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justdonotaskmewhy · 1 year

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Artemis And A Warrior (Camilla Parker-Bowles/Diana Spencer fanfic)

Disclaimer: I understand that this can be not your cup of tea. If you're not keen on this, try to ignore it. All the characters are fictional. Sorry if I hurt you. It was not my intention.

I am not satisfied with the quality but I promised to publish it to my friends here so I keep my word.

Can you spot 3 "Stranger Things" references?

1980

The grass in the forest was still dewy before the last preparations were completed in Highgrove. The servants were hurriedly packing rifles, cartridges and boxes of food into their boots. The dogs, wagging their tails impatiently, were eager to break free in search of prey.

Standing in the armoury, Diana was surprised to note that her hands were shaking. She thought she had calmed down by now. She was long past the age of ten, when the sight of blood seemed something sinister and sinful. She had turned nineteen last month, and now she was an old woman, a lady of years.

But her hands were shaking. Turning her palms, Diana could see her fingers slapping lightly against each other, her hand trembling.

"God, even my skin is pale," thought the girl with a sullen cheerfulness.

If this goes on, she will accidentally kill one of the guests. She wanted to laugh, but her stomach hurt and her throat was dry. She wanted to run away, but at the same time she wanted to stay, to be with Prince Charles, to see him hunt. It must be so beautiful: a real prince on the hunt.

Diana closed her eyes. Her head was spinning. She folded her arms across her chest and hugged herself as tightly as possible. Even her teeth rattled, as if the girl were standing not in her full hunting gear in a heated room, but out in the draught in just her undershirt.

“There you are, Lady Spencer! His royal highness is already asking where you are. “

“Mrs Parker-Bowles," Diana smiled weakly.

She couldn't say that she really enjoyed this woman's company. Camilla smoked, so she always reeked of tobacco, she swore and told very dirty stories. However, she was around and was almost the only familiar figure in this company, so it was worth being patient.

“Are you all right, darling? “as if sincerely asked Camilla.

She had a strange look in her eyes. Both appraising and compassionate at the same time.

“I think so," Diana shrugged. She didn't feel like talking. Mostly because she didn't have much to say. It was her own fault for agreeing to it. She should have thought about the last time she'd hunted as a child. And now it was too late.

“Let me have a look at you.”

Camilla, like a fashion designer, carefully examined her young acquaintance. Pointing out that the gaiters needed tightening, she was satisfied.

“The cap fits you beautifully, Lady Spencer, have I told you? “

With these words Mrs Parker-Bowles adjusted the cap on Diana's head.

The girl became very hot and anxious for some reason.

“Yours-s is-s-s fine too," she replied, not looking her companion in the eye.

“Is it cold?”

“Not much.”

“Wrap your cloak tightly around me in the woods. Otherwise you will catch cold and His Highness will cut off my head.”

“Why you? “Diana genuinely didn't understand.

“I didn't keep track," the woman replied, sighing theatrically, "You remember the allocation, don't you? You and I are in the same pair.”

Diana nodded. At that very moment, Camilla took a rifle off the wall and, holding it out to the girl, said:

“Hold it for me, dear.”

Lady Spencer's fumbling fingers tried to pick up the weapon, but it fell from her shaking hands almost the same second. A loud thud deafened both ladies. Diana jerked because she was frightened that the gun might be loaded. Then she raised her gaze indecisively to Camilla, expecting a sneer.

The woman did not even smile. Her whole face expressed a kind of longing, the nature of which Diana could not understand.

“I'll have to carry your gear, my lady," the woman smiled sadly.

“No, no, don't, please, I'm just... well, cramping. I get nervous. It's always been like this, in school too...’

Diana was silent before she could finish. Deep down she knew that she could not pretend. Especially since Camilla could see right through her. She is so mature, so experienced. Such a woman could not be outsmarted.

“They'll be looking for us soon," Camilla looked down, "I'll carry your rifle to the car, though. I'll meet you in the clearing. Do you remember the position in which we are going?’

“Yes," Diana responded vividly.

“Good. Tell Sir Arthur when you get in the car that if he says I can't ride again, I'll open a hunt for him next. ‘

Diana pretended to laugh, though her stomach was cramping with fear.

“What if I do something wrong? “almost crying, she asked.

“I won't tell anyone," winked Camilla, "and you're such a quick learner, Lady Spencer. Watch your breath, have some mulled wine, and remember how you and I shot at the range last month. Don't look so worried, it's only a hunt.’

***

“And you're not so bad with guns, dear," Camilla smiled and patted Diana on the shoulder in a perfectly friendly manner.

The girl never particularly liked the shooting range. She was bored with shooting. It wasn't her favourite netball, where you had to run and aim while walking. No, it was silly shooting at bottles, stars, cardboard bandits and other nonsense. However, everyone around Charles seemed to be obsessed with this pastime. Even now, at Andrew's birthday party, everyone was shooting bottles.

“Thank you," Diana nodded.

“If only you'd hit the targets instead of the space between them...”

“Or maybe I'm hitting between the bottles on purpose, Mrs Parker-Bowles!”

“Really, Lady Spencer?”

“Any fool can hit the bottle, but hitting right between them..." Diana continued, bursting into laughter.

“You can make things up," Camilla smiled, "well, if you have conquered all the air around you, I suggest we join the guests in the tent.”

Camilla took Diana's palm in hers and grimaced.

“What cold hands you have.”

“It's the weather," she said, as if making excuses, "it's windy today, and I'm cold. And your hands are so warm, Mrs. Parker-Bowles.”

Camilla's hands were indeed very warm and rough. They had calluses on their palms from the constant contact with the reins. There was no nail polish on the nails, and they were short, not in the fashion sense at all. Still, Camilla's hands were very pleasant. For some reason Diana didn't want to let go of her warm hand.

“My mother told me as a child that people with cold hands have hotter heart," smiled Camilla, "do you think it's true Lady Spencer?”

Diana trembled for some reason and could only mumble:

“I d-don't know, hadn't thought about it.”

“Well, come quickly, you're already shivering and I'm cold. We'll warm up in a moment. Do you remember that you promised His Highness a dance?”

Diana did not listen, and only wished that the road to the tent and the pleasant warmth emanating from Camilla's hand had not ended sooner.

***

An hour into the hunt, Sir Hugh's group, which included Camilla, Diana and Lord McFall, were on the trail of a deer. Sir Hugh, a burly, mustachioed man, expertly announced that they would soon see a doe. Lord McFall asked how the hoofprints could determine the sex of an animal, to which he was told that if there were such fools in the House of Lords, one did not wonder why the country was in crisis.

