#thecclover

Soft flakes of snow tumbled down as Camilla watched out of the window, a cosy fire crackled in the chimney next to her. By late afternoon, Highgrove was covered in white, every hedge, every branch, every stone. Charles loved days like this. He said it made the world look “tidied up by God Himself.”

He embraced her from behind, his face snuggled into her blond curls. "In the mood for a short walk?," he almost kissed his words into her hair.

Camilla was less convinced. She was no fan of the cold, she´d loved to stay with her darling prince all day long next to this warm fireplace, doing all the things they loved when being together.

Charles could read her mind and chuckled: "We´ll be back soon, I promise you." Playfully moaning Camilla turned her head to him with a mischievous smile and earned a quick kiss on her lips. "Only for you, darling...`"

Sighing she dressed into one of Charles´ old jackets and flung his wool scarf around her neck. Deeply she inhaled his smell, Charles lovingly laughed as she, of course, had no real winter clothes with her as she arrived hours ago in her cramped car. Quickly she grabbed the crumpled pack of cigarettes she left at the entrance.

She trudged behind him along the garden path, her boots sinking into the snow. “Honestly,” she muttered, pulling the scarf tighter around her face, “you’d think this was the Himalayas here.”

Charles turned back with a boyish grin, his cheeks flushed pink from the cold. “Oh, come on, darling. It’s marvellous! Look at it — untouched, perfect.”

“Untouched, yes,” she said through chattering teeth, “and freezing.” He laughed, striding towards her. “Give me your hands.”

“What for?," she balanced with spread arms through the snow. “To stop you turning into an icicle," Charles amused chuckled.

He took her hands between his and rubbed them briskly. His palms were warm, alive, and she couldn’t help but smile.

“Better?” he asked, his breath fogging. “Yes, a little,” she mischievous answered. Charles grinning rubbed nose with her: "Only a little,?" he kissed her lips and Camilla whispered: "Well, much better..."

“Good. You know, this reminds me...;" he hesitated and almost sadly continued with a lower voice, "of our first snow together." He still was holding her hands. “Do you remember? January 1972. You insisted on dragging me into the garden behind your parents’ house."

Camilla chuckled, “Oh, yes. You’d never built a snowman before. I thought you were joking.”

“I wasn’t! My father hated the mess of snow indoors, and my mother—well, she preferred skating at Windsor. I’d only ever seen snowmen in books.”

“So we made one.”

“We did,” he said, with a little excitement in his voice. “It had that dreadful hat you found in the stables, and a carrot so short it looked as though he’d been in a brawl.”

They both laughed, the sound echoing through the silent garden. The snow muffled everything — even time itself seemed to pause.

“Come on,” Charles said suddenly, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “Let’s make another one.”

Camilla blinked. “You’re joking. It’s far too cold!” Nonsense. We can’t let our younger selves outshine us.”

And before she could object, he was already scooping up snow, moulding it into a large ball with surprisingly deft hands. Sighing, Camilla joined in, quickly slipping into her gloves.

They worked in silence for a while — two figures bent over in the falling dusk, shaping their snowman like children who had forgotten the world’s expectations. Charles hummed quietly, something that might have been Vivaldi or perhaps one of his own compositions.

“There,” he said finally, stepping back to admire their creation. It stood a little crooked, the head slightly too large, the smile uneven, but to them it was perfect.

Camilla laughed. “He’s a bit lopsided. Rather like us.” She unwound her woollen scarf and looped it around the snowman’s neck. Then, rummaging in her pocket, she produced the crumpled packet of cigarettes. Only one was left.

“Oh dear,” she said, half amused, half resigned. She looked at it for a long moment, then pushed the fag between the snowman’s lips. “There. He can have it. Maybe it’ll stop me from having it.”

Charles’s brows lifted in surprise, but his smile was soft. “You’re serious?”

“I suppose so,” she said, brushing snow from her sleeve. “I’ve promised before, I know. But—well—perhaps it’s time. I’ve got more to live for.” Almost shy she looked up to Charles.

He took her gloved hand again, squeezing it gently. “You’ve always had so much to live for, Darling. But yes...now...," he gulped and looked at her in the most gentle way. Camilla´s breath catching slightly. Even after all these years, after all the trials, he could still make her feel seventeen again.

Charles drew her closer, his arms wrapping around her tightly and resting his face in her hair. She felt the steady rhythm of his heart beneath his coat, the warmth of him radiating through the cold. “Whatever happens,” he murmured against her hair, “we’ll face it together. You know. As always.”She smiled into his shoulder. “Yes, we have."

They stood like that for a long while, snow on their coats, the garden around them glowing faintly in the fading light. Camilla shivered again. "Alright, you old romantic,” she said, “If I`ll stand here any longer, you’ll have to build a snowwoman out of me.”

“Race you to the house then,” Charles laughed, taking her hand.

Hand in hand, laughing, their boots slipping on the snow they run back, catching for breath.

Inside, the warmth of Highgrove, the huge chimney with a crackling fire wrapped around them. Charles helped her out of her coat. "You are freezing," he mischievously whispered.

Ten minutes they cozied up in a hot bath, Camilla leaning into him, playing with his chest hair. “Warm enough now?", he asked while kissing her rosy lips.

“Almost,” she murmured. He grinned. “You’re impossible to please. You know I’d have every window open if I could.” “I know,” she chuckled into his shoulder, “You and your blasted fresh air.”

The Highlands lay wrapped in stillness, every blade of grass rimmed with frost, the loch dark beneath a silver sky. At Birkhall, that quiet house of granite and memory, a hush had fallen — the kind of hush that feels like anticipation. The lamps were dimmed, the fire in the sitting room alive with a slow, golden flame. Somewhere beyond the walls, the wind sighed softly through the pines.

Charles stood at the foot of the staircase, dressed in a dinner jacket and black bow tie. His heart beat fast, a steady, treacherous rhythm beneath his waistcoat. In his pocket, the small velvet box waited — heavy, and yet impossibly light.

He had asked her, almost shyly that afternoon, to wear the black velvet gown she had chosen for the New Year’s celebration. “It suited you so beautifully,” he had said, though the words had come out awkwardly, like a boy rehearsing courage.

Now, as the old clock in the hall struck eight, she appeared at the top of the staircase.

Camilla paused beneath the chandelier’s glow, the soft sheen of her gown catching the light like liquid shadow. For a heartbeat, he forgot to breathe. The years seemed to fall away — the long struggle, the scrutiny, the waiting — all replaced by this quiet, private radiance.

For a moment the young girl appeared, coming down the staircase from her small apartment in London, smiling at him in the same way, ready for one of their first dates...

She smiled down at him, eyes bright. “You sent everyone home early. What for, darling?”

He managed a laugh, though it came out strained. “I thought we might have the place to ourselves for once.”

Quickly she stepped down, he extended his hand, and she placed hers in it — warm, familiar, utterly his. “You are lovelier than ever,” he murmured. The words trembled out before he could stop them.

They dined in the candlelit room beside the fire. The table was set with simple elegance — white linen, crystal glasses, the faint aroma of steamed fish and lemon filling the air. Bach played softly from the old gramophone, mingling with the sound of the crackling logs.

But conversation faltered. Charles, normally lively and curious, spoke little. He reached across the table more than once to take her hand, holding it as though it were the one thing anchoring him to the world. His eyes lingered on her with a tenderness that seemed almost heavy, as if weighed down by the enormity of feeling.

Camilla, sensitive to every flicker of his mood, grew uneasy. “Darling,” she said at last, with her soft voice, “you’re dreadfully quiet tonight. Is something wrong?”

He smiled — that uncertain, boyish smile she had known since the seventies. “No, no, my dear. Everything’s perfectly right.”

But she saw the truth in his eyes — the nervous pulse at his temple, the tension in his shoulders. Fear rose in her. Something felt different this night. One of those nightmares that sometimes overcame her. What if this was goodbye? What if the Queen had forbidden their future once and for all? The thought chilled her.

Charles saw the panic flicker across her face and rose swiftly, rounding the table to take her in his arms. He could read her dark thoughts, as they simply were able to communicate without words. “Shh,” he whispered, resting his forehead against hers. “Nothing of the sort. Come — dance with me.”

He led her through the open archway into the smaller sitting room beside the dining room. The fire burned low, casting a mellow light that danced across the old portraits and gilt frames. The music drifted after them — soft strings, faintly echoing.

They moved together in a slow, gentle rhythm — more in embrace than a dance. Camilla’s head rested against his shoulder, her hand curled against his chest, the other hand tightly wrapped around his waist to feel secured. His heart hammered beneath her palm. He kissed her hair now and then, as though gathering strength from her closeness.

"Charles,” she whispered, lifting her head. “You’re trembling.”

He gulped and stepped back slightly, his gaze steady now, though full of emotion. “Forgive me, my darling. I’ve something I must say — something I should have said long ago.”

He stared at her for a second and then sank to one knee before the fire, drawing from his pocket the small velvet box. When he opened it, the flame caught on the diamond ring inside — the ring that had once belonged to his beloved grandmother, Queen Mum.

Charles felt his breath catch in his throat as he knelt before her. His pulse thundered, his heart feared this might still be only a dream. For years, he had imagined asking her — on quiet walks, in long nights apart, in moments when duty had forced him to be away from her but his heart almost burst for her nearness. But never had he truly believed the day would come.

Now, looking up at her, he saw all those years reflected in her face: the laughter, the endurance, the quiet strength she had shown when the world refused to understand. His voice trembled.

“Darling,” he began, and his mouth went dry. He had faced parliaments, councils, and thousands of public events, but never before words felt so immense.

“My darling,” he said, his voice breaking, “will you marry me?”

These simple words, so long imagined, left him almost breathless. Instantly the years of restraint, of quiet longing, of cautious hope — seemed to shatter into light. It was as if he had stepped into a new air, one where he no longer had to hide the truest part of himself.

He searched her face, and in that few seconds the time felt endless.

Camilla’s world had tilted. For one heartbeat she couldn’t move, couldn’t think — her mind a chaos of disbelief and emotion. This couldn´t be true! But there he was, kneeling before her, his hands trembling, his eyes filled with the same deep tenderness she had known all her life. Tears rose before she could stop them. It was everything she had dreamed of — quietly, privately — but never dared to expect. Too much had stood in their way for too long. She had long ago taught herself to be content with what life would allow.

When she finally found her voice, it came as a whisper, shaking and full of wonder. “Of course, my darling.”

And then the air seemed to break open with joy.

Charles let out a sound — half laugh, half sob — and reached for her hands, pressing them to his lips again and again, his eyes wet with relief. Camilla knelt beside him, and for a moment neither could speak. The firelight danced across their faces as they clung to each other, laughing and crying all at once, as though years of quiet sorrow were burning away. All the strain, the public scrutiny, the years of waiting — it all fell from them like a heavy cloak. What remained was something simple, radiant, and utterly human: love, unguarded and at peace.

For the first time, their future did not feel like a fragile dream but something solid, shining, alive before them. The room itself seemed to glow — the crackling fire, the soft music, the snow outside — as though the whole of Birkhall breathed with them in quiet blessing.

There were two seconds silence after the bang, before it loud squealed “Mummy!!!!”. Like greased lighting Camilla jumped up from the picnic blanket and spurted over to the huge old tree. Anxious she shouted: “Tom?!...Tom?!...Tommy!!”, getting panicky little Laura who she left behind on the blanket.

