Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 141: Retribution

Camilla tried again to squirm under him but his strong hands gave no quarter. He drew his mouth back from her ever so slightly, causing the aching pleasure built up inside her to recede somewhat.

"William!" she sobbed, feeling the tears starting to spill out from her tightly closed eyes. "I no longer love you."

He laughed again and nipped her inner thigh for good measure, causing her to jolt under him. "Well, that won’t do. I’ll have to convince you to change your mind."

His tongue began its smooth, steady stroking again and this time he didn’t stop. The bliss began to quickly build again in her belly, building like an avalanche tumbling down a sheer slope, sweeping everything in its path as it gained momentum. Camilla felt her entire body tensing under William’s vice like grip, her gasps frantic.

The pleasure that finally thundered through her was inexplicable, wave after never ending wave. Camilla’s screams tore from her throat painfully, leaving it feeling raw. She eventually fell back on the bed, shaking uncontrollably and trying to wipe her watery eyes with a limp hand.

Camilla vaguely remembered Elizabeth mentioning a couple of months ago that making love while pregnant was even more intense than usual.

She peered up helplessly at William now hovering over her, who smirked as he looked at her flushed, tear streaked face. Quickly pulling off his remaining clothes, he settled himself between her legs and sighed in contentment as he slid into her without any hesitation. Camilla twitched as she let him invade her, her body still very sensitive from his earlier torment.

William pressed his face into the crook between her neck and shoulder as he began to move at a hard, punishing pace. Camilla could only wrap her limbs around him and cling helplessly, her nails clawing into his back.

"The more I have you, the more I want you." she heard him muttering, his breath roaring in her ear as he bit her earlobe. His hands were digging into her hips as he pulled her against him with every thrust.

Throat still aching, Camilla could only gasp as he pushed into her again and again and again. She wondered if William’s actions risked hurting the baby but she didn’t know how to even bring up the subject. So she waited until she heard him groan and curse and fall quiet. When he relaxed and tried to push himself off her, she clung to him fiercely.

William laughed. "Aren’t I crushing you?"

"No." Camilla was reluctant to let him go. The pressing weight and warmth of him was comforting.

As a compromise, he rolled off her but pulled her along so that she could curl up against his body. Camilla wrapped her arm across his waist possessively and lay her head against his chest, listening to his rapid heartbeat as it began to gradually slow.

"Is something wrong? Has something upset you today?" William asked as he idly ran his fingers through her messy hair.

Camilla hesitated for only the briefest of moments. "No, why?"

"I don’t know. You just seem a little different, I guess." William’s voice was quiet, sated.

"I’m...I’m just happy." she whispered, trying to swallow the growing lump in her throat. "I don’t want anything to change between us, ever. But I know that’s impossible. Nothing ever stays the same."

William chuckled lazily. "Nothing’s going to change between us. Why would it? Everything is perfect as it is, don’t you think? We can always be this happy."

Camilla felt her eyes fill with tears again, fearful ones this time. Tell him, the voice in her head cried out. Tell him now! But her lips wouldn’t move. She was terrified of altering their bond. She couldn’t decide if a child was the very greatest thing she could give William, or the very worst.

The next moment, guilt shot through Camilla and she placed a hand on her belly. She didn’t want the new little life inside her to ever hear or feel such thoughts, no matter how fleeting. She knew that the baby was someone she already loved.

After a few more moments, she heard William’s breathing turn deep and even. Camilla lifted her head and turned to look at his peaceful face as he slept.

Her heart clenched. She loved them both equally.

A deep, dreamless sleep stole her mind away before she could decide whether to wake William or not.

- - -

The next morning, the bed next to her was empty again when Camilla awoke. She struggled to sit up as the nausea rolled through her, more intense than other mornings. She groaned, desperately trying to hold it back and endure.

"Come in." she croaked in response to the knock at the door. Her maids strode in, one carrying a breakfast tray. Camilla only just managed to stop herself retching when she caught a glimpse of the food.

"Shall we prepare your bath, my lady?" Bonnie piped up. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Camilla nodded listlessly as she took a small bite of plain bread to try and soothe her stomach. She watched quietly as the maids departed and returned a short time later with the bath, towels and soap.

She climbed into the bath and sat with her eyes clenched shut as her maids attended her and washed her hair. The scent of the soap, the sound of gently splashing water, the touch of her maids on her skin - everything was suddenly both irritating and exhausting her. Camilla gritted her teeth and emotions roiled through her. Why did she feel like snapping at everyone? She leaned her head back against the tub’s edge.

Camilla endured being dried, dressed and combed in tense silence. Bonnie seemed to notice her agitated mood and handled her with extra gentleness. The other two maids were oblivious.

"Your Grace, have you finished with breakfast?"

Matilda frowned when she saw Camilla nod. "You’ve barely touched it, my lady. It seems like a terrible waste if you ask me-"

"I didn’t ask you." Camilla finally snapped. "I’m a grown woman and I’ll decide what I eat or don’t eat. If you want someone to speak to like a child, I suggest you ask one of the other princesses if you can serve in their nurseries."

Matilda pressed her lips together and scurried out of the room with the tray, Louisa at her heels. Camilla pressed her fingers against her throbbing temples, wanting to just crawl back into bed and shut everyone out.

She could hear the cheerful voices of her ladies as they entered her presence chamber and she sighed. As fond as she was of their company, she was in no mood for anyone. Forcing a smile on her face, she stepped out to greet them but when she saw Katerine was carrying a platter of freshly smoked venison, the scent hit her and her belly churned again. Camilla panicked.

There was no way she’d ever reach the privy in time, or even one of the gardens. Instead, she rushed back into the dressing room, where the bath was still there from earlier. Just reaching it in time, Camilla vomited what little breakfast she’d eaten into the cooling water. Soon, her belly was empty but the nausea wouldn’t cease. Tears trickled from her eyes as her body continued to retch, her belly contracting painfully each time.

Bonnie and her ladies had rushed after her and Camilla could make out their worried voices behind her as she continued to retch. Finally, her belly started to settle and she slowly turned to face them, feeling mortified.

"Last night’s rich dinner didn’t agree with me, I guess." Camilla said weakly as she tried to dry her streaming eyes.

Katerine looked a little crestfallen as Bonnie rushed to wipe Camilla’s face with a clean cloth. "I guess you don’t want to share the venison with us for breakfast then, my lady? It was sent by Queen Celia."

Camilla tried not to grimace in distaste. She could smell the meat from halfway across the room and was finding it revolting. "No, thank you. Please share it amongst yourselves though, ladies. Bonnie, you too. I’ll at least keep you company as you do."

The ladies reluctantly moved back into the presence chamber. Meg and Katerine looked a little hesitant as they started to apportion the venison between everyone. Elizabeth however, watched Camilla silently as she eased herself onto the couch next to Meg. Elizabeth’s large belly meant she moved more slowly these days, but her eyes were shrewd as she looked at Camilla.

Camilla refused to make eye contact with her.

All of a sudden, there were thundering footsteps heard in the corridor outside the presence chamber. The next moment, William strode into the room, startling the ladies. As they stood up to bow to him, Camilla saw the grim look on his face and knew something was terribly wrong. He never just showed up like this mid morning.

"What has happened?" she asked simply.

William’s eyes flashed with fury but his tone was flat when he replied. "Your uncle’s retribution has finally arrived."