Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 81: Placid Waters

Camilla pushed strands of damp hair back from her face, only vaguely listening to the chatter of her ladies-in-waiting. She was glad to be away from the relentless stares and whispers of the castle even for an afternoon. After a year in Islia, she knew there were many people around court still hostile to her, especially the females. She watched the sun bounce off the placid waters, thinking she was fortunate to at least have her three ladies around her.

Meg jabbed her gently in the ribs with her elbow. "Have you chosen a green gown, my lady?"

Camilla gave her a blank look.

Meg laughed. "You mustn’t have listened to a word of ours. I was asking about the dress you plan to wear the Banquet of Love that Their Majesties are hosting next week."

"But why would it have to be green?"

"Green is the colour of true love, according to ancient legend. Every spring, the king holds this special banquet in honour of the queen. It has taken place every year since they were wed."

"I’m not sure why a man would want to publicly honour his wife with a banquet about love when he makes no effort to hide his mistresses. But if this banquet is court tradition, I expect I’ll have to join in."

"That’s a rather cynical viewpoint, Princess." Elizabeth observed. "At least the king’s latest wench will know better than to show her face at the banquet, I suppose."

Camilla half smiled as she listened to Katerine, ever the romantic, describe the previous banquet with enthusiasm.

"Last year they strung lanterns from all the trees in the west gardens and brought musicians from the nearby villages to play. It was like a beautiful country fair under the stars. You likely missed it because you were so newly arrived to our court." Katerine added hastily. "But this year I’m sure you’ll love it, my lady. Especially once Prince William sweeps you onto the dance floor!"

Camilla looked at Katerine and laughed uncomfortably. "I don’t think that will be the case. He and I...we aren’t on the best of terms these days."

"Oh yes, we had noticed the two of you are avoiding each other lately." Meg responded cheerfully. "Whatever he did, try not to judge him too harshly, my lady. Men are the most foolish creatures." Meg gave Camilla a sidelong look and grinned. "Unless of course you are the one who upset him?"

The princess flushed. "Let’s just say that things were said on both sides that probably shouldn’t have been. But what’s done is done."

"Oh, it should be easy enough for you to win the prince back to your side!" Elizabeth waved a hand carelessly. "Especially now that Princess Sarai is no longer around to hang off him like a leech."

"I don’t think so...I managed to make him quite furious the last time we spoke. He even said that I’m dead to him."

To her surprise, all three ladies burst out laughing.

"Dead to him indeed!" Meg wiped her eyes. "As if he truly means that. All you need to do is breathe in his direction and you’ll have him captivated. Everyone knows how he looks at you, especially these days."

"And how does he look at me?" Since their argument, William seemed to be making a conscious effort to look at her as little as possible.

"Like a man dying of thirst, when he comes across a clean river." Elizabeth shook her head. "You have him quite besotted. Why do you think Princess Sarai was always so rude to you? She was shamelessly throwing herself at him and His Grace barely even acknowledged her presence."

"Well, I think his feelings have changed. I made him truly angry."

Meg was dismissive. "Nonsense, Your Grace! You can easily capture his attention again. He’s hardly even looked at other women since you joined our court. Besides, the man is too perfect looking for his own good. I don’t think I could stay angry if he looked at me the right way!"

More laughter. "Surely you agree, don’t you, Princess?" Katerine asked. "You must find him handsome too?"

"Well...yes. I have eyes, don’t I? He is stunningly fair." Camilla admitted slowly. "He knows it, though. It makes him rather arrogant."

"Of course it does. I’d be the most arrogant of men too if I saw what he sees every day in the mirror. But if such a beautiful man wants you, why bother fighting it? Give him what he wants and you’ll likely enjoy yourself as well."

"Meg!" Camilla’s mouth fell open. "I can’t believe you said that. You think I should just lie with him because he asked?"

"So he did proposition you! I knew it!" Meg clapped her hands with delight.

Realising she’d been tricked into confessing something she’d no intention of discussing, Camilla flushed bright red and covered her face with her hands.

"Well, think twice before you turn him down, my lady." she heard Elizabeth say.

Now Camilla was truly shocked. Of all her ladies, Elizabeth was the most upright one, always thinking everything through seriously. "Are you telling me I should just sin and not worry about it?"

Elizabeth shrugged. "In this case, why not? Who knows where you’ll be in year’s time? Perhaps you’ll be back in Moraigth and married off to an ogre. Noble girls have little control over our lives, princesses even less. We have to seek a little happiness where we can find it, don’t you agree? It hurts no one in the long run."

"You’ve said it before, your uncle will likely marry you to a beast or a drunkard." added Meg. "And no matter how much you hate that man, you’ll have to obey him for the rest of his days. So if you have to spend a lifetime running his household and bearing his children, wouldn’t you at least like to have one memory of when you lay with a man of your choice, one who would treat you well?"

"How can you be so sure William would treat me well?"

Elizabeth’s eyes held a wicked gleam. "Ladies talk. And having heard from a couple who have been lucky enough to have been bedded by the prince, apparently he knows exactly what he’s doing between the sheets."