Laura cried louder the more her mother got out of sight, but Camilla had to decide between Tom, who possibly was hurt and the little girl who could just walk in slowly mini steps so far. “Mummy is coming back soon, sweetie!” she shouted to Laura while getting faster to reach Tom.

Her heart almost stopped as she watched him, lying on the stone stairs leading into the lower part of the garden. He still whimpered, but he already could move and pushed the bike aside, which laid on top of him. Camilla jumped down and took him tightly into her arms: “Are you alright, darling?” she cooed him and softly cradled him in her arms. Tom sniffled, but in the way he flung his arms around her neck and how he wept, she knew it wasn´t something serious. More or less just the shock, and a few abrasions on his arms and legs.

“Ma…Ma…,” it still sounded tearful over from the picnic blanket. “Yes, darling,” Camilla shouted back and tried to catch a glimpse of Laura while holding Tom. “Tom, what happened?” she whispered, still cradling him. Tom just sniveled. “Did you try to jump down the stairs with your bike? Maybe so?” Camilla asked lovingly, already knowing the answer. Tom gulped and just mumbled: “Mmhh…” into her shoulder.

“Now come, let’s see…”, she kissed his cheek and let loose of him to watch his scars. Tom wept again as he watched his bloody knees, but his mother tousled his hair and winked to him: “Come on! A piece of chocolate cake will make magic, I´m sure!” “Chocolate cake?” Tom excited asked and jumped up on his feet. “Yes, it´s already waiting, I guess,” Camilla smiled and pointed to the picnic blanket.

And she chuckled as she watched little Laura who had started to make her way over to them, stagger on her little feet like a penguin. “Wait, darling!” Camilla laughed, but Laura had reached out her arms to her and, of course, fell down on the lawn. She started to cry again and sighing Camilla run to her.

It wasn´t always easy these days, she mused. ´And who should care for Tom´s broken bike?´,  it flashed her mind.

Quickly she took Laura into her arms and soothed her, and with Tom clawed into her skirt she scuffled back to the picnic blanket.

They had played doll´s kitchen and the plastic dishes were placed right between the real dishes for the cake. With his right hand Tom grabbed a piece of chocolate cake, with his left hand a red plastic plate from Laura.

Protesting she cried loud again and Camilla closed her eyes for a second. Then she determined took Tom´s cake, placed it on a porcelain plate and pressed Laura a mini piece of cake into her hand. On the spot it was quiet and happy munching her children forgot the world around.

Life was a bit different since the divorce from Andrew, Camilla thought not for the first time…

She exactly could recall the situation in the kitchen, two months after Laura´s birth. Andrew came back from London in the evening and she had cooked a small dinner. Silent they sat opposite each other.

And there was absolutely nothing to say. She had no idea what they could talk about, and Andrew didn´t make an attempt either. He just stared down to his plate and ate. So she tried to talk about Laura and the progresses she made, but Andrew only casually mumbled along.

Then he determined put aside his fork, slipped back with his chair, squared his shoulders and stared at her. Camilla felt there was something in the air, but still she had no idea. She just stared back at him.

Andrew cleared his throat and finally started: “Camilla…” she winced, he almost never called her by her full name. “Camilla, we have to talk about a few things.”

Strangely enough she felt exceptionally calm this moment and leaned back in her chair. “Yes,” she just answered. Andrew intensely adjusted his fork on the table cloth with his index finger, trying to avoid her emotionless gaze, and mumbled: “It´s not as if we are terrible in love, is it?” She said nothing, and Andrew sighed. This was not the way he wanted to start, and it weren´t the words he had concocted in his mind before.

He tried again: “I mean…,” finally he looked up to her, “I mean, we never had a real life together, and…” Camilla still didn´t answer, just calm and attentive watched him. “And…over the years we slipped apart more and more.” Out of the blue a sharp answer hit him: “Are you really wondering at that? Maybe we had seen more often if you´d invited your girlfriends here!” Camilla felt a wave of furiousness rolling up inside her, and her eyes already sparkled in rage. But Andrew inwardly exploded also: “Aha, listen to this! You with your…” Andrew made an exaggerated movement, “BEST FRIEND, His Royal Highness!”

Infuriated Camilla loud exhaled, pushed her chair back and run out of the kitchen. At the stairs she turned around and screamed: “Leave him out of it! Don´t turn the tables!” Andrew screamed back: “Whaaat?” and tried to follow her. Camilla stormed up the steps: “He has nothing to do with our marriage!” “He has a lot to do with our marriage!” Andrew screamed even louder.

Camilla jumped into the bedroom and slammed the door, trying to lock it, but Andrew braced himself against it. “Milla!” he shouted. Raging she shouted back: “Don´t call me this way!”

Suddenly an anxious crying sounded out of Laura´s room, Camilla tore open her door, pushed Andrew aside and run cross the corridor. Shakily she called: “Mummy is here, sweetie!” Trying to brace herself together she took the little girl out of her pram and cradled her: “Sshh…ssshhh, it´s alright, darling…” Laura slowly calmed down, while Camilla reproachful gazed to Andrew, who leaned in the doorframe: “Look, what you´ve done!”

Andrew just sighed and turned around, but was startled as he watched Tom, who shaking and with wide eyes stood in the corridor, heavily snuggling up to his frayed soft toy. “He, little one,” he softly said and bent down to him. He tried to embrace him, but Tom felt almost frozen. “Can´t sleep, it´s loud,” he quietly said and unsure looked over to his mother. Camilla felt totally awful, she wanted to cry, but pressed it down. Still with Laura in her arm she came over and took Tom in her free arm.

“Don´t worry, Tom,” she kissed his cheek, “it´s fine. Shall Mummy bring you to bed?” Tom looked to his father and back to Camilla, he felt that there something was terribly wrong, but his brain couldn´t grasp it. He nodded and waited until Laura was placed back in her cradle. And he needed some extra cuddles and assurance that Mummy and Daddy loved him, to fell back to sleep again.

Andrew had waited in the bedroom, pensive sitting on a chair. Camilla stood in the door frame for a moment, but then stepped in and quietly shut the door. Slowly she scuffled over to the bed and sat down.

They both said nothing, just stared at their feet and didn´t know how to start. “Sorry for my outburst, it wasn´t fair,” Andrew finally confessed. Camilla fumbled at her nails: “Yeah…but…I wasn´t any better.” It was silent again.

“Milla, I know…I´m a complete and utter pig. I always was…” Camilla tried to veto, but Andrew interrupted her with a hand movement. “Yes, you always knew I couldn´t get my hands off other women, and I probably not even tried after we married. That´s one thing.” He pushed his chair closer to her. “The other thing is…we never were the really close and intimate partners…” “But we are friends,” Camilla quickly said, “well, most of the time. But this is important.” “Yes, of course. But we always leaded a quiet different life, didn´t we?” Camilla shrugged shoulders: “Yeah…”

Andrew grabbed her hand, but she slipped out of his grip. “Milla, say to me: Do you still see a future with us? A real and satisfying future?” Camilla gulped, watched him straight in the eyes for a few seconds and then shook her head: “No,” she added quietly.

“I can´t see either,” Andrew whispered and placed his hand on her shoulder. They watched into their eyes mutually, but they both knew nothing was left. They weren´t kind of lovers any more, since a longer time actually, but maybe they could remain friends.

“And…and…I have met someone,” Andrew continued. Camilla felt an uprising rage again: “So, this is the real reason?” She jumped up from the bed and rushed over to the window. Andrew desperately laid his face into his hands and shook his head: “No! No!” Reluctant he came over to her and placed his hand on her shoulder again. Camilla pushed it away.

“No, this is not the reason. I´ve thought about it a longer time now…” “Fine! And I was getting a baby, YOUR baby!” Camilla got louder again. Andrew steadied his hands against the wall: “Yes, yes!! I know! But did you never thought about it?” Way too quickly Camilla answered: “No!”

She tried to breathe calmly and to sort her mind. Then she turned around to Andrew, she had tears in her eyes: “Of course I thought about it. But what should I do? You know the facts.” Andrew nodded: “I know. And believe me or not, I´m really sorry for you.” He patted her back: “He loves you. Very much.” Camilla couldn´t do other, she heavily sobbed and covered her face with her hands.

She went back to the bed and ripped a handkerchief out of the package. If she´d thought about Charles just one moment longer, she would break down. With all her power she pushed aside his face in her mind and sat down.

“So you want a divorce?” she short and somehow sorted asked Andrew. Almost tiptoeing he came back to his chair. He folded his hands, deeply inhaled and answered: “Yes.”

“Fine,” Camilla answered after a long break.

“The children…” she mumbled, but Andrew remained quiet. He didn´t had an answer.

“So, who is the one you´ve met?” she quietly asked after the next minutes silence. On one hand she was absolutely sorted, on the other hand she didn´t know what to think first. Her mind run riot, but she worked like a machine.

Andrew waved aside: “Not yet.” “I think I´ve the right to know.” Andrew sighed: “Well…it´s Rosemary.” Camilla frowned: “Which Rosemary?” But she had a vague premonition. Andrew gulped and wriggled his hands: “Pitman.” Camilla couldn´t do other as loud and hysterical laugh: “Whaaaat? Are you in earnest?” She was a friend of hers and Andrew since a long time, but Camilla had never guessed there was something going on. And she really didn´t fit into Andrew´s string of flings. But maybe this was the point…

Andrew ignored her laughter and stuttered: “It´s really different this time…” “Ah, different to me or all the other girls…?” His hands rushed desperately through his hair: “Camilla, please…” Camilla nodded and tried to get rid of her sarcasm, it was useless anyway and would just embitter her in the end.

“Things are getting slowly, I don´t know. But…” he stopped, he knew he couldn´t find the right words now and he would hurt Camilla even more. “So, you needed to be free, I understand. What´s with her? She is married also!” Andrew raised his hands up in the air: “I said things are getting slowly. I don´t know!”

Sighing Camilla got up: “So, of course. I´m branded as a divorced woman, with two small children, with rumours about me which I don’t dare to think of. And you are free. Fine.” Andrew jumped up: “I know it will be difficult. A challenge. For the both of us. But believe me…I will care for you. You can have everything. The house, the car, enough money, everything…”

Camilla steadied one arm on her hip and shook her head. It was all too much just right now. She just opened the door: “I can´t talk about this now. Otherwise I´m going mad.” She pointed out: “Go. Just go.”

Andrew gulped and couldn´t move. “Go!” she got louder again. So he quickly grabbed his bedding and rushed out. Camilla didn´t answer to his “Good night.”

Confused she stood around for a little while, reassuring that this all was true. And then she run to the phone on her beside locker and dialed the only one number that made sense to her right now.

“Yes?,” it answered after two rings. “Darling? It´s me…” Camilla harried whispered into the phone. She didn´t feel the tears that run down her cheeks and she didn’t even notice that she called Charles “darling” all of the time…

Tom joggled his mother and Camilla got back from her musing. “Mummy, one more?” He pointed at the cake and Camilla just nodded. Laura, with a complete smeared mouth, happily rummaged around with her toy dishes and had completely forgot her sorrows from earlier.