“And I'm not going to answer such stupid questions! You dare call yourself a hunter. Ignoramus!”

“And I have no intention of being in your company, kind sir Reindeerkeeper! If you'll excuse me ladies, I'm going another way, I don't think I belong here”

“And you think nothing of it, Sir Idiot! “Sir Hugh roared in the back of the retreating lean figure.

The old hunter tried in vain to catch his breath and recover. He was blushing more and more with each passing second.

“Sir, are you not feeling well? “Diana asked timidly.

“Mrs. P-Par... To hell with it! Camilla! “Sir Hugh exclaimed without opening his eyes.

“Yes, speak up!”

“Get Diana on the trail. You're one of the few people here I don't doubt. I'll catch up with you when I come to my senses.”

“And I've always told you not to shout like that at your age, kind Sir Hugh.”

“Damn you and my age! Go on! All the game will run away.”

Diana thought that the deafening screams might have made the game scatter. She wished she could see Charles again sooner, and be in the warmth. But Camilla, her cap pulled down over her forehead, pushed the girl confidently toward the woods, and Lady Spencer had no choice left.

They walked for about twenty minutes, making their way through the bushes and dead wood. It was a mystery to Diana how she could find her way in the middle of nowhere, and how she stayed on the trail. The girl's hands were already frozen and felt as if they were numb. Lady Spencer tucked them deep into her pockets and thought that if a wild beast came at them now, she would not even have time to remove the rifle from her back.

And Mrs. Parker-Bowles didn't seem to notice the cold or the wind. She skipped briskly over the fallen trunks of fir trees and whistled something patriotic to herself. How the woman always remained in good spirits, Diana did not understand. She herself would have liked to enjoy all the social activities Charles enjoyed so much, but she couldn't bring herself to pretend that she enjoyed wandering around in the dark, cold woods with a heavy gun to kill innocent animals.

Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, Diana noticed a small patch of light between the beeches. She stopped for a second and looked closely. There was definitely something moving nearby. The girl became frightened.

“Why have you stopped, Lady Spencer?“ Camilla asked in surprise when she saw that her companion had fallen behind her.

“Quiet, please! There is someone there.”

With a single movement of her gun on alert, Mrs Parker-Bowles approached Diana as silently as possible. Seeing at last what the girl was telling her, Camilla smiled broadly.

“My dear, you are a miracle! This is the doe Sir Hugh was talking about. Let's come closer and have a look.”

They walked slowly, without making any sudden movements, towards the clearing and lay down next to a fallen beech. The doe did not notice them. It was a beautiful graceful creature. It seemed to Diana to be a young animal. It ate quietly, not paying attention to anything.

Camilla smiled broadly and held out her loaded gun to Diana.

“Well, your chance, Sightseer.”

“What? No. No!" the girl protested, "I won't shoot.”

“Keep your voice down! Why not? Camilla asked in a whisper.

Diana hesitated. She did not want to look silly and say that she loved animals, and wild animals too, and thought it was wrong to kill them. It was a straightforward way to be ridiculed, so the girl tried to be sly:

“Sir Hugh will be upset. He was the first to see the trail.”

“What are you talking about, sweetheart, he'll kiss you if you bring him a doe! He's not greedy at all. Don't be silly and try a shot.”

“What if I miss? Because the doe will run away.”

“And let her run. We'll lie and say we haven't seen her.”

“But... I...”

“I see," said Camilla grimly, "Charles was right when he said you were a spineless brat, Lady Spencer.”

Only later did Diana realise that it was a bluff. At that moment, without thinking, she took the gun from Camilla and with shaking hands tried to take aim. More precisely, she tried to do her best to avoid hitting the doe and injuring the animal. She deliberately aimed as accurately as possible at the fallen spruce and pulled the trigger.

Perhaps her hand shook at the very last moment. Perhaps it was the cold wind that made the girl shake. The gun turned slightly, as if by itself, and Diana stabbed the doe with one precise blow.

The animal immediately fell to the ground. Around its head a bloody puddle had already formed, in which something was floating. The doe's eyes remained open. It did not seem to understand where death had come from. Something in the expression of those eyes made a terrible impression. It was as if the doe was asking 'Why did I die? What have I done? Whom have I disturbed?"

Camilla was jubilant. She threw her cap in the air and shouted:

“Hooray for Lady Robin Hood, the best hunter in the kingdom! Hooray! Good girl! Well done!”

Everything in front of Diana's eyes was blurred. She did not understand what was happening and where she was now. Why is the doe lying on the ground? She had just eaten. Will it get up now? This is just a game, isn't it? She was shooting at the tree, that's for sure.

Why isn't the animal moving? What...?

Mortally pale and shaking, Diana struggled to rise to her knees. Camilla wanted to ask what was wrong, but did not have time. The girl trembled even more and leaned over the ground. She was vomiting.

***

Camilla could explain nothing to Sir Hugh or Lord McFall when they finally reached the clearing and saw the dead doe and Diana, green with worry. They realised that the girl had hit the target the first time. Lord McFall even noted the accuracy of the shot: Diana hit right between the eyes.

But why Lady Spencer was sitting in a puddle of vomit was beyond their comprehension.

Concluding that the girl had simply eaten something wrong at breakfast, they began to think of the best way to get the doe to the common gathering place, and had Camilla not shouted to them, they would have been absorbed in their occupation for a long time to come.

“Help me get the girl out of the forest! “shouted Camilla," I can’t do it on my own, I have two guns.”

“Put the guns down, Mrs Parker-Bowles," said Lord Hugh, "let's leave them for Mr Hunter.”

Lord McFall was about to say something, but he thought back in time to continue his examination of the doe.

Lord Hugh grabbed Diana under one shoulder and Camilla under the other. Together they moved cautiously towards the tents. The girl was shaky. She shrieked and wailed incessantly. She was talking nonsense about having killed a living creature. Mrs. Parker-Bowles only whispered sympathetically, "It'll be all right," and kept walking forward.

After a few tedious minutes that seemed like hours, Camilla finally heard dogs barking and laughter. So they would soon reach the tents. And indeed a makeshift camp of three large tents in which ammunition and provisions were stored appeared in front of them. In the centre of the large sun-drenched clearing stood Prince Charles. In front of him stood a table with maps, and at his feet rested two partridges. His faithful friend, Harvey the Labrador, was circling him and barking.

