Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 206: Behind Your Back

Camilla could only shake her head in disbelief. "B-but if your father was allied with Moraigth...why did your brother still lose his life?"

"That’s something I’m still unsure about. There will probably never be a clear answer." Ned stared into the distance while his brow furrowed in concentration. "I don’t know if John was sent to war knowing about the secret alliance or not. I don’t know if he died through sheer bad luck or if King Kenneth simply used Father for his knowledge and then double crossed him. John’s death absolutely shattered him though."

Camilla closed her eyes, sorry she ever asked about the poor, mute servants of Ferrenthor.

"If your uncle had won the war and taken our throne, Father’s deception would’ve never been an issue. But for King Kenneth to then lose...as you can imagine, the secret must remain carefully guarded. No one can ever speak of such a betrayal by the Marquis of Niarnol." Ned said.

Camilla glanced at him. "Why didn’t he take your tongue too? Didn’t he fear your words?"

"I doubt that. Father would’ve considered me too much of a simpleton to understand what was going on, much less tell anyone of importance."

"Ned, I’m so sorry." she whispered, her throat tight. "But I’m afraid I need to tell William all this you’ve shared with me."

Shrugging, he replied. "I thought as much. This is all far too much for a wife to keep from her husband, or for a subject to keep from her king. Tell the prince everything you need to. I trust you with the knowledge."

"But what happens if your father is arrested, or worse?" Camilla asked. "You’ll be forced to shoulder his responsibilities, whether you want to or not."

"No." Ned replied without hesitation. "My freedom is too important to me."

"But how could you avoid it?"

"I have my ways." Ned sounded vague but at the same time, absolutely certain. "And now, I think you should head back to your chambers. I shouldn’t keep you out here for too long, especially as I think it’s about to rain. Thank you for listening to the truth."

Camilla stood on trembling legs. "Thank you for trusting me with it." She squeezed Ned’s shoulder for a moment. "We’ll speak again tomorrow."

Ned smiled up at her.

Camilla left the courtyard and headed back towards her room, her head swimming. She swung open the guest bedchamber door, startling Bonnie, who was quietly folding clothes.

"Are you alright, my lady?" the maid asked. "You look pale."

"I’m feeling rather queasy today. I think I’ll lie down for while." Camilla crawled onto the bed and laid down, pulling a pillow against her middle.

Bonnie bowed and quietly exited the room, closing the door behind her.

- - -

When William returned to the guest chamber late that afternoon, Camilla told him she didn’t feel well enough to eat in the dining hall that night. In truth, she didn’t think she could sit across a table from Lord Michal and exchange pleasant small talk, when all she wanted to do was scream.

William peered at Camilla’s face in concern and told her to rest. "You’re not missing much, just hearing Lord Michal tell the same boring stories and complain about everything he considers wrong. But if you’re not feeling better by tomorrow morning, I’ll send for a physician."

Camilla nodded and tried to smile, to avoid increasing his worry. She felt horribly guilty hiding the truth from William, but she needed time to truly absorb everything Ned had told her, before she shared it.

She also wanted to speak further with Ned and ask more questions. But when she went to meet him in their usual spot the following day, he didn’t show up.

Camilla sat in the quiet little courtyard for almost three hours, restlessness gnawing at her insides as the time kept ticking by and there was no sign of Ned.

Eventually, she gave up waiting for him and trudged back up to her room, twitching with anxious energy.

We depart for Magdaline tomorrow, Camilla lectured herself. I should be happy. What’s wrong with me?

- - -

Camilla managed to hold her tongue during dinner that night with the marquis and marchioness. She barely said a word and just pushed her food around her plate. She could feel William glancing at her often, though he kept quiet.

After dinner ended, she let William lead her back to their room, her hand clasped within his much larger one. When they reached the bedchamber, she let him undress her and drop to his knees to cover her in kisses. Camilla could only tilt her head back helplessly, more than happy to lose herself in the excruciating pleasure he could always bring her. For a time, it meant that thoughts of Ned and mute servants and treason, were far from her mind.

The heat from William’s hands and mouth seemed to go on and on. Camilla could only cling and squirm and claw her nails into his shoulders, begging him for more. She didn’t understand how he could kiss her collarbones so delicately, while pounding into her so ferociously. All she could do was let go, hearing the whimpers tear from her throat as the bliss engulfed her.

As she lay on her back, utterly slack, she brushed a hand across her damp forehead. William lay next to her, catching his breath.

"So, then." he murmured, his voice low and relaxed.

"Yes?"

"Are you going to tell me what’s been bothering you the last couple of days?"

Camilla blinked her sleepy eyes and turned to face him. He looked calm, though his keen gaze was focused on her.

She swallowed and spoke hesitantly. "I met someone a few days ago and I’ve been speaking to him every day since."

"And who would that be?"

"Ned Michal."

"Ah. I was wondering whether Ned would make any kind of appearance or whether his father was determined to keep him hidden away like some shameful secret." William yawned and slid his hand slowly down the curve of her hip. "How is the little cripple doing these days?"

"Don’t call him that!" Camilla felt her anger spiking.

William’s lazy half smile quickly disappeared. "I didn’t mean anything by it. I just jested because-"

"It isn’t funny, William. It’s cruel. And it isn’t even really true! Have you ever even met Ned properly?"

"I’ve seen him a few times, yes." He sounded defensive.

"Have you actually spoken with him?" Camilla pressed on.

"Well no, not really. Lord Michal always said-"

"Ignore everything the marquis has ever told you. About Ned and about anything else." Camilla stared hard at William, her voice catching.

William stared back, his eyes narrowing. "What has happened that’s upset you? Has Ned treated you inappropriately?"

"No, nothing like that! Ned is a dear soul." The moment Camilla said that, she saw William’s eyes flash with possessiveness. She quickly considered her next words.

"My love, Ned had been nothing but a perfect gentleman to me. But have you noticed that with a few exceptions, the servants don’t speak a word here?"

William look startled at the seemingly unrelated question. "Now that you mention it, you’re right. I’ve only had one or two speak to me the whole time we’ve been here. But what does that have to do with-"

"Lord Michal had their tongues cut out." she interrupted softly. "He believed it necessary after the war with Moraigth ended last summer. In fact, it was the arrival of the army here on your way back from from the north that prompted Lord Michal to silence his household, so that no information about his actions could leave Ferrenthor and reach the ears of King Edward."

William’s stare sharpened with suspicion. "What actions? What did the marquis do that made him take such an extreme action?"

So, she told him.

Camilla told William everything that Ned had said about the marquis’s treachery. She told him about the secret agreement signed with King Kenneth, the sharing of his northern maps to guide the Moraigthian invasion, his goal to lead Kenneth’s council of Islian lords and extend his area of influence into Kotailt.

She also told him how the death of Lord John Michal had been completely unexpected and now left Ned as heir to a title he had no desire or training for.

William’s face turned pale, then redder and redder as his temper rose. "Goddamn, Camilla! What you say is so beyond what I expected to hear...I just...Have we got any proof this is all true?"

"You mean apart from a group of servants that can neither speak nor write, and the word of a young man considered by most to be a crippled imbecile?"

"That son of a bitch marquis has spent the last few days assuring me he’s the king’s most humble servant...fuck. Fuck!" William growled, sitting up and punching the pillow repeatedly. Eventually, he managed to calm himself down enough to stop.

"Sorry." he muttered, huffing out a deep breath. "I just...just can’t fucking believe what that man has done. All because he still carries a grudge from years ago when the king wouldn’t let him divorce his wife?"

"Or it could’ve just been that his greed for land means he doesn’t care which king he serves." Camilla reasoned quietly. "At any rate, his reasons don’t really matter, do they?"

"I suppose not." William finally lay back against the pillows again, jaw clenched.

"I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I first met Ned a few days ago but he didn’t tell me what his father did until yesterday. It took me a full day to really understand his words."

"I’m not angry at you." William’s expression softened as he pulled Camilla into his arms. "I’m grateful. The king will be too. My clever girl, you discovered the worst kind of treason by using a method neither my uncle or I would’ve ever thought to use."