“Tommy…do you want to go to Daddy this weekend?” Camilla carefully asked and stroke through Tom´s hair. She still wasn´t sure how Tom had handled the situation, but probably it still would need time. Well, Andrew was rarely at home, not even regularly at the weekends, and one and a half year ago he moved out completely.

Tom just made a sound that didn´t mean neither “yes” nor “no”. Camilla decided to ask later again. Laura would stay here anyway, they had tried one time, but she had cried all night long and Camilla had to pick her up in the very early morning.

Yes, it wasn´t so much that she had to care for the children and the house by herself. In fact, it was hardly different to what she had done before. But the feeling was different. The knowing, that she was alone. Though she could call Andrew any time, though she had her parents, her siblings and, of course…Charles.

Camilla brightly smiled, but watched down and twined her hands. Her heart just run by thinking of her little prince, who brought so much joy and love to her life. She couldn´t say that he ever was away from her, he never was. But after this phone call, in the night when they decided the divorce, and when Charles assured her his unending love and support, in all aspects of life, their relationship changed again.

He was there in the afternoon, an hour after Andrew drove back to London. They said nothing, just tightly embraced for a long time. And as she watched into his eyes finally, she knew that he was earnest. More than ever. The rest of the boy was gone, she watched into the eyes of a young man who was determined to keep his word. And he would.

Though their relationship was actually hopeless, Camilla reminded herself. Charles didn´t want to know anything about it, but she was sure. Almost…

But the whole difference in her life was how some people viewed her. Divorce wasn´t so uncommon any longer. But especially in her circle, despite many dramas lurked beneath the surface (Camilla knew of really many…), it still was a hot topic. She had no problems in her daily routine, but she had lost some friends. Still, she wasn´t sure if it ever had been friends then.

Probably some of them where just unsure how to handle with this, but she still felt embarrassed by the fact that Andrew hadn´t lost one single of his friends. And he could marry again, no one would care. It was always different with men. If she would marry again…but…Camilla laughed. Whom should she marry? The one person she loved to death was not an option…

Laura squealed with joy suddenly and wriggled her arms. Camilla looked at the subject of her pleasure and squealed also. Quickly she got up and run cross the lawn into the wide spread arms of Charles.

“Daaaarling!”, she called. Charles just laughed, as always his face flooded with happiness, and smacked her lips. He tightly embraced and cradled her and Camilla mumbled into the crook of his neck: “Thought you would come later.” “I have finished work already.” Now she heartily laughed: “Finished work? Since when?” Charles got even happier by her bell-like voice, watched her face full of pleasure and pinched her nose then: “Well, I just couldn´t wait any longer.”

They both tried to brace themselves together in front of the children, but embracing and a kiss now and then wasn´t new to the kids.

Camilla touched his cheeks with both her hands and traced his face. She satisfied smiled: “You are much better today.” Charles grabbed her wrists tenderly and grinned like a Cheshire cat, but most of all very relieved. But he just answered: “Yes, much better.”

He didn´t talk about the reason, and he didn´t talk about the reason why he was so troubled and in constantly rows with his parents. Camilla guessed it had to do with the sudden death of Uncle Dickie, but Charles denied it. Of course he mourned for him, but this was another topic. It remained a riddle to her, most due to the fact that Charles shared all of his sorrows and secrets with her usually. But he always insisted she should trust in him. Which she did.

He chuckled in adoration as he watched over to the picnic blanket. Laura had started again and wide smiling toddled across the lawn. Charles jumped to her and picked her up: “Ooooooooh, let´s see! Who is this little princess here!” Laura happily squeaked again and patted Charles´s cheeks with her smeared hands. He didn´t care, just laughed. “Yummy, yummy! Did you have some chocolate, sweetie?” Laura squeaked once more, but now someone pushed at Charles´s trousers.

He looked down into Tom´s wretchedly face. “He, what happened, little knight?” Charles asked sympathetic. Tom pointed at his wounded knees and showed his elbows. “Oh no! Come tell me!” Tom pouted and had tears in his eyes: “Fell down. With the bike.” Charles kneeled down and let Laura slip on the lawn. Out of the corner of his eyes he watched Camilla who made faced behind Tom that everything was alright actually.

But Charles stayed serious and carefully blew on Tom´s scratches. “It will be much better soon,” he reassured him. But Tom had forgotten his tears very quickly, the main thing was just that Sir had “admired” his injuries.

“What´s with the bike?” he asked Camilla. She shrugged shoulders: “It´s broken, but maybe Papa is here next week. It´s there at the steps.” Without one word Charles took the bike and pushed it in the hands of his officer who discreetly waited at the house. “You will have it back tomorrow, little knight.” Tom stared at Charles as if he was the greatest hero on earth.

“Have you eaten something, darling?” Camilla asked him as Tom was run away to look for his toy plane. “Yeah…somehow around midday…” “I will make you a sandwich. You really have to take care more of you.” Camilla knew if he said around midday, he actually meant the early morning.

Charles vetoed, she shouldn´t do such things for him as she had enough to do. But she just went into the house.

As she looked out of her kitchen window, the sandwich almost finished, she watched Charles having Laura back in his arms. She grinned and laughed happy, wriggled her arms and squeaked as he raised her up in the air again and again. He had forgotten anything around, just marveled at the little girl. Tom run around them in circles with his plastic plane and made noising sounds.

But somehow Charles felt her gaze laying on him and he stopped. Their eyes locked through the window pane, as they did so very often. And he was so full of adoration and love for her, and a thing she still couldn´t grasp.

The happiest and, in his eyes, the luckiest young man in this universe jumped out of his Aston Martin Volante. He hardly took the time to shut his car door, let alone to give a sign to his security officer who just parked close behind the Aston with a Range Rover. In fact, he almost forgot that the officer was there. On his way to the place that seemed to be paradise he drove in full speed, ignored many of the traffic rules and didn´t care if his officer could follow him or not.

He probably owned the most gorgeous bachelor pad in London, an apartment in the heart of Buckingham Palace: huge, grand and full of luxury.  But this almost shabby little girl flat here seemed much cosier and more attractive than his full-service home. Here he got a clue of real privacy and what real life means. And here his girlfriend lived, the probably best reason to call it paradise.

Yes, his girlfriend! Charles rapt a smile. The girl who was heaven-sent, who appeared just out of the blue and was so right from the start. The right girl, his wonderful girl!

He didn´t even know her for four weeks now, but life was good yet. Life wasn´t dark and difficult and complicated any longer. It was bright, easy and full of joy. At least, if he was with her. And this was the problem. His days were full of duties all over the country and so often he had just the chance to talk to her on the phone. But for hours then. Hanging up the phone was hell every time, yesterday he called her back immediately after he had just ended. And they talked the next half an hour, saying good-night again and again.

Granny had caught him. Yesterday she had caught him. He was invited for lunch between two engagements and he hadn´t just entered the door of Clarence House as she already knew it. She could read it in his eyes and his face and, the most remarkable, he didn´t call her every night as he did since years.

Charles excited told her everything. That he fell in love with her right from the start, that she was wonderful and perfect and just right for him. While telling to his granny his face blushed more and more in excitement, his eyes were flooded with adoration and he brightly grinned. Granny embraced him happy and cupped his face.

And he told her how many things they had in common. They loved the same music, the same jokes, the same flowers, riding, walking…Charles just couldn´t stop. Granny hold his hand while listen to him and smiled lovingly. She was determined to know who had stolen the heart of her darling little boy and had made him so happy. Finally happy. But she didn´t ask him. It was too early to ask and she would find out anyway.

But something he hadn´t told her. That they had another common hobby. Kissing and cuddling.  

From the thing he found disgusting and ridiculous just three weeks ago, he couldn´t get enough now. There could hardly be something better than inhaling her smell while holding her in his arms, feeling her soft lips, stroking her hair and her cheeks while exchanging deep kisses. He had learned that such kisses and caresses were another way to say “I love you”. And it was great fun, it prickled and tickled and let the stomach tumble, after thousands of kisses it still wasn´t boring and felt always fresh and new.

All in all, the best way to be so close to her. At least Charles tried to convince himself. He knew about the “other thing”, he had tried out before, once. But it was horrible, awkward and nasty. And so, he actually never wanted to do it again.

But in the last three days there was something different. He had dropped in for half an hour before rushing to one of those boring dinners. He had surprised Camilla with his visit and she was overjoyed. They hardly were able to shut the door, kissing “hello”, tickling and giggling seemed to be more important. Somehow, they managed to land on the sofa and first they even talked a bit between their kisses. But suddenly Camilla stopped, leaned her head against the rest and watched him. Her legs dangled over his lap and she gently caressed his cheek with the back of her hand. She always looked at him so lovingly, but now her gaze changed. But Charles couldn´t figure out what was different with her now. She still smiled in the way that reached his soul and his heart. But now even more or not or…it was somehow different. But it felt good and gave him even more heart warmth. He took her in his arms and pecked her lips.

Camilla just grabbed his neck and started to kiss him deeply. She loosened a bit from him, just enough to look into his eyes again. Through Charles body run a shiver, this gaze really felt so new. She whispered gently: “Darling, I love you.” Though it came directly out of his heart, he just stumbled: “I…I…love you, too…darling.” Somehow, he was very excited now.

He felt her tongue inside him again. Actually, she kissed him as she always did. But much more passionate, yearning and harder now. And it made things to Charles. He felt lost, but not in a bad way. It just swirled around inside him more than ever and he tightly grabbed her to find hold and to be as close as possible to her. Actually, it felt so very good, he never wanted to let come it to an end. Something undefinable wandered down his spine, concentrated in his stomach and jerked right between his legs.

And this feeling had nothing to do with the things he sometimes did to himself. It was way more intensive and it felt warm and intimate.

He hadn´t really recognized that they were sunk down on the sofa now and he laid between her bent legs. Camilla´s right feet wandered up and down his left leg and her hands gently pulled out his shirt of his trousers. Her fingertips prickled and burned at the same time on his bare skin, tenderly she traced circles on his back.

Charles begun slightly to move between her legs, he just couldn´t lie still any longer. Unconsciously he answered her kiss in the same way, his hands were buried under her body, holding her still in a tight embrace.

But his hands just loosened from his brain, at least his left hand. He just slipped under her shirt and felt her soft and cuddly curves. A flash run through his body and his mind. He almost forgot the kiss and one half of his brain told his hand to stop, the other half demanded to go on. Camilla stopped the kiss completely and her eyes found his again. She knew what was up with him. She knew and she felt that he was very unexperienced.

But she really didn´t mind, she loved him the way he was. And she loved that he would make his experiences with her. And she just wanted him to be happy. With her and all the things they already did and still would do. And she already loved the feeling of his fingertips and his tongue, he was so gently and lovingly, though still a bit shy.

Charles stared back at her; his hand lay on her stomach. Camilla gave him an encouraging smile and her eyes told him that he did it right. Her fingertips caressed his face again and her lips just formed the words: “I love you.” Heavy breathing Charles dared to move up again and his fingertips touched her bra. He pressed out a short moan and sunk deeper into her eyes. Camilla smiled even more, her eyes beamed at him and…in this moment the door opened and Virginia stepped in.

