Of all the things she had to pretend to be... his wife was the last thing on the list that she would have guessed. Doris searched through her clothes and came out with an outfit she thought would blend in best with those that lived here. A thick cream sweater with a black coat on top and boots that were meant to brave even the worse snow. She pulled her hair up into a bun and pulled a black hat Eliza had given her over it. She wasn't sure if anyone would recognize her long brown hair, but she didn't want to take any chances.
When she came back out, William was talking with Patrick close by her cabin. His eyes caught on her for a second but she was too distracted by his attire to notice. He was dressed almost exactly like Enzo with the same crisp suit that was built for snow and one of the many hats she'd seen him in around the camp. When she neared him, he even smelled different. She'd never seen William in anything but his fancy prince attire and palace themed outfits. Even the ones meant for snow.
Patrick turned to look at her and offered a small smile. "I'll be close by in the trees, try not to look for me." He winked and clapped William on the back before he headed towards the stables. Even he was dressed more like a villager. She assumed all their other clothes had been ruined on the journey over here-she didn't even want to think about what happened after she was taken.
William picked up her hand and slid a gold ring on her finger. It was nothing fancy, just a simple gold band that was much different than what princes usually gave the women they were marrying. It made Doris feel a little better, at least she knew for certain this was all fake.
Doris released her breath when he set down her hand. "It was all I could find."
"It's perfect." Doris nodded with a smile. He looked a little surprised before he shook it off and led her to the horses.
"My horses are too obvious, Enzo is letting us use one of theirs." He stopped in front of a plain brown horse that looked like the rest of them. He gripped her waist and lifted her on the back of the horse. She tried not to think about how strong he was as he lifted himself up in front of her and guided the horse out onto the trail. Doris wrapped her arms around his waist and held on tightly.
The ride wasn't as long as she thought, it was truly right over the hills as he had said. They took the main path and they were there in less than an hour. No one really spared them a second glance as they trotted through the market. He steered the horse towards where the rest of them were left and hopped off to tie the rope along the fence before he held out his arms for her. He gently set her in the snow and took her hand to wrap around his arm as they walked.
No one would believe this, there was no way. Him? With-her? They're all going to laugh and call their bluff immediately-
William put his hand over her own and squeezed. "I can hear your heart pound faster than it should be. Take a breath."
Doris took a deep breath as she swerved out of the way for another couple. William tipped his hat to them to hide a part of his face.
"Do you know how to make the cure?" Doris whispered, she glanced around at the growing crowd but no one seemed to notice her or them at all. Nothing more than a quick glance in passing before they went on their way.
"Yes." He said through his teeth. Doris glanced up at him. Why did he always have to snip at her?
They stopped in front of a booth that had endless spices. Doris took in the sight of all of it. Wait-was this the booth that also had the poison that was in Melody's soup? Would he have that? It looked like he had everything. She didn't have time to ask William, he was already flagging down the owner.
"Yes, my boy. What would you like today? We just got in some fresh cinnamon sticks-"
"I was wondering how big your stock of poppy seeds and passionflower is?" William interrupted before the man ran through the entire menu.
"Oh we haven't gotten much of either lately." The man nodded his hello to Doris as he talked. Doris offered a smile. "We have less than a pound of each right now but we should get more next week-"
"We'll take all of what you have." William took off his gloves and she saw he had a matching gold ring on his finger. He pulled out a sack from his pocket and offered a bit more than the spices were even worth. The man didn't seem to mind, he quickly took the money and nodded his head.
"Yes sir! I'll get that for you right away."
William pushed his hands back in his pockets and Doris moved a bit closer to him when a gust of wind picked up and sent a new wave of chills through her. He looked down at her.
"Is there any sort of shelter nearby for my wife and I to stay the night?" He asked the man as he bagged the spices. He spared a quick glance at them both before he continued.
"There's an inn at the edge of the market. It's made for travelers like yourself to stay when the wind gets to be too much."
"Do you get many storms out here?" Doris asked as she glanced down the road. It seemed to stretch on and on with booths and cabins like the one Enzo lived. This one seemed to be even more popular, perhaps because of the market.
"Oh yes, we have a system that once the wind picks up a certain way, we collapse everything and get in doors." He laughed a little and handed the bags to William, he shoved it in his coat. "The inn is nice though. The rooms are cozy and come with a heater."
"Oh, lovely." Doris said. "Thank you, sir."
The man smiled and nodded his head. "You two come from far?"
William shook his head and started to steer Doris away. "Good day."
Doris followed him down the road and took in the sight of all the other sellers had to offer. They had clothes and hats, scarves and gloves. Some sold meat while others sold weapons for hunting. It was truly lively place and Doris had never seen anything like it. Of course, she had heard of places like this. But to see it was wild.
"Oh." Doris saw a booth that had a few books laid in a pile on the front table. Her fingers curled with how much she longed to see what they had. It was so hard being somewhere secluded and nothing to read. Everything about this place screamed perfect reading weather.
William stopped when he saw her longing gaze and led her a little closer. "Do you want one?" He asked.
An old woman stood from the stood and smiled at them both with a toothless grin. Doris shook her head. "I couldn't." She didn't have any money with her, all of it was back at the palace.
William furrowed his brows and set down a few coins. "Get two."
The woman snatched the coins before Doris could say no again. Doris cleared her throat and looked through the pile until she came across two romances that looked perfectly entertaining. She smiled down at her choices and ran her fingers across the new bindings.
"Oh, you'll love those." The woman winked at Doris before she glanced up at William with a sheepish grin.
"Thank you." Doris said quickly and guided William away. He glanced back over his shoulder at the woman before he glanced at the books in her hands. "Thank you for that, you didn't have to."
William shrugged as if it was nothing but-it was something. He wanted her to have these books because she wanted them so he bought them for her. No one had ever bought her anything before like that.
They silently walked up the street and William bought them some food from another vender before they went into the Inn. She didn't expect to be staying long enough to need it, but she should have figured it might have taken longer than an evening of waiting. If only she brought more clothes.
William bought them a room and ignored the glances from interested and beautiful strangers. He walked right past them with his hand on Doris's back as if he was claiming her as his own and nothing else would be considered.
Once they were closed in the room, he went to work. He pulled a small vile out of his coat pocket and pulled out the spices.
"Do you need help?" Doris offered. He shook his head and already seemed to be lost in his own concentration as he laid out his supplies on the table. He grabbed the heater and turned his back to her.
Doris laid her coat on the bed that was-much smaller than any she had shared with him before-but she tried not to think about that. She started to prepare them both a plate of food.
"Are you hungry-"
"It's done." He said before she could finish. He lifted a small glass of liquid to the ceiling to observe. "He won't survive off of this, but he'll kill for it anyway."