She was stirring aggressively.

Spots of batter were everywhere and her gown from earlier had been tossed with flour and nearly ruined. Now in her chemise and bodice, she didn't care if the choux dough wrecked her least favorite skirt. She felt like destroying something anyway.

She banged about to find a piping bag and finally discovered it.

The choux laid out in little balls on the parchment paper, she set them aside and took the first tray of shortbread cookies from the wood fired oven.

She removed them from the metal sheet and arranged them on a platter to cool. Alongside a large Mohnkuchen, and two dozen petit fours. At least her energy could be used as fuel for something creative. She'd have to start gifting these to the staff as thanks for all their hard work.

She turned to the chocolate whipped cream she was making. Whipping it would take a half hour at least, but she felt she could go longer than that. Perhaps it would actually make her tired.

"Chammielle?"

She looked to the door and there was Will. He spied the table spread with desserts and had a small smirk on his face.

"Oh...how long have I been here?"

"The banquet is over until tomorrow."

He came over and leaned against the countertop, his arms crossed over his chest and a smile playing about his lips.

"I went to our room and didn't find you."

She sighed but put her frustration into whipping the cream and cacao all together with copious amounts of sugar.

"I don't feel like sleeping."

"I can see. What did Lord Godfrey have to say?"

She chewed at her lip and considered sharing his disgusting words with him.

"They discovered another spy. They claim they work for Ammorettallia, but he doesn't believe them. It's almost like they are a plant. If someone is trying to turn all the attention on her, then it leads me to believe someone else more powerful has infiltrated the palace."

William frowned at that.

"Then I'm glad he's on our side. Though I don't care for how he looks at you."

She wiped at her sweat with a cacao smeared hand and kept whisking.

She felt his eyes on her and she glanced up.

"What?"

He came around and stood behind her, his fingertips resting on either side of the counter around her.

"I believe we've been here before, my dear."

The night she'd made whiskey bon bons came to mind though she guessed that was what he was referring to.

"You know I don't remember it..."

"You had chocolate on your face then as well. A very tantalizing temptress..."

He pulled her loose hair off her neck and swung it over her shoulder. His lips came in contact with the space between her shoulders.

"You...are incorrigible."

"Nonsense, I warned you then. If you do not want me to kiss these beautiful things then you ought to wear more clothes when alone in the kitchen. You didn't listen..."

His fingers pulled at the back of her thin gown and dragged it lower to the top of edge of her bodice. There he placed several kisses.

"Will..."

"This is your punishment for not following my advice."

She tried to turn and confront him about having the decency to do such things in a bedroom, but he pressed into her. His hand moved to her right hip and gripped her, her upper body bent over the counter and he slid the bowl away from her.

"Will!"

"No one is around."

The Prince was doing whatever he wanted it seemed. His kisses littered her upper back and shoulders, and warm sensations flowed through her. His fingers gripped a particularly sensitive spot and she flung her hands over her mouth.

"Here, hmm?"

His voice was so deep and Bram's lusty face came to her mind. Her heart stopped.

"Will...please...not now."

He sighed into her back and she shivered. His arms wrapped around her waist and he buried his face in her hair by her neck.

"What's wrong? You can tell me?"

She really couldn't. Her childhood nightmare had grown up and was stealing her moments with her husband with memories of his sensual advanced and words. He was a blaggard and a fiend. She hated him.

But she also needed him.

"I'm sorry...let me just clean this up and we can go to bed."

He released her but slid his hand down her arm to gather up her fingers.

"You don't have to clean anything. I'll tell Belladonna to bring one of the night staff in."

She shook her head at that and looked towards the oven.

"Alright then, tell me what to do. Can I put something into the oven? Whip that cream for you?"

She smirked at him.

"You must be joking."

"No, no. My wife has a project she wants to finish, and I shall help her."

He moved to the bowl of chocolate cream and began beating it.

Sloppily.

"Here, you want to make decisive and quick motions without spilling too much. And then keep at it until it forms stiff peaks."

She showed him her technique and then handed it over.

He began again and it was better. Satisfied, she left him to it and went to attend to the choux. It had sat out long enough and needed to get into the oven.

She placed the tray inside and closed the cast iron door with a hook.

Will was working very hard on that cream, with intense concentration on his face. She grabbed a plate and dished up a piece of the Mohnkuchen as well as a selection of the other sweets she'd made.

"You're getting good at that."

He smirked through his concentration.

"These short movements are difficult, but not too far off from sword drills in some respects."

He opened his mouth to say something else and she slipped a petit four in.

His eyes went wide and he paused.

"This...is delicious...you made this?"

She nodded and hopped up onto the counter and kicked her toes out in front of her.

"This too."

Chammielle popped a shortbread into his mouth and he grinned around it.

"Cardamom..."

She took a fork and took a bite of the Mohnkuchen as he chewed.

"What's that?"

"You've never had poppyseed cake before?"

He shook his head and when his lips came back around she filled them with a bite.

His eyes seemed dazzled.

"Now that is excellent. However did you become so talented?"

She giggled at his enamoured face. He really must be in love with her. The why eluded her, but it felt good. She blushed.

"My mother was a baker's daughter, and for the first three years of my life I lived with my grandfather. It's a family bakery, and I suppose it's always been in me to feel comfort around the smell of flour and eggs and butter. My father would still take me to visit him, let me stay with him for a whole day even. I learned all sorts of recipes, and whenever Lord Kuchen goes to a new country he returns with some new recipe for me."

"Where is he now, your grandfather?"

"He isn't well. The bakery has been closed for a month and the landlord is considering giving the space to another bakery. He's nearly seventy and has no heir to take over for him."

