Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 114: Blackberries

Camilla parted her lips for William to gently slide the blackberry between them. He watched in fascination as she chewed it and swallowed before feeding her another one.

"The only fruit I couldn’t get a hold of this morning were cherries, unfortunately." William murmured as he refused to tear his gaze away from her mouth, tracing it with a fingertip. She could hear his breathing catch. What was it about such a small action that made it feel so forbidden, she wondered?

Camilla forced herself to look away from his hypnotic stare, fearing he’d be able to talk her into anything. "It’s alright. You brought too much food as it is. There’s enough here for an army. And I know cherries are extremely expensive in Islia."

William raised an eyebrow as he continued tracing her lower lip with his finger. "Where did you learn that?"

"From you. You once bought some for me." Camilla paused, then smirked. "Using my winnings from a wager, actually."

William roared with delighted laughter. "I did, didn’t I? Holy fuck, I’m an utter bastard sometimes." He gulped down a handful of raspberries and then bit into a ripe peach. He refused to eat a single blackberry though, insisting she have them all.

- - -

After William had encouraged her to eat close to twice what she’d usually have for breakfast, Camilla sat in at her dressing table while her hair was brushed out and dotted with rose oil. Louisa wound sections of her hair in silk to create loose curls, then pinned some of it back with a topaz encrusted comb.

Much to Louisa’s chagrin, William sat sprawled in an armchair and quietly watched as the maids attended on Camilla. The two elder maids moved stiffly and with pinched faces, very much aware of the prince’s watchful eye. Camilla mostly managed to keep a straight face through their discomfort.

"It’s quite unseemly for a man to just sit there and watch a lady’s morning preparations. Where is his propriety?" Matilda hissed under her breath.

Camilla smiled sweetly. "If you have something to say about my betrothed, I suggest you say it to his face. He’s just over there."

William overheard everything and gave a crack of boyish laughter. "Once we’re married, I intend to be with my wife as much as possible. You maids will likely find my presence overwhelming. Either you get used to it or you find yourselves other positions, the choice is yours."

Matilda clamped her mouth shut, much to Camilla’s glee. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Once the maids deemed Camilla’s appearance ready, William stood up and gave her one last heated, appraising look. He then extended his hand to escort her to the luncheon.

"I can tell you’re not looking forward to this." William gave her hand a squeeze as they walked together.

"Please don’t tell me it’s that obvious." Camilla frowned. "A true royal lady is supposed to enjoy tearing down others with her words."

William snickered, then asked more seriously, "Do you think Violet will give you a hard time?"

Camilla shrugged one shoulder. "Not openly, like she used to. But I’m sure she’ll take little digs where she can. She doesn’t think much of the morals of any lady from the north."

"Well, she’s hardly one to talk about morals. She let Leo seduce her before their marriage." William said. "If she causes you too much trouble, feel free to remind her that her eldest daughter was born less than eight months after her wedding date."

"William!" Camilla whispered in horror, though also secretly a little delighted to find out such information. "I don’t think that’s the kind of topic you raise at a ladies’ luncheon."

"Why not? It was a scandal at the time. Everyone and I mean everyone knew of it. Tom and I were still in the nursery and even we heard about it. So put that miserable wench in her place if she becomes unbearable."

"You’re a wicked soul." The doors to Princess Violet’s presence chamber were visible at the end of the corridor.

"I am. You’re a fortunate woman." William grinned, then pulled her in for a quick, hard kiss goodbye. "Mmmm. You taste of blackberries."

Then he was gone and Camilla steeled herself to face the nest of smiling vipers behind the doors in her line of sight.

- - -

The guards outside the apartment doors announced Camilla’s arrival. Several ladies were already present, helping themselves to morsels on the trays being passed around by servants. Some of the ladies calling out polite greetings to Camilla, others simply watched her with avid, critical eyes.

Camilla bowed first to Queen Celia and then to her hostess, before looking around the room for someone that didn’t loathe her. She smiled in relief when she saw Katerine and Meg had already arrived, immediately drifting in their direction.

"Her Grace the hostess is in a particularly pleasant mood this morning." Meg warned under her breath while outwardly, her smile remained steady. "She’s feeling snubbed because Princess Blanche has sent her apologies and won’t be attending."

"Wonderful, because Princess Violet is such a delight at the best of times." Camilla whispered back, taking a goblet of wine from a tray with no intention of drinking it. "Lucky Blanche."

Soon enough, Violet swept over to where Camilla was seated with her ladies, with Princess Eleanor at her side as her faithful deputy. "You look a little weary, my dear girl. Are you fretting about your upcoming responsibilities as a princess of the Devon royal line? Or is it the wedding night that you fear?"

A few surrounding ladies giggled while trying desperately not to look like they were craning their necks for the inevitable reply.

It seems there’s no way to avoid a confrontation today, Camilla sighed inwardly. "I can confirm neither trouble me, Your Grace. I’m marrying a good man. And the duties of a princess have been ingrained in me since the cradle." Camilla finished with a polite smile.

Both women frowned at the subtle barb. Violet in particular was sensitive about becoming a princess only after marriage, having been born the daughter of a duke.

Violet bared her teeth. "If you don’t fear your wedding night it’s either because you don’t know what to expect, or you already know far too much."

For the briefest moment, Camilla tensed, worried the loss of her virtue was written on her face. But then she remembered what William had mentioned about Violet earlier, realising she was no worse than the woman now haughtily looming over her. Both of them had lain with their husbands before their wedding night. And Camilla was willing to wager that there had been more joy and passion between her and William than between the older, more volatile couple.

"I know there’s nothing to fear. William loves me." She knew her calm expression would drive the other ladies into a temper.

Eleanor shook her head in disbelief, her doughy face twisting. "Love has nothing to do with the matter. Consummating a marriage is about doing a duty and strengthening an alliance between families."

Camilla made a mental note to file those words away and repeat them to William at an opportune time. She could picture him howling with laughter.

"I understand. Thank you for your sage words, Princess Eleanor." Camilla took a tiny sip of wine to hide the smile threatening to cross her face.

"You know nothing!" Eleanor hissed, evidently losing patience with Camilla’s words unruffled demeanour. "Nothing of the indignities a wife must endure at her husband’s hands!"

Indignities? Camilla stared back at Eleanor with genuine curiosity. All she knew were William’s hands and mouth and body, which worked together to make her cry out with ecstasy. What could possibly be-

Like a slap in the face, she then remembered Richard’s unwanted touch and shuddered. She looked at Eleanor in pity, unable to think of anything worse than having to submit to the touch and whims of a man you didn’t desire. No one deserved a lifetime of that.

Camilla nodded soberly at both ladies. "Thank you both for your advice. I know it comes from a place of concern." There was no concern involved at all but she wanted this awkward conversation to end as quickly as possible.

"The Devon men don’t have the faintest idea how to remain faithful. Ask Annabel. Ask the queen herself!" Violet whispered with quiet vitriol. "William may act like he’s besotted with you now, but that fades with time. You think you’re so much luckier than us? Mark my words. It’ll take more than what you have between your legs to keep him from straying."

Camilla nodded again, not hearing anything she hadn’t already asked herself before. She knew William had bedded plenty of women before her - perhaps some more beautiful, certainly many that were far more skilled than her in the ways of pleasing a man. What if she couldn’t hold his interest?

"I’m well aware of that, Your Grace." Camilla’s voice was low and there was a dull ache in her heart. "And I know I’ll have to offer him something more."