There was nothing else Charles could think of during the night. The dinner had run for him. He was hardly able to follow any conversations. Every face and eyes he watched there turned into her sparkle, every voice changed into hers and by every handshake he remembered the soft skin under her shirt. And the lace he had touched let his imagination run riot… He still felt her eyes glued on his with this passionate gaze, her tongue kissing him so deep and longing and her fingertips tracing his back. Something had changed in their relationship now, he knew it. Somehow, he felt that something really great was waiting for him. But he couldn´t imagine how it would be, and he didn´t know what he should do, so he scared it. He tried to push aside his thoughts, less successful indeed.

Back home his mind still circled around the scene on the sofa. He decided to take a short shower and straight to go to bed to find a distracting sleep.

With closed eyes he felt pelting down the hot water on his body. More and more he became relaxed and forgot the time. The warmth that embraced his body now let his mind wander to her embraces. And his mind did other things to him. He was back on the sofa and laid between her legs. But she was naked. His hand laid on her stomach again and wandered up to touch her bare breasts. He hadn´t an exactly imagination of what she´d look like. But he knew she was just beautiful. As the hand in his mind had gently touched the breast in his mind, he felt something almost painful in the real world. He opened his eyes and looked down on him. And he watched the most massive erection he ever had.

Winced he almost slipped down and tried to find hold on the wall. Heavy breathing, he still watched his erection. He was ashamed, had he tainted her with his “dirty” thoughts? So, he just turned on the cold water…

And now he stood excited in front of her door again. He was happy to see her again, to take her in his arms and of course, in one corner of his brain lurked the thought of his last visit here. But he would have the next experience tonight. They would go to a nightclub, Annabel´s. Charles never before had visited one, he just knew the small disco from university, which really wasn´t his favourite place. But Annabel´s was much more exclusive, his sister Anne was already a regular visitor and everything there was very discreet.

He rang the bell, one second later the sun rose up. With an almost cry of joy a blonde whirlwind flew into his arms and kissed him. And Charles felt again that something had linked into him right now. In her presence he was much more self-confident and at ease, sometimes he wondered how he stayed alive until four weeks ago.

He spotted Virginia, who just slipped into her shoes to leave. He had met her three times now, she seemed to be nice, but he wouldn´t recognize her outside this flat, as he only had eyes for his girlfriend.

Virginia watched them out of the corner of her eyes. She still couldn´t believe that her bubbly flat mate had hooked the Prince of Wales. But seeing them together seemed so very natural. They fitted so perfectly right from the start; it was almost scary. And it seemed as if they were made for each other, Virginia thought again. She couldn´t imagine any longer a Camilla without a Charles and a Charles without a Camilla. And she wondered how this story would go on.

Virginia left after a short curtsey to Charles and patted Camilla´s back. “See you tomorrow.”, she mumbled, as she would stay with her new boyfriend. Amazingly it was Camilla´s uncle, who was much older than her, but mind-blowing. The world is somehow crazy, she thought, while leaving.

Camilla took Charles´s hand and pushed him into her room. He sat down on her bed and watched her doing her hair in front of the mirror. She desperately moaned: “Aahh…I have horrible hair, it isn´t a hairdo, it’s a disaster!” Right out of his heart Charles answered: “I love your hair. You really should never change it.” With a hair slide between her lips she mumbled, while combing her hair back and forth: “You love my hair!? Are you serious?” “Absolutely. You don´t need hair slides or another hairdo. I love it the way it is.” And everything else too, he added in his mind, as his eyes wandered down her body. As always, she looked breathtaking, but today he recognized even more her wonderful curves, perfect underlined by her short silver-coloured cocktail dress. It ended a palm above her knees, was sleeveless and though it didn´t show anything of her cleavage it was clear what she had hidden under the cloth.

As if she had read his mind Camilla turned around to him. She put aside her accessories and kneeled between his legs. Her hands laid on his thighs and she looked straight and deep into his eyes. Her heart started to bump heavier as she knew there was nothing to wait for any longer. She also couldn´t hardly think of anything else than her last meeting with Charles, though they hadn´t mentioned it with one word during their phone calls.

Charles felt that there was something in the air now. His eyes gave her a mixture of shyness, panic, pleasant expectation and totally adoration. As Camilla laid her hand on his cheek and leaned forward to him he gulped and steadied on the bed. She rapt a smile to her little prince and kissed him gently. First his lips, then along his cheeks to his ear and down his neck. Charles felt a tickle on every spot she had kissed and as she breathed: “I love you, darling!” into his ear, her hot breathe and her voice sent him a shiver down his spine. She kissed lovingly back her way to his lips, looked into his eyes again with this special gaze and gently pushed him down on the bed.

Charles heart run even faster, one part of his brain panicked and told him to run away from here, the much bigger part told him to close his eyes and to enjoy her nearness. Camilla cradled between his legs, hold his face with both of her hands and gently sucked his lips. Again and again, until Charles felt the tip of her tongue gliding along. Oh yes, he wanted to kiss her now and opened his lips. Camilla didn´t lose one second and entered him. But she didn´t kiss him that passionate as the last time. She just tickled his tip now and then, circled slightly around and got out of his mouth. And then she started again. But Charles became impatient now. He longed for her kiss from the last time, so very much now.

Finally he embraced her tightly and his tongue entered her throat. Covetous he begun to play with her and Camilla giggled. That was what she actually wanted. She didn´t want to overrun him, she wanted to free him from his panic. Charles did understand and giggled into her mouth too. Between his kisses he mumbled: “You little, little minx!” He even turned her around to lay on her back and took the lead again. At least with kissing. He was so into it, he didn´t recognized that Camilla had started to unbutton his shirt.

As she laid her hands on his chest he winced, but pressed stronger against her hands immediately. It felt incredibly good, it felt electrifying, even more as she slightly massaged him and got down to unbutton his shirt completely. Reaching his waistline let him shiver once again, harder now, but he just wanted her to continue. Camilla managed to free him from his shirt and Charles didn´t feel awkward one bit to be half naked. She turned him around now again, kneeled beside him and her fingers traced down from his chest to his waistline in small circles. Again and again, with slightly more pressure. Now and then she looked up to him and smiled lovingly, but Charles couldn´t take away his eyes from her face. How really wonderful she was, he thought. He still couldn´t believe his luck to have a girlfriend like her. And how wonderful the things were, she did to him. He was still very excited, but his panic was gone as he trusted her completely.

His fingers touched her cheek and she just bent down to kiss him again. She cradled between his legs anew and they sunk down into each other. Feeling her on his half naked body let Charles mind swirl, it was all so very different to his traumatic “first time”. And it felt even more different as Camilla stopped the kiss and her tongue traced down his neck to his chest. Charles held his breathe and clawed into her shoulders. What would she do now?!

Her tongue tipped his nipple, circled around before she gently started to suck. Charles just moaned, in surprise and as it had sent a flash right between his legs. With wide eyes he stared at the ceiling, waiting what would come next and hoping that she won´t stop it. She stopped, but just for one second. As he felt her tongue caressing the other nipple he couldn´t suppress the next moan. In fact, he even didn´t recognize his moans. He tried to control his heavy breath and the huge knot that slowly built up in his stomach. And the strange feeling that wandered from his stomach directly to the thing between his legs.

And the thing between his legs finally acted on his own as Camilla wandered down his chest to his stomach, her nails traced along his waistline and her tongue slipped around his navel. Slowly, very slowly she kissed down to his waistline and Charles trousers almost exploded now. He couldn´t deny the huge bulge any longer, it almost painfully pressed against his boxers and he was hardly in control of himself now. His eyes started to see colours and stars, his chest heavy sunk up and down and he trembled. As Camilla opened his zip, he had to bit his lower lip and arched his head back. She just ripped down his trousers and his knickers and his hard and huge erection jumped out.

Shocked Charles stared at his swollen towering penis, it was almost dark red, he had never watched it like this before. It was even bigger as during his shower a few days ago. Camilla knew, if she would touch him there now it would send him directly over the edge. So, she cradled up to him now and laid beside him. Her arm slipped under his head and her free hand touched his cheek again. She turned him around, her lips touched his and she whispered calmly: “Ssshhh…darling. Everything is alright. I love you, darling, I love you!” Charles tried to come down a bit and nodded heavy breathing. He closed his eyes and grabbed her head, pressing her in the crook of the neck. He gulped and exhaled again and again. Finally he was able to speak again and whispered back desperately: “And I love you so much! But it´s so…you are so…I don´t know…I´m not so exp…” Camilla closed his lips with her index finger and kissed him again. “Sshhh…it´s alright, darling. You are wonderful. I love you.” And more quietly again: “I love you, I love you…” Charles just hugged her and kissed her deeply again. Something inside him wanted everything now. He wanted to see her, to feel her, to be very close to her.

Camilla loosened from him, stroke his forehead and quietly asked him: “Do you want to open my zip?” Through Charles body jumped a kick, of course he wanted it. But he still felt too shy and he didn´t know what it would do to him. Just the imagination of her naked body…Camilla kneeled on the mattress, just took his hand and straightened him up. She encouraging smiled to him and guided his hand to her back. Charles came closer to her and finally he grabbed the zip and pushed it down. Camilla bent forward to kiss him again and placed his hands on her waist. Charles stared breathless to his hands and did nothing. So, she just slightly straightened up, grabbed his hands and joint they pushed up her dress to her waist.

Just her flawless, well-trained legs let Charles gulp again. His hard penis started to pulsating now, but as Camilla encouraged him to take off her dress completely he just felt a heavy aching there. With an open mouth he stared at her huge breasts, her curvy hips and back to her breasts. Though they were still covered into a white lace bra it almost kicked him out. His mind run riot, he felt like in a dream or a movie, somehow it completely overwhelmed him. Actually, he desperately wanted to touch her and to explore this perfect and inviting curves. But he felt like a little, insecure boy, frightened to do something wrong. Camilla felt his pain and took the lead again. She took his hands and placed them on her cleavage. Charles had problems to stay in this world, this was way more than he still could bear. He loudly moaned and his hands run uncontrolled over her treasures.

Camilla embraced him again and kissed his ear: “Darling, darling…sshhh, we´ve all the time in the world!” Charles was still able to nod, but his mouth didn´t obey him any longer. As well as the rest of his body. He just fell back on the mattress again, looked up to his girlfriend and reached out his hand to her. Camilla pecked his lips, smiled lovingly to him and opened her bra. Charles breath stopped. Just the way she stripped it off of her shoulders sent Charles to the next level. But the sight of her naked breasts almost killed him. Charles couldn´t imagine a more perfect cleavage than hers. Everything was wonderful: her size, the shape, those rosy nipples…his mind couldn´t find the right words. All what he felt was his even more aching erection and his mind slowly said good-by to this world. And as she bent down to kiss him, her breasts touched his chest and Charles just exploded. A huge jerk run through his body, it heavy ached between his legs and he felt like being flung through the air. He was away for one second, screamed loudly and his nails had dig into the upper arms of his girlfriend.

It took some moments until he was back again. He still heavy breathed, but he didn´t tremble any longer and the huge knot in his stomach had lose. Somehow, he felt more at ease now.

His girlfriend had snuggled up to him and played with his chest hair. She kissed his cheek now and then and he patted her hand with still closed eyes. He hadn´t recognized that she quickly had cleaned the little disaster between his legs.

As he hesitantly turned his head to her he felt a bit frightened how she would react now. But he was watched by two beaming and most lovingly eyes, and Camilla didn´t wait one second to kiss him again. Charles immediately forgot everything and sunk down in her kiss. He finally could enjoy it to the full and he gave back to her everything he had as well. Catching for breath they turned around on the bed, their tongues strongly intertwined and their bodies closely entwined.