“Hush, mate, hush," Charles whispered, "you're not...”

His gaze fell on the people coming out of the woods. He recognized Camilla and Sir Hugh at once, but it was hard for him to recognize his good friend Lady Diana Spencer in the figure hanging over their shoulders.

"And this is only our fifth meeting. What happens next?" “he thought and ran closer.

“What's that? Is she... drunk or something?” the prince said in a whisper.

“Help me," Camilla asked without ceremony or explanation.

“What?" asked Charles, still helplessly.

“Help me take her to the car. Can't you see she's not well? “Camilla barked.

“Is she crippled? “the prince was unsure. He did not see any blood stains on Diana's clothes. Maybe she fainted and smashed her head in?

“Your friend, Your Highness, will give you a head start on your shooting," Sir Hugh said proudly, "first time on a serious hunt, and she hits a doe without a miss!”

Diana groaned, and Camilla hissed for the restless shooting enthusiast to finally realise that the situation was not conducive to talking about hunting.

“Did Diana kill the doe? You mean a real one? “Charles was clearly discouraged. It made the few unfortunate partridges look pathetic.

The girl moaned again and began to lash out.

“No, you idiot, a toy! “Camilla couldn't take it anymore. “Don't just stand there!”

The two of them led Diana to the car park. Camilla had never been so happy to go hunting in her own car.

“Are you taking her to the hospital? “Charles clarified.

“Why does she need a hospital? She needs to get cleaned up and go to bed soon. She is exhausted.”

“So back to Highgrove? “the prince asked with obvious displeasure.

“And why are you looking so crooked?”

“My father is about to lecture me again about being a bad host and not being able to make sure that all the guests are happy. Look at her. The servants will be gossiping for a week about how we've been pandering to young aristocrats.”

“What an asshole you are, Fred! You’re only thinking about yourself," she said.

“Who else would I be thinking about? “I'm thinking about you, too, and I don't need anyone else.”

“What beautiful words for a future king.”

“Don't mock.”

Camilla glanced at the pale, dirty girl in the seat next to her. She felt so sorry for her that her eyes tingled. This was her first hunt, she should have shot herself and frightened the doe, not forced this girl to kill the animal. She stroked Diana's palm faintly and said:

“Here's the deal. If anyone asks for you, Diana and I have gone to Bolehyde. We'll be back tomorrow. We left because we got bored hunting...”

“Did you get bored on the hunt? “Charles asked, "You don't expect anyone to believe that, do you?”

“Say it in a way that makes them believe it. You're a prince, you'll have to lie for the rest of your life. It's better not to talk about Diana getting sick.”

“But Sir Hugh already knows.”

“Sir Hugh is only thinking about skinning the doe. He doesn't care about our difficulties.”

“Gladys, be honest, why can't you just leave her to the servants? You know I can't survive without you.”

“I'm altruistic, you know that. And you should get used to surviving without me, my darling.”

With these words, Camilla started the engine, waved at her former lover and drove off at full speed towards the family estate.

***

The road to Bolehyde was excellent. There were hardly any cars on the track. To Camilla's great relief, there were no obstacles or bumps either. Diana was still not feeling well. She had to stop twice because the vomiting didn't stop.

The girl was sitting in the passenger seat, pale and tear-stained, with a tear-stained face and red nose. Her clean clothes were all stained and her hair was wrinkled. Diana looked more like a beggar than a lady returning from a hunt.

Camilla kept repeating "Be patient, dear, we will soon be home," but the girl did not listen. The only thought running through her mind was 'I am a murderer'. She wanted to cry, but there were no tears left. Her chest ached and stung. Her fingers trembled and clutched frantically at her vomit-soaked jacket.

"I killed a living thing," Diana thought, and prayed that she would die now. She was ashamed, she felt bad, she thought she would never be able to redeem herself in her life.

At last the squat brick building appeared in the distance. Bolehyde was close at hand, and Camilla could not hide her joy. Desperately picking up speed, she sped up the driveway. If Andrew had been home, of course he would have come out to see such dashing in the old family car.

But he was, as always, in London.

As gently as possible, Camilla put her arm around Diana's waist and led her into the house. The girl hardly noticed anything. It seemed to her that they were back in Highgrove. In that state, she didn't care where she was: Highgrove, Boleheide, St. Helena, everything would be one solid mass of colour, pulsating before her eyes.

Mrs Parker-Bowles began unabashedly:

“Lady Spencer? Can you hear me?”

The girl was silent. “Your clothes are all dirty... And you yourself... Anyway, you need a bathroom.”

Diana heard the words, but didn't understand their meaning. What bathroom? What for?

“I'll take you and look for clothes. I'll wash this one, okay? Do you mind? Say something!”

Lady Spencer didn't understand at all why they were looking for clothes. Are they going somewhere? Do they need to change for dinner?

Taking the silence as a no-objection, Camilla led her guest into the interior of the house. As quickly as possible, she walked past the kitchen and the living room to the bathroom and opened the door. The room was small, but very bright and clean. Or maybe it only seemed small because of the huge bathroom, parted off by a curtain with tropical flowers.

“I'll draw a bath and leave. Lie down and rest, okay? I'll just leave my clothes and leave again. I won't get in the way. Do you understand?”

Diana only understood the word 'leave', and it frightened her. How so? Where would Mrs. Parker-Bowles go? Will she leave at all? And leave her alone in that bathroom? She'll do something to herself. She'll drown herself. She can't be alone with her thoughts!

“Don't! “Diana cried out weakly.

“Don't want to take a bath?”

“Don't go," the girl whispered and closed her eyes.

“Don't go?”

Diana shook her head.

“Are you... Are you afraid?”

Diana nodded and cried softly.

“I won't leave. I'll find some clothes and sit with you. Just don't cry. I don't like it when people cry.”

After pouring a full tub of bubble bath and adding oils to the water, Camilla was about to close the door and go looking for clothes, when suddenly Diana exclaimed again:

“Don't!”

“What?”

“The door... “

“Don't you want me to lock the door?”

Diana shook her head.

“Okay. Weird, of course, but okay. Look, I'll just close it up, see? It's not locked. I'll be right back.”

With quick steps the woman covered the distance from the bathroom to her room and pulled out some trousers and a blue jumper with flowers embroidered on it from the wardrobe.

