As he slipped into the room, carefully closing the door behind him, he realised that she must still be sleeping. He glanced at the heavy watch on his wrist and bit his lip…five-thirty. The embroidered curtains were drawn closed still, and only a small chink at the top let in any of the warm evening light. Not taking his eyes from her sleeping form, he gingerly pushed them back, blinking a little as the sunlight streamed in to the previously darkened room. She moved a little, and he turned quickly, pretending to look out of the window. Swallowing, he cursed his cowardliness, and turned back to face her.

"Joseph?"

Her voice was a little croaky, almost as if she'd been crying. Again he swallowed, and stepped a little closer,

"No, Clarisse…it's me, Pierre…"

His words hung a little in the air as she opened her eyes and slowly sat up. Her face was bruised a little, and a thin slash of a cut ran down her cheek. He looked back down at his shoes, fidgeting a little as he contemplated where to begin.

"Pierre"

She didn't say it with the malice he perhaps deserved, and yet nor was she delighted to see him. She sounded indifferent.

Looking back up at her though, he was surprised to see a faint smile hovering on her lips, and when she nodded gently, he knew what he had to say,

"…I think I was wrong about you….uh, I…"

She met his eyes and smiled properly, reaching out her hand to him as she did so. Stepping forward again, he took her hand carefully,

"I shouldn't have said what I did…I had no right…"

To begin with, Clarisse hadn't been entirely sure that Joseph hadn't put his son up to this little meeting, but now, as she scrutinised him closely, she was convinced of his sincerity. Smiling broadly, she released his hand and patted the space on the bed next to her. To her pleasant surprise, Pierre accepted and sat down cautiously, all the time leaning slightly aware from her.

"It's ok, I won't break you know…honestly, you're as bad as your father"

He grinned then, and she realised just how similar his smile was to Joseph's. Knowing that she might not have this opportunity again for a while, she decided to go for it,

"Listen, Pierre, it is ok if you don't like me…"

He looked startled, and opened his mouth to reply, but she cut him off,

"I mean, if I really deserve it, by all means hate me…but…well, just give me the chance to really wind you up next time…dislike me for what I do, not what you think I might…"

She smiled cheekily, and he understood. His customarily stiff upper lip softened and he nodded back sincerely. Yawning slightly in spite of herself, Clarisse settled back into soft pillows behind her.

Intensely relieved, and, it had to be said, not a little in awe of the control of the woman before him, Pierre began to stand,

"You're tired…you should sleep. I won't disturb you any more."

Her hand was still clasped in his, and as he smiled his relief, she squeezed it gently.

"I'm fine…it's nothing serious. I'll soon be back on my feet."

He nodded, holding her gaze more confidently now, and realised why his father had fallen so hard. She was lovely.

It was just after seven when her door eased open again, and this time Clarisse was propped up on a huge mound of pillows, and was happily planning her way through next week's menus. As the door creaked, she jumped a little and, biting back the slash of pain from her sudden movement, quickly secreted the papers under the covers before the visitor could see them.

To her surprise, though, it was not the man she had expected, but Sophie Motaz, the Prime Minister. They had met several days after Clarisse had first arrived and, since that moment, had always taken a moment or two to say hello when they passed each other in the many corridors of the palace. But she had hardly expected to see her in these circumstances…

"Clarisse!…oh my dear, and your poor car!"

Clarisse grinned broadly and shook her head. Honestly….that woman. She installed herself in the chair next to the bed, and kicking off her shoes, stretched out her legs. Still bemused, Clarisse couldn't help but watch her.

"So, come on then, tell me what happened? Was it as scary as Joseph described it, or was he just being a drama queen?"

Trying desperately to put the image of Joseph as a drama queen out of her head, and to retain some kind of composure, Clarisse sighed loudly and closed her eyes.

"Well, yes, it wasn't exactly an experience I'd like to go through again…"

Sophie smiled, amused as Clarisse tailored her words carefully,

"Hmm…but it must have been exciting as well though. I mean, Joseph was telling me all about the cute emergency man who looked after you…"

"Really? I don't remember…"

Laughing loudly, Sophie nudged her gently on her good arm,

"Ah…but Joe definitely does!"

Opening her eyes and turning to look at her teasing friend, Clarisse attempted her best glare,

"And what exactly do you mean by that?"

Raising her eyebrows and giggling a little, Sophie shook her head,

"Oh no, nothing…nothing at all."

Unsatisfied, Clarisse just groaned a little and lay back down on her pillows. Sneaking a glance at her, Sophie decided to have another tease,

"I do have some gossip though…"

Sitting up probably quicker than was strictly necessary, Clarisse winced in pain.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing…just something about the lusty affairs of the palace staff. Apparently there's been a bit of a romance going on that, for reasons best known to them, was kept quiet…I just found out this afternoon when I was talking with Joseph."

Feeling a little queasy, whether from her medication, or the flippant way in which the whole thing threatened to spill out, Clarisse could only look quizzically at her friend. Deciding to put her out of her misery, Sophie smiled broadly and leant over to whisper discreetly,

"It turns out that Carlos has a new boyfriend…one of the French security guards he met on that last trip to Paris. Apparently Joseph has just agreed to appoint him to a position here in the palace and so they can live together…Carlos was practically dancing round the office this afternoon when I arrived! It's so sweet…"

Suddenly at that moment Sophie's pager buzzed and glancing down she smiled when she realised that it was her husband, Seb, who was wondering what she wanted for dinner. Not waiting for Clarisse's response to the gossip, she slipped her shoes back on and straightened out her cardigan. With a quick kiss on the cheek and a recommendation that she behave herself, Clarisse found herself alone again.

She lay still there for a good ten minutes, thinking over the afternoon's events, the shy young man who had, at least in his own way, made his peace; the ever-so-slightly crazy friend who had buzzed in and made her laugh. She thought about Carlos, and was pleased that he was happy. She could understand now how difficult it must be to have to hide your feelings for fear of other people's comments.

Turning carefully onto her side, she realised that the slight nausea that had accompanied Sophie's almost-revelation had dissipated somewhat and had left her feeling hollow. It had not been dread after all…indeed, she had just allowed herself to be excited about someone else knowing. When it had become clear that she had made a mistake, all that she felt was disappointment.

Closing her eyes, she heard the door open again. Almost inaudibly, she sighed. Surely not again…she was tired and hardly in the mood for any more difficult conversations. The warm hand that came to rest on her shoulder, smoothing tender circles, however, soon convinced her otherwise. As he knelt down by her bed, his arm slipping round to hold her, she felt a gentle kiss come to land on her forehead. Opening her eyes, she smiled. Pulling back slightly to look at her, he tapped her gently on the nose.

"You look tired…"

She sighed, and kissed his finger,

"You don't miss a thing, do you?"

Shaking his head, he gestured to the tray that he had set down on the bedside table,

"Are you awake enough to eat something?"

She smiled, and patting the bed next to her, helped him up to sit next to her. As his arm came back round to hold her close, and she snuggled into his chest, he reached out and brought the tray of sandwiches to his lap.

"Would you like me to feed you?"