Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 185: Exotic Fruit

It was a long, carefree day spent by the creek. The two of them lay on the soft grass and stared up at the drifting clouds, talking for hours.

When Camilla’s belly started to rumble from hunger, William leapt to his feet and promised to find them Damiran figs.

"What exactly is that?" Camilla sat up, feeling languid from lying in the warm sun.

"A fruit that only grows wild in the southern climate." William called back as he stood at the base of a large tree and looked up at the canopy. A moment later, he started climbing it with impressive agility.

"William! Get down! Are you trying to scare me to death?" Her heart leapt into her throat with nerves.

"You worry too much, pretty girl." he called back down. By the time Camilla reached the tree herself, she could hear his voice above her but no longer see him through the thick, leafy canopy.

"What if you fall? I’d have no idea how to get back to court to find help!" she hollered.

"Then stand at the bottom of the tree just in case, so you can break my fall. That’s what a good wife would do."

"I’ll certainly break something." Camilla sighed.

She could hear William’s exuberant laugh as he slowly started to descend. A few moments later, he leapt down from a branch and showed her a round fruit in his hand with leathery, dark skin. He beckoned for Camilla to follow them back to the clearing by the creek, where he emptied his pockets of several other fruit.

Camilla picked up one to study it. "This looks absolutely nothing like a fig."

"These are much better. They only grow in the spring and summer though." Using the dagger at his hip, William cut one of the fruit open to reveal dark pink flesh. He gave one wedge to Camilla, then sat cross legged next to her to bite into his piece with enthusiasm.

The fruit was tart but delicious on Camilla’s tongue. The two of them sat together like children as they feasted on the fruit, the sticky nectar staining their mouths pink and running down her hands.

Camilla couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so carefree and far away from her duties. At one point, she thought William was leaning over to kiss her, only for him to swiftly pin her down on the grass and deliberately run his sticky hands all over her face.

Camilla screamed like she was being murdered as she thrashed under him. "You’re the worst person I know! I’ll poison your wine for this!"

William started laughing so hard, that he stopped being able hold her down. Camilla managed to roll away and stumble to the creek, where she dipped her hands in the water so she could scrub her face clean.

With a devious grin, William crouched down next to her to rinse his hands clean. Camilla stood up as if to walk back onto the grass. She hadn’t failed to notice however, the small, deep pool of creek water just next to where William was crouched. With a single hard shove, she pushed him into the water.

His outraged howl sent the birds in the trees scattering. "I’ll get my revenge for this!" William staggered out of the water, dripping wet. He bolted in Camilla’s direction.

Shrieking with giggles, Camilla tried to outrun him but he quickly caught up and grabbed her by the waist, pinning her arms down. William then carried her back to the little pool and despite her pleading and protests, plunged them both into the water.

An icy cold enveloped Camilla. She broke the surface, her screams cut off by the shock. William suddenly pulled her against him and kissed her. She clutched the front of his shirt as he took her weight in the water and rubbed his tongue against hers. The contrast between his hot mouth and the cold water made Camilla breathless.

William broke the kiss. "I should get you out of the water before you freeze. One moment."

He hoisted himself out of the pond, then pulled her out. Camilla looked down at her thoroughly soaked dress. "We can’t head back to court looking like this."

"Such a terrible shame, isn’t it? We’ll just have to remain here until we dry off." William smirked, then lay down on the sun warmed grass. He patted the grass next to him. "Lie down and let the sun warm you, my dear."

Camilla lay down next to him and closed her eyes, still shivering.

"Are you cold, delicate little bird?" William pulled her into his arms until she could rest her chin against his chest. Camilla closed her eyes again as she felt him gently squeeze the water out of a lock of her hair, then start on the next. The sensation started making her feel rather sleepy.

"This actually reminds me of when we got caught in that storm. A lot less awkward though." She heard William’s low voice behind her closed eyelids.

"Hmmm? What storm?"