Back in the bathroom, Camilla was surprised to find such complete silence. It was as if there was no one behind the curtain, so quiet was Diana. Not even a splash of water or breathing could be heard.

Putting the clothes next to the bath, Camilla, trying to give her voice as much confidence as possible, asked:

“Are you alive?”

The answer was a "uh-huh", which sounded as if it had come from underground. Camilla calmed down a little.

“I was beginning to think you had drowned yourself.”

It was only after she had said it that Camilla realised that the joke was not the most appropriate one for the situation. Diana sobbed quite childishly and began to cry silently. Even through the curtain you could see her shoulders trembling. Camilla wanted to come closer and at least caress the girl on the head, but realized that it would be too indecent for those who were not so familiar, so she just sat down on the floor by the bathroom, leaning back against the curtain, and said:

“Please forgive me, I didn't mean to upset you.”

“I'm not upset," Diane replied in a broken voice.

“Can I help you? “the woman asked again, but there was no answer.

Deciding it was no use trying to cheer up poor Lady Spencer any further, Camilla, having warned her that she would go into the drawing room, departed. She left the door ajar and asked Diana to come and sit by the fireplace after her bath. The girl said nothing again, though Camilla thought the silhouette behind the curtain flickered.

As she built the fireplace, Camilla thought about how strange Diana was acting. Yes, perhaps, if you think about it, hunting is not the most humane pastime. Of course, everyone who kills an animal for the first time experiences very strong emotions. But why be so nervous? What was the point of throwing such a tantrum? It is just a doe, a common prey, an animal that does not even have feelings. The woman couldn't imagine at all that she or any of her friends would cry if they had a lucky shot at a hunt. When Camilla was fifteen she jumped with delight the first time she returned from a hunt with a trophy. Apparently today's youth was becoming more and more delicate and sensitive. And this annoyed the woman greatly.

Looking at the clock, Camilla realised that Diana had been in the bathroom for an hour. This was unusual. Normally no one in the Parker-Bowles family spent more than half an hour in the bathroom, not even the children. Deciding to go see if the girl had done something to herself, Camilla walked briskly to the living room door and almost bumped into Diana when she opened it.

The clothes Mrs. Parker-Bowles had found looked comical on the girl, but cute at the same time. Diana had no idea how adorable she looked in Andrew's blue jumper, two sizes too big, and the white pleather trousers Camilla wore when she was home alone. She wore white socks on her feet, an amusing contrast to the black and gold of the man's house slippers. The girl trembled and clung to the wall, though by all

The forces tried to put a mundane expression on her face.

Camilla didn't know what to say. She wished she could have teased Diana to lighten the mood, but listening to her sob afterwards would have been undesirable. So, smiling as kindly as possible and putting her arm around Diana's shoulders, Mrs. Parker-Bowles led her close to the fireplace, by which there were two armchairs.

“You need to warm up," Camilla pronounced each word clearly, as if she were speaking not to the daughter of a British aristocrat but to a foreigner who did not understand a word of English.

Diana was silent and stared at one point. Her eyes were red, her nose was slightly swollen, and her lips were trembling. The girl was breaking her fingers so much that Camilla was afraid she was about to dislocate them.

Gently taking Diana's hands in hers, Mrs Parker-Bowles said just as clearly:

“Would you like to sit down?”

Lady Spencer looked at her with a confused look, as if she did not know what was wanted of her. Camilla took a deep breath and sat Diana down firmly, but without making any sudden movements.

“It's a new model," she smiled proudly, "we got it for our wedding anniversary. Would you like to see it?”

“To what? “Diana asked in a weak voice.

“Do you trust me?”

Diana shrugged her shoulders slowly and uncertainly. She was no longer aware of what was going on around her. Camilla only nodded and, leaning over the chair, pulled on some inconspicuous button. The back of the chair immediately reclined, making it look like a rocking chair.

The girl almost screamed in surprise at first, but when she quickly realised what had happened, she smiled a little.

Camilla did the same with her chair and, stretching her legs closer to the fire, she closed her eyes and stretched out blissfully:

“Do you like it? My dad loves holidaying here when he visits.”

Diana said nothing. She tried her best not to think about anything and to concentrate on the fire in the fireplace. She felt warm and comfortable. Immediately she stretched out her legs, hoping that it was not a breach of etiquette, and covered her eyes.

Camilla looked at the girl with satisfaction and concluded that she was beginning to calm down. Of course, crying all day long over a doe was madness. To consolidate her success, the woman asked in a sympathetic manner:

“Do you drink tea, dear?”

Diana, who was hovering in the clouds, did not hear and asked again.

“Would you like a cup of tea? We have real Indian tea. Not unlike these fakes.”

“Don't... probably," the girl replied. She couldn't say that she only drank coffee and that tea had made her nauseous since she was a child.

“Why not? Haven't you been hungry since this morning?”

“I don't know," was all Diana could say. Her throat was really dry.

“Would you like some coffee? “Camilla made one last attempt at hospitality. It was only after offering it that she realised that the only coffee in the house was an old instant coffee, last drunk by the builders who were replacing the roof. And that was six months ago.

Diana smiled gratefully and replied quietly:

“If it's not too much trouble.”

Camilla retired to the kitchen, praying that the coffee would not be spoiled. How can anyone drink coffee instead of tea? Instead of real Indian tea with spices, one had to look for cheap English coffee bought at the nearest shop. The woman certainly did not understand anything about the tastes of modern young girls. To Camilla's great relief she found a good coffee in the cupboard, which she had completely forgotten about. It seemed to have been brought here by her parents the last time they had been here. At least it was a coffee bean, not instant crap from a bag.

Quickly filling the cups and placing them on the tray, along with biscuits and a couple of chocolates, Camilla made it no worse than an experienced waitress in a few steps from the kitchen to the living room and was even able to gracefully open the door with one hand without dropping anything.

Diana sat on the edge of her chair with her head down. Her blond hair was falling over her face. One would have thought she had suddenly fallen asleep in that strange, uncomfortable position. Camilla put the tray on the table and tried to address the girl. The answer was silence. The woman asked something again. Silence again. Finally, the woman leaned over and gently diverted strands from Diana's face. Tears streamed down Lady Spencer's cheeks.

She seemed perfectly still and not even her breathing became laboured. However, she was crying again. Camilla was beginning to get a little annoyed by this, though she was undeniably sympathetic to Diana, though she didn't understand why she had to cry all day over a successful hunt.

