Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 222: It’s Not Forever

25 August, 1360. Magdaline Castle, Islia

The next morning, William emerged from the bedchamber to find the two siblings curled up on opposite ends of the couch, bleary eyed.

"Did the two of you spend the entire night talking?" William asked them.

"Not quite, but almost." Malcolm yawned and stretched. Camilla stood up, trying to smooth her rumpled gown.

"Would you like us to call for a bath for you, Mal?" she asked.

"That sounds heavenly. But where would I hide while it was being set up?"

William thought it over briefly, then his mouth quirked. "That’s quite simple. You could just hide under our bed."

Malcolm aimed a quick sideways glare at him. "Well, I’m sure you’ll find that fucking amusing, won’t you?"

"Not at all." William replied primly, keeping a straight face only with difficulty. "It would be my pleasure to provide you such an opportunity. I can even offer you a clean shirt and tunic to wear afterwards."

"Thank you, but don’t be ridiculous." Malcolm responded archly. "If I tried to wear the shirt of a skinny, wiry son of a bitch like you, I’d split the seams."

William could only smirk at the reply. Biting wit also seemed to be a Stephenson family trait.

Camilla called for the maids to set up the bath in the dressing room and stifled her giggles as she saw her brother slide himself slowly under the bed.

Eventually, the maids finished setting up the tub, the hot water, the soap and towels. Camilla waited until the maids had left and she’d locked the presence chamber door from the outside world again, before she called out to her brother that it was safe to come out from hiding.

A visibly irritated Malcolm dragged himself out from under the bed. "Well, that took a goddamn age! Are you sure you didn’t instruct the maids to take as long as possible?"

William jabbed Camilla’s waist with his elbow and started laughing. "I was tempted but I actually didn’t. That they took so long was nothing but a happy accident." Still chuckling, he led Camilla out of the dressing room by the hand so Malcolm could bathe in privacy.

Malcolm eventually stepped back out into the presence chamber, freshly bathed and with damp hair. He was wearing the same embroidered red merchant’s tunic from the previous day.

"Are you sure you don’t wish to stay at least a day or two longer here?" William asked.

"Hmmm, it’s a tempting offer." Malcolm half smiled.

"It would at least give you a chance to rest and if we tell everyone that you’re a wealthy merchant staying on as my guest, people at court won’t ask too many questions." William said. "I’m sure you’ll also find yourself quite popular with the ladies here..."

William’s words died off when he saw his wife’s furious face.

"William. If you’re suggesting my brother should delay his departure just so he can spend some time whoring with Islians, I’m going to be upset." Camilla said icily. "Very, very upset."

"Sorry." William muttered.

Malcolm howled with laughter. "As, uh, generous as your suggestion is, I’ll have to decline. I really should make my way to our mother’s kin without further delay. And Maeve awaits me. Which is the closest town from here where I might purchase a horse? I sold mine a few miles ago and hitched a ride on a merchant wagon." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Don’t worry about that." William waved a hand dismissively. "You can take one of my horses. I have several. But you must at least have breakfast with us before you depart."

Malcolm nodded his thanks.

William arranged for breakfast to be brought to the apartments and the three of them ate quietly, each absorbed in their own thoughts. After breakfast, Camilla fetched baby Malcolm from his nursery so that her brother could say goodbye to him.

The elder Malcolm cradled the child one last time and put his large hand over the little forehead in quiet blessing. "Be good, little lad. Do as your parents bid. I hope you’ll succeed where your uncles and grandfather failed and that you’ll always strive for peace amongst those you have power over."

Malcolm then passed the child back to his mother and tugged on his broadcloth cap to hide his distinctive auburn hair.

The little group walked quietly out of the apartments and towards the stables. The building was quiet. William led Malcolm over to where his prized horses were and indicated a sleek black animal.

"Kabila here is probably the fastest one I have. He’ll serve you well. Oh, and he loves green apples."

Malcolm chuckled as he looked at the enormous stallion in admiration. "Thank you, William."

William indicated where a saddle could be found and Malcolm quickly had the animal saddled and reined.

"Don’t weep, sister." Malcolm’s voice turned gentle when he turned to Camilla and saw her eyes were starting to well up. "This goodbye...it’s not forever. We’ll see each other again."

"You’re not just saying that?" she muttered, hastily drying her eyes.

"I’m not. I truly believe it." Malcolm’s voice was resolute. "And who knows what the future will be? When Arlen Castle fell, did you ever think you’d see me again?"

"No." she admitted.

"And yet, here we both are. Fortuna is a mistress that’s impossible to understand, and she has a wicked sense of humour." He gave his sister a sunny smile, looking like a young boy again.

"We can visit." William interjected in a low voice. "Al Biscay, I mean. Once Malcolm is settled in and writes to tell you where he has ended up, we can arrange to visit him if you like."

William gulped slightly when two identical canny stares turned his way, from two identically shaped pairs of eyes.

"You truly mean that?" Camilla asked him.

William had known the moment he opened his mouth, he’d be held to his promise by his wife. And her brother. "Yes." he sighed. "It’ll have to be during peacetime of course, and when the weather is settled. But I think it can be done."

Malcolm gave him a hint of a smile. "I’ll hold you to those words, you know that."

William groaned and looked up at the stable’s thatched roof. "I have no doubt." He shot Camilla a look and said drily, "And before you ask, wife, yes we can bring little Malcolm along with us."

Camilla beamed at him and William took the baby from her arms. She then threw her arms around her brother. The two embraced fiercely for a long while. When they finally pulled apart, Malcolm kissed her forehead. "Please look after yourself and your little one. Don’t do anything reckless."

Camilla frowned. "Mal. I’m an old, married matron now. What recklessness do you expect me to carry out? That I’ll read too many books?"

Malcolm huffed out a laugh. "I wish I could believe that. But you have been a draw for adventure since the day you were born. Beautiful women often are."

Camilla laughed, despite looking as if she might still cry.

Malcolm finally turned away from her and faced William, staring at him hard. William eyed him back, equally steady.

Eventually, Malcolm raised his hand to him and William took it in a firm, silent handclasp. Malcolm smiled ever so faintly. "Be good to my sister, every day. All of your days."

William gave him a little smile in return. "I will. You have my promise. Partly because if I don’t, you’ll end up finding out one way or another."

"I will. And I’ll hunt you down so that I can slit your throat while you sleep."

The two men grinned at each other. Camilla scowled.

"Well, that’s a lovely sentiment. Do the two of you really have to speak that way?" she glared at one, then the other.

"Don’t fret, sister. William and I have simply reached an understanding." Malcolm pulled her again into a quick final hug. His chin tucked against the top of Camilla’s head, he gave William a thoughtful nod.

Perhaps we will be friends one day, William thought. For now, we can at least be allies, united in our love for the same girl.

Finally letting go of Camilla, Malcolm placed his foot into the stirrup and hoisted himself with ease onto the black horse. He tipped his cap at them and gave his sister one last smile. "Until we all meet again."

"Until then." Camilla replied softly.

Malcolm eased the horse slowly out of the stable and as he approached the main castle gates, he kicked it into a canter. William and Camilla watched him gradually disappear from view, in silence. Little Malcolm babbled quietly to himself in his father’s hold.

William slid his free arm around Camilla’s waist and pulled her back against him while she continued to look at the gates.

"Are you alright?" he finally asked.

She turned and looked up at him, giving him a watery smile. "I’m both happy and sad. Mostly happy, though. Does that make sense?"

"It does." William smiled.