A/N: Hi all, this is just a little something I have been planning on and off for a long long time, and now that I have found time to get the ball rolling and write and share the first chapter, I hope that you all enjoy it. Please keep in mind that it includes Rupert, and that its just fiction so please be kind if leaving a review.

Also Blessings update, I did write the next chapter but when I read it through I didn't like it so I'm re-doing it. I apologise it's taking so long, but as soon as it's done it will be posted. I just wanted to let you know I haven't forgotten about it :) thank you!

Any support, reviews, follows or favourites on this story, like all of my stories, is and always will be appreciated :) thank you all in advance.

x-X-x-X-x

Friday 12th September 1958.

"You didn't have to walk me home, you know? I could have walked on my own." Clarisse smiled at the man walking beside her.

"At this time of night? Never!" He exclaimed, making her laugh.

"I have done it many nights over the years you know?" she teased, but had to admit to herself she loved how protective he was of her. "Or I could have had one of the palace guards come pick me up."

"I know, but honestly though I really didn't mind. Besides, it would give me a chance to talk to you about something." He said, looking into the darkness ahead. "I can't believe that this time tomorrow you will be a married woman, and your life would be changing."

"I know, I can't believe it either. And even though my life will be changing, I won't forget where I came from, or you and your sister. You are both like family to me, I could never forget you, or your parents." She smiled while linking arms with him.

"I hope that you don't ever forget us." He said, a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Is everything alright?" Clarisse asked while placing her hand up onto his upper arm.

After a few more steps he stopped and turned to face her, seeing her smile he smiled too. "Dance with me?"

"Ok," she smiled and the both of them stepped closer to each other.

After a moment of swaying slowly together, he finally whispered. "I don't want this moment to ever end."

Lifting her head, Clarisse looked into his eyes and smiled. "Pardon?" She asked and watched as he shook his head.

"I can't do this anymore, Clarisse I need to talk to you about something important." He said while stepping back.

"What's the matter?" She asked and watched as he began pacing a moment before stopping and turning back to her while placing his hands on his hips.

"Don't marry Rupert, Clarisse. He's a cheat and will only break your heart!"

Staring across at him, his words replaying over and over in her mind. She couldn't believe what she had heard, or that they had come from his mouth. They had been best friends since school, she saw him as family, trusted him with her life and at a time when she needed him, needed his support he was telling her not to marry the man that tomorrow would become her husband, the man that she loved.

Closing her eyes, she covered her face with her hands and let out a frustrated sigh.

"He's a cheat, he will break your heart Clarisse, please I beg you don't marry him tomorrow."

Suddenly feeling his hands on her upper arms she opened her eyes and shook her head, trying to pull herself away. "How dare you," she exclaimed, turning sideways as tears filled her eyes. "What gives you the right to tell me not to marry the man that I love!"

"I'm trying to protect you, you're my best friend and I don't want to see you left heartbroken." He answered.

"Yes, you are meant to be my best friend but all I see is you trying to sabotage my happiness." Shaking her head she looked away for a moment "You are only doing this because you can't have me."

Lowering his arms, he stepped back "what?" He asked, surprised.

Turning her head, she looked at him and quickly wiped away her tears. "Your sister told me how you feel about me."

"I see," he simply answered and looked down between them as she slowly turned back to him.

"Joseph, you are my best friend, you have been my best friend since we were little, I do love you, yes. But not in a romantic way, I love you as a friend. And if you thought begging me not to marry Rupert tomorrow and telling me a lie would,"

"It's not a lie, Clarisse. Please you have to listen to me!" He interrupted.

"Alright, what proof do you have of his apparent cheating?" She asked and folded her arms.

"Well I don't have any proof, but I did see him with my own eyes, and to me that's proof enough." He answered, looking into her eyes as she continued to stare at him.

"Who with?" She asked, still staring at him.

"Clarisse, please don't do this to yourself." He said, stepping closer only to watch her step back away from him.

"I'm not doing this to myself, you are doing it to me. You are the one standing in front of me telling me my future husband is cheating. Now tell me who with?"

Shaking his head, he looked down a moment and slowly said a name while looking back up at her. "Sofia."

"I don't believe you!" She snapped.

"It's the truth, They've been seeing each other for months behind your back," seeing her shaking her head, he stopped.

"If you thought that was going to stop me from marrying him then you were very mistaken." She answered coldly and turned to walk away.

"Clarisse, please don't walk away. You have to listen to me!" He exclaimed while hurrying to stand in front of her, to stop her from walking away.

Stopping, she stepped back and stared at him a moment in disbelief "I don't know what's got into you. But can you please move out of the way so I can go home."

"Not until you listen to me, what I'm telling you is not lies Clarisse. It's the truth! And yes, alright I do love you, that's the truth too but I'm not telling you this because I want to be with you, I mean I do but I know that wouldn't happen, but I wouldn't do this to you if I weren't telling the truth. You should know that." He exclaimed "have I ever lied to you before?" He asked "do you really think I would ruin our friendship with a lie?"

"If you can't have me then you might, now please will you move out of the way so I can leave." She said, staring at him as he stepped aside and looked down at the floor. Shaking her head she began walking away as he watched. But after several steps, she stopped and turned back to him. "I ask of you not to come to my wedding tomorrow, I don't want you anywhere near it, or me ever again." She snapped.

"Clarisse, don't do this please." He said softly.

"Stay away from me!" She said and began walking away.

"I'm sorry!" He called after her, but still she walked away and watching her disappear into the darkness, his heart broke.

x-x-x

Tying the sash of his robe after having a bath, Rupert made his way into his suite to find Clarisse stood in the middle of the room, her hands together in front of her.

"Clarisse, what are you doing here? I thought you were out with Joseph and Victoria tonight?" He asked, walking over to her.

"I was, but that ended a while ago." She answered, placing her hands on his sides as he stepped in front of her.

"Is everything alright?" He asked, looking into her eyes as she stared up at him.

"Tomorrow we become husband and wife, and I want you to know that I love you with all my heart," seeing him smile, she smiled and slowly placed her hands on his chest while averting his gaze down "but I need to know something."

"What is it?" He said, looking into her eyes as she looked back up at him "you can ask me anything you want, you know that." He said softly while placing his hands up onto hers resting on his chest.

"Well, it's public knowledge about your fathers infidelity and I just wondered if, if,"

"If I would do the same to you?" He asked and watched as she nodded while looking down at her hand. "Clarisse, my darling," he began while wrapping his arms around her as she looked back up at him "tomorrow we will become husband and wife, and you really have nothing to worry about. I am not my father, I would, no actually, I could never do that to you." He said while taking her hand and bringing it up to his lips, where he kissed the palm of her hand. "Has something happened for you to ask me this?" He asked, wrapping his arm back around her waist.

Hesitating she shook her head "No, I was just worried that you would do it to me." She said.

"Well you have no need, I'm a one woman man and nothing at all like my father." He said and kissed her forehead as she put her arms up, wrapping them around his shoulders. "I have loved you from the first moment I saw you, and I will love you for the rest of my life. I promise." He said softly while looking into her eyes.

"Thank you, I will love you for the rest of my life too." She said, giving him a small smile before watching him lower his head. Pressing his lips to hers, she closed her eyes and let it linger a moment before he pulled back to stare into her eyes. "I should probably go." But with that, as both of their hearts began beating faster he scooped her up into his arms and carried her through to the bedroom as she buried her face in the crook of his neck while wrapping her arm around his shoulder, placing her hand on the back of his head.