Hi everyone, thanks so much for reading and to those leaving a review, I appreciate the support :) Also, there are a few lines in this chapter from a song called Nights in White Satin. I am not making any money from this, or do I claim it to be mine. I just thought it fitted well with that moment in the chapter.

Happy Reading ;)

x-X-x-X-x

Tuesday 1st October 1968, continued.

Walking through the suite door, Isabella placed her bags down and closed the door behind her before looking around the room. "Clarisse?" She called out.

"In the bedroom," Clarisse replied as she walked back over to her bed.

Standing in the doorway, Isabella watched as her sister held up two dresses, staring at each one a moment. "I'd say the red one," she said, making her way over towards the bed as Clarisse looked at her and smiled.

"Thank you," Clarisse said and laid it down on the bed before walking back into her closet.

"Right, now that I am here are you going to tell me what's going on?"

"Did you bring your overnight bag?" Clarisse called and looked towards the doorway as Isabella appeared.

"Yes, of course." Isabella nodded, watching her sister in amusement "now, tell me what is going on."

"How would you like to come and stay in a hotel with me tonight?" She asked.

"Well I would love that of course," she said, turning her head slightly to the side as she raised her eyebrow "what are you up to?" She asked suspiciously.

"Joseph asked me to a birthday dinner with him tonight, and I sort of need a cover, because I'm meant to be going to dinner with Rupert."

"So you are blowing Rupert off for Joseph?" Isabella asked and watched as Clarisse nodded.

"Yes, that's correct."

"Is there something going on between you and Joseph?" Isabella asked and watched as Clarisse stopped and looked over at her.

"What ever gave you that idea?" Clarisse asked and turned away to continue looking through her closet.

"Well for one you are brushing off the King, who even though you aren't together in private but is still your husband for a friend."

"That is true, I am brushing him of for a friend but how many times has Rupert done that to me, to meet with an apparent 'friend'." Clarisse said, looking over at her sister.

"That is true, good for you." Isabella said and smiled before walking over to the dresses "in that case," she said and grabbed a beautiful royal blue knee length tea dress "you better take this dress instead of the red one."

Taking the dress, Clarisse stared at it a moment and nodded in agreement. "I think you are right, it'll match his eyes." She smiled and walked out into the bedroom.

"And yours," Isabella smirked while moving to sit at her dressing table.

"Yes, and mine." Clarisse smiled as she came back into the closet and hung the red dress back up "so can you help?"

Looking over at her, she saw a smile that she hadn't seen on her sisters face for a very long time. "of course I'll help, but what are you going to tell Rupert?" She asked and looked back at her jewellery.

"That I forgot we had plans already, so if he asks, we, uh... Oh I don't know."

Looking back over, Isabella couldn't help but chuckle "that we had plans already should be enough, besides its none of his business now." She said and watched as Clarisse nodded.

"Thank you." Clarisse smiled, thankful for the reminder.

"You're welcome." Isabella smiled at her a moment then looked back at her jewellery.

Watching her sister a moment, Clarisse suddenly remembered she forgot to say "it's our secret, OK?"

Looking over her shoulder at her, Isabella smiled. "Of course."

"Thank you." Clarisse said and grabbed the shoes that match the dress and walked back out into her bedroom as Isabella watched, smirking to herself.

Later That Evening.

Arriving home a little later than planned, Rupert was surprised to find Clarisse's parents in her suite, sat on the sofa with their grandsons. "Good evening," he smiled.

"Evening," Philippe said while looking up at him, then back down at his grandson sat beside him.

"Evening, father." Pierre smiled over at him.

"What are you doing here?" He asked as Clarisse's mother looked up at him.

"Well we are babysitting tonight." Beatrice said.

"Oh, ok," he answered "I thought Isabella was babysitting, but never mind." He added and began making his way over to Clarisse's bedroom door "is Clarisse getting ready?" He asked, reaching for the handle.

"No, she left already." Philippe said and watched as he turned to them.

"She's already left?" Rupert asked, feeling a little confused.

"Yes, her and Isabella left a couple hours ago." Philippe smiled and looked at Beatrice sitting the other end of the sofa.

"But I'm meant to be taking her out for a birthday dinner tonight." Rupert said and watched as Philippe looked back at him.

