"Enough"

Pierre head snapped back from the window to face his father. Rarely had he heard him use that tone. The older man was still sitting at his desk, papers scattered around him, but his demeanour had changed entirely. As their eyes met, Pierre was surprised to see disappointment.

"Father?"

His voice was calm, and yet confused. After all, he had simply stated the obvious. Yes Dad was lonely, yes he was getting on a bit, but that was no reason to mess around with the help. Surely he could see the sense in that?

Joseph looked at the young man before him, and felt deeply sorry. Sorry that he clearly had not experienced such feelings for another person as he had for Clarisse, sorry that because of this he could not fail to see their relationship as nothing more than a fling. Part of him was angry, still hurt at the dismissive way in which the boy had sketched out what he saw, but that was beginning to pass.

He waited a moment, pausing to collect his thoughts. Pierre turned away again, irritated by his father's stubbornness, knowing that he was about to be lectured,

"Pierre…look at me."

Eventually he did, and, running a hand frustratedly through his thick hair, slumped down in the large settee.

"It's not that simple, my boy…I don't think you've understood quite the situation." He paused, not wanting to say too much, but knowing that his point had to be made,

"I love her, Pierre…more than anyone I've ever met before…yes, even your mother"

Pierre bit his lip, unsure how to deal with that particular revelation, and Joseph continued, his voice calm, but firm,

"I understand your reservations, really I do…but they pale into insignificance when set alongside the way I feel for Clarisse. I'm going to marry her, Pierre, and I'm sorry if you don't approve…I hope you will approve…but please understand, I will marry her with or without your blessing."

A long pause followed, as Pierre absorbed his father's words. Their eyes met again, and he was surprised to see the hope shining in them. The old man really was serious about this. He swallowed, still entirely unconvinced, but aware that he had no choice, not really,

'Well I suppose I'd better meet this paragon of virtue then…"

OoOoOoOoO

After Pierre left to change for dinner, Joseph wandered over to the window. This afternoon had gone badly, far worse than he had expected, but at least it was done now. He wasn't convinced that Clarisse would relish meeting Pierre over dinner, and he knew he had to make his mind up soon as to whether to ask her. If they all ate together, surely suspicions would be aroused amongst the staff, and he knew that she wouldn't be happy about that.

He closed his eyes and sighed deeply, the crashes of thunder echoing around the sky above him. He could see Pierre's point, he really could…but it was too late now. He knew that things would have to change, that they would have to talk about what she wanted, but whatever that was, he wanted her by his side. Glancing at his Rolex, he worked out that he had about an hour before dinner. Just enough time to find her and tell her how things had gone. That and, perhaps a little more overdue, to have a talk about their future together.

OoOoOoOoO

As he stepped outside the room, carefully pushing the door to as he left, he was unsurprised to find Maurice lurking on one of his preferred beanbags. That dog was so set in his ways that you could practically set your watch by him. In the mornings he would either place himself on the terrace, to watch the birds or, if it were rainy, inside the ballroom, next to the glass windows. Then, at lunchtime, he would trundle down to the kitchens in search of Mrs Stone and her leftovers. In the afternoons, unless it was warm, he would place himself just outside the library on the beanbag under the stairs. Like clockwork. Then, as Joseph went for dinner, he would follow him down the corridor and go in search of Clarisse. Of course, Joseph had never known this in the past, but their walks had become quite a regular occurrence. Little by little she had managed to persuade Maurice to go out later in the evenings, and now he was quite contented to wait until she had organised dinner before he bothered her for a walk.

Today though, he looked a little glum, hardly looking up when Joseph left his rooms and clearly not even thinking about following him down the corridor. Concerned that he might be unwell, Joseph knelt down alongside his beanbag, and ruffled his ears. He didn't look ill, not really, just a little down. Pressing his nose into the soft fur at the back of his neck, though, Joseph was confused. He smelt unmistakably of Clarisse's perfume. He eyed the dog suspiciously,

"Did you spend your afternoon with her, old boy, you lucky thing?"

Maurice simply groaned, and lay his head down again. It didn't make sense, he never moved, and it was way too early for his walk. She must have been here.

He sat back on his heels and glanced at the library door that had swung open once again of its own accord, the hinges clearly too loose.

"Jesus, she must have been here…"

OoOoOoOoO

As the rain continued to sheet down on the windscreen of the Jaguar, Clarisse began to wonder whether she had made the right decision. Not about leaving in general, but about leaving tonight. Since the moment she had slammed the door shut and dumped her bag on the passenger seat, tears had been streaming down her cheeks. She had been driving for about 20 minutes, probably too fast, and now she was getting tired. She still hadn't decided where she was going, knowing only that she had to get as far away as possible from the palace.

She wondered idly whether he might send people to look for her. She hoped not.

As the van on the other side of the road swerved, she barely managed to steer into the spin, the standing water on the road spraying up around her, making it difficult to see. There was a heavy thud, as the van ploughed into the side of the car, and then nothing.

The rain continued to fall, large raindrops dripping icy cold water down her face now as she slipped in and out of consciousness. The road was silent, too silent.

She wondered idly whether he might come and find her. She hoped so.

A/N There we go, another chapter, and in record time! Please review and tell me what you thought ;o) thanks.xx