Just want to say a great big thanks to everyone who read and reviewed the last chapter, I appreciate the support greatly and can't thank you enough.
I wanted drama for this chapter, but couldn't think of anything so when this idea came to mind I wrote it out and ended up with something completely different instead so hope you enjoy it and understand what I mean.
x-X-x-X-x
Monday 25th November 2002.
Checking the time on his watch, Joseph couldn't stop the smile from spreading across his face. He had exactly one minute left of his night shift, which once over he'll be heading straight up to his loves suite to enjoy breakfast with her. He had already briefed the team taking over and sent them on their way to start their shifts, and now it was clocking off time for him. Standing to his feet, he stifled a yawn and made his way out of his office, down the corridor and up the stairs.
Reaching her suite a moment later, he was surprised to find her ladies maids stood in the bedroom doorway. "What's going on?" He asked, watching as they turned to him.
"It's her Highness," said Mrs Kout as Joseph walked over to them "she's unwell."
Walking into the bedroom he saw a box of tissues on the bed beside where Clarisse had been obviously laying shortly before, a couple screwed up tissues beside it and half a jug of water on her bedside table. Hearing her coughing from the bathroom, he remembered that she had told him yesterday that she felt like she was coming down with a cold, her first in a long time.
Hearing her coughing again he turned to Mrs Kout and her ladies maids "please can one of you fetch her some fresh water, and a fresh glass?"
"Of course," Olivia nodded and grabbed the jug and glass from her bedside table before walking out.
"Perhaps, you can both wait in the suite while I make sure she's okay?" He said, looking at the other two.
"Of course," Mrs Kout nodded.
As they left the room, Joseph walked over to the bathroom door and gently knocked on it. "Clarisse, it's only me are you okay?" He asked softly.
"Not really," she rasped from the bathroom.
"Let me in, I want to help," he said, looking at the door.
"No," she exclaimed, surprising herself and Joseph "I mean, no," she said more softly and paused.
"Clarisse?" He said softly and took a chance in trying the handle, surprised that it was unlocked.
"No, stop," she exclaimed as Joseph stepped in the room.
"What is it? What's the matter?" He asked, closing the door behind him as she turned away from him "Clarisse?"
"I'm sick, I don't want you to see me like this, I look a mess," she rasped, followed with a violent cough.
Stepping closer, Joseph rubbed her back lovingly and waited until she had stopped coughing before speaking. "How long have we known each other? I have seen you sick before, remember?"
"I know, but that was just with a simple cold, this is different," she said, putting her hand on her throat "this time I have flu, and I know I look how I feel."
"Look at me, please?" He said softly and watched as she slowly looked up at him. Sure she looked pale, obvious she had flu but he didn't love her any less because of it. "It doesn't matter to me how you look, Clarisse, because to me you are still beautiful no matter what. You should know that."
"But I look rough, so unattractive and yucky," she said and watched as he chuckled.
"It doesn't matter to me," he said with a shake of his head before he watched her sneeze "I think we should get you back to bed."
"I can't, I have to get ready I have lots to do today," she said, wiping her nose before sneezing again.
"Yeah no, that ain't happening today, it's back to bed for you," he said and she shook her head while once again wiping her nose "alright, tell me something okay? how do you feel right now?"
"Oh I feel so awful, my head is pounding, my ears hurt, my nose hurts and won't stop running. My throat feels like it's got razor blades in it, my chest, back and tummy hurt from all the coughing and sneezing I have been doing all night and my body aches," she rasped and coughed as once again Joseph rubbed her back for her.
"Well I think that says it, it's back to bed for you," he said and watched as once again she shook her head "it's not a request Clarisse, it's an order," he said in a hushed tone as she looked up into his eyes "you may be my boss, but today you are taking an order from me and it's back to bed for you." He said, wrapping her robe around her front for her and tying the sash to hold it in place.
"But I have to much too do," she rasped and sneezed once again.
"I don't care, you need to rest or you'll only burn yourself out," he said softly and opened the bathroom door before taking hold of her hand "I will inform Charlotte to rearrange any meetings you have."
"Okay," she said, admitting defeat as he lead her into the bedroom and over to her bed.
"Have you taken any medicine?" He said, sitting her on the bed before turning to her bedside table to see the glass and jug of water has been replaced and a medicine bottle sitting beside it.
"Not yet," she said, shaking her head.
"Okay, well let's get some inside you shall we," he said shaking the bottle as Clarisse wiped her running nose and coughed again.
