kindest I've been treated. Or do you expect me to be grateful you didn't leave me out in the cold chained to a tree?"
"Yes, well-you had my rogues in a bit of a frenzy looking for you all night. Perhaps we should have considered chaining you to a tree." Mr. Hugh slammed his fist down on the table and made her flinch. "I know you're lying. I know the prince has a more sinister plan in mind and I'm not as blind as Enzo to ignore it and let my people die."
He stood from the table and their dishes were cleared immediately. Doris hadn't even gotten to finish and her stomach still felt hollow. "I heard he didn't do a thing when that prince ripped through villages looking for you. Killing innocent people who wished him no harm!" Mr. Hugh shouted. Doris felt as if the room had blurred around him. Her head was almost too heavy to lift.
"What kind of leader puts his enemy over his own people? He had his own villagers put to death for harming you of all people!" Mr. Hugh walked around the table and leaned his face closer to her own. She tried to move away from him but he kept her firm. "Why is your prince really here? Is he working with Enzo?"
"No." Doris said simply. It was the truth, and she wasn't willing to give him any more. Mr. Hugh growled and smacked the sides of her chair so hard, she was certain it would crack. "He wishes the rogues no harm, that's all I know. We came here to find a poisonous plant."
Mr. Hugh laughed bitterly and snapped his fingers. Two guards came and forced her up from her chair. "Take her to the carriage. It's time to go to the church."
Their grips made her wince as they practically carried her out the door. She tried to keep up with their long strides but they only ended up dragging her most of the way like she was a dog. Doris glanced up to see Joseph on one side of her and she felt sick to her stomach. Hours ago he was dancing with her in the snow, now he was acting like she truly was a prisoner. One he despised, at that. How could he not understand that she needed to get out?
They dragged her out into the snow and forced her into a waiting carriage with no sense of warmth to ward off the cold. Joseph locked eyes with her for a moment.
"Joseph-"
He shook his head and slammed the door. In her bones she knew that something wasn't right.