The woman had no skill at all in comforting those who were crying. Especially those she had seen for the fifth time in her life. After all, what a vulgarity to be upset for so long. It was unseemly to throw tantrums in someone else's house.

However, Camilla felt sorry for Diana in her own way. Clearly Lady Spencer had too weak nerves and she is just a pampered child. She would grow up and understand that she should not be such a crybaby, but she was only nineteen. Camilla tried to remember how she herself had behaved at that age, and concluded that, though her temper was stronger, she was just as silly as Diana.

After stroking the girl on the head, Mrs Parker-Bowles returned to the kitchen. There she quickly picked up a bottle of good whisky (Andrew's favourite drink) and, summoning all her self-control, proceeded to the living room.

Diana was still staring at one point. Her eyes went glassy and looked like the porcelain eyes of a doll. The girl trembled slightly.

With confident movements, Camilla opened the whisky and, without saying a word, poured about fifty grams into Diana's cup and handed it to the girl. Lady Spencer almost dropped the drink on the floor. She looked questioningly at Camilla, but she only said:

“Drink up, dear, it will help you calm down.”

Diana sniffed incredulously, as if she thought the coffee was poisoned, and took a few sips. At the same second, she coughed and looked at the woman with wide eyes, surprised.

“Famous Grouse," smirked Camilla, "the best Scotch whisky according to Princess Margaret and my husband.”

Diana caught her breath and giggled. She was feeling a little nauseous. It was very difficult to understand what was happening now and where it was going. Most of all Lady Spencer wished she could just be in silence and at the same time she was afraid that being alone in a moment of such weakness would kill her. She would surely do something to herself if she were left alone, and at the same time the woman's company was unbearable. Camilla tried so hard to distract her, tried so hard, while Diana, on the contrary, wanted to remember the details of the hunt as thoroughly as possible. It seemed to her that only through full awareness could she come to harmony with herself.

It was as if Camilla understood her hesitation and said:

“It's getting late and you're exhausted, it shows. If you like, I can show you where the guest room is. You can sleep and rest. Do you understand?”

Diana nodded.

***

Camilla could not sleep. After pointing out to Diana where she could rest, and telling her that the master bedroom was not far away in case of emergency, she wanted to lie down and drift off to sleep. For the third hour, however, she tossed and turned on the bed and wondered how the girl was feeling now. What did she care about her? She was an ordinary spoiled child with a delicate soul. It was obvious that her parents had indulged her in everything, and that was why she had grown up to be such a sissy. And yet Camilla felt sorry for the girl. She looked so defenceless, so innocent, and the woman was in some way to blame for Diana's decision to shoot.

Why did she have to laugh at her? But there was nothing to be done.

Somehow, inexplicably, pity crept into Camilla's heart. Some terrible feeling of longing consumed her every time she remembered Diana's eyes. Could it simply be a nervous breakdown? Or some devious manipulation? Perhaps. But it looked too natural.

Finally Mrs Parker-Bowles couldn't stand it any longer and, cursing to herself, threw her dressing gown over her nightgown and proceeded to the guest room.

To the great surprise of the landlady, Diana did not turn out the light. She was lying on the bed with her arms crossed over her chest. She had not even taken off the clothes she was wearing in the evening. As she came closer, Camilla saw that Diana's eyes were red with tears again.

“Diana? “she called out in an unexpectedly timid voice.

“Yes? “The girl answered quietly, lifting up on her elbows.

“Are you awake? “Camilla asked, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

“I felt sick. I slept for a while... But then... I....... I was dreaming.... “the girl trembled and seemed to start crying again.

“Shh, just take it easy, OK? You're probably just cold, or you have high blood pressure from the coffee. Are you in some kind of pain?”

The girl shook her head and grabbed her throat as if she was choking and wanted to scratch it to get some air. There was painful agony on her face. Camilla thought this was what agony might look like and was frightened.

She touched Diana's forehead. The girl had a fever. Crimson spots appeared on her cheeks.

“I'll get the doctor.”

“Don't! “Lady Spencer pleaded, -Don't, please, it's just... I've had it before... I....”

The girl gasped.

"Poor kitten," Camilla thought pitifully, thinking that everything that was happening was caused by faulty parenting.

Taking Diana by the hand, Mrs Parker-Bowles said loudly: “Look into my eyes. Breathe deeply with me.”

She tried to say each word as clearly and slowly as possible. Diana grasped her palm and breathed obediently. There was a primal terror in the girl's eyes, as if Camilla were an ogre or a monster. However, after a few minutes the first symptoms of distress seemed to subside. She was breathing much more evenly, and slowly her spirits began to return.

Satisfied with her work, Camilla was about to let go of Diana's hand, when her gaze fell on something blue. A bruise was peeping out from under the long sleeve of the colourful jumper. She unceremoniously rolled the sleeve up and was horrified to see that Diana's right arm was covered with bruises all the way up to her elbow.

Camilla looked questioningly at her guest. The girl blushed and tried to withdraw her hand.

“ What.... “Mrs Parker-Bowles wanted to ask a question, but the words stuck inher throat.

“ I beg you not to tell anyone! “Diana pleaded," I... It's...”

“ How...”

Camilla couldn't understand how Diana's arm could have sustained so many bruises. Had she fallen while hunting? Yes, but not on her arm. And the bruise would have been one. Could it be that someone is beating her? Her father?

“Did you... I mean.... Did someone hit you?” Diana looked away and shook her head.

“You don't want to talk?”

“No.”

“But this could be serious. Is your dad hitting you? “

“I don't even live with him," Diana scowled.

“Then how... I'm sorry, I just... I don't understand. This is the first time I've seen.... I'm scared for you.”

Diana looked at the woman incredulously, as if wondering whether she could be trusted. Camilla was the Prince of Wales's best friend, and telling her the truth could mean goodbye to attending events with him. In case Mrs. Parker-Bowles could not be trusted, of course.

“You tell anyone Mrs Parker-Bowles? “Looking at Camilla questioningly, Lady Spencer asked.

“Hell, no! And let's address each other by name. We've grown closer this day, probably even closer than we would have liked. “

Diana almost laughed, but quickly recovered herself and started uncertainly: “It's easier for me...”

“I don't understand.”

“I need to finish my thought," the girl interrupted, "it's easier for me to deal with the pain. I mean... I mean, sometimes I feel so bad and it's so hard that it's easier for me to...”

“Hit myself? “Camilla's heart dropped. Had she guessed correctly? But that couldn't be. Who would want to hit themselves? Now Diana would smile and say something more intelligible.