"You don't have to take care of me, you know," she said, looking up at him as he undone the bottle and poured some of the liquid onto a spoon "you should be going to get some rest yourself."
"I'm fine, I want to be here to look after you, in sickness and in health remember," he said and gave her the medicine before pouring her a glass of water as she sat on the bed, pulling funny faces at the taste of the medicine.
"But we aren't married," she said quietly, finally getting over the taste.
"I know, but we nearly were once," he said, turning to her "Clarisse you are the love of my life, just because we aren't married it doesn't mean I'm not going to look after you."
"Thank you," she whispered and coughed.
"Now, undo the buttons on your pyjama top while I go and get the vic from your bathroom," he said and looked over at the open drapes "do you want me to close them? He asked, looking back at her as she nodded.
"Please," she said and turned on the bedside lamp.
"Okay," he said and walked over to the windows and closing the drapes before going into her bathroom as she undone the buttons on her pyjama top. Coming back out, he walked over to the bed as Clarisse sat coughing.
"Why did this have to happen now," she rasped after a moment "the most busiest week and I had to go and get sick."
"I know, but you'll be soon back on your feet," Joseph said softly, rubbing some vic into her chest as she took deep, inhaling breaths.
"I hope so," she nodded "I'm sorry we can't have breakfast together this morning," she said sleepily.
"Oh it's okay, they'll be other times," he said, rubbing some vic into her back as she tipped her head forward and took some more deep, inhaling breaths. Once he was done, he put the lid back on and pulled her night shirt back up over her shoulders and watched as she done up the buttons "now please try to get some sleep."
"Thank you," she said laying down and turning onto her side, snuggling down under her covers.
"I'm just going to go and get you a few bits from the pharmacy in case you need them and I'll let Charlotte know that you are sick while I'm gone, I'll be back as quickly as I can, okay?" he said, brushing her hair out of her face as she lay with her eyes closed.
"Okay," she mumbled, half asleep.
"Okay," he said, half smiling at her sleepy state "I love you," he whispered and kissed her head.
"I love you too," she mumbled, before drifting into sleep.
Leaving her bedroom he informed her maids that they won't be needed today and made his way downstairs to look for Charlotte. Finding her moments later, preparing the Queens paperwork on her desk "here you are," he smiled, walking into the Queens office.
"Yes, here I am," smiled Charlotte as she looked back down at the papers "is everything okay?"
"Not really," he said and watched as Charlotte looked back up at him "Clarisse's sick, she's in bed."
"Oh no, what's wrong? Shall I send for the doctor?" She asked.
"Not at the moment, I have given her some medicine and she's currently in bed asleep so we will see how she goes today before calling the doctor out."
"Of course," nodded Charlotte.
"Any meetings she had for today though and possibly tomorrow also will need to be rearranged." He said.
"Of course, I'll see to it right away."
"Thank you, also, I wonder if you might do me a favour?" He asked and watched as she nodded.
"Of course, anything," she said.
"Well I have to pop out to get her some bits from the pharmacy, and just wondered if you could sit up in the suite while I'm gone, she should sleep for a bit but it's just in case she wakes and needs anything while I'm gone?" He asked.
Half smiling, Charlotte loved that he was so caring, only proving his love for her Queen even more. "Of course, I'll go up there now."
"Thank you so much, Charlotte," he said and walked out of the office.
Later.
Returning to Clarisse's suite, Joseph walked over to the coffee table and placed a couple bags and a bunch of roses down on it as Charlotte looked up. "How is she?" He asked.
"She's coughed a couple times but when I have checked her to make sure she's okay, she was still asleep," Charlotte said, standing to her feet "I have also cancelled her meetings for the next couple days and told them they will be rearranged when the Queen is better."
"Oh, thank you so much Charlotte and thank you for sitting with her for me," he said, lifting the cough medicine out of the bag and placing them on the coffee table.
"It's no trouble," Charlotte said, watching him a moment.
"I couldn't remember what cough sweets she likes, so I bought one of each," he said, tipping the bag upside down as several packets fell from it "I also got her some of her favourite chocolates for when she's better, and some of her favourite flowers to hopefully cheer her up a bit," he said, standing back up straight and put his hands on his hips as Charlotte watched him "not that she's going to be able to smell them yet anyway."
"I'm sure she wouldn't mind, it's the thought that counts," said Charlotte before motioning towards the flowers "shall I send up a vase?" She asked and watched as he looked at her then down at the flowers.