She hopped down from the counter and went to the oven. The choux pastry was done and needed to be removed. She set them aside to cool. Once Will was finished with the chocolate cream they could fill them.

"What is the name of your grandfather's bakery?"

"The Little Jewel Box. My great great grandmother started it by making jelly biscuits. They are a shortbread you put your thumb into the middle to make a divot and then fill it with a bright and clear jelly. When baked they look like jewels. Very popular in Kuchen."

He nodded and stole another bite of the Mohnkuchen before continuing the hand beating.

"Will...what was your father like?"

He smiled, not stopping.

"He was a very affectionate man. I was jealous when my sisters were born, Violet got a pony at three years old and I'd thought he loved her more than me. He couldn't stand to see me pout and invited me into his office for the first time. I played on the rug with him the first day, the second he had reports coming to him and I decided I wanted to do what he was doing. Finally he asked me if I remembered the pony he'd got me when I was as young as Violet. It suddenly dawned on me he loved us equally."

He paused and showed her the bowl of cream. It was very firmly whipped and he'd done it in such a short time.

"I wish I could have met him. He sounds a lot like you."

Those steely eyes captured hers and her lips were stolen in an instant. His hand came up and cupped her face, and his thumb ran along her jaw. Her lips parted at the surprise kiss and his tongue delved into her.

And then he pulled back, his eyes darker.

"I wish he could have met you..."

She cleared her throat and couldn't help the blush that ran over her cheeks.

"Well...I mean...he was a king...and I'd be...kinda nervous..."

Will chuckled and leaned in.

"Next year I will be King. Will that luscious tongue of yours become tied for me?"

She shrieked as he left the bowl and lifted her into his arms. Grabbing her about her thighs and sitting her on the countertop. His torso between her knees, he pressed himself up and into her. His lips teasing her with an almost kiss.

"Will..."

"Say it again. Say my name again."

"Will-"

And then her mouth was his.

She wrapped her arms about his neck and shoulders and felt the beating of his heart in her own breast. He chewed on her lip and she gasped, giving him entry. His hands traveled up her legs to her hips and to her waist. It was such an overwhelming sensation she shivered and felt herself pulling towards him.

"Chammielle..."

His lips went to her neck and then he'd shoulder. Then her chest.

"Will..."

Her skirts were riding up again and she felt the air on her thighs. His hands froze in place as they gripped her behind the knees. Then lightly slid up her thigh."

"Will!"

He stopped and pulled back and she thought she would not be able to draw breath properly.

"Why did you stop?"

He smirked at her, his resolve on his face though the strain could be seen in his jaw.

"How many children do you want?"

Her face went pale and she heard him chuckle.

"That's what I thought."

She whimpered and his eyes narrowed even as they turned darker.

"Don't do that...I won't be able to stop..."

His fingertips came up and played with her parted lips. They were so soft and she kissed them. He stepped back and she couldn't help but pout.

"You don't want children right now. When you begin to consider such things, I will give myself to you unreservedly."

"This feels like blackmail, Will."

He chuckled and gripped the counter top, leaning towards it though he stood back.

"Believe me, I feel it. I don't think I'm so persuasive that we will resolve this soon... So, if you'll excuse me, I need to pour a pitcher of cold water over myself."

He stopped and helped her down, kissing her warmly on the forehead before exiting the kitchen.

She stood in a daze a moment. Her fingers to her lips and considered what it would take to hold onto these feelings. To prolong their passionate embraces and kisses without sending either of them over the edge.

It seemed impossible.

"Well, well..."

A cold chill went down her spine and she spun.

"Forgive me, I came bearing more news, but I may have intruded on that moment you two were having... Such a sorry estate of affairs the Prince must chill himself to be around you..."

Bram was standing in a corner. How long he'd been there was anyone's guess, but she felt infuriated that he'd overheard them. Maybe even saw them.

"How did you get in here?"

"Sliding panel in the cupboard. He is showing immense restraint with you. I can't say I'd be able to withhold myself if you made such eyes and noises for me."

"I won't whore myself to you, Godfrey. What news do you bring?"

He chuckled and she stood her ground as he walked up to her. One large and pale finger came up and dusted the cacao from her cheek.

"We've caught another spy. This one I believe."

"Ammorettallia's?"

"Yes...problem is they have no knowledge of the spy we caught earlier. We left the two of them alone for a few minutes and heard a scream. When we returned to the two cells Lady Aconia's spy was dead."

"They were in separate dungeon cells?"

He nodded, then smirked.

"Your highness, I believe a chemise is meant to cover a little more than this unless you're offering something."

She glanced down and realized her cleavage was almost entirely on display. Her hands flew to the tie and pulled at it. Will must have pulled it undone when he'd kissed her back and shoulders. She was having difficulty untying the strangled little knot he'd left.

"Allow me..."

Her hands were brushed to the side and she could say nothing as his fingers worked lightly with the ribbon. Unknotting it with ease and pulling the collar tighter. Then he tied a simple bow, all without touching her.

"Don't do that again."

She bit her cheek and stared off to the side. Why couldn't she stomp on his foot or something?

"Very well. I have every intention of doing it in reverse next time I have opportunity to, anyway."

He stepped back and she glared at him. She wanted to scream.

"You do have such magnificent eyes, Chammielle... I'll see who else I can find for you to turn your wrath upon them."

He turned and she felt like she needed to say something.

"I have no wrath."

He stopped but did not face her, and his deep laughter filled the kitchen.

"Oh, but you do. And it is marvelous to behold. I can almost taste the bloodlust in the air around you. A marvelous Queen you shall be."

And then he was gone.

She whisked the chocolate cream vigorously once more.