The Perfect Duchess (Completed)

Chapter 7. 1795 

James felt his heart squeeze as he held Camille close. She was frightened, very frightened. And he had a feeling he knew the reason why. Keeping his arms around her, he escorted her back upstairs and toured an empty chamber. Once inside, he closed the door behind them.
The room was large, the walls composed of cream and pale gold. There was a large king size bed, a blazing fireplace, tall glass window, chamber pot and bathing chamber. The chandelier on the ceiling was glowing. The bed had a cream and pale gold coverlet. The headboard was mahogany, several rose shaped carvings carved into it.
Leading Camille toward the bed, James helped her sit down before taking a seat next to her. He took her hands, squeezing them gently. "What happened?"
Camille swallowed hard, keeping her eyes fixed with his. "The king still desires me."
James growled. Of course Richard was still desiring Camille. It seemed that the young couples courtship didn't matter to him. He caressed her cheek. "What do you propose we do? It seems Richard isn't concerned with our involvement together."
Camille bit her lip. "I'm not sure. Genevieve still hasn't become pregnant, which is making Richard very frustrated. He still wants to take me to his bed, but I refuse to do that."
James stared at her, his eyes going wide and then sparkling. "I believe I have found the solution."
Camille raised one eyebrow. "And what solution is that your grace?"
James moved his lips to her ear, his voice becoming low and seductive. "I could take you to my bed. That way, that bastard won't have any need to have you."
Camille's body became very hot at those words. She had been dreaming of that moment for quite a while, but hadn't admitted it to her self. She stared at him. "You do realize that if you take me to your bed, there's no other option then for the two of us to be married."
James brushed his lips gently against her earlobe. "Exactly. Once I make love to you, and put a beautiful ring on that gorgeous finger of yours, Richard will know that you're mine."
Camille felt her heart beginning to pound like wildfire. She could just picture herself as the Duchess of York, married to James. Expecting his son. Her eyes started dancing and she smiled. Her fingers caressed his cheek. "I must ask you though, before we go any further with this plan, where do your feelings come into play?"
James stared at her with dark green eyes, his hands moving to cradle her face. "Camille, my feelings for you are very very potent. It's not just desire that I feel for you. I know we've not known each other very long but... je t'amie ma cherie."
Camille's eyes began to overflow with tears. James loved her. He loved her and no one else. And he had told her so in French. Perfect French no less. She brought him close to her, holding him tightly. "Ma cherie James, je t'aime."
James felt his body give a jolt as her words of mutual love cascaded into his heart. Camille loved him as well. Finally, he had found the love of his life, and she had found hers. Pulling back slightly, his eyes remained glued with hers as his lips gently came to rest on hers.
Camille returned his sweet kiss, opening her mouth with submission as their tongues started dancing. Her arms went around his neck as his arms went around her waist. Within moments, she was on his lap, pressing her body against his. At last, she found the love of her heart, and James had found his.
James held her close, feeling his cock spring to life inside his trousers. Bloody hell, he was wanting Camille so desperately. But he had a feeling she was an innocent, and knew that tonight wasn't the night to make love to her. At least, not in one of the chambers of the castle. If he was going to make love to her, he was going to do so in his own bed at Remington Hall.
They continued kissing, their tongues swirling together like a title wave of pleasure. Fire consumed them, but they didn't act on that fire. They couldn't, not with Castle guards and servants moving about. Suddenly hearing the door to the room flying open, they froze. Pulling away, they turned their heads and felt both of their faces drain of color.
Richard was standing in the doorway, his eyes dark like storm clouds. "Remington, miss Eau Claire, what is going on in here?"
James. "Your majesty, you seem to have caught the two of us in a passionate moment."
Richard raised one eyebrow. "Really? I had no idea the two of you were engaged together."
Camille swallowed. "It is very recent your majesty."
Richard shook his head. "Well, the two of you are under my roof, and you must follow my rules. I never want to see the two of you together again."
James and Camille watched, their eyes wide and their mouths dropped to the floor, as Richard turned and walked out of the room. They couldn't believe what they had just heard. Richard didn't want them together. Which meant that they needed to escape to Remington Hall, make love to one another, and become married as soon as possible. Once that happened, they would be left alone.