Bab 87: Silent Pleas

William frowned. He hadn't said a word and she was already trying to get rid of him. Without preamble, he said, "Your ladies say you've been unwell. And you look pale. Have you asked Tession for a remedy?"

"I'll be alright." Camilla's eyes flitted around the room anxiously, refusing to look at him directly. "I just need to rest." She was trembling slightly. 

William stared for a while at her white, drawn face and her eyes full of fear. To be honest, she looked more distraught to him than ill. There was something lost and fragile in her expression that he'd never seen, not even when he'd first brought her to Islia after her family's deaths. Seeing her quaking on the spot, it was almost like she was now too scared to even look at him.

He took a step closer, for the first time in his life feeling like he wanted to actually offer someone comfort. But she flinched and stepped back quickly, clutching her arms around herself defensively.