But Charles wanted to do other things now. He stopped kissing and steadied on his elbows. For a few seconds he just looked down at her, his eyes overflowed with love for her. He just breathed: “Thank you.” Camilla frowned: “For what?” Charles shortly kissed her lips instead an answer. But his mind added: for not laughing at me, for taking me seriously, for wanting to be close to me, for loving me.

He rolled beside her and his gaze wandered up and down on her. “You are so very beautiful,” he adoring whispered to her. Camilla felt that he really meant it and her heart jumped again for her romantic prince. Charles slightly lifted up his hand and quietly, almost shy, asked her with puppy eyes: “May I touch you?” Actually she had to giggle now, but his voice and his behaviour were so full of respect, love and adoration for her, she was very moved. She just whispered back: “Of course you may.” Her fingers caressed his face and she couldn´t take away his eyes from this so special young man. How could she not love him? At the moment she didn´t care for anything else in her life, the most important thing was this precious little prince here, who was so full of surprises and who had captured her heart almost stormily.

Slowly, carefully and gently Charles`s hand touched her right breast. He was sure, never before he had felt something so wonderful. It was soft and tight at the same time; it was warm and it did something to him again. He deeply breathed and carefully his hand glided up and down. Between his legs it started to pulsating again, but luckily not in the same aching way as before. He tried to do it a bit harder, but still tenderly, and at least the thing between his legs liked it. Insecure he looked up to Camilla, but she had placed her hand on his neck and smiled lovingly to him. “It feels so wonderful, darling.”

Charles was more confident now and went on. And somehow this rosy nipple under his palm felt different now. He took away his hand and couldn´t resist to place a kiss on it. Camilla winced and grabbed his neck tighter. Charles had already closed his eyes and enjoyed the flavour of her soft skin there. And the thing between his lips felt so good, unconsciously he started to suck and lick at it. The more her nipple became harder, the more he enjoyed it and his hand started to massage her breast again. Camilla had closed her eyes and she loud and deeply exhaled. Somehow Charles did all the right things to her, somehow he just guessed what she liked.

Meanwhile Charles had scrambled between her legs and caressed both her breasts. His lips and his tongue wandered over her breasts and he just couldn´t get enough to suck at her and to touch her. It was a completely new experience to him, but he was sure he would love it until the end of his life. At least he would love it to do with Camilla. And obviously she liked it too. She had closed her eyes, a lightly smile on her lips and her chest heavy sunk up and down. Tenderly her hands caressed the upper part of his back and tousled his hair now and then. Charles felt happy. He just wanted to please her, he wanted to do things to her she would like.

And the more she liked it, the more he was aroused again. The sight of her body, her curves, those incredible breasts and the feeling of all these treasures bedazzled his mind. His penis towered already in full bloom again.

But he wanted to discover more of her adorable body. His hands wandered down to her stomach and his fingers felt along her outline of the body. Once again, he thanked God that she wasn´t one of those Twiggy girls. He loved every gram at her hips, he even wouldn´t mind of a little bit more. He kissed up and down her stomach, deeply smelling her wonderful flavour, a mixture of peaches and wild roses. From now on this would be his favourite flavour at all.

He stopped at her waistline. She was still wearing her panties and he didn´t know what to do. Blushed he looked up to Camilla again. She still had closed her eyes and heavy breathed, but she felt Charles insecurity. Tenderly she grabbed his hands and laid them on her panties. Charles understood and with a heavy bumping heart he slipped it down.

Somehow, he still couldn´t believe that a real woman lay in his arms. This sudden thought scared him again, though he just couldn´t get his eyes away from the cute little triangle with the dark curls. It looked so very inviting to him, he wanted to touch her there with his fingers, his lips and his tongue. But he didn´t dare.

He heard her gentle voice: “Darling, darling, come here.” He got up to her again and Camilla embraced him. Feeling her love gave him back much of his confidence and he just kissed her, very deeply. Camilla answered his kiss but grabbed his hand at the same time. She guided him down between her legs and placed his fingers gently on her slightly wet lips. Charles winced, he hadn´t expect this feeling.

But Camilla continued kissing, crossed fingers with him and joint they glided up and down. Slowly Charles liked it, or better, he loved it. It felt strange, but it aroused him even more, and he had the feeling these soft lips under his fingers became even wetter the more he caressed her. He couldn´t suppress a few moans and as Camilla finally placed his index and his middle finger on her pearl, he felt this aching flash between his legs again.

She helped him to trace gently circles around her clit, but Charles had learned quickly. Just out of his mind, or probably out of his heart, he found the right rhythm immediately. Camilla couldn´t help, she just started to moan quietly. Charles heart lifted up, he obviously did the right thing. He tried to give more pressure and Camilla reacted with louder moans. He wondered, obviously this cute little thing started to grow now. But it felt good to him. He kissed her, gave even more pressure and felt that she pressed his lower body tightly against his fingers now. Her hand had clawed into his back. He tried to hold the rhythm and felt that she kissed him even deeper now. Her body started to move, he circled around her now very wet clit a bit faster and gave still a little more of pressure. Suddenly she shortly trembled, her nails dug into his flesh and she gave a single loud moan. He had stared at her face all the time and was in love with her cute grimacing.  With rosy cheeks and beaming eyes she smiled at him now and embraced him. She couldn´t believe that he had taken her already so far.

It wasn´t the greatest orgasm she ever had. But it felt different than ever before. It felt right, it was more than sexual, it felt intimate in a very special way, it was a mutual happiness. Although she couldn´t deny that the sheer sight of her naked little prince attracted her immense. His manly chest, his chest hair, his trained arms and legs, his perfect butt, his erected penis…she was in love with his body. And she felt that their bodies were like magnets, that there was an incredible chemistry between them, that they just were at the beginning of something really big and special.

She pressed her face against his and giggled, but just out of her happiness. Charles tried to kiss her, but his body longed for more. For much more. A huge power inside him forced him to do something, but his mind fought against it. He just didn´t know how to start it, how to tell his girlfriend what he really needed now. But, of course, Camilla felt it.

She pressed more against him and wrapped her right leg around his waist. Charles heavily breathed, his heart raced as he knew it would happen now. But he was frozen, he laid there stock-still. He felt her tongue slipping into his mouth, and she was able to kiss him in an even more arousing way. Her tongue felt hot and silky at the same time, but the way she played with him was breathtaking and mind-swirling.

He moaned into her mouth again and again as her hand slipped between their entwined bodies and grabbed his swollen dick. Charles tried to find hold on everything he could grab: the bed sheets, her hair, her shoulders.

She slowly rolled on her back, without realising it Charles followed her move and steadied on his knees between her legs. They still kissed, but Camilla spread her legs wider, her free hand grabbed his bottom and slowly she let him enter her.

It hit Charles like a hammer, he was kicked from a huge flash, his world was upside down. He just didn´t groan, he yelled out loudly. His mind wasn´t able to work out what he felt. It was as she had fully embraced him, it felt warm and secure, but on the other hand his body run riot absolutely. Just the imagination that he was inside her now with his red swollen dick, that her naked breast pressed against his naked chest and that he moved inside her wonderful wetness, let him almost faint.

Camilla felt that he wouldn´t able to hold it two seconds longer in this position. But she wanted them to enjoy this moment a bit longer. She whispered into his ear: “Darling….darling, turn around!” Charles had problems to understand her simple words, but at least he was able to nod under his heavy moans. With sadness he got out of her and let fall on his back.

Quickly Camilla kissed him once more before her face glided down on him, tracing her way with the tip of his tongue to his navel. Charles had grabbed her hair and moved impatient under her caressing. Though it were just a few seconds, it felt endless to him until she finally grabbed his hands and scrambled onto him. One last time she bent forward to peck his lips, then she slowly sunk down on him.

Charles had closed his eyes, his nails dug into her back of the hands and he bit his lower lip. A long and deep groan came out of him and he opened his eyes again. His girlfriend sat on top of him, smiled beaming and lovingly and started to move slowly. Charles was hit from the next kick. Starting from the point where their bodies met, huge waves of pleasure rushed through him. He felt his blood pressure rising up again and inside his stomach built up the next huge knot.

And he just couldn´t take away his eyes from her. Her blushed face seemed even more beautiful to him, those waving breasts with these hard nipples almost killed him, her spread legs gave him an open view to her cute, wet lips. He watched his dick going in and out of her and this sight carried him really on the edge now. Somehow, he managed to steady on his elbows now, actually he wanted to embrace her. But he already was too weak, his body trembled heavily, his legs rushed uncontrolled over the bed sheet and he fall back.

Camilla bent forward; her hands steadied on the mattress. Charles wanted to say to her how much he loved her, but he wasn´t able to. Camilla understood, she lovingly kissed him again. Her little prince couldn´t wait any longer, so she tightened her muscles to enclose him more and got up and down on him faster. Charles stopped breathing, grabbed her breasts and arched his head back.

He exploded for the second time this night, but now his mind was full of stars, colours and lights. His body was overflowed with warmth and love, it was like hanging in the air for a short time and doing somersaults, he felt light and at ease. And the best was, he held his girlfriend in his arms…

Even minutes later Charles had tightly embraced her and kissed her over and over. Again and again he whispered into her ear: “Darling, my darling…I love you…” He looked into her happy face and just knew he would love her forever. No matter what would happen, he would love her forever.

“Thank you very much, Your Royal Highness.”, Camilla answered him, while looking down on the floor for a second. Charles was surprised, her voice was deeper than he had expected. But somehow it fitted her perfectly well, he decided. Her voice underlined her aura of steadiness, trustiness and heartiness. Of course this wasn´t really in his mind at this moment, but his subconsciousness recognized it very much.

She looked up to him again and lightly smiled. It knocked Charles socks off completely. She smiled not only with her mouth, but with her eyes as well. Her eyes sparkled like diamonds, yet her whole face changed into pure vitality and kindness. Through Charles body run a huge bunch of flashes and bolts. He felt woozy, but he didn´t really realized it. His brain worked just only at half-speed, he hadn´t recognized if a bomb had detonated beside him.

He tried to answer anything, but his voice didn´t work properly. Anyway, his mind was empty. With a slightly opened mouth he dared to look down on her. In slow-motion, though unintended, his eyes wandered over her flower-printed blouse, to her washed-out pair of flares, down to her trainers with the rest of mud and up again.

Now Camilla smiled an awkward smile and shrugged her shoulders: “Oh, I´m so sorry, Sir. I was with my grandmother doing some gardening…She has a wonderful roses garden and I simply love to be there…” Camilla brimmed over with enthusiasm for this, her eyes sparkled even more, but she looked at Charles frozen face and stopped. “Oh…I…I´m talking too much…” Hastily Charles interrupted her: “No, no, no!…I…I love gardening, too..!” Finally he was able to speak in complete sentences again. With an uplifted face she brought out: “Oh…yes…that´s wonderful.” She smiled again, through Charles body run flashes anew.

His brain told him to drink a sip to cool down, mechanical he raised his glass in direction of his mouth. Camilla continued, now her animated hand moves underlined her words: “Yes…and then we took a short ride, but obviously I forgot the time…as always while riding…” she chuckled now. This chuckling was the sweetest and cutest sound Charles had ever heard. He was completely over the edge now, his stomach tumbled, his heart bumped heavy and his mouth went dry again.