But that didn't happen. Diana sighed and nodded. Her face contorted with a grimace of disgust and hatred. Camilla became frightened. Her first impulse was to run away, but leaving the girl in this condition was not an option. If she was beating herself, what else could she do to herself?

“But why? “Mrs. Parker-Bowles asked, and immediately pulled herself back. Did she need to know that?

“I was so scared today. I'm so... I... I killed a living thing. And I... I can't handle it. I'm in pain, and I wish I wasn't. I can't explain it.”

“So that you wouldn't be hurt, you bruised yourself? “Camilla was completely at a loss to understand anything.

“Something like that. It's just that my head is so messed up. I feel like I'm about to have a stroke. I keep thinking about....”

“I understand," Camilla interrupted. She didn't want Diana to worry too much.

“And when I... Well, when I…”

“I see.”

“I'm relieved. At least something makes sense?”

Camilla nodded, although she understood only a small part of it. The only thing that was obvious was that the girl needed help. It seemed that she could not do it alone.

“Do you want me to give you some ointment? To make it go faster? “the woman asked, struggling to get the words out. It was the first time she had encountered something so abnormal, so beyond her idea of how to deal with grief.

“You don't have to. Not now.”

They were silent for a while. Then Camilla took Diana's hand in hers again and asked.

“Do you want me to turn off the light?”

“Don't! “Diana's eyes rounded in fright.

“Why? Don't your eyes hurt?”

“I'm afraid of the dark," the girl said in a childish way.

Camilla tried with all her might not to laugh. It was so sweet and funny.

“Don't you think you're a little old for this? “The woman giggled. Diana just pursed her lips and turned away.

“Well, don't be offended. It doesn't suit you to frown. It'll give you wrinkles.”

There was silence again. The woman unconsciously stroked Diana's knuckles and finally said

“If you want to talk... I mean, if you need to talk and you're not in too much pain, I'm willing to listen.”

Diana looked at her incredulously. She thought she had already said more than she needed to. And yet the bitterness in her heart kept her going and she opened her mouth slightly and immediately bit her lip.

“I can swear to you that I won't tell anyone anything," Camilla said quite seriously.

“And even the prince?”

“I hope you don't think he and I have anything else to talk about," the woman grinned.

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

“Cheating is no good," was another childish saying that filled Camilla's heart with a strange tenderness for this lost yet ungrown girl.

After a brief pause, Diana said in a tone as if she were pronouncing a court verdict: “I am a murderer.

“Who told you that?”

“I killed a living thing.”

“So what follows? This is hunting. Living things are killed here all the time. “

“It was a doe.”

“It seems that way.”

“What if she had had children? “ Diana felt herself starting to cry again.

“We will never know. And even if we did, so what?”

“And I robbed the children of their mother. Like in Bambi. “

“What is it?”

“Cartoon.”

“I haven’t watched," Camilla admitted honestly. Her head was spinning. What children? What kind of living creatures? What cartoons? Why did Diana have so many strange ideas in her head?

“Haven't you ever been hunting?”

“No...”

“And they didn't take you hunting as a child?”

“I was taken once, but I fell off a horse and broke my arm. Then I never rode again. Camilla could barely keep from commenting that this was very much like Diana: finding adventures everywhere, but she held back.”

“Why, pray tell, did you come hunting yesterday? Did you realise that you would have to kill animals here?”

“I was invited by the Prince of Wales himself," Diana blushed slightly. Camilla almost rolled her eyes. Another fool.

“But you could have said no.”

“Dad wouldn't let that happen. And besides, I really hoped we wouldn't kill anyone. Most hunters always come back with nothing. Everyone usually just talks and... Well, I don't know.”

“Got it.” Camilla sighed. The poor child. Why did she have to come here.

“I can only console you by saying that no one will judge you. If you can, try to think about something else. It's not your fault. Did you aim at the doe on purpose?

“No!" cried Diana, "No! And that's the point! I didn't mean to kill!”

“That's all! “Camilla said soothingly, "If you didn't mean to kill, it doesn't count. Pretend it was me who killed the doe, if that makes you feel better. I was mocking you, so it's almost true. Without me, you never would have taken the shot. “

“I don't want to make excuses for myself. “You're weird, you know?”

Diana only shrugged her shoulders and stared into the void again. Realising what was needed urgently to change the subject of the conversation, Camilla asked smilingly: “You like Prince Charles, don't you?”

Diana blushed and squeezed her eyes shut, as if the woman had just revealed her worst-kept secret. Camilla only laughed.

“Well... Maybe just a little bit. I hardly know him, he's always so serious. But it's nice to be with him. “

“Pleasant? “Camilla jokingly interjected.

“Yes, when he's in a good mood. But now he's always so sad...”

Camilla laughed heartily. She thought she was going to fall to the floor laughing. Was Diana really in love with Charles?

“How long have you been in love with him? “Camilla laughed outright. At the same time, she wanted to distract Diana from her sad thoughts. She would rather be angry with her than try to hurt herself.

“That's enough! How can you like someone you've only seen a couple of times?

“You mean you don't like it?”

Diana only rolled her eyes.

“I don't like anyone at all," she scowled.

“How strict. Then why are you accepting all these invitations?”

The girl did not answer. Deep down she knew that she was trying to deceive and Camilla, and herself. Yes, the prince was handsome, clever, noble, but she felt so stupid and so ridiculous around him that she wanted to run away and hide as soon as possible.

“I don't know. I just don't want to let my dad down," Diane finally let out and turned dark.

“Does your father want you to get to know the prince?”

“I don't know what he wants, but I can't refuse him. He's always fighting. And so does Raine. “

Camilla did not elaborate on who Raine was, seeing the expression on Diana's face as she spat the name out. That seemed to be her stepmother's name.

“What do you want? “The woman suddenly asked, wondering why she would ask such a question.

“ Well..." Lady Spencer thought deeply. She hardly ever seriously considered what she liked, because it was as if everything had already been decided for her.

Camilla looked at Diana sympathetically. Now she reached into the girl's hair and pulled the strands away from her forehead. Lady Spencer's hair was soft and silky, and it felt very pleasant to touch.

“I'd probably like to dance more than anything else in my life," Diana said hesitantly.

“In the theatre?”

“They won't take me, I'm too tall.”

“Cabaret then? “Camilla laughed.

“For my father to disown me? No way.”

