Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 123: An Ugly Truth

26 July, 1359. Magdaline Castle, Islia

William forced himself to rise before dawn, despite having slept little during the three previous nights. He was desperate to speak to Camilla before King Kenneth summoned him for breakfast yet again.

He almost ran to Camilla’s apartments and knocked on the doors to her presence chamber impatiently until a maid opened them.

"So early this morning, my lord? My lady isn’t even dressed." the maid eyed him suspiciously after bowing. He knew he looked like hell.

Camilla stepped out of the bedchamber, with a silk robe over her long nightgown. Her brow furrowed when she saw him.

"William, are you alright? You look ill-"

"I need to speak with you alone. It’s urgent." he interrupted, looking pointedly at the maids.

Camilla nodded and quickly gestured for her maids to step into the corridor. Once they were alone, she turned to face him with concern. "What is it?"

William was silent for a few moments and just lead her by the hand to the couch, indicating she should sit. He sat facing her, unsure how to voice his fears.

Camilla stared at him, biting her lip anxiously. "You’re scaring me. I’ve barely seen you these past couple of days. Please tell me you’re not ill."

William shook his head slowly. "I’m fine. I’ve been stuck keeping your uncle company and forced to stay up drinking with him until late. So I have an almighty headache, but nothing worse than that. How have you been, though? Are you alright?"

"Yes. Why wouldn’t I be?"

William sagged with relief. "Nothing out of the ordinary has happened any night after you’ve left the banquet hall?"

"No, I’ve just been going to my room to sleep. Why are you asking?" Camilla was still watching him, bewildered.

"Have you been locking your chamber doors at night, like I told Lady Meg to tell you to do?"

"Well, no. I’m not supposed to because otherwise it means my maids can’t enter in the morning-"

"Goddamnit, Camilla!" William leapt to his feet. "When I give you an instruction it’s because I expect you to follow it!"

She rose to her feet as well, clearly alarmed by his anger rising so quickly. "What? Why are you acting like...this?" She gave him a hard look. "Has something happened? What aren’t you telling me?"

William closed his eyes, willing himself to find calm. He took Camilla’s cold hand in his and sat back down, pulling her gently down next to him.

"I need you to promise me that for the next few weeks, you’ll avoid your uncle at every opportunity."

Camilla’s face relaxed somewhat and she smiled. "Oh? You don’t need me to promise that. I’ve no desire to be around him anymore that what’s absolutely necessary-"

"No! I mean...you don’t understand!" William snapped, dread rising within him. "You must never, ever be alone with him. Have your ladies with you at all times. During the day, have Francis or Robin escort you everywhere, or one of my cousins. Hell, even Rufus is a safer bet to have around compared to your uncle!"

Camilla frowned. "Rufus makes me uncomfortable."

William waved his hand dismissively. "Yes I understand that, but he’s harmless. He knows what lines not to cross, at least."

Her frown deepened. "You’re not making any sense. How can I be better off around Rufus-"

"Your uncle wants you!" William shouted. "He...he lusts for you and is determined to lie with you! Whether you believe me or not."

Camilla gasped, staring at him like he’d blasphemed. "What did you just say?"

"Don’t make me say it again, it repulses me." he groaned. "But it’s the truth. These last couple of nights...he’s confirmed it to me."

"That can’t be true." Camilla’s face paled. "You must have imagined...or maybe you’d had too much to drink and thought you’d seen something..."

"No, I didn’t imagine it." William swallowed the bile in his throat. "I promise it brings me no joy to tell you something like this. But he said the words, point blank. And even if he hadn’t...I’ve seen the way he looks at you...and I recognise the look. It’s definitely not how an uncle should gaze upon a niece."

"William, please! He is my father’s brother!" Camilla’s voice grew louder as if she’d deny the truth of his words. "We share a bloodline! What you’re suggesting...it defies the laws of the church...and of nature."

William stared at her for a moment, seeing the disgust he felt mirrored on her face. "I know that. But listen to me. Kenneth said he doesn’t believe he and your father were true brothers, told me that your father was a bastard sired by an unknown man."

Camilla bared her teeth in outrage at the insult.

"I don’t for a moment believe it’s true." William rushed to explain. "The physical resemblance between the two men was uncanny. But my point is, your uncle believes it. Or he pretends to believe it. Either way, he plans to act on it."

"Act on it - how?"

"He intends to break the betrothal and take you back to Moraigth with him. He told me as much."

"That’s impossible!" Camilla’s voice was sharp.

"I’m afraid it’s not." William said flatly.

Camilla shook her head, still not fully understanding. "But my uncle would need King Edward’s agreement for that. And the only legitimate reason for breaking a betrothal is-"

"If the woman is found to be unfaithful and unchaste to her betrothed. That’s what he intends to force on you. He’s also planning to offer my uncle land to compensate for the broken betrothal." William quietly interrupted. He knew he had to tell her all of it, the whole truth in all of its ugliness.

He stared at her, pleading silently for her to understand. And at that moment, he saw understanding dawn on Camilla’s face. Now, she knew.

She knew that she shared a bloodline with an immoral lecher.

He watched her face take on a greenish tint as she covered her mouth with a trembling hand. What he would’ve given to shield her from the knowledge, but it was impossible. If she didn’t know, she couldn’t protect herself to the best of her ability.

Camilla bolted from the couch. Before William could react, she had started to retch into the empty bowl that sat on the small table next to one of the armchairs. He watched her slim back heave with the effort repeatedly, feeling each wave of nausea hit him like a gut punch.

William instinctively moved to grab her hair and carefully pull it back from her face. He patted her back with his free hand in an effort to give her even a little comfort.

"Listen to me very carefully now, my love." William said softly once Camilla had stopped retching but remained leaning over the bowl. "Once you’re my wife, I can protect you. The crown of Islia protects you. But until then, you remain a subject to the crown of Moraigth. Not even King Edward can defy your uncle on matters that involve you. So until our wedding day, we must both be very careful. Do you understand now why I said you must never find yourself alone with your uncle?"

Camilla slowly straightened up and faced him with watery eyes. She nodded. "Why is he doing this? Is it one more way to shame my father?"

Perhaps it was, William thought. Or perhaps it was nothing more than a man unable to control his lust for a young woman that should be out of his reach.

"Have your ladies with you at all times. In fact, have them take turns sleeping in your bedchamber each night and lock your doors." William clenched his fists, feeling utterly impotent. As a mere betrothed as opposed to a husband, his options were limited. He didn’t even have the ability to place loyal guards outside Camilla’s rooms.

She wrapped her arms around herself defensively, her knuckles turning white as she clenched the fabric of her robe. "Why?" she whispered. "Why is this happening again?"

"Again?" William parroted.

"After Richard Bentworth, I hoped to never feel this kind of fear again, but here I am." Camilla looked stricken. "I swore I’d rather die by my own hands than endure something so vile again..."

William pulled her into his arms, swallowing the lump in his throat threatening to choke off his air. He stroked her back as he felt her hide her face in his shoulder, wanting to scream and break things for the sense of utter powerlessness he felt.

"We can outfox him." he whispered with a confidence he didn’t feel. "It’s only three more weeks and he won’t be able to harm us anymore."

William felt her nod against his chest but her frame still shook. He felt the fear in his own veins as he tightened his hold on her.

"I’ll protect you with everything I have. And the we’ll be wed and no one will separate us." he vowed, hoping it would be enough. Even if he had to defy a king, he couldn’t let harm befall the one person who held him by the heartstrings.