He held his glass directly in front of his mouth, but didn´t drink something. He just stared at Camilla, his confused brain tried to repeat her words to comprehend them.

Camilla didn´t mind about his strange behavior, she lovingly smiled at him again, shrugging her shoulders she sighed: “And suddenly my friends were there and picked me up for the night out. No time for changing the dress.”

Charles heard this words, but his brain still hadn´t work out it. At least he was able to put down his drink. He answered on her second to last sentence: “Oh…I love riding out, too…and I´m playing Polo…” Camilla chuckled again: “Yes, Sir! I think, that´s well known.” And almost casually she said: “We wanted to go to a Polo match tomorrow.” Charles heart paused for a second and he pressed out: “Where?” Camilla frowned: “Actually I don´t know…I´ll ask my friends.”

She turned around to look for her clique, but all of them were wildly dancing. Laughing she shrugged her shoulders again: “Later then.” Slightly she tilt her head to one side and looked up to him, again with this gaze directly into his heart. Charles grabbed his glass with both of his hands now and gulped. Through his stomach, or better said, through his body flew a whole armada of butterflies now.

They stood there, only gazing into each other´s eyes. There was silence between them for a moment, but not an awkward silence. It was a peaceful silence, and actually they talked to one another as they would do so often the rest of their lives: only with their eyes.

But they weren´t still aware of this now, they simply felt at ease with each other. Charles, constantly shy and anxious to do or say something wrong in private, dared to continue the talk again.

He cleared his throat, still grabbing his glass tightly. “So, your grandmother owns a rose garden?” Camilla´s eyes lit up even more, smiling she nodded and breathed: “Yes.” Somehow Charles was relieved that she obviously liked to turn back to this topic, or any topic at all.

But he didn´t need to ask something again. Camilla, fully animated with her hands now, started to talk in full flow. She talked about how the garden smelled and how nice it was to look at.

Very soon Charles entered into the discussion about the manifold cultures of roses and how to do the gardening. Intently Camilla followed him, asked him now and then, and lovingly smiling nodded to him.

They didn´t recognize it, but they already stood so close to each other, as only intimates did. When one of them talked, the other one followed with a rapturous smile.

Now and then they changed the topics, giggling and laughing more and more with each other. Somewhere inside of him a very huge knot began to lose, somehow the sun started to rise in his heart. Never before in his life he felt so at ease, almost free. He never ever wanted to stop to talk to her, he never wanted to be apart from her again.

But suddenly a tipsy voice screamed: “Hey, Milla! Say good bye to your new flame there…”The guy, one of her companions, giggled and tried to find hold on the door jamb. “Time for the next party…” he tried to find balance. Camilla rolled her eyes and moaned ironic: “Oh no, that sounds really great…”

Charles almost got panicky. Oh no, she will leave now! With wide eyes he stared at her girl pal, who came over to them to pick up Camilla. She patted her back and grinned: “Time to leave, old bag!” Apologizing Camilla raised her eyebrows to Charles and pressed her lips. “So, I think, I really have to leave…”

Charles heart was in his boots immediately, his mouth became dry again and he slightly started to shake. But now Camilla tapped her head: “Oh…the polo match…” She turned around to her pal and tapped on her shoulder: “He Jane, where will we watch the polo game tomorrow?” Charles heart paused for a moment, he hung on the lips of this girl, hoping for the right answer. His nerves stretched, the girl frowned and pondered. Then she smiled: “Oh, I almost forgot the match. It´s Smiths Lawn.”  Inwardly Charles exploded in a mixture of joy, positive panic and complete unknown feelings. And he just couldn´t believe, what he had heard. On a far, far away horizon the sun came up again.

He tightly hold his glass with both his hands now and stuttered: “I´ll be there…tomorrow…I´ll play the match…”

Camilla turned back to him now completely and smiled, obviously full of joy: “Really? What a coincidence!” But somehow she thought now, she was too brisk yet and looked shy down on the floor. Her girl pal tried to push her away: “Miilllaaa….come on now!”

Charles hastily reached out his hand to her and actually wanted to hold her upper arm. But shortly before he stopped, he didn´t dare it. With a scratchy voice again he only pressed out: “So…I guess…we´ll see tomorrow then.” Camilla looked up to him again, somehow relieved but still shy. “Yes, probably we´ll see tomorrow.”

Charles lips moved, but no words came out. He felt desperately, he felt, as if something of him was about to be lost. Actually he wanted to say something more to her, but he was blocked. So he reluctant reached out his hand to her, slowly she took his hand and curtseyed to him.

Her pal took her by her hand, curtseyed to him as well while turning around, and rushed over to the exit. Charles feet were fixed on the ground, he wasn´t able to move a bit. His eyes followed Camilla, the more she removed from him, the more the rug pulled out from under him.

Shortly before the exit Camilla turned around again, sending him her most lovingly smile. Charles still wasn´t able to move, he felt even worse now. And then she was out of his sight.

Charles simply stood there for a few moments, trying to catch a clear thought. I put down his glass on the commode next to him, smiled to the people around him, but didn´t recognized that a few of them wanted to start a chat. He just wanted to get out of here, he needed to breathe fresh air and he just had to move now.

He said good bye to Lucia, who had absolutely recognized what was going on. Lovingly smiling she patted his back, twinkled to him and let him go.

Charles run down the steps, jerked on the door knob and almost jumped out. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling a very little bit better now. His protection officer opened his car door: “Everything alright, Sir? Do you want to go home now?” Charles confused looked down to him. Actually he didn´t know, what he wanted or what would made sense to do now.

He mumbled something, what the officer didn´t understand. Suddenly Charles jumped into his car and sped off. The officer had problems to follow him. But Charles didn´t drive home, he just drove somewhere. Senseless he crossed around central London, the radio turned on loudly. His life was out off its hinges now, suddenly everything felt empty. He was empty, the car was empty and his apartment was empty, as he finally came home…

Way too early his Aston Martin drove through the gates of Smiths Lawn. Only a few horse trailers were already there on the opposite side of the polo field, but Charles parked his car next to the entry. He wanted to make sure that he wouldn´t miss anything, at least the arrival of a very certain person, if to be honest to himself.

He got out of his car and, with crossed legs, leaned against the door. Trying to stay cool his gaze wandered around, but from the corner of his eyes he constantly watched the entry. For the next twenty minutes nothing happened.

He watched his wristwatch again and again, still one and a half hours until the game will start. Somehow he felt stupid to be here so early, but he simply could not help.

Twenty minutes later, he still leaned against his car, his own horse trailer emerged. It was parked next to the others, very hesitantly Charles went over. While walking alongside the fence of the playing field, he turned around several times to watch the entry. But nothing happened.

Snorting and nudging his shoulder his horse greeted him, Charles lovingly patted the back of the stallion. He shortly chatted to his stable boy, but still not losing the entry out of his gaze, and quickly got back to his car.

While walking back some cars drove onto the parking field. His heart stopped for a second and then bumped even more heavy, he fastened his pace, constantly staring on the cars. A bunch of young people got out, laughing and screaming around. In light velocity he checked out every one of them and now his shoulders sunk down. She wasn´t there.

But, he watched his wristwatch again, still one hour until the start. Why on earth she should be here already, he tried to ease. Anyway, his heart bumped on a higher level now. Slowly he became twitchy.

He leaned against his car again, his legs and arms crossed. Quietly he chuckled. Actually he was a bloody fool, he thought of himself. He had talked to her on a party, surrounded by tipsy people and loud music. This party was only a stopover for her through the night, she was in company from people who seemed to be livelier than he himself. They even didn´t arrange a real date, she only said, she would be there with her friends anyway.

Probably she won´t come here, she just wanted to be friendly he persuaded himself. A second later he ditched this thought. No, there was something special with her, he couldn´t put it into words. He simply felt, she wasn´t one of this babblers. And he still felt this emptiness somewhere inside him. But then his feelings and his soul was a total mess since yesterday night anyway, he wasn´t able to concentrate on anything more than one minute.

The time went by. Some of his friends came along, all members of his team arrived, the whole place where filled with people.

Charles was more than nervous now. Actually he was peevishly, he didn´t want to talk to anyone, he just wanted to stare to the entrance. But of course, he had no chance. As always he was surrounded with a bunch of pals and royal hangers.

There were just ten minutes until the game would be started. Charles opened luggage space and jerked of his clothes. Hastily he changed into them and slammed the cap. One last time he looked over to the entrance.

She wasn´t there.

Sad, unmotivated and still empty inside he crossed the field to pick up his horse, he didn´t turn around once more.

The game started, cantering he tried to follow his pals for a few minutes. He didn´t watch the audience around, he tried to control his uprising anger. Suddenly the ball was shot directly to him, with full power he hit it. He felt a bit better now, but he still had to let out his frustration. In full gallop he rode along the fence and spotted a group of young people out of the corner of his eye. He recognized the girl, who had picked up Camilla last night from him.

His heart stopped, he forgot the game and slowed down to quickly check out the clique. But his shoulders sunk down again, she really wasn´t there.

Charles didn´t understand anything. But, at least, he had always known it. There simply didn´t exist a person, who would really like him or, even, love him. He was stupid yesterday, and, at all, he had behaved stupid. That was, what he decided within milliseconds.  

He paced up the speed again, his horse rode alongside the fence. Here and there a few people leaned against the fence with their back. No one really followed the game. The most people saw it as a chance to see or be seen or just to make deals in a leisure atmosphere.

Suddenly, actually only three seconds later, he watched two hands crawling around the balustrade. Someone slightly leaned over, someone with shoulder long blond hair, that softly waved around her face in the breeze. Even from the distance her bright blue eyes let stir his blood. She brightly smiled over to him, staring directly into his eyes.

Charles just wanted to embrace the whole world now. She was here! She really was here! Actually he had known all the time, he was sure now.

Still in gallop he not only smiled to her, he grinned with happiness now. He wasn´t able to get this grin out of his face, actually he wished to jump around and to scream out his joy to the world.

But he heard a scream now. A scream of his pal that the ball was coming to him. Charles turned around on the back of his horse, the racket tightly in his hand. But he couldn´t lose from the sight of Camilla, he still smiled over to her and…missed the ball. His pal was really, really angry now.

But Charles was over the edge, he just couldn´t concentrate one the game today. His team lost big-time, but to his very luck no one really dared to do him down. Charles didn´t mind today, there were more important things to him now. To be honest, he simply didn´t care about it.

He guided his horse over to his trailer, turning around to Camilla again and again. She still stood on the place where she had watched him all the time during the match. She was unsure what she should do now. She looked over to Charles and he took all of his courage and gave her a sign to come over to him.

He watched her coming nearer and nearer. He was fascinated about the way she moved and how the wind played with her hair and how her dress, a dug egg blue summer dress, slightly flattered around her body.

And now she was just a few steps distant from him, smiling with her mouth, her eyes, yet her whole face lovingly right into his eyes, right into his heart. And it hit him like a hammer now:

Bored Charles laid on his sofa in his apartment at Buckingham Palace. His legs dangled over the arm rest and his eyes where fixed on the ancient grandfather clock, counting the seconds.

