Thank so much again to Shakayla, Prettycrazy, nofearonlylove, and Nikki for your reviews. I'm sorry I couldn't get this chapter posted last night, my daughter got sick and well that was that! Anyway, I warn you that Chapter 14 which I am now working on will be extremely steamy, to say the least, and I'm going to be really mean about this one, if you want to read it then please take time to review, if enough people will do that then I will post tonight, otherwise you faithful people who are nice enough to review can have it emailed to you and the rest of you will just have to wait! LOLOL Oh, and thanks again to Prettycrazy for all of your help, and hey, it's all her fault that I stopped on this chapter where I did, but please no throwing tomatoes at either of us! LOLOL Enjoy! Thanks, Gina
Chapter Thirteen
"Oh…Your Majesty…I am so sorry…please forgive me!" Clarisse apologized profusely to her monarch and Queen. "I did not see you there…are you alright? Oh…how clumsy of me!" She rambled on awkwardly, completely embarrassed at her own behavior.
The Queen gave her a harsh look, taking in the sight of the young disheveled girl that would marry her son the following day. She had always liked the Prime Minister and his family, but considering that this child was betrothed to the crown prince, she had always felt that the girl lacked enough self discipline and was far too outspoken at times. Maybe in time, she could change all of that.
"Come, my dear." She spoke to the girl. "I will walk you back to your rooms and then we will have a little chat, you and I." Her voice sounded very formal and stuffy, Clarisse thought, but nodded and followed obediently.
Upon entering the small parlor that joined the guest room Clarisse was to occupy until she and Rupert returned from their honeymoon, the Queen sat down on one of the sofas and motioned for Clarisse to do the same.
Clarisse suddenly became very aware of the fact that she was still clad in only her nightgown and robe and had been roaming the halls in this state. Surely the Queen would not approve of such a thing and to have been caught running out of Rupert's room, what must she think of her? She nervously chewed on her bottom lip and stared down at her hands unable to meet the Queen's questioning gaze.
After studying the girl for a few moments, realizing what must have happened, she came to a decision. "Clarisse, my dear, we are going to speak of this one time and one time only, then you will put it from your mind and never question it or think on it again. Am I making myself clear?" She demanded, staring at the young girl intently.
"Yes…yes Your Majesty!" Clarisse managed to reply. "I do so apologize for my inappropriate attire, you see, I had a dream….and was feeling rather nervous…and had hoped that maybe Rupert….." She trailed off realizing that this was all coming out wrong if the look on the Queen's face was anything to go by.
"Come now, my dear. Let's not pretend not to know the real reason you were running away upset from my son's rooms." Clarisse froze at this and stared wide eyed at the woman.
"My dear, I know you are young but surely you are not naïve enough to think that you would always be the only woman in Rupert's life." Clarisse couldn't form any words as she sat there astonished at what the Queen was saying to her.
The girl's silence and flabbergasted looks were beginning to annoy her. "Clarisse…." She decided to try again and get straight to the point. "You have no idea what it is like to rule a country, the pressures and strains that are thrust upon you every day of your life. As a royal, we try to take that pressure in stride, but there are times when a man especially one that is a royal has to seek comfort in any way he can. As the wife of a King or even the Crown Prince, it is our duty to accept this. Surely you have been taught about such things?" The Queen asked exasperated.
When the girl still did not answer, she decided to try another tactic. "My dear, why I'm sure with your mother traveling abroad as much as she does that even your own father, our beloved prime minister, even finds comfort in the arms of another at times."
Clarisse opened her mouth to speak but quickly closed it again, biting her tongue to keep from saying something she knew she would regret as anger flashed dangerously in her eyes at the words and implications of her Queen.
The Queen smiled snidely as she rested her hand on the girl's shoulder. "You must see that Rupert does care for you deeply, I'm sure. You have been chosen for such an honorable position to serve our great nation, why there isn't a single girl in all of Genovia that would not trade places with you in a heartbeat. You must realize that, my dear." The woman explained haughtily.
"I do realize that, Your Majesty!" Clarisse swallowed hard. "I had just hoped that at some point the two of us might grow to maybe love each other."
