Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 234: Kick

21 February, 1362. Westerhaven Palace, Islia

The rapidly fading light from the bedchamber window told Camilla it would soon be time to pull the drapes shut again, even though it was still only mid afternoon.

She’d never much liked the short, dark days of winter. Then again, if she had to endure long days cooped up inside, she couldn’t ask for more pleasant surroundings.

She was sitting up on her bed, scanning a document relating to the administration of some of William’s hereditary lands in the west of Islia, tallying the costs versus rents received. Her husband liked that she could understand and assess financial records, so she helped him with the administration tasks as often as he needed. He’d tell her it was in her best interests to understand the state of the assets they derived their income from.

"So if the day comes when I wish to divorce you, you’ll know I won’t be able to leave you shortchanged in a settlement." William would always explain with a wink.

As she read through the columns of numbers, she could hear Willam’s laughter and Malcolm’s higher pitched giggles and shrieks in the background. William was tossing a ball covered in silver cloth around and Malcolm was running all over the room chasing it. The patter of his little feet was relentless. After a while, William picked up two more balls and started juggling them, enthralling the little boy and making him clap.

"What happened to promising the nursemaid you’d try and get him settled down and ready for a nap soon?" Camilla peered over the top edge of the parchment in her hand.

"This is me trying to settle him!" William protested. "I’m trying to tire him out so that he’ll fall asleep faster! How was I supposed to know the little rascal has literally boundless energy and will likely never fall asleep?"

Camilla had to concede the point. Malcolm was a beam of movement and exuberance who fought against every single nap. He also loved running and was a prolific climber even at his young age. His maids were always saying they had to keep a constant eye on him to avoid him disappearing or trying to scale something tall.

The other week, William had insisted on taking the boy to a luncheon held in the queen’s chambers. He’d even had Malcolm dressed in a little smock made from the same dark green fabric as his own tunic. Against her better judgment, Camilla had agreed to having the toddler join them.

All had been under control until Malcolm had slipped out from both of their gazes and used King Edward’s leg to climb and hoist himself into the king’s lap to stare at him. As if that hadn’t been enough, he’d then given the king’s beard a very firm pull.

Camilla had screeched in embarrassment and nearly died on the spot as she’d rushed to pry Malcolm away. Fortunately, King Edward had been rather amused. Laughing, he’d called Malcolm a fearless little knave before handing him back to his mother.

Camilla sighed, watching Malcom’s golden curls bouncing as he flitted around the room. "I feel like I’m looking at you twenty summers ago and now I feel so sorry for all your nursemaids, husband. You were a terror to deal with too, weren’t you?" she grumbled.

"Apparently I was, yes. I’m willing to bet I didn’t smile as much as this little one does, though."

A gentle knock on the door interrupted them and one of the nursemaids stepped into the room with her head bowed. "Begging your pardon for interrupting, Your Graces. It’s the little lord’s rest time."

Malcolm saw the nursemaid in the doorway and as if sensing what was about to happen, started to cry.

"Ahh my boy, there’s no need for tears. We’ll see you after your nap." William picked his son up and kissed the top of his head, before handing him over. "Please sleep, even if you don’t want to. I’m begging you. Lord knows, you’re as cranky as a wounded bear when you skip a nap."

After the nursemaid had left with a still tearful Malcolm, William bounded onto the bed, deliberately bouncing on it more than was needed. Camilla lowered the document in her hand and frowned at him.

"Was that necessary, you big spoiled child?"

"Perhaps yes, perhaps no." William grinned as he lay his head on her thigh. In the next moment, he pinched the document she was holding and tossed it to the floor.

"I hadn’t finished reviewing that! How will I know if you’re giving me my fair due when we divorce, if you interrupt my reading now?"

William smiled wider. "You can read all those boring scribbles later. Whereas your husband insists you pay attention to him right now."

Shaking her head, Camilla ran her fingers through his wavy hair. "I let you get away with far more than you should."

William adjusted himself so his cheek was pressed against her belly, his palm also resting up against the curve. "Do you think he or she can hear my voice?"

"I have no idea. With the way you curse, maybe it’s better if they can’t." Camilla closed her eyes.

William suddenly jolted a little and raised his head. "What the hell was that?"

"Hmmm?" Camilla kept her eyes closed.

"I felt something, like a tap." She felt his palm rub her belly.

"That’s the baby kicking." She slowly opened her eyes and met his shocked face. "You really didn’t believe me when I said you can feel it, did you?"

"Errr, no..." William lay down against her belly again, wearing a watchful expression. "I want to feel it again. Tell the baby to kick."

"The baby’s not really under my command, my dear." Camilla shook her head as she drawled. "They’ll kick when they’re good and ready, not before."

William spent the next long while talking to her belly. At first, he simply begged for another kick. Then he started talking about all sorts of things to the baby, telling them stories and jests, all while running his palm over the firm curve.

Camilla kept silent throughout, just smiling and revelling in the sweetness of seeing and hearing her husband, who was always so cool and reserved with everyone else, happily chattering away to his child.

"Are you a boy or a girl?" She heard William questioning. "I’m so curious to know."

At that question, the baby kicked again. Williams head popped up again from her lap, looking delighted. "Did you feel that? Was that another kick?"

"Yes I felt it. Kick, punch, roll, jousting practice...who knows what they’re doing in there?"

"Jousting..." William blinked at her. "Do you think it’s another boy?"

"I truly don’t know, but maybe it’s still too early to get a sense of it. I didn’t feel sure about Malcolm either until a couple of months before he was born." Camilla said, casting her mind back. "If this one’s a boy, he’ll likely be a good jouster. If she’s a girl, then I’m afraid she stomps her feet in a way that’s not very ladylike at all."

William chuckled, shifting his long frame until he was snuggled up against her belly again. "Perhaps she thinks that being a lady sounds boring and she wishes to wield a sword instead."

"It’s possible. It wouldn’t bother you if she was interested in sword fighting?"

"Not at all. Hell, I’d teach her myself."

"Really? You’d do that?" Camilla looked at him quizzically. "You’d teach a girl how to brandish a sword?" She tried to picture a tiny fair haired maiden at her husband’s side at the training grounds but failed miserably.

"I wouldn’t teach a girl. I said I’d teach our girl. That’s a completely different thing." he said.

"The court and country would be so scandalised if you did."

William seemed to be warming up to the idea more and more. "All the better reason to do it then, wouldn’t you say?"

"Very soon we’ll have to arrange another cradle, another group of maids and nurses, just more of everything." Camilla said quietly. "And that’s after we plan for the spring progress departing in a week and a half. Part of me wishes we could just stay in one place all year."

William sat up and shook his head. "Are you mad? You want to spend another hellish summer in the south?"

The heat. The humidity. The insects! "No, you’re quite right. We have to head back to Magdaline Castle. And it’s best that it’s happening before I get too large to ride." Camilla said hurriedly. She’d be damned if she had to make the entire journey in a bumpy, uncomfortable carriage. "I just have no appetite for another progress at the moment."

William dropped a kiss on her belly, then said, "I don’t think the baby can hear me well enough through all these layers of clothing. And I want them to learn my voice well. Take your clothes off, wife."