Unconscious he twiddled with his nails, as he always did, when he was nervous or shirty or simply didn’t know what to do with himself.

Actually he didn´t know what to do at the moment and, he was a bit shirty. He just came back from Clarence House, he had tea with his grandmother. He loved her to bits, he was very close to her and he was thankful for every one of her advices. But during the last time she touched on a subject again and again.

And she wasn´t the only one. His father and even his younger brother, Andrew, teased him with the same thing. When would he finally show around a proper girlfriend?

Quietly Charles sighed. What´s all this fuss about, he thought. He didn´t understand his fellows from university, who dated dozens of girls, apparently their only leisure activities. And this tattle about finding the enduring, great love! Scoffing Charles chuckled, as he thought about the marriages in his family. Great love, haha…! Even if the marriage of his grandparents was a peaceful one, it obviously wasn´t built on passion and addiction. It was a deep friendship and the love had grown over the years.

At last this one was what he expected from his own marriage later. Later, yes, later…he decided. Of course he had dated with a few girls already. But it was more under the pressure from his friends, he didn´t want to be the outsider who never went out with someone.

He never had this, what one could call a real relationship. The longest “relationship” he had was for four weeks, half a year ago. The girl was from an aristocratic family, with a good behavior and nice to look at. But to be honest, he never didn´t really know what to do with her or what to talk about. Meeting her was always like an enforcement, at least retrospective.

And of course, they tried to do, what people do with each other. They had kissed a few times, but somehow Charles execrated to do it with his tongue, even now remembering it he shivered. And, he blushed now, they had made love. Charles asked himself why it was called “made love”. What has this got to do with love?

Obviously the girl had some experience, somehow she managed to bring Charles into this special condition. But he felt awkward all of the time, he didn´t want to be completely naked in someone´s presence, and was ashamed for the things his body did. Five minutes after it was done, he longed for a long and hot shower to wash off this experience.

He had a bad conscience towards this girl, he felt like a liar, and they decided to stay friends and not to meet any longer like a pair. Of course he never heard again from her, but he didn´t mind.

Yeah, to be absolutely honest, it would be wonderful to have a person he could share everything with. A person who would laugh about the same silly things as he did and would be able to lift him up, when he was depressed again. A person, who would accept him in exactly the way he was, or better, to absolutely love him. A person, who was really interested into his work, who would reread his speeches and would give him professional advices. Someone, who would protect him with her love and whom he could trust completely. And sometimes it would be nice to fall asleep while holding the hand of this wonderful person…

Charles tapped his head. His imagination ran riot once again, he thought. The reality in his widespread family showed him how a marriage works. More than a friendship he didn´t expect, and, to be honest, who would really love him? He was more than complicated, he had a strange humor, he was an outdoorsman, there simply couldn´t exist a woman who would love him unconditionally.

His grandfather clock stroke 7pm.. He had an invitation for a party one hour later, his pal Lucia Santa Cruz wanted to celebrate something he couldn´t remember. Actually he didn´t want to go, rather he wanted to go to bed and engrave into one of his books. But he had accepted the invitation a few weeks ago, it would be rude to cancel now.

So he ordered his dinner and dressed in casual wear, at least, what he thought that it was. In ironed tweet trousers, a chequered skirt and a grey jumper he left Buckingham Palace and entered his Aston Martin Volante. His protection officer would follow in a conspicuous car and would wait for him, until he leaves.

After half an hour driving through London he reached Lucia´s apartment. Luckily he wasn´t the first of her guests, there were already ten people around. Some of them were dancing, the rest sat drinking and chatting on a huge sofa and down on the floor.

Charles greeted them shortly and spotted Lucia, mixing some drinks. Perfect in form he placed a kiss on her hand and chatted a few moments with her. But Lucia had to entertain all of her guests, she left Charles after she had mixed him a Gin tonic, but meanwhile a few more people emerged and surrounded Charles.

He never had to worry about too less company, there were always people hanging around him and trying to have their slice of the cake. And of course lots of girls tried to get his attention. But he knew, they only wanted to be part of the life of the Prince of Wales, not a friend of Charles, the real person.  It wasn´t a real problem to him, he never knew anything else and he had to cope the rest of his life with it. He did business as usual, but deep inside he was bored.

Meanwhile a lot more guests arrived, the party became louder, most people were dancing now. The alcohol flowed like water, everyone was in high spirits.

Charles removed himself from the center of the party and leaned against a commode in the edge of the huge room. He was here for around two hours now, maybe he could leave in about half an hour, he thought.

Suddenly Lucia stood beside him, grinning she patted his back. “Charles, what´s up? In bad mood today?” Charles smiled friendly to her: “No, but I´m not the party animal, you know.” Lucia laughed: “Oh, Charles. I know, you have lots of temperament. But you have to be with the right people around you.” Charles sighed and Lucia continued: “So, what´s up on the girl´s front? Do you have a little lady friend?” Charles sighed louder: “Oh, come on! Leave me alone with this!” Lucia playfully rolled her eyes and changed the subject. They chatted around a few moments and suddenly a bunch of new guests arrived, a party of five or six lively people.

Charles tried to get his chance: “Lucia, I think, it is a bit crowded now in here. I think I will leave now. Thank you so much for the evening.” She hastily answered: “So, if you want. But wait just one minute. I have to greet the people over there and I will come back immediately. Wanted to ask you something about the charity event next weekend.”

Without waiting for Charles answer she crossed the room to greet the new arrival. Charles leaned against the commode again, still a glass of Gin tonic in his hand, the other hand in his trouser pocket. He looked out of the window and hoped Lucia will really come back in a minute.

She came back, after exactly one minute. Almost breathless she touched his arm. “Charles, forget about the charity event for a moment. Please, let me introduce you to someone.” Charles frowned, what important person would be on this party, at least at this time? Lucia stuttered: “I think…I think…I have just found the right girl for you!”

Charles moaned loudly and rolled his eyes. “Oh, no, Lucia! Please!” But Lucia looked seriously into his eyes: “Charles, I´m not cracking a joke. I know her for a couple of month, and…please, let me introduce her to you.” Charles looked at his wristwatch and waved aside: “Alright, alright! But I will leave immediately then!”

But Lucia didn´t hear his last words, she already rushed across the room. Charles crossed his legs and looked bugged out down on the floor. Why on earth everybody annoyed him with this subject, he thought.

A moment later he watched two pair of feet beside him. Lucia´s were dressed in fine, black high heels, the other pair of feet were donned into casual shoes. Charles didn´t trust his eyes, but was there a little rest of horse dung on these shoes?

He lifted up his head and heard Lucia´s voice: “Charles, may I introduce you to Miss Camilla Shand?” “Camilla, may I introduce you to the Prince of Wales?”

Yes, Charles heard her voice. But he didn´t really recognize Lucia any longer. The world around him was dwindled to a pair of bright blue eyes. Without saying one single word he stared at her, right into her eyes. He didn´t know why, but he never had met a person before looking at him in a way like this.

He could read in these eyes, he never was able to do it before with someone. He looked into pure kindness, respect for him, but no servility, no toadyism. Her eyes were adorned with wit, but completely without teasing. He didn´t know why, but he had the feeling these eyes looked at Charles, the private person. Not Charles, the Prince of Wales.

And he had the feeling this person read in his eyes in the same way as he did with hers. Slowly his brain begun to work again.

9 April 1993

With his hands in his trouser pockets Charles bopped up and down and tried to watch out of the window. But there was nothing to see beside darkness and his own reflexion in the pane. And floods of raindrops running down.

Quietly whistling he turned away and at random crossed the huge room. He watched at his wrist watch and to the grandfather clock in the corner, it was just five minutes later as the last time. Pretending himself to be calm he got back to the window, but still there was nothing as darkness.

Maybe he should switch out the light in here, then he could see better outside. No, it was ridiculous, Charles tried to convince himself. Just because he usually was too late and she has to wait for him, for their stolen nights or weekends in their friend´s houses, just because of that he would go mad now?! No, everything will be alright with her!

Fumbling at his nails Charles crossed the long corridor of his friends´ manor and got into the large kitchen. Both his friend and his wife prepared some dinner and the table was already set for four. “She will be here very soon, Charles. For sure.” The lady of the house encouraging smiled to him. Charles agitated nodded and his hand nervously rushed through his hair.

His friend patted his back: “Come on, Charles. Everything will be alright. You both have all the weekend here, and even the bloody weather shall be better tomorrow!” Charles tried to believe him and sat down with a distressed smile. His friend turned on the radio and his wife placed the meal in the middle of the table.

“Do you think she will mind if we already start?,” she hesitantly asked him. Of course she knew the answer, and Charles waved aside: “She will not mind. You know that!” And he friendly tried to refuse some food filled on his plate, but she went on: “When was the last time you have eaten something, Charles?” Charles couldn´t remember, so she pushed the plate with a determined smile to him.

But he hardly could eat something, he was deeply worried that she meanwhile was late for two hours. And suddenly the radio programme was interrupted for the traffic news. The M4 was jammed since hours already, and now there just happened a heavy car crash and the motorway was closed.

Charles´s face was frozen, his heart also. He stared at his friends for a moment, then jumped up and wanted to run out but somehow couldn´t. His brain was too strained just right now to do something useful, he just had crossed arms and leaned his head in one hand.

His friends terrified jumped up also and patted his back: “That means nothing, Charles. Are you even sure that she took this way?” “Of course, she always takes this way!” With big steps he rushed out of the kitchen, just mumbling a `sorry` and found a quiet place in the corner of the entrance hall.

Buried his face in his hands he sat in an ancient chair and mused about his life. Somehow he knew she would be fine, she would have nothing to do with this car crash. He simply would feel if something would be wrong with her, for sure. But somehow this was the last impulse he needed to feel totally worse.

Why, why, why they still had to drive for hours through the whole country,  just to meet for a night, or with a bit of luck for a weekend! Why he still had to put her into danger?! The most precious he had in this world?! It was disgracing and degrading, as if he would smear smudge on her! This simply had to come to an end!

A few month ago he had sworn blind that things couldn´t come worse. He official was separated from his wife after a real mudslinging, decided in the public. It had almost killed him. But he hoped so much to have more peace and quiet in life now, for him and for Camilla.

But now they were hunted from the press like never before. Still weeks after the whole world had laughed about their illegal recorded phone tape things hadn´t calm down. Charles´s blood pressure still exploded by thinking about this. Neither he nor Camilla couldn´t remember completely this talk. Since years they called at least twice a day, and he was sure this wasn´t the only recorded one.

And he prayed to God that nothing more would be published, as this talk was rather harmless to the other ones they sometimes shared. But, hell, nothing was wrong with this!! He wanted to meet just one pair in love that never had said things like this to one another! But he also knew, it didn´t matter.  And it didn´t matter that everyone should be clear in his mind about their deep love just by listening to their desperate voices, so longing to be together. It just was a dirty business. People are making money out of his private life. That was all. To offend common decency and even to break law was meanwhile reality…

Suddenly steps clattered along the corridor: “Charles, I guess she is coming…” Charles just jumped up, stormed to the entrance door, tore it open and run out into the heavy rain. He was already completely soaked as Camilla´s estate car parked in front of him.

Still behind the wheel she looked terrified at him, ripped her small luggage from the passenger seat and jumped out. “Daarling, go in!,” she yelled through the noise of the heavy rain. But Charles couldn´t get more drenched, so he shortly embraced her and kissed her already wet face with a relieved sigh.