"In the forest near Magdaline, when you lost your horse and we had to shelter from the lightning-"

Camilla’s eyes popped open in horror, her face growing hot and all thoughts of taking a little nap promptly forgotten. "Did you really need to bring that humiliation up? I wasn’t sure if the cold or your temper was going to end my life."

William looked at her thoughtfully. "I don’t remember being angry at you."

"Don’t lie. You looked ready to tear my throat out."

A short laugh escaped William’s lips. "Not quite. I was ready to tear your clothes off and plough into you. But I wasn’t going to take advantage of a barely conscious female."

"It’s the oddest thing to discover we have such different recollections of the same event." Camilla murmured, splaying her hand on his warm chest. "I thought you were furious enough to just leave me in the forest to fend for myself."

"I was furious you were always oblivious to me."

"Not that oblivious." Camilla gave him a shy glance. "I remember thinking that day that you looked unbelievably good without half your clothes on."

William smiled smugly, then flipped them so that he was on top of her. "Is that so? Such wicked thoughts behind a sweet face. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have held off for so long."

"Held off?" Camilla was incredulous. "You call all that holding off?"

Further complaints were silenced by his mouth on hers. Camilla slid her arms around William’s waist, feeling his wet shirt under her palms. She was suddenly very conscious of the layers of wet clothing between them. She felt William’s hand sliding up her thigh.

Camilla pressed her hands against his chest and pushed him off slightly. "Don’t even think about it, William. We’re outside."

"No one can see us. And besides, if someone were to approach, I’d definitely hear them."

She rolled her eyes. "When you’re focused on certain things, there could be an entire army invading and you wouldn’t notice."

William snorted but didn’t deny her words. "You’re no fun at all." Laying down next to her, he then said, "Tell me a story, then."

Camilla turned to face him. "No, it’s your turn. You have to tell me one."

"Very well then. What do you wish to know about?"

Camilla thought for a moment. She was sure he knew far more about her past than she did about his, possibly because he was a little older and partly because he seemed to have a flawless memory for some things.

"Alright. Tell me the name of the first girl you ever liked and how you met her."

William frowned, looking puzzled. "Liked? As in lain with, you mean?"

Camilla shook her head in disbelief. "Those aren’t necessarily the same things. You could’ve liked and admired a lady without necessarily having bedded her."

"Women might think those are two separate things, but men don’t!" William started to laugh. "Never in my life did I seek a woman for her wit or her pleasant company. I’m sorry if that sounds unromantic, but it’s the truth."

"Fine then." Camilla replied flatly. "The name of the first girl you bedded."

"Why do you want to know that?" William looked rather evasive.

"Husband! You remember her name, don’t you? Or has it really been that many?" Camilla started giggling, tickling his ribs.

He tried dodging her hands as he started turning red. "Of course I remember! And stop tickling!"

"Her name then, please!"

William groaned in defeat. "Her name was Sancia, alright? I would’ve been perhaps fourteen. She was a little older."

"And why did you choose her? Because you loooooooooved her?" Camilla couldn’t resist torturing him.

"Oh, fuck no!" William looked at her as if she were crazy. "I didn’t even like her much. She was visiting family at court and it’s more accurate to say she chose me. I just went along with it."

"Why did it end?" Camilla asked.

"She moved on to Francis rather quickly afterwards. Tom dallied with her as well on that visit."

Camilla felt her mouth twisting in distaste. "You’re not making this up, are you?"

"No. We were all just silly, untested lads back then. Lady Sancia meant nothing to us and we meant nothing to her either."

"She was a lady?" Camilla was shocked a noble lady would behave in such a shameless manner. "I’d assumed she was a courtesan or a servant’s daughter."

"No, she was a lady. In name, at least." William said dismissively. "Lady Sancia Thierre."

"Thierre..." Camilla whispered to herself. She sat up suddenly. "Wait. Wasn’t Princess Violet, named Lady Violet Thierre before her marriage?" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

William’s eyes shifted away guiltily and he started blushing again.

"Oh lord. Did all of you lie with the princess’s sister?" Camilla’s mouth dropped open.