A flicker of surprise crossed his face. It almost made her smile. William nodded and she felt her unease drip away from her. Doris grabbed one of her nightgowns from her drawer and went to change. She stared at herself in the mirror and trailed her fingers across the mark he left on her skin all those months ago. It tingled a little as if it knew she was in his presence. Did he know that Melody was never his mate when they kissed? Did he feel the spark with her like Doris had with him? Or did he not even care?
She was absolutely insane for even thinking about him in such a way. Beth would lose her mind over it. She had always wanted Doris to end up with a prince-which was still never going to happen-but she had one of the nicer ones in mind for Doris. If Beth knew all the things William and Doris had done on this journey, she would never let Doris live it down.
Doris smoothed out her nightgown and pulled her hair up into a low ponytail.
When she came out, he was already laying in bed with his shirt off. It shouldn't have made her heart race as much as it did. She'd seen him like this several times by now and--
Doris swallowed and crawled in bed with him. Her eyes followed along the lines of his firm stomach and she had to force herself to look away as she laid on her side. The room was dim, only the fire lit up the area and kept her warm. William turned on his side and wrapped his arms around her body to pull her against him as if she was meant to be there like a piece to his puzzle.
His hands didn't lower to uncharted areas, he kept them firm around her to keep her in place. Perhaps he could read her mind and realized how flighty her thoughts were. She didn't need to worry about falling asleep next to him anymore. It was almost natural.
The next morning, Doris woke with her body held sprawled across his own. Her head on his chest, her leg draped over his own. How did she get like this? She could hear the steady beat of his heart and his even breath and she knew he was still asleep. Carefully, she lifted herself off him and laid on her back once more. His hand still gripped her waist, it tightened whenever she moved.
Doris chewed on her lip as she stared at him. Her eyes lowered betrayingly low to take in the lines of his stomach and chest. She felt him pull her closer against him and her eyes snapped to his own to see he was wide awake and watching her admire his body.
"Oh, William-"
He silenced her with a kiss that could have melted her down until she was nothing. His soft lips moved slowly against her own as if they had all the time in the world to discover the other. William's hand moved up her body at an aching speed until he gripped the side of her face. Doris pressed her hand against his chest and felt how wildly his heart beat beneath her palm.
This was wrong-
"Hello?" Someone pounded on her door.
"Will you be quiet? I'm sure they had a rather rough night." Someone else said. Doris knew instantly it was Enzo.
Doris untangled herself from him and went to put on a robe. "Yes?" She called through the door.
"I come with information. Hurry and invite us in before we freeze."
Doris glanced at William but he was already up with his shirt half buttoned. He went to throw open the door to see Eliza and Enzo on the other side.
"Good morning, lovers." Enzo grinned and closed the door behind him. He set down a plate of steaming food and clasped his hands behind his back. "I hope we didn't interrupt any romantic moments, but I have some information to share."
"On with it." William mumbled as he picked at the plate. She had to tear herself away from his messy appearance. Why did it always attract her so much more than when he was put together?
"Right. Well, I've secured your visit with Life Pharmacy, you'll both leave by tomorrow night along with one of your guards." Enzo leaned against the wall. "You're my new hires. A young, poor married couple that is just hoping to make enough to live off of. Your guard can be a sibling or whatever."
"Will we have different names?" Doris asked.
"Yes. Not many people there have ever seen the prince so it won't be hard if you be careful. Doris, you will go as Isabelle. William, you'll be James. Your guard can go by Oscar just don't slip up when you use them. Nobody will look twice at you if you keep your head down."
Doris wrapped her arms around herself. "How long do we have to stay?"
"As long as it takes to get the answers you need. Someone is out for William's head and they won't stop until they get it." Enzo cleared his throat and glanced between them. "Just so you know, I won't be near to help you. If they find out I planted you guys in there to spy on them, it will ruin everything and they will turn on me. It would be best not to mention me at all."
William nodded and ran his fingers though his hair. Doris had to curl her own by her sides to stop herself from reaching out to touch him.
Enzo glanced at Eliza. "Doris, I brought Eliza to help you sort out looks for your new identity. William, if you could follow me back to my own cabin, we can work on yours."
William locked eyes with Doris as he nodded. He didn't take his eyes off of her until he left out the door and into the snow half dressed. She slowly released the breath she was holding.
"That is quite a man." Eliza said as she went to close the door. The click pushed her out of her thoughts. She pressed her cold hands against her warm face. "How long has it been going on?"
"What do you mean?" Doris asked carefully as she followed Eliza to the drawers. She watched as the woman pulled out sets of clothes and organized them into outfits that were much different than her own taste. Doris wasn't sure why it would matter, she doubted anyone would know what William's maid looked like or what she liked to wear. It was rather pointless to try and hide her identity.
Eliza snorted. "I mean between you and the prince. Are you his lady?"
"Oh! No, he has a lady. We're not-anything."
"Oui, I'm not blind. I saw the way you two just stared at each other as if you would let him rip your clothes off right here."
Doris felt as if she was about to pass out. "Are you mad? There's no way-"
"Hush, my child. Your desires are nothing to be ashamed of. But being a man's second choice is. You say he has a lady yet he hasn't mentioned anyone but you the entire time he has been here and his eyes want to only seek you in a crowd. Don't tell me you're blind to it all."
"I..." Doris said helplessly. "I don't know what to say about that. I don't know what his intentions are for me, but we're not lovers."
"My dear, I think he has higher standards for you than that." Eliza pulled out a bag and started to stack the clothes in neatly while Doris uselessly watched. "You can't fake the way he acts for you. I can sense the bond you have with him, perhaps it's about time you stop denying yourself of his feelings when everyone else can already see it."
"I just think everyone might be wrong. I'm worried he will try to use me and discard me like he's done to so many other women at the palace."
It was the first time she admitted it out loud, but it was true. What if he threw her away the second he was done using her body?
Eliza stopped for a moment and turned to look at her. "I've seen many awful men run around to use a woman like a toy. I've never seen one look at someone the way William looks at you. Even if he is too proud to admit he has feelings, it's plain as day on his face."
Doris sighed. "I don't know."
"It's okay not to know, to be unsure. You don't have to give him the time of day if you don't want to. But I can see the way you look at him too. You both hold a light for the other and it's hard to deny it, isn't it?"
Doris swallowed and nodded.
"Only a fool would let love go to waste. So I suggest you don't make a fool of yourself."