Arm in arm they run back into the house. Charles just tossed her luggage away, embraced her tightly again and kissed her deep and in a way to grasp that she really was here. He didn´t recognise that he soaked Camilla with his wet clothes as well, but she obviously didn´t care. But she still realised that someone else was there and tried to stop Charles. “Darling, darling, wait…wait…,” she breathed into his yearning lips.

But Charles couldn´t even get loose of her while she greeted their friends. He constantly caressed her back and was happy to lay his arm around her again: “You really need something to eat now, darling!,” he worried said. Camilla tapped his tip of the nose: “And you probably, too! But, for all, you need a hot shower!” Finally they all could laugh.

Three minutes later Camilla helped him to get rid of his wet clothes in the bathroom. And she even didn´t try to veto as he started to undress her.

The warm water jet was so very relaxing, to them both. Camilla flung her arms around his neck and sucked his lips: “Had missed you so much, darling.” Charles stroke her back and grabbed her waist: “Where have you been tonight, darling? I´m almost died.” “Aahh…somehow all went wrong. Was too late anyway, misplaced the key, forgot my luggage in the house, had to return then…”Charles laughing arched his head, this was just his girl!

“And the bloody weather…I just could drive in snail´s pace…into a traffic jam!” Charles stroke up and down the outline of her body and pecked her lips: “You really should buy a mobile!” Camilla´s facial expression got horrified and unconsciously she buried her fingers into Charles´s skin: “Nooooo!”

She had sworn never again in her life to use a cordless phone. Charles sighed and buried her head into the crook of his neck: “I know, I know…but just for the emergency. Will you promise me?” Camilla desperately begged: “Daarling! Nooo!” “So then I will buy you one!,” he kissed her nape and soft breathed: “But you really, really should think of this!” Camilla nodded, but squared her shoulders then: “Oh darling! We still have to wait, but things will get better, for sure!”

Charles desperately shook his head: “I can´t believe this any longer! They have taken us apart, and mocked, and I don´t know what the hell else!” Camilla took his face in his hands and answered very serious: “But I still love you so much!” Deep sighing Charles pressed her against his chest and mumbled into her hair: “Yes, and I´m thanking the Lord every day for this! And it kills me what they are doing with you, how they talk about you and…” He grimaced and gulped and clawed his fingers into her flesh. To say the smear campaign against her would hurt him was a lie. It just ripped him into pieces and left deep wounds in his heart and soul.

He knew, it deeply had wounded her too. And even more he admired her for her fortitude and unbroken optimism. “One day it will be over, darling.” Camilla stroke his face lovingly, “what else can happen from now on? We have already touched the ground.” Charles shook his head determined: “No, no! This is the one thing I have learned: It always can get worse!”

She didn´t answer, just embraced him tightly and smirked: “Have you actually kissed me proper today?” Charles grinning pecked her lips: “Well, I think I have now.” Camilla shook her head: “Try again!” Charles smacked her: “But now, really!” Camilla pulled a face: “No!” “Maybe you can show me…” Chuckling she touched his cheek, kissed his lips softly, sucked them and tickled him with her tongue. Until Charles grabbed her bottom cheeks, flung her legs around his waist and pressed her against the wall to answer her kiss deep and passionate.

They forgot to eat, but made each other happy half the night. They just locked out the world, and the next morning was one of the rare days Charles started with a smile. He even felt some hope deep in his heart, as his first words were: “Good morning, darling!” And his first act to place a loving kiss on her sleepy face.

9th April 1995

Camilla tore open her backdoor and surprised stuck her head out. She watched Charles and his security officer parking their cars in a hidden corner that wasn´t visible for paparazzi. Though actually after her divorce form Andrew some weeks ago the press slowly had lost interest in sneaky shots of her.

“Darling, I´ve said you don´t need have to come…,” she called him as he rushed cross the courtyard. “This is the reason I´m here now,” Charles said and watched her with worried eyes. She looked worse as she had sounded on the telephone.

He wasn´t sure if she already had combed her hair today, she was dressed in some old leggings and the most worn out shirt she owned. He jumped up the two steps and kissed her tightly, while she still had the doorknob in her hand.

She looked terrible. She had dark circles round her eyes, her face was somehow shrunken and she seemed so very tired. Sighing Charles looked down to her, chewed his lower lip and arranged her hair with his fingers. Her blue eyes rested on him with a trustful glance and suddenly she touched his cheek, tiptoed and kissed him back. “Thank you,” she breathed.

Charles sighed again, nodded and lovingly rubbed up and down her upper arm. She made a head movement that he should come in and suddenly Charles stumbled over something. He looked down and had overturned her ashtray that always stood on the steps of the backdoor. It was obviously fulfilled.

Camilla shrugged shoulders and guilty looked up to him: “I know. I had a bit too much the last days.” Charles grabbed her hand and pushed her in, closing the door behind his back. He just took her tightly in his arms and cradled her. “I love you, darling! I love you, love you, love you!” Camilla snuggled against him as much as she was able to, but said nothing.

“And if my girl is wrong, I´ll be there for her. No matter the day, no matter the time, no matter the circumstances. Alright?” Camilla nodded into his chest and mumbled: “But I don´t want to be a burden on you!” Charles sighed and kissed her hair: “Ha…if someone is a burden here, then me on you!” “You will never be!”

He lifted up her chin with his index finger, looked seriously into her eyes and kissed her lovingly again: “Will you tell me now what´s wrong, darling?” Since a few days her mood was depressed and her voice got tired, but she insisted everything was alright. But this morning she was almost uncommunicative, something he had never known from her before. But still she meant to be fine and Charles shouldn´t be worried and not visit her before the weekend, when he was in Highgrove anyway. Five minutes later Charles had entered his car to drive to Middlewick House…

“Nothing special…,” she waved aside. But Charles´s gaze wandered around. The dishes she had used since yesterday morning still were around, if she had eaten anything at all. And…

Charles rushed over to the kitchen table and watched a bunch of newspapers. In thick headlines he could read what a saint his separated wife was, how beautiful and nice, dutiful and a perfect mother. That she was betrayed from her husband and his mistress. And how scheming, ugly, messy, lazy and a bad mother Camilla was. That her only life goal was to be his mistress and that eventually Andrew was so disgusted from this all that he had divorced her to find happiness. A few most unflattering photos of Camilla crowned this all.

Charles grabbed the papers and dumped them into the bin. “Will you promise me to never buy this again?” Camilla had crossed her arms and nodded. She had lost so much weight during the last time, nothing was left from her adorable curves. Even her eyes seemed to get cloudy, though she still smiled to Charles in the way she always had done.

“Come here, ducky,” he said softly and lifted her up. Camilla crossed legs behind his back, embraced him and buried her face into his neck. Charles carried her over into her living room and watched the next obvious reason she was down.

Half the furniture was missing. The last time he was here, around ten days ago, it has been as always. But Camilla had told him on the phone that Andrew had picked up the rest of his belongings meanwhile and now the living room looked like robbed.

Some shadows on the wall marked the places were the cupboards stood for years and some paintings were nailed up. The books and decorations laid down on the carpet now, but the upholstery, some small boards, a table and the TV belonged to her and was still there.

“Oh, great…,” Charles sighed. Camilla mumbled: “I was sick of it anyway.” “We will find some new ones,” Charles said while letting her down on the sofa. He got beside her and took her tightly in his arms. Camilla leaned against his chest and played with his fingers. “Uummhhh…he had called me early this morning. He wants to sell the house.”

Now it dawned on Charles that it was probably the main reason she was down. Her life changed dramatically during the last time, and though she was a brave girl and always optimistic, just right now it became all too much.

Charles pressed her tighter against him and kissed her forehead. “Alright, alright. Don´t worry, darling. We will make it.” Camilla sighed and nodded, but then jerkily got out of his arms and steadied her head in her hands. She deeply sighed and sounded desperate: “Aaahhh, I don´t know….and then…then I had dreamt of Mama again! It was soooo real and I woke up in the night and cried and…then I dreamt of her once again….”

Charles agitated stroke her back and brushed away the hair in her face. Carefully he took her hands away and embraced her again. He cradled her in his arms and breathed: “And why you don´t have told me that, mhh?” Camilla sobbing shrugged shoulders and quietly cried into his chest. “Don´t know…you have problems enough!”

Charles gently grabbed her shoulders and turned her around to see her face. Very tenderly, but serious he asked: “Hadn´t we agreed many years ago to have only joint problems?” Camilla watched him with teary eyes, but full of trust, and nodded with squinted lips. Charles smiled and tried to kiss away her tears: “See?”

Cradling her in his arms again he breathed: “Since when you´re dreaming of Mama?” Camilla sniffled: “Around one week, I guess. It´s just…because of the strain…it´s always when there is more strain…”. Charles kissed all over her face. It broke his heart to see her like this. Her mother has died almost nine month ago, and she still had days were she constantly cried. Losing one´s mother was probably the hardest thing ever, Charles assumed. Though he could imagine an even harder case, at least for himself…

But as Rosalind died, Camilla was just exposed an extraordinary smear campaign in the press. It hurt even more that Rosalind never would be allowed to see her daughter coming back to peace and quiet, and happiness. It still wasn´t there, but deep inside Camilla knew times would change again. But Rosalind was gone with deep sorrows for her daughter and Tom and Laura, and for Charles as well, whom she loved since meeting the first time. For the rest of her life this would hurt Camilla, and in times like this remembering her mother brought endless tears.

For a long time they said nothing, just hold each other in their arms. Then Camilla quietly started again: “It´s just…with the house…I can´t afford a proper new one. We have to split the money from this one…and only to buy a new house isn´t all, you know…” Charles was about to say that she wouldn´t need a new house, that she should move into Highgrove. But, of course, it just was his inner desire. It wasn´t something real, it would be the last step for the press to destroy them. It wasn´t possible at all.

And…Camilla was very much a person of her own. She just needed her own space.

“I will give you money, darling.” Camilla heavily vetoed, she knew there will be a huge fuss if it would leak out. And it would, with their luck it would leak out. But Charles was desperate, there just had to be a way to help her. She should have a good life, in comfortable surroundings, she should give up nothing, and Tom and Laura should be carefree also.

He scratched his head and his hand rushed through his hear: “What´s with Papa?” “I don´t want to ask him!” But Charles knew, and Camilla also, Bruce would give the shirt off his back to her daughter, to all of his children. Money wasn´t a real problem for him, so he would try anything to help her out. If she just wouldn´t be such a pighead…

But Charles made the decision to just ignore her protests. If she wouldn´t take money from Bruce, or directly from Charles because of the fuss around, he would find a way with friends or whatever. He wouldn´t let her down.

He embraced her tighter and his hands lovingly stroke up and down on her. “Don´t worry, darling. We will find a way, that´s for sure. Usually Fred is good for nothing, but he will do anything for you. If you want it or not.” He felt her arms wrapping around him stronger and she nodded into his chest.

They crawled more onto the sofa and laid down, still snuggled into one another. Camilla´s face was finally adorned with a happy and optimistic smile again. With closed eyes she caressed Charles´s chest: “Maybe you could stay for an hour or so? Then I´m really better…” Charles teasingly knit his brows: “I thought rather of staying forever….”