Chapter 178 Easy they come
“I’m going to have William sign the amnesty for you.” Doris gripped Beth’s hand. “You can be free and go anywhere in the world you want. You don’t have to spend your days looking after me or anyone else at the palace-you can be free.”
“…” Beth’s hands shook. “That’s very kind, Doris,“
“It’s not kindness I’m giving you, it’s the right thing to do. You should have been freed months ago but you had to stay because of me. You deserve to be a free woman.” Doris swallowed.” I’m sorry that I couldn’t free you sooner. I wanted to the moment I got back but then everything just kept happening.”
Beth pulled Doris in for a hug and squeezed the breath out of her.(This novel will be daily updtaed at www.noveljar.com) “I don’t know what to say“
“Don’t say anything!” Doris smiled. “Or say everything, say whatever is in your heart. Just promise me that you won’t go far and forget me. Promise me that you will live for both of us and not be sorry for any of it.”
“Forget you? You’re mad if you think I could ever forget you!” Beth wiped away her falling tears. “I don’t know what to be without you, Doris. We were always going to leave together and travel as far as we could. All of our plans were with each other, I never once saw myself without my best friend by my side.”
“I know.” Doris pulled Beth towards a large tree stump and sat upon it with her. The guards hovered nearby, but not too close. She was glad for that at least. “There is nothing I want more than to see the world. All of my dreams were leaving the palace and seeing what else life had to offer me. I wanted to know what it’s like in other kingdoms and places-but…”
“But now you have responsibilities bigger than yourself.” Beth said sadly. “I don’t know why 1 feel so sad when you have so much good happening for you.”
“Be happy, my love. Don’t you dare be sad about change.” Doris whispered even though she felt that sadness as well. Beth was always in her future, but she couldn’t hold her here just to be her friend. It was selfish to even consider. “Where do you want to go, Beth?” Doris asked with a small smile. “Where would your heart take you first?”
“…. I don’t know. I honestly imagined myself getting in a carriage and riding off far from here. Maybe somewhere sunny with an ocean or somewhere with mountains and beautiful snow.”
“I thought you hated the cold!” Doris laughed and looked around at the small piles of snow around them. It wasn’t nearly as much as the north where snow covered every inch for as far as she could see. “I couldn’t imagine you seeking out snow of all things!”
“I think it’s beautiful! I would love to see a place covered in endless snow, but I wouldn’t want to live in it. I don’t know where I would go first!”
“Well, I want to give you all the money I saved in the castle before you go.” Doris glanced up at the gloomy clouds. “I want you to have as much as you need. I want you to be able to go anywhere you want and not have to settle until you find the place that feels like home.”
“Oh no, Doris. You know I can’t take that.” Beth insisted. “I don’t even want to leave you. Who would be your maid?”
“Beth, you’ve been my maid for such a short time. I’m sure I will find someone to help me with the baby.” Doris laughed. “You’re going to take my offer and then some!”
“Oh my goodness. The baby!” Beth stood and started to pace the small clearing. “Nope, there is no way I can leave my best friend when she is going to be a mother. You’re going to need all the support you can get. I know we both have no experience but we can figure it out together!”
“Beth, if you think I would make you stay because of me, you have lost your mind. (This novel will be daily updtaed at www.noveljar.com)I want you to go and live your life. I want you to find happiness and make up for all the years you had to care for another person. I will be fine. There is a palace worth of maids ready to help me when I need it. I have William, I will have your love in spirit. I will be fine.”
Beth’s smile quickly faded from her face. “What if I’m not ready to be on my own yet?”
“Then you can stay at the palace as my guest for as long as you want. You can stay until you’re old and gray.” Doris gripped her hand. “You don’t have to leave. I’m not kicking you out. I’m releasing you from your role officially when he becomes king. You don’t have to clean up after anyone or wear a uniform every day. I’ll have dresses brought to you and you can be a queen in your own right.”
Beth laughed and wiped her eyes again. “I don’t think I deserve a friend like you. Tell me what I did to deserve you.”
“You were a friend to me when I needed you. Nothing else matters.” Doris stood and led Beth back to the tent. “Now, let’s eat again. I don’t know why I feel like I could eat three meals right now.”
“What do you think you’ll have? A boy or a girl?” Beth bumped her hip against her own. “I heard one of the other maids once say that sometimes you can tell in the hips. If it’s wider, it might be a boy.”
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