Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 194: Not Angry…

"And you have no problem with my following the king’s orders?" Camilla asked uneasily, aware of the insistent, unpleasant twinge growing in her belly.

"Why would I?"

"Oh, I don’t know! Perhaps because you usually hate it when I dance with other men, practice archery with other men, talk or breathe or think near other men..."

"I really don’t think I’m as bad as you describe me." William flushed defensively.

Camilla bit her lip to stop herself laughing out loud at his ridiculous words. "Alright then. Let’s pretend that’s the truth."

He rubbed his forehead in confusion. "In this situation, I’m not troubled by you trying to lure Lord Michal to our cause. And that’s because I don’t really think of the marquis as competition for your attention." William smirked. "I’d like to think I can hold my own in your eyes against a fat, miserable older man."

Camilla met his gaze, unsmiling. After a long pause, she asked, "I don’t understand why King Edward is so concerned the marquis might abdicate. If he does, won’t the title and responsibilities just be inherited by the son he already has?"

"Yes and that’s exactly what my uncle wants to avoid. Lord Ned Michal taking over his father’s duties would be a disaster."

"Why?"

"Because Ned is an utter dissolute. He can barely string two sentences together, let alone run the lands and ports of Niarnol. All he can think about is drinking and whoring." William replied.

Camilla sat up, making sure the bedsheet was pulled up modestly against her chest. "If drinking and whoring is all it takes to be considered a dissolute, then half the men at court fit the description. And that includes you before we were married, I’m afraid." she pointed out drily.

William turned crimson to the tips of his ears and stared at her. "I can’t believe you think that way of me!"

Camilla clicked her tongue in disbelief. "And I can’t believe you’ve acting so defensive about it. I’m not trying to criticise your past actions. I know you’re not like that anymore. I’m just trying to see why you’d judge another man so harshly for doing the very things you once enjoyed."

William shrugged. "It isn’t just that though. You’ll see yourself when you meet Ned. He’s...he’s best described as slow, even simple."

"So, let me see if I understand this all correctly." Camilla was pleased at how calm her words sounded, despite the sudden wave of hurt and agitation inside her. "To avoid your uncle feeling like he’s lost his grip on a vassal, I’m to lead on another man towards temptation. And you have no issue with me behaving like a coquette, but only ever around men you don’t deem a threat to yourself?"

"Well, I mean...that’s not quite what I meant."

"Then perhaps you should explain to me exactly what you meant, because I’m thoroughly confused right now." Camilla said softly.

William looked perplexed but also on edge, as if he sensed he was stumbling onto an unexpected path. "Why are you acting so uncomfortable about treating a vassal with a little extra friendliness?"

"Because I don’t appreciate being used as bait for some noble. I’ve never been comfortable in the company of strange men." Camilla pulled her nightgown back over head, suddenly eager for the conversation to be over. "And I guess I expected my husband to be the one person who’d understand why."

William stared at her awkwardly and opened his mouth as if to speak, but said nothing.

"Good night, husband." Camilla lay back on her pillow, then turned so her back was facing William.

"Wait...I mean..." She felt his warm hand reach out to touch her back. His voice was bemused when he asked, "Are you angry with me? Because I’ve got the feeling I’ve just gone and said the wrong thing."

"I’m not angry with you, I’m just disappointed." Camilla resisted the screaming urge inside her to face him, to cling to his strong, sturdy warmth and just ignore his clumsy words.

"Is it because I said-"

"Good night, husband." she said in resignation as she closed her eyes.

- - -

William lay on the bed, unease weighing him down like a lump of lead on his chest.

He wasn’t sure how, but he’d somehow managed to fuck things up with his words and now his wife was upset with him. She was curled up on the other side of the bed, refusing to face him. A complete contrast to how they usually slept, with their limbs entwined.

Well done imbecile, William told himself.

What had upset her? Had it been him calling Ned Michal a dissolute? Camilla was kind natured but she didn’t strike him as the sort to fume about an offhand comment made about a man she’d never met.

Had it been that the conversation had reminded her of the days when William had been a well known womaniser?

He ground his teeth in embarrassment at thinking about his behaviour back then, when he’d gone to great efforts to flaunt the interest of other ladies in Camilla’s face. William had deliberately given her the impression there was a different woman in his bed every night, in a pathetic effort to make himself more desirable to her.

Turns out, flaunting his promiscuity wasn’t the way to win over a lady like Camilla. Who would’ve thought it?

Again though, that was all in the past. His heart beat and his blood pulsed only for his beloved now. Camilla herself had said she knew him to be a different man.

So what had caused her to turn away from him? Was it because he’d suggested she should flirt with Lord Michal? Surely not something so trivial?

William was sure Camilla would laugh at the thought, the moment she saw the comical looking marquis. He was as stout as a barrel, with an enormous beard and a red nose. How was any woman expected to keep a straight face when flattering such a man?

They were both going to laugh about the conversation tomorrow morning, William was sure of it.

He drifted off into an uneasy slumber.

- - -

William awoke slowly and stretched, feeling a little cold. He sensed it was just before dawn, judging by the pale grey glow behind the heavy drapes. He sat up and realised why he was chilled.

Camilla was fast asleep far on the other side of the large bed, instead of curled up against his side as usual. She was tucked up in a compact ball, facing him.

William was confused until he remembered she’d gone to sleep unhappy with him.

He didn’t pretend to know a great deal about how women thought, but he was fairly confident that meant she wouldn’t appreciate him waking her up to make love.

He lay back in bed, uncertain what he should do next. His movements awoke her and she slowly batted her eyes open.

"Good morning, wife." William smiled hopefully.

"Good morning." Camilla blinked. Her vague smile back didn’t reach her eyes. Instead of drawing closer and into his arms to linger like she always did, she slipped out of the bed and grabbed her long silk robe as she walked out of the bedchamber. William heard her calling for the maids to prepare her bath.

"I guess you’re still upset then, my dear?" William muttered to himself.

He noticed Camilla didn’t return to the bedchamber until Bonnie arrived with the breakfast tray. William waited for Camilla to sit back on the bed and join him so they could eat together, but she stood by the window, ignoring the food and looking out at the sunrise in silence.

"Aren’t you going to eat anything?" he finally asked.

She didn’t even bother looking at him to reply. "I’m not hungry this morning. Have it all, if you like." Her tone was as placid as a winter’s lake.

William was starting to get a very bad feeling.

A few moments later, the maids entered the apartments to drag the bathtub into the dressing room. He could hardly get out of bed and confront his wife about his alleged offences, with her gossipy maids in the room.

So he waited. Wrapped in a robe and leaning impatiently against a bedpost, William crossed his arms and waited for Camilla to bathe, dress and emerge from the dressing room.

When she finally stepped back into the bedchamber in a ruby coloured gown, she breezed past William without so much as a glance at him and sat down at the dressing table. Bonnie stepped forward to comb Camilla’s damp, fragrant hair.

Camilla murmured something to her maid too quietly for William to hear but after only a few moments, Bonnie said, "I’m done, my lady."

"Thank you." Camilla stood and moved towards the bedchamber door.

"Wait! Where are you going so early in the morning?" William called out to her.

"Just out." Camilla’s voice was cool and her eyes never looked his way. The door clicked shut.

William could only stand there, completely baffled.