"Oh please, if you could," he nodded and looked back up at her before moving to sit down in one of the armchairs "in the whole time I have known her I don't think she's ever had flu, sure she's had a cold occasionally but never anything this bad before."
Seeing the worry in his face, Charlotte moved to stand beside him "she's lucky she has you to look after her, not that her staff wouldn't look after her," she said softly and placed her hand on his shoulder as he slowly looked up at him "I just mean, with you looking after her it's different."
In that moment Joseph realised that she knew about him and the Queen, though it had never been spoken about between them or as far as he was aware that she had never caught them together like Shades, or the former head housekeeper Mrs Hughes many years ago, but from what she said, how she said it he knew she knew. "How long have you known?" He asked, looking down at the coffee table.
"A while," she answered and moved to sit back down where she had been sat moments earlier. "I had my suspicions from the moment I arrived here at the palace, but then there was that horrible accident with Philippe while you were in Italy and she changed towards you, I know she had just lost her son and was grieving but she shut you out, sent you away."
Nodding, Joseph looked at her and studied her a long moment before finally speaking "you know we were meant to have been married that day, Philippe was driving her to our wedding but then," he said, trailing off as he looked down at his hands "we had been together thirteen years when that happened."
"But why did she send you away when she needed you more than ever?" She asked and watched as he looked back up at him.
"She blamed herself, said if we hadn't been in Italy for our wedding then he would still be here. She felt that she couldn't be in a relationship or live a happy life when her son had been cruelly taken from his," he said sadly.
"How sad," she said softly, watching him as he slowly nodded.
"I didn't want to go, I hated leaving her when I knew she needed me but what choice did I have? She didn't want me around."
"I know," she nodded "I was so glad when she came to see you that day a couple years later though, shortly before you arrived back at the palace. It was like the old Clarisse was slowly coming back, she was smiling and was so very happy. Then there was that day in San Francisco, I walked in on the pair of you dancing together after Mia had left,"
"So you did catch us together then?" He asked, interrupting her.
"I did, I didn't mean to though, I thought she was alone because you were taking Mia home but there you both were, lost in each other's gaze and I knew then that was the start of a beautiful relationship, well obviously I didn't know that you had already been in one before, but you know what I mean."
"I do," he nodded, half smiling as he looked back down at his hands when a thought suddenly crossed his mind. Looking back up at her, he asked "you won't say anything to anyone about what we talked about, will you?"
"Of course not, the secret is safe with me," she said, giving him a smile.
"Thank you, Charlotte," he said and watched as she stood to her feet.
"You're welcome, and like I said earlier, she's lucky she has someone like you looking after her," she said and walked over to the door "I best get back to work now, but I will send up a vase before I do."
"Thank you," he said, nodding as she smiled over at him and walked out.
Standing to his feet he made his way into Clarisse's bedroom to check on her and finding that she was still fast asleep, he left her to rest and snuck back out into the suite to wait for the vase Charlotte was having sent up.
Walking into her office, after asking one of the maids to take up a vase to Joseph, she found a bunch of flowers sitting on her desk. Raising her eyebrow she walked over and lifted the card from them to find out who they were from. 'Just a small thank you for sitting with the Queen while I popped out this morning. I really appreciate it, Joseph.' Smiling, she lifted them to her face and smelt them before turning to get a vase for herself.
Later That Evening.
Standing at the altar, Clarisse studied the archbishop who stood in front of her, trying her best to focus on what was being said to them, but all she could think about was the handsome man in navy blue standing beside her. It was their wedding day and she was, and will be for a long while, on cloud 9.
"If anyone can show just cause why this couple cannot lawfully be joined together in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace." Asked the archbishop as he looked around the crowded church.
Silence.
"Great, then I shall proceed," smiled the archbishop "who gives this woman into marriage?"
"I do," Pierre said, stepping closer to them.
"Stop this wedding!" Came a voice from the back of the church, causing everyone to look towards where it had come from.
"Father?" Pierre gasped, seeing Rupert come into view.
"Rupert?" Clarisse whispered as she stared down the aisle at him.
"Hello, Clarisse," Rupert said softly, walking up the aisle towards her. Looking her up and down, he nodded approvingly at her dress and took hold of her hand, kissing the back of it before continuing "you look amazing, as always," he said and looked at the man standing beside her "hello Joseph."
Opening her eyes, Clarisse focused on the lamp on the bedside table a moment before realising it was only a dream, but still shuddered at the thought at what she dreamt about. Sitting up, she took hold of her glass of water and took several sips before realising it was now dark outside. Placing the glass back down, she checked