“I've never seen you dance," Mrs Parker-Bowles said absently, thinking she was saying it to herself.

“I move terribly, like a real elephant!”

“That's not true. But well, if dancing didn't work out, what else would you want to do?”

“I like children. I could work in a kindergarten all my life.”

Camilla did not say that an aristocrat should not spend her life wiping her children's noses, but decided to refrain from doing so.

“Well, that's very nice. Would you be queen if the prince asked you to marry him?”

The woman was still having fun. Diana almost took offence.

“No prince will ever propose to me, and I will never be queen!”

“What makes you so sure? “

“I'm stupid, I'm ugly, I'm not right in the head, I can't do anything on my own and generally I... I... I have... “

With these words, Diana suddenly burst into a torrent of tears. The pain she had accumulated during the day burst out. Her face twisted ugly, and her pale cheeks became bright red.

Camilla was mortified. She had no idea that a silly, meaningless joke could upset her so much. After all, she was just trying to make fun of Diana, why take everything so seriously?

However, she felt very sorry for the girl. She still did not understand anything of Lady Spencer's heartache, but she could see that she was very ill.

“Hush, hush, baby, forgive me, don't cry. Who told you that?”

Camilla wiped tears from Diana's cheeks with her palms.

“Everyone...”

“Who is everyone? “

“And my father, and Raine, even my grandmother. Everyone demands something from me, and I always do everything wrong. “

“What are you doing wrong, little angel?”

“For example, I couldn't even pass my exams. “

“Half the population of England can't pass them in and are fine with it. I hope you're not serious. Look at you, you're such a beautiful young lady. All the doors are open in front of you. You can do whatever you want in life.”

“Of course," Diana muttered, sniffing her nose, "I'll marry some boring landlord and he'll make me do things I don't want to do.”

“You don't have to. You could marry a young nobleman if you wanted to. You have a boyfriend.”

Diana shrugged and answered shyly: “No.”

“But you had, hadn’t you?”

“Never.”

Camilla was confused. She could not imagine not having a suitor at nineteen.

“And why? “the woman asked, as if she was talking to herself.

“I'm not pretty and there's absolutely nothing to talk to me about," Diana repeated and cried again.

Mrs. Parker-Bowles, during the whole conversation, was trying to understand how she felt about the girl. She could not understand why her self-esteem was so low, why she had to beat herself up if she felt bad, why she had to take everything people said for granted. At the same time, Diana seemed so timid, so defenseless. For some strange and seemingly incomprehensible reason, she wanted to be protected and supported. Although Lady Spencer's suffering seemed largely far-fetched and frivolous to Camilla, the suffering was real, and it needed to be addressed.

“Diana?”

“Yes? “said the girl, sobbing.

“Can I kiss you?”

Lady Spencer nodded, sighing and clearly not understanding what she was being asked.

Almost automatically, Camilla ran her fingers through Diana's hair. The girl opened her eyes and looked at her carefully. The woman leaned a little lower, as if trying to examine something, and carefully wiping her face from her tears, touched her lips to Diana's lips.

It was a perfectly innocent, childlike touch. Tender and fleeting. She even thought it was just a figment of her imagination. Because it was impossible. Why would Camilla need to kiss her? She was married, clearly not interested in such a relationship. Was this some kind of fantasy? Just a dream?

Camilla blushed and cursed at herself with all her might.

"Idiot! Lousy idiot! How am I going to look her in the eye now? How am I going to explain this to her? Tell her I don't know what came over me? Or that I've been carefully hiding my feelings? What the hell are my feelings?! I don't even like her."

Before Diana could open her mouth, Camilla ran out of the room. That night neither of them could sleep.

***

At eight o'clock in the morning, Diana walked uncertainly down to the living room. The house seemed deserted. She even began to think she was a ghost.

At last there was a clattering of dishes and a strange crackling sound from the kitchen. Calmly, the girl took a deep breath as if she wanted to dive into deep water and, knocking, opened the door timidly.

To her surprise, Mrs Parker-Bowles greeted her with a kindly smile and offered to have breakfast with her. However, the woman's hands were shaking slightly and there were small knife cuts visible on them. Diana obediently sat down and tried to concentrate all her attention on the oatmeal and omelette, though she knew it was useless. She could feel her face and ears burning and her teeth chattering. Camilla couldn't help but see it. Although the woman herself was not in the best of health. Even Mrs Parker-Bowles' neck had turned white. She tried to convince herself that there was nothing wrong, that it was an accident, a small mistake, but it was getting harder and harder.

"I don't love her. It's obvious. She doesn't love me. It's even more obvious, because she hardly knows me. It was an accident. And even if it wasn't? The usual friendly goodbye. But we are not friends. And we will never be friends. What a fool I am!" “Camilla thought, twirling the teaspoon in her hands.

Finally Mrs Parker-Bowles could not stand the silence and broke it.

“Forgive me.”

“I don't understand..." Diana began, but was struck down by the woman's gaze.

“You understand perfectly well, stop pretending.”

“I... I have nothing to forgive you for, Mrs. Parker-Bowles," Diana said feelingly.

“Of course you are. Of course," Camilla muttered, raising an eyebrow questioningly, "and I thought I told you to call me by my first name.”

“I thought I was only allowed to do that yesterday.”

“You thought wrong.”

They were silent again.

“I was very pleased. I mean such concern. It's the first time I've seen that," Diana began, but Camilla interrupted her at once.

“It's obvious you've never seen real care in your life.”

“Maybe," Lady Spencer sighed, "and still, thank you! That's more than anyone has ever done for me.”

“How unlucky for you. Ease my suffering.”

“What?”

“Answer a question: have you kissed anyone yet? “Camilla blushed slightly. Deep in her heart she hoped that Diana would say that she had kissed a boy and that it had been a long time ago. Maybe that would make the woman feel better? But the girl answered simply:

“No, never.”

“Why is that? “Mrs. Parker-Bowles asked muffled, turning to herself.

“All boys are so stupid. I don't understand them at all. They're always talking about such nonsense and they want to kiss all the time. It really scares me," Diana admitted honestly.

It was all so innocent that Camilla's heart clenched involuntarily. The girl was either a saint or a madwoman. How could she get to nineteen without kissing someone?

“Why aren't you afraid now?”

“Because it feels really good.”

Mrs Parker-Bowles had absolutely no idea what to reply to this.

“Well, now you and I both know a terrible secret about each other. I suggest we promise to take them to the grave with us and be good friends. I'm sorry for my behaviour. I don't know what came over me.”

