My limbs have gone completely numb as I remained outside of Melody's chamber doors for over an hour. Lady Jane had left Melody's room about 30 minutes ago. As she walked into the hallway, she looked at me with almost pity crossing her face, and then it was replaced with shame.
She said nothing to me as she walked down the hallway and towards her own chambers. Melody had gone off and told me to stay put. The hallway had gone cold, and goosebumps began invading my body. I shook as I remained kneeling outside of her door with my arms rose, my knees planted on the hardened floors, and my body bare for the palace to see.
I felt like an exhibit for anyone to walk by and stare at.
I heard the light chattering of Melody and some of the other ladies of the house as they made their way down the hall and neared Melody's bedroom. Melody stopped in front of me and narrowed her eyes.
The group of ladies she was with gasped as they saw my bare body before them.
"What has she done?" Lady Daphne asked, pulling her eyes away from me to look at Melody.
Melody scoffed.
"She acted like a whore in front of Prince William," Melody said. "Threw herself at him. He rejected her and she embarrassed herself."
That was a lie. I didn't throw myself at him. I would never.
"Foolish maid," Lady Daphne laughed; the other ladies chuckled as well as they entered Lady Melody's bedroom.
"Lady Melody," I called after her before she could disappear; she turned back to me, and her frown deepened. "May I put my arms down?" I asked, my voice feeling raw and unused.
She rolled her eyes and turned away from me.
"Not until I say."
As she disappeared, tears fell down my features and a sob escaped my lips.
...
Another hour had gone by, and Lady Melody's bedroom door swung open. The ladies walked back into the hall, staring at me as they dispersed in the different directions they were headed. Melody stood, continuing to stare at me for a long while. I tried not to show her the pained expression on my face, or to let my body waver due to the discomfort and numbness I felt.
"You are dismissed to your chamber," she said bitterly. "I need you rested for this evening. Prince William will be attending a dinner in my chamber tonight and you are to serve the meals. Understood?"
I lowered my arms and covered my body with my hands.
"Yes, my lady," I said as I pulled myself off the ground. I gathered my clothing and slipped them back on, relieved to finally be fully clothed once again.
She disappeared back into her room as I attempted to walk down the hallway and toward my own bedroom. My legs were numb and felt like jelly; I thought I was going to fall over. I had to use the wall as leverage to keep my stance.
Regrettably, I had to walk past William's chamber to get to the handmaiden's unit. As I walked past his door, I could hear the low murmurs of Lady Jane and William speaking within his room. It almost sounded distressful, and William wasn't sounding pleased.
They must have been arguing about something. Curiosity grew the best of me, and I stopped momentarily to hear what they were saying.
I looked around the hallway to make sure no one was around before pressing my ear against his door. Though I couldn't hear much of anything. I listened for a moment longer but I nearly fell forward as the door swung open.
I was faced with two puzzled faces: William's and Lady Jane's.
"Your majesty, my lady," I said, curtsying, hoping they didn't know I was eavesdropping.
What was I thinking?
"Were you listening to us?" Lady Jane asked, staring down at me with disapproval.
I felt the heat rising into my face as I shook my head, trying to find the words to defend myself.
"N...no," I stammered; her frown deepened as it was clear she didn't believe me.
William stayed silent; rolling his eyes and looking away from me as if he couldn't be bothered with the likes of me.
"I apologize," I said, bowing slightly as I turned away from them.
"Doris, right?" Lady Jane said, eyeing me carefully.
"Yes, my lady. I'm so sorry. I thought I heard a commotion," I said, which wasn't a lie.
She looked over at William for a moment and back at me.
"I was just telling him how much I adore Lady Melody," Jane said kindly. "Prince William is a hard head and doesn't accept the fact that he has a mate," she chuckled.
He rolled his eyes.
"Right," I said, forcing my own chuckle. "I'm sorry to bother you both. I'll be leaving to my room now."
"Wait," William said, his voice flat.
Both Jane and I stared at him with wide eyes.
"The maid will stay for a moment so we can discuss her eavesdropping," William explained.
Jane nodded and gave me a small smile.
"Of course, your majesty," she said as she walked past him and disappeared down the hall.
My legs trembled as they worked to lift my weight; I sucked in a shaky breath and held it in for a moment before releasing it. My body nearly gave out; I was sleep-deprived and in so much pain. I wasn't sure how much more standing I could handle.
William stood in front of me, looking away like he hardly noticed I was there. He was silent for a long while; the silence laying thick between us.
He eventually glanced down at me, and his mouth formed a thin line.
"You are quite an interesting thing," he said, his voice kept low as he assessed my face.
"Your majesty?" I asked, keeping my voice as even as possible, relieved that it didn't quaver.
"You seem to be in the way often and clumsy," he said, still assessing my face. I felt my cheeks redden at his words as he leaned closer to me. His thumb traced under my chin and lifted my gaze up to his as he leaned closer to me. "You seem to be hanging around Martin often as well."
My mouth nearly fell open; he saw me speaking with Martin? I didn't see him in the area at all. When would he have seen me?
I swallowed hard.
"Clearly you've gotten close to my brother, or he would have never allowed you into his personal study," William said; his tone was still bored but there was something I couldn't read in his expression.
"I wouldn't say we were close..." I said, I couldn't tell him why I had gone to see Prince Martin. If he knew the reason, then he wouldn't want Melody anymore. I needed him to want her.
"Wanting my brother to put a bug in my ear, did you?" He asked.
I nearly gasped as I stared at him. How did he know this? He knew I went to Martin to ask him to keep William mindful of Lady Melody?
He laughed, a low seductive laugh, as he examined my shocked face; but the laughter didn't meet his eyes. I was frozen in my place as his face neared mine and his grasp on my chin grew a bit tighter to keep me steady. My body remained still, not wanting to move away.
"Obviously falling into me with a clear intent."
I breathed in the scent of his breath as his warmth tickled my nose.
I didn't want this; I didn't want anything to do with him. But my body was ignoring my mind. Like the night he marked me, I remained still and obedient. My lips parted slightly as his breath warmed my features. I stared at his lips, almost hungrily.
I will never understand the effect he has on my body and why it wasn't listening to me when I said I didn't want him.
"Standing outside my door and wishing it could have been you that I was with last night instead of your lady," he said, his voice low and seductive.
He was misreading me. That wasn't what I wanted at all. But my words were lost, and I couldn't speak to defend myself.
I swallowed hard as his lips neared mine, only inches from touching.
"But it isn't you I want," he said, his tone darkening slightly. "I want nothing to do with you." He pulled away, taking the rest of my breath with him.