Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 77: Someone Else’s Charity

30 April, 1359. Magdaline Castle, Islia

Camilla sat on the edge of the main courtyard fountain with Francis and Robin, laughing as the two knights competed to see who could stack copper coins in the highest pile on the fountain rim, without them all toppling into the water. She’d been assigned the role of judge, as Francis swore Robin had the thicker coins, meaning he could create higher stacks with less coins.

She had wondered if after her last fight with Prince William, whether the other knights would shun her. To her relief, they hadn’t changed their behaviour. Even Prince Thomas was still his usual friendly self around her.

Camilla genuinely liked their company. She enjoyed the time she spent with her ladies as well, of course. But there was something comfortable and familiar about being surrounded by young men. Their forthright talk and bawdy humour reminded her of time spent with her brothers, though the men did try hard to curb the worst of their language around her.

Delicately placing another coin on an already precarious stack, Robin bellowed a curse as his coins tipped over. He then cheerfully apologised for his language as he leaned over the water to scoop his coins out. Suddenly, Camilla saw his jolly expression turn serious as he looked across the fountain and to the edge of the courtyard.

Following his line of sight, Camilla saw Prince William and Sir Richard Bentworth walking towards them. She felt her stomach sink with anxiety. She didn’t want to face either of them.

Camilla had spoken truthfully when she’d promised Bonnie a few days ago that she’d talk to Richard about the way he’d treated her. Still, it was a conversation she had been dreading, unsure how she’d actually approach him. Perhaps it was better to broach the subject with the other knights around, she reasoned, as it might temper Richard’s reaction.

Both men bowed to her and she returned the greeting in silence.

Without further preamble, Richard looked at the two knights sitting on the fountain’s edge and barked out, "Prince Leo wants a knight from Will’s battalion to provide him with the numbers from the latest weapons inventory. He needs the information urgently."

Why can’t you do it? Camilla asked Richard silently. Why do you always assume you can order your friends around?

Robin and Francis stared back at Richard for several moments until Robin finally stood up and grumbled, "Fine, I’ll go."

Camilla watched Robin’s departing figure and took a deep breath to gather her courage. "There’s actually something I need to discuss with you as well, Sir Richard."

William and Francis both looked at her, completely taken aback. Richard turned to face her, nonplussed. She saw his jaw tick with annoyance that she’d even deigned to talk to him.

For a moment, Camilla wondered how this could possibly be the same man that Bonnie had described as being so charming with his words. In her own eyes, Richard had been a vulgar brute since the first time they had met.

Undeterred, she continued. "My maid Bonnie says you have recently treated her very poorly. She said you made many promises but once you bedded her, you discarded her and moved on to another woman. I understand that’s a habit for some men." Camilla resisted the temptation to look at the prince when she spoke those particular words. "But it upsets me to see the young girl so heartbroken. Especially when she says you hit her and threatened her employment if she dared complain. Please keep your distance from her and refrain from treating any of my maids this way in future."

Richard snorted and rolled his eyes as if she’d made a ridiculous request. "And you believed her? You believe the words of a nobody?"

"Yes. Bruises don’t lie. And she’s not a nobody."

"Why are you taking such an interest in my bed wenches then, Princess? Jealous you’re not amongst them?" Richard sneered.

"Rich. Watch your mouth." cautioned William.

"Normally I’d have no interest in the company you keep, Sir Richard. And I can’t think of anything sounding more depressing than being one of your bed wenches."

At that comment, Richard gave her a withering look. William on the other hand, turned his face in the other direction to stifle what sounded like a laugh. Francis guffawed openly.

"But Bonnie is in my service, therefore I’m responsible for her welfare. I’m sure there are plenty of others ladies who aren’t in my household that you can lie to and then discard." Camilla managed to keep her voice even, despite her nerves.

"That lying maid is hardly in your household when you have nothing of the sort." Richard hissed, his face darkening. "The maids, like the room you sleep in and the clothes on your back, belong to someone else. So how can you call her your maid when you own nothing? When you only exist because you shamelessly leech off someone else’s charity?"

Even William looked shocked at the blatant insult. "What the hell is wrong with you, Richard? You’re speaking to a blood royal. She’s under King Edward’s protection."

"And everyone knows a lady is responsible for the health and wellbeing of her maids." added Francis. "Just stay away from the princess’s maids and you won’t have a problem. Surely it’s not that hard."

Richard’s eyes flicked away from Camilla as if she wasn’t worth even looking at. Instead, he stared at the two men with nothing but hostility. "Why are you both siding with some foreign orphan against me? I know Will is well known for thinking with his cock but you’re supposed to be smarter than that, Francis."

Francis paled. William looked too stunned to speak.

"The queen assigned those maids to my care. So please don’t make me repeat myself, Sir Richard." Camilla said simply. "Keep away from my maids and ladies."

Richard looked at her again, face twisted into a menacing sneer but he said nothing more.

Francis broke the tense silence by offering to escort Camilla back to her rooms and quickly swept her away in the direction of the castle, leaving the other two men glaring at each other.

- - -

Camilla felt her thudding heart gradually slow down with relief as they walked further and further from the courtyard.

"I’m so sorry you had to endure such insults, Your Grace." Francis looked down at her, genuinely concerned.

Camilla shrugged dismissively. "It makes no difference. Sir Richard’s opinion isn’t important to me, Sir Francis. Truly."

Francis nodded but still looked troubled. Camilla smiled to reassure him. They continued walking in silence until Francis finally spoke again.

"You and Prince William have had a falling out, then?"

Camilla had been wondering how long until someone mentioned it. She blushed and ducked her head. "Is it that obvious to you?"

Francis gave a small laugh. "Oh, my lady. It’s obvious to everyone with eyes and then some." He glanced at her again. "William has been in a terrible mood lately. He’ll never say it of course, but he’s rather fond of you. I think he misses your company."

"Sir Francis," Camilla replied firmly. "The only thing the prince misses is the possibility I might agree to lie with him. Even then, I’m sure another girl will catch his eye before the week is out. There is obviously something else troubling him that has nothing to do with me."

"Can I ask what you quarrelled about?" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Camilla remembered their last proper conversation in the corridor outside her apartments, when she’d confronted William about visiting bathhouses and he hadn’t denied it. Even now, the pain was like a knife twisting in her heart.

It wasn’t until that moment that I realised how truly meaningless I am to the prince, Camilla thought to herself. He’s always seen me as just another conquest and I...

I think I am in love with him.

The gravity of the situation suddenly hit her like a blow to the head.

I am, though. I’m in love with that insufferable clod. When did I let this happen? How did I let this happen? What kind of an idiot am I?

To her horror, she had ended up in love with an immature, complicated, emotionally wounded young man who was no good for her at all, and yet she couldn’t help herself. Despite how angry she was with him now, she couldn’t forget his smile and his touch, along with the rare moments of compassion and sweetness he’d shown her.

"I’d rather not say, Sir Francis." she finally replied quietly. "Prince William is your friend first and foremost. I don’t to make you uncomfortable by putting you in the middle of our quarrel."

Francis nodded. "I respect your silence, my lady. I just hope whatever it was blows over and the two of you can make amends soon. Will has a good heart underneath all the arrogance."

Camilla privately doubted that would ever happen but she didn’t say so. Instead, she looked askance at Francis. "And yet, I’ve never gotten along well with Sir Richard and you don’t seem to care about that. Isn’t he one of your close friends as well?"