"Love. That is a child's fairytale, my dear. At least he cares for you; it is time you grew up and accepted the life you were destined for." A far away look crossed over into the Queen's eyes momentarily before she quickly covered it up. "Besides, a good match is much more enduring than love. You will go on to be Queen some day and your children heirs to the throne, what more could you want?"
Clarisse breathed deeply trying to take in all that the Queen had just told her. "I am truly honored to be marrying your son, Your Majesty and I have been taught that nothing is more important than the duty I have to my country." She declared shakily but firmly, realizing that at this point she had no other choice and must resign herself to this, after all, this was her life; she must learn to embrace it.
"Very well then, my dear, now that we have that settled, we must move on to what is expected of you as a royal." Clarisse looked up sharply at the Queen.
"What happened in the hall out there, your behavior, was unacceptable!" She reprimanded sternly. "As a royal, you will be constantly scrutinized in the public eye. Even here in the palace, things have a tendency to get out. We have managed to avoid any sort of public scandal for a great many years and I insist that you keep it that way, anything less is intolerable."
Shocked, Clarisse quickly interrupted. "Your Majesty, I would never intentionally try to draw attention to myself or cause trouble for the royal family, you must know that!" She was very near tears.
The Queen put her hands up to silence the girl. "Please, my dear, allow me to finish." Clarisse nodded slowly.
"As a royal, one must be in charge of their emotions at all times. We have a responsibility to our people to show them we are strong, capable, and in control. Vulnerability is not an option. People look to us for answers; they do not want to see someone, well weak, my dear. You must learn to control yourself and be in charge of your own emotions. No one cares about your personal problems, my dear girl; they want to see strength and durability. Do you understand what I am saying to you?"
"Yes, Your Majesty! I understand perfectly and I will not disappoint you again." The girl vowed to her Queen.
"Good! See that you do not fail me!" The Queen began to rise. "Now, my dear, might I suggest that you try and get some sleep. You will want to appear fresh tomorrow when you march down that isle."
"Yes, Your majesty!" Those were the only words left to say of the young girl.
"So my love, that is that and why I learned to bury my feelings so deeply inside of myself. I do try, Joseph to be more open with you, but after so many years, I still find that I have difficulty with it." She confided to him, hoping he would understand.
"I do understand, darling and I'm glad that you shared this with me. I can't begin to imagine what it must have been like for you as a young girl entering into life as a royal for the first time, but you do know that she was wrong, don't you?" Joseph asked her.
"About many things, yes! That's why that day in San Francisco, after Mia's first state dinner party, I looked into her eyes and saw her spirit breaking, I knew that I had to do something fast." She spoke softly.
"And that's when you decided to cancel princess lessons and the two of you toured San Francisco, alone." He began to put it together, thinking back.
"Yes! You're not still angry about that, are you Joseph?" She truly hoped he had gotten over that.
"Of course not, my love. I was at the time because I was so worried about your safety and what could have happened to you both. I guess, I was just being purely selfish because I couldn't stand the thought of loosing you, still can't!" He spoke lovingly, reaching up to caress her face as he gazed into her eyes.
"Oh Joseph! You are not selfish. How could you ever think that you were? I have always appreciated the way you protected me and made me feel safe, no one has ever made me feel safer than you! I love you so much for it!" She returned his gaze and began to shiver under his touch.
Joseph immediately felt it and smiled. Bringing his lips down to hers, he began to kiss her with abandon, provoking an unbridled passion in Clarisse as she returned his kiss and deepened it impossibly further.
Breaking apart to catch their breaths, Clarisse could not stop the yawn that escaped her mouth or the tiredness that suddenly began to claim her body. "I'm sorry!" She apologized.
"Don't apologize, my love, it's been quite a long day. Sleep while I hold you in my arms, we have the rest of our lives to love each other." He replied lovingly.
"You won't let go of me?" Clarisse asked, snuggling into Joseph's warm chest.
"Never, my love and that's a promise." He held her tighter, before sleep claimed them, sending them both into a world of dreams, her suddenly remembering her wedding night with Rupert and having to give up her young innocent body for the first time and he of the first time he made love to his Queen and made her his.
To Be Continued……………….