Her Unwanted Mate On The Throne

Chapter 40 I might never be free

“Is this too tight?” The seamstress asked when she yanked on the laces of a winter corset. Doris held her breath and quickly nodded to indicate that it was. The seamstress huffed and loosened it. “How about now?” Doris released her breath and nodded. “It’s fine, thank you.” “I have several dresses like this one for your trip, all suitable for winter. It’s not proper for a maid traveling with a prince to wear pants, but I did include them in case of an emergency.” Doris frowned, what sort of emergency would need pants? Unless she was referring to the freezing temperatures. Doris might end up wearing them beneath her dress just so her legs didn’t chill. “Are all of them corseted? Will I be able to get out of them by myself?” Doris asked. The taller woman gave Doris a long, curious look and shook her head. “I suppose if you lace it a little looser you might be able to squeeze yourself out of it, though it would be much easier if someone were to help you.” “There’s no one on the trip that would be able—“ The woman raised her brows, Doris blushed for no reason other than her strange stares. “I prefer dresses I can easily get out of on my own.” “You’re about to travel with a prince and he has asked me to find you suitable clothing, I can’t have you looking like you were when you first came in here and the only dresses I have on hand all require corsets.” Narin riched and t od und to look at havnelfin

The dress was quite stunning, it was a dark blue shade in a fabric similar to the ones she’d seen Prince William wear. It hugged at her waist and brought out a bit more of her figure while also being thicker than anything she owned. It looked nice enough for a lady to wear not a maid. She supposed they wouldn’t have anything for a maid going where she was going this clothing most likely was designed for a lady. A flash of Melody’s furious face crossed her mind. Oh, Doris could only imagine what she would say if she saw her wear a dress suited for a lady. She would probably rip it right off her and make her walk naked in the snow. Better yet, she probably would insist Doris sleep out in the snow too, Doris frowned. She hadn’t once thought to ask if Melody had pulled through or how she was doing No one around her had brought her up either Doris was a bit afraid to even ask. Not even Beth had brought her up since everything happened, and she normally would have told Doris everything she’d heard about the gossip. “Do you like it?” The seamstress asked. “Oh, yes. Thank you for finding me something in such short notice, I know it must have been a challenge.” The seamstress waved away her words. “These clothes sit all year, none of the ladies have asked to use them. While it may snow here during the winter, it never gets as cold as it does in the north. These will make you sweat after half an hour if it’s not freezing where you’re going.” “Should I wait until we get there to change into this?” Doris itched her arm, already she was starting to feel a bit hot. “No, you most likely won’t have an opportunity to

freezing it gets within minutes of entering the north.” “Oh my, have you ever been? Doris asked as she stepped down from the small platform the seamstress made her stand while she tied her corset. “I have once, but-” The seamstress hesitated. * Never again. Just be careful out there and stay close to those that will guard you.” “I think they’ll be more concerned about the prince, but I’ll try.” Doris said more to herself. The seamstress laughed a little. “I think that’s one of his favorite colors.” She gestured to Doris’s dress. For a moment, she wanted to take it off and burn it but the feeling passed a lot quicker than it would have the day before. Some of their conversation still swirled in her mind no matter how much she wanted

of her medicine before she left the hallway across from the seamstress. Luckily, a guard was nearby and offered to carry the bags to the stables to be loaded when he saw Doris’s injured hand. At least there was still some sort of kindness at the palace, even if most of the guards now made her flinch whenever they approached her. The kitchens

the poetry book Prince Martin had given her-before she headed out the door. Her nerves were on high with worry when her thoughts wouldn’t calm. If there was anywhere worse than the palace, it was the north. Doris had only ever heard terrible stories surrounding the area, of all the vicious things the they did to outsiders or people they didn’t trust. There was no one they hated more than the royals and she was about to travel with one straight through it. Every step she took made her more nauseous at the thought. What would they do to her if they caught her alone? Would Prince William even bother protecting her, or would she be thrown to the wolves as a distraction for him to get away? She didn’t doubt for a second that the guards would use her as bait if they needed to get away Doris almost bumped right into Beth the moment she stepped out of the palace. “Oh! Beth, I just came from our room looking for you! Where have you been?” Beth’s eyes were wide and a bit watery, Doris frowned. “What is it? What are you doing out here so late! You’ll catch a cold.” “I had to talk to you before you left.” Beth said

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or two while she attended to her friend. If not, she would gladly face his wrath to spare her friend a few minutes. “You’ll come back, won’t you?” Beth asked, she pushed her hair from her wet eyes. “Of course I will.” Doris hesitated. “If I don’t get eaten by the wolves out there, I suppose.” Beth didn’t smile or laugh, part of Doris wondered