Part 2
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"Pierre, how good to see you again!"
Once again, they were outside greeting a member of the royal family, this time Prince Pierre. His car had arrived and Queen Clarisse had immediately pulled her son into her arms. The prince met his niece rather awkwardly, remarking at how much she resembled her father, and then hugged Helen, whom he had liked immensely when Philippe had unsuccessfully brought her home to meet the family. Then he shook hands and bumped shoulders with Joseph. Now he turned to Charlotte, who stood off to the side, not wanting to intrude upon the family moment.
"You look lovely as always, Charlotte," he said, smiling at her.
She blushed but smiled back, replying, "You look rather hot yourself, Your Highness." Princess Mia gasped, but Pierre merely raised an eyebrow expectantly. "So many clothes, Pierre, you must be burning up; you've got some sweat on your forehead." Charlotte reached up to wipe it away and he laughed.
"Come here, you," he smiled, giving her a hug. "I've missed you, Char."
"I missed you too."
They hugged rather longer than propriety dictated, but he finally pulled back reluctantly. "Now, Mother, when's supper? I'm starved."
--
Supper was long over and the palace was quiet again. Mia and her mother had retreated to their rooms, jet lag responsible for their weariness. Prince Pierre was in the library with his mother, chatting, while her two favorite employees occupied themselves somewhere else.
"Pierre, it is nice to have you home in the summer, rather than just at Christmas," Clarisse remarked, lovingly smoothing his hair.
"I really don't like leaving my parish for so long, but it's wonderful to be home again, and I did want to meet my only niece…"
"Do you think she'll make a good queen, Pierre?" was the response from the Queen after a few moments.
Her son took a while to answer. "She still needs lessons, and will probably use your help for a while after her coronation, but I think Mia will make a very fine queen. She'll make Philippe proud."
"That's a relief."
They sat in companionable silence for a while until the opening of the door created a diversion. Her Majesty's faithful aide stepped in, book in hand, and looked startled at disturbing the royals.
"Oh, Your Majesty, Prince Pierre, I'm so sorry!" Charlotte started, about to turn around and leave, but Clarisse gestured for her to come in.
"Working through the Austen again, Charlotte?" she said, smiling as the younger woman returned the well-worn novel to its shelf. "Sense and Sensibility was always my favorite."
"I still prefer Pride and Prejudice, Your Majesty."
"Because of Colin Firth." Prince Pierre's joke was a comment, not a question.
Charlotte blushed and turned to leave, but Clarisse called her back again. "No, Charlotte, stay here and entertain Pierre. Mia exhausts me—I'd like to go to bed."
"Of course, Your Majesty," her aide replied, moving over to the sitting area and the Prince.
"Good night, love." Clarisse kissed her son and patted Charlotte on the shoulder and left, shutting the library door behind her.
"Good evening, Your Highness," Charlotte said, sitting down on the opposite end of the sofa from Pierre.
"Hi," he said, moving over to sit next to her. Their thighs pressed together tightly.
"How long has it been?" she asked, turning so she was facing, and slightly on top of, him.
"Almost six months," Pierre replied, resting his hands on her waist.
Charlotte pushed herself against him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I missed you."
"You're horribly redundant, darling," he said before kissing her firmly.
--
Meanwhile, outside the library, Queen Clarisse had unexpectedly run into her Head of Security. "Oh, Joseph!" she exclaimed, "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you, Your Majesty," he said as he suavely gripped her shoulder and pulled her close. "I haven't seen you for three weeks and I find myself much more amused in the company of the Queen than the Princess."
"Oh, Joseph," she chuckled, cupping his cheek as her other hand moved to his chest, "I have missed you."
"And I you, Your Majesty—Clarisse." Then he opened the library door and they slipped in, ready to finally greet each other properly, away from prying eyes, but she pulled away with a panicked look on her face. Joseph's eyes immediately shot to the couch and its two occupants, who luckily too busy to take notice of the other couple. Clarisse's jaw dropped as she realized what, exactly, her son and her aide were doing. Joseph thankfully kept his head and pulled her out the door and back into the hallway, where her eyes slowly met his.
"Pierre… and Charlotte?" she stammered. Joseph just looked at her, eyebrows raised. "What? Joseph, you know something I don't."
"Have you honestly never seen them together?" he asked, incredulous. Clarisse shook her head no. "Really?"
"Really," she said, tearing her eyes from his to glance at the library door. "How long have they… you know…"
"Years. I can't believe you never noticed!"
Clarisse was still confused, but she shook her head slowly to get the image of her son and her assistant out of her mind.
"Clarisse, my dear," Joseph started, taking her hands in his, "might I suggest that we follow their lead and have a little… escapade… of our own? Somewhere private," he added.
"Oh, Joseph," she said again, and led him to her room.
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TBC