Chapter 5. Collecting Roses

Doris's POV

I've resided at the palace for 5 years and he still didn't know my name.

"Doris," I answered weakly.

"Doris..." he repeated, still staring around my body. His eyes caught mine for a moment. "Flowers."

I felt my face draining any color it once had. I opened my mouth to protest that he was mistaken and that it wasn't me in the gardens. I couldn't allow anyone to know that it was me he marked last night. I would be punished, and any chance of freedom would be completely gone.

I was ready to beg for his forgiveness, but then he continued his thought.

"I need you to fetch me flowers from the garden," he continued.

I felt my body relax for a moment. But I was still tense with confusion.

Why was he asking for me to fetch him flowers in the garden? Was he trying to get me out of here? As a maid, I was expecting more of a punishment and by the looks of the startled royals and the other maids around me, they were also expecting more of a punishment.

"What kind of flowers would you desire?" I asked, trying to keep my tone even and my head bowed.

"I don't care," he snarled, waving me away. "Roses. Just get the hell out of here."

My eyes shot up to meet his.

Roses?

The events of last night took place in the rose garden. Was he trying to tell me that he remembered me from last night? Maybe his wolf was reminding him that it was me that he marked? I didn't stand around to find out; I glanced over at the royal family before dispersing from the room.

Most of them were staring at William with dismay; probably because he was letting me go. But Lady Grace was staring at me.

Her expression was hard to read but she kept glancing between William and me, her face reddening slightly. I didn't stay around much longer though, I quickly left the dining hall and strolled towards the gardens.

It felt nice being outside; I wasn't allowed out here unless granted permission. I wasn't allowed to leave the palace grounds without an escort from a guard or superior. However, the rose garden was one of my favorite locations around the palace grounds.

At least, it used to be.

I could see the rose garden clearly from the view in my room; I would stay up and watch the moon shining its rays down upon the garden, enlightening the flowers and making them glisten.

I grabbed a basket on my way outside so I could gather the roses properly. I still wasn't sure why he wanted flowers unless he was hinting that he remembered me from last night. But other than that, William didn't seem like the kind of guy that enjoyed flowers all that much.

As I continued gathering the flowers, I enjoyed the peaceful moment. Despite being back in the area where Prince William marked me, it was nice being away from everybody. I could finally just feel my feelings without the worry of judgment or harassment.

I'm not sure how long I was in the garden, and I wasn't sure where I was bringing these flowers. I suppose I would just leave them outside of William's door to his chambers. Surely, he would be in there changing out of his wet clothing.

I flushed at the idea of him shirtless.

What was wrong with me? I shouldn't be thinking of such things. Not after what he had done to me last night. I rubbed the tender area of my neck where he had bit his teeth into me. As a mark, the pink tender flesh would last a lifetime. It was something I would have to keep covered. I was thankful that my hair was long enough that it covered most of the mark, but sometimes they requested us to keep our hair up and out of our faces.

Those are the times I would come to dread because I would need to wear makeup to keep the mark hidden. Nobody could know that it was me he marked.

All I ever wanted was to be free from this palace and roam the lands as a free woman. I wished I could do so as a wolf, but it didn't seem as if it wasn't going to obtain my wolf any time soon. The thought sent sadness through my body as I thought about never transforming into a beautiful being. To feel the freedom and the strength of a wolf; knowing what it's like to hunt on my own and be empowered by the full moon.

Holding onto the basket, I made my way back into the palace. Beth saw me right away and rushed toward me.

"We need to go. Mr. Carson is in the maid's courters. He's calling for a meeting," she informed me, staring around my face with worry in her eyes.

Mr. Carson was in the maid's courters? What would he be doing there? He rarely went to the maid's courters directly, that's what Melody was for. It must have been urgent if he was calling a last-minute meeting of just the maids.

This must have meant that he knew that I was the one who was marked by William. This was going to ruin any chance I had of freedom. I suddenly felt a wave of dread as I thought of the punishments that were going to be lined up for me.

I nodded at her.

"Let me just bring these to Prince William's chamber doors. I'll be there momentarily," I told her as she scurried off towards the maid courters.

William's chamber wasn't far from the main foyer; it was only a flight of stairs away. I stared at his door, hesitantly for a moment as I thought about him on the other side of it. I could hear him pacing around his room and I nearly felt the anguish he felt. I swallowed hard as I placed the flowers at his doorstep and made my way down the stairs.

I had to get the maid's courters and somehow get to my room undetected before the meeting started.

Most maids were gathering around the courters already and none of them paid much attention to me. I was able to squeeze by some of them and get to my room. I pulled open a drawer and grabbed a cheap bottle of foundation. I needed the extra precautions at hiding this mark.

They couldn't know it was me that was marked by William.

Once I successfully covered the marking to the best of my ability, I joined the other maids in the foyer of the courters. Beth saw me instantly and relief flooded her face; she draped her arm through mine as I joined her with the others.

"You are late," she whispered.

I smiled apologetically at her as we turned our attention to Mr. Carson, who stood at the very front of the crowd. Melody stood tall, and proud, beside him which only made me groan.

Mr. Carson scanned the maids briefly until his eyes met mine; we held eye contact for a long while and I swallowed the lump that's been forming in my throat.

He had to have been here because of me.Doris POV – Collecting Roses