Diana wanted more than anything to say that there was nothing to forgive, and that there was nothing shameful or wrong about it. After all, all girls kiss on the cheek all the time. However, she herself was aware of how lame that would sound. Diana felt that it was much more complicated and deeper than that. Camilla was hardly in love with her, after all they were not in some kind of love affair. But she liked her, or at least was sympathetic to her. Although there could be no reason for that. She is stupid, ugly, crying all the time.

Camilla, on the other hand, was thinking about how to get the smell of Diana's perfume and the thought of her soft lips out of her head.

"And the mother of two children is doing it. It's just a molestation.”

“Have you been told that you are a very kind person? “Camilla asked.

“Sometimes they say. “

“Only a kind person could care so much about an animal. I'm sorry if I offended you yesterday. I didn't mean to.”

“I'm not offended!”

“We'll have to go back. They're probably expecting us back by now. Tell them you're not feeling well. Stephen will take you to London.”

Diana wanted to get a word in, but she couldn't.

“Your clothes are in the bathroom. If, in case...”

“Wait!" the girl exclaimed.

“Yes?”

“I should say thank you.”

With these words, she moved closer to Camilla and hugged her tightly.

Such a display of affection was unexpected for a woman. No one in her circle had ever been so vulgar. Though she could hardly speak of vulgarity or propriety now. Giving in to her desire, Camilla gently nudged the girl around the waist.

“Do you have my phone number? “the woman asked.

“No.”

“Write it down. Be sure to call me when you get home. Okay?”

“Yeah. Maybe I should give you my number.”

“Of course.

After exchanging phone numbers and completing their preparations, they quickly jumped into the car and drove back to Highgrove at full speed.

***

Prince Charles was in a state of distress. Not only had Camilla gone home, leaving him alone, but she hadn't even picked up the phone. Of course, there were many guests and that alone would have distracted anyone from their gloomy thoughts, but Charles ate poorly, took no part in the conversation and only perked up when he saw Camilla's car from the dining-room windows and then her herself.

He was as excited as a child and almost rushed to greet her, but he remembered that they were not alone. And indeed, the guests looked curiously at Camilla and Diana as they entered the dining room. The woman took a seat between the two ladies and, apologizing for being late, instantly joined in with some talk about horse racing. She did it so quickly and naturally, as if she had only been away for five minutes.

Diana, on the other hand, was nestled in front of Camilla next to Sir Hugh, who immediately kissed her hand and called her the best hunter in the county. The girl began to feel queasy again. The pain that had set her back felt like a huge wave that clutched at her heart. Her throat tingled unpleasantly. When Sir Hugh began to bemoan the fact that Diana had not tasted the venison she had provided for the court, Lady Spencer felt a tear run down her cheek.

“I tell you, my dear, they are all mad," her neighbour whispered to Camilla, "and her mother was just the same. You'll see, she'll show you what she's capable of. Look, she's crying again. Who in their right mind would...”

“Shut up," Camilla muttered, looking at Diana and wondering what had happened to her again.

“Excuse me? “the lady marvelled.

“You don't understand anything.”

“Do you mean to say that you understand at least something?”

More than anything, Camilla wanted to be rude and then have a smoke. But she couldn't spoil Charles's welcome, so she pretended that nothing had just happened, putting as much serenity on her face as she could. But she still looked at Diana and wondered how she could put her out of her misery.

Finally everyone stood up and Diana, after apologising to Prince Charles no fewer than three times in a row, went outside with a small brown suitcase in her hands. Camilla followed as discreetly as possible.

“Will you call? “the woman asked.

“Yes.”

“You're upset again.”

“It's not even a question.”

“I'm not asking, I'm asserting.”

“Not much at all.”

“It's not your fault.”

“Yes.”

“Do you understand that?”

“I guess...”

“No one here understands anything. “

“Then we're great company," Diana grinned, "I haven't understood anything for a long time.”

“Yes," the woman said.

Diana turned around one last time and waved a little goodbye to Camilla. The woman smiled and saluted with an invisible hat. The smile disappeared from Mrs. Parker”Bowles' face only when the car finally disappeared from view.

***

For Camilla, the next week was nothing short of a feverish delirium. She was dizzy, constantly wondering if Diana was hurting herself while she was living in London, and she couldn't even speak to anyone properly. The only exception was the children who had returned from their grandparents, but even playing with them she wondered how Diana felt.

What at first seemed to her to be some kind of obsession grew into an obsession. So when she picked up the phone on Friday night and heard the girl's voice, she thought it was just a dream or a hallucination.

“Do you hear me? “shouted Diana.

“Yes..." said Camilla, asking herself whether it was true or not.

“I've already said hello to you five times.”

“Is that so? Then hello, hello, bonjour, buenos días... Ah, shit, I can't think of a fifth.”

“You're funny," chuckled Diana, "and can you answer in all these languages if you're busy on Sunday?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Would you like to meet?”

“What makes you think I'm going to London, leaving everything behind? “

Diana was surprised to hear Camilla's sneer.

“No, I don't think so, it's just... OK, sorry, bye”.

“Wait!" the woman snapped, trying to hide her emotions.

“Yes?”

“You can count yourself lucky. My sister and I are going to London on Sunday. I can stay until Tuesday. Will that suit you?”

“Of course! Don't you want to go to Hyde Park? We could go for a boat ride.”

"What cheap romantic nonsense," thought Camilla, rubbing her temples. What kind of boats were there at her age? Even at nineteen, she'd never been on one with anyone, because she thought the pastime smacked too much of tabloid romance. But then again, it wouldn't do her any harm. Besides, it was worth seeing if boating was so disgusting.

“Okay. Where shall we meet? “she said at last.

***

It was a fine Sunday rain and Hyde Park was much less crowded than usual. Diana, smiling modestly, held Camilla's hand, and the woman looked around now and then, afraid that someone she knew might recognize her. Suddenly she intercepted the girl's arm in one motion and rolled up her sleeve. The skin was clean and smooth. No sign of a beating.

“Do you really think I'm going to beat myself up? “Diana asked reproachfully.

“I don't know about that. I was just worried," Camilla blurted out and immediately regretted it.

“So you were worried," Lady Spencer said in a low voice.

“Just a little bit.”

“Camilla?”

“Yes?”

Their gazes met and, pulling a strand of thick hair away from Mrs Parker-Bowles' forehead, Diana asked:

“Can I kiss you?”

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