"Not tonight, Isabella took her out of town for a birthday treat, it's been planned for weeks." Beatrice said, and gasped "I forgot, she left you a note. It's on the sideboard," she said, pointing to the sideboard by the door.

Turning, Rupert walked over and picked it up as Philippe and Beatrice watched him. "Thank you," he said and looked down at the note.

'Good evening, Rupert.

If you're reading this, then my parents remembered to give it to you. I'm sorry I won't be able to make dinner tonight as I had completely forgot about a birthday treat that my Isabella had planned for me. I really am sorry, and hope that you will have a good night. Kiss the boys for me.

Clarisse.'

Folding up the note, Rupert looked back over at her parents and the boys as they all sat snuggled together, looking through a photo album.

"Oh, look Philippe, isn't that a lovely picture." Beatrice said, looking at her husband as he nodded.

"He hasn't changed one bit," Philippe answered and smiled.

"Who is that, grandma?" Young Philippe asked as Rupert came over and stood behind the sofa, looking down at the album.

"That is your mummy's best friends brother," she answered while pointing to the photo of Clarisse holding baby Jasmine with Joseph stood beside them.

"He's her best friend too, they grew up together." Philippe smiled down at his grandsons.

"You remember Joseph, don't you Rupert?" Beatrice smiled back at him.

"Vaguely," Rupert answered and walked out as Philippe and Beatrice smirked at each other.

Meanwhile at the hotel, Clarisse nervously knocked on Joseph's suite door and waited for him to answer and before she even had chance to lower her hand, the door was opening. When their eyes met, Clarisse smiled as her tummy filled with butterflies, his eyes were full of desire, and she was almost certain hers would give her away.

"Come in," Joseph smiled and stepped back to let her in.

"Thank you," Clarisse smiled and slowly entered the suite.

"Now, because it's more private," Joseph began and closed the door behind her as Clarisse turned to him "I thought we could have dinner here?" He said, turning to her.

"I would like that," Clarisse smiled and watched as he stepped closer, kissing her cheek.

"Great," he smiled and stepped back "let me take your coat?" He said and pointed to the coat over her arm.

"Oh yes, of course." She smiled and passed him her coat.

"Thank you, please make yourself at home." He smiled and hung up her coat as she entered the suite a bit more, looking around as she did "I already poured us a glass of wine each." He smiled while grabbing the glasses.

"Oh thank you," she smiled back at him as he made his way over to her, passing her one of the glasses "this suite is beautiful."

"Only the best," he smiled and clinked his glass with hers "cheers."

"Cheers!" She smiled and sipped her drink as Joseph watched.

"You look beautiful tonight, blue really suits you." He smiled as she looked back at him "well actually, you look beautiful whatever the occasion."

"Thank you." She smiled, holding her glass in both of her hands.

"Dance with me?" He asked a moment later as one of his favourite songs 'nights in white satin' came on the stereo. Placing his glass down on the table beside him, he reached out for her hand.

"Like we used too," Clarisse smiled while placing her glass down beside his and took hold of his hand, laughing as he gently pulled her to him.

Wrapping his free arm around her waist as their body's met, he kept hold of her hand down at their sides as he smiled. "Well we were just friends then, it's different now." He said softly as they began swaying slowly to the music.

Moving her hand to the back of his neck, her arm resting lazily around his shoulder she looked into his eyes. "What are we now then?" She asked quietly as her heart began beating faster.

Raising their hands, he softly kissed the inside of her wrist and watched as she took her bottom lip between her teeth. "We could be lovers," he whispered, looking back into her eyes.

"Can we really do this?" She asked, as they stopped swaying to the music and looked into each other's eyes.

'Cause I love you
Yes I love you
Oh how I love you

Gazing at people, some hand in hand,
Just what I'm going through they can't understand.
Some try to tell me, thoughts they cannot defend,
Just what you want to be, you will be in the end.

'And I love you

Yes I love you

Oh how I love you'

And listening to the words of the song helped make up her mind for her as Joseph raised his hand, placing it gently on her neck, his thumb caressing her cheek as he studied her face momentarily. "We can do this." She whispered and closed her eyes as Joseph lowered his head and kissed her slowly for a moment before trailing kisses down her jaw and neck, causing a moan to escape her lips as she tilted her head to the side, giving him better access and feeling his hands on her sides, she couldn't help but giggle.