Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 216: Empty Handed

William nodded slowly in agreement. "It’s why I’m actually glad you weren’t called into to provide evidence. As much as I’d like those fucking nobles to give you credit where credit is due, and know that it was you who uncovered the treason, the courtroom is a poisonous place. Whereas here..." he gestured around the room, "...none of that exists. You and Malcolm are a place of peace for me. I want it to stay that way."

Camilla laid down next to him and rested her cheek against his shoulder. After several moments, she asked, "What will tomorrow be like? Another day of evidence being presented?"

"No, luckily. That’s all finished. The verdict will be announced first thing, I expect."

"Surely the verdict is a formality? Is there any chance at all of Lord Michal to be found innocent?" she asked.

"Not even the slimmest chance." William replied. "The way the poor man’s face crumpled when he saw the maps being unrolled that he’d had smuggled into Port Canfirth. He knew he had no way of saving himself then. I mean, he tried, called your uncle a lying barbarian warlord and said that a Moraigthian spy must have stolen the maps from Ferrenthor. But everyone saw through his excuses."

"Will Lord Michal lose his life?" Camilla asked in a small voice.

"I expect so, yes. Though I suspect my uncle will be merciful out of respect for his noble lineage. He’ll probably just order the marquis be hanged instead of suffering a full traitor’s execution."

Camilla sat up, her head suddenly swimming. A full traitor’s death of being hung, drawn and quartered - to even think about it made her feel ill.

Not that simply being hanged would be an easy way to die, either. She knew that was how both her father and youngest brother had met their ends...

William frowned. "I’m sorry, my dear. Let’s talk about something less terrible than executions."

Nodding weakly, she lay back down next to him again. Another question popped into her mind.

"What has been decided about Sarai? Will her marriage to Lord Michal be annulled like she hopes?" Camilla asked.

"Yes, my uncle announced the annulment paperwork has been finalised. I expect he’ll grant it in the next couple of days. And then she’ll be free to return home."

"Well, she’s fortunate then." To a man, the distinction between being the former wife of a man on trial and the widow of a dead traitor, might not seem like much.

To a woman who would no doubt be married off again by her ambitious father in the future, such distinctions were everything.

"And His Majesty will return her dowry to Havietten when she returns home?" Camilla asked.

"What? No." William sounded confused by the question. "Her dowry lands were added to the Marquessate. And now, everything that was once the Marquessate, belongs to the Crown."

Camilla sat up abruptly again, brows drawn together, to look down at her husband. "William! That’s hardly fair!"

"What do you mean? What’s unfair about it?"

"It was her husband who went behind his king’s back yet she’s the one who loses her dowry and is returned penniless to her father?"

"But it’s the law."

"If Sarai had gone into the marriage owing a large debt to King Edward, he wouldn’t have forgiven her debt just because her husband was executed." Camilla argued. "So why, when the situation is reversed, is he allowed to pocket her dowry?

"I suppose what you says makes sense." William mumbled. "But why does it matter to you one way or the other? Sarai has always hated you."

"She has. That doesn’t mean I can’t pity her." Camilla shrugged. "She was forced into a loveless marriage by her father and now she has to return to that father and face him empty handed?"

"Yes, but-"

"If a woman is considered too insignificant under the law to give evidence to a court, then a woman should also be too insignificant for that same law to justify stealing her dowry." Camilla interrupted. "I don’t care how much of a bitch Sarai is. She deserves to remarry again if she wishes, and not as a pauper. Besides, there’s no point making an enemy of her father as well. It’s not like Islia’s neighbour to the north is very reliable. So we need to keep Havietten on side."

William held her gaze as he sat up, careful to not send Malcolm tumbling off his lap. There was a slight smile on his face when he spoke. "My uncle was right. You can craft one hell of a convincing argument when you want to, Camilla."

She smiled in return, feeling herself blush. "I don’t think it’s you I have to convince, rather it’s your uncle."

"I still don’t understand your concern for a woman who was nothing but spiteful to you, though."

"I don’t know how to explain it but to say...well...it’s not easy being a girl. Royal or humble. Our views aren’t considered and we have little rights under the law. If Sarai were my daughter, I’d be horrified if she was left in this position."

"In that case, I suggest we let Lord Michal’s verdict be announced first, then speak to the king about Sarai. Did you want to speak to him yourself, or prefer I raise the issue with him?" William asked.

"Whichever you think is most likely to succeed."

"You approach the king, then. You have a better chance of winning. He says he’s quite immune to my charms." William said without hesitating, giving her a sheepish grin.

Camilla laughed and pushed him gently back onto the bed, then tucked herself against his side. "Ouch. Brutal."

William stroked the curve of her hip. "All this effort for a lady who’ll never know you helped her, much less give you a word of thanks for it."

"If you only do a good deed for the praise you’ll receive...well, we both know what that looks like."

"Oh yes." he murmured. "Like all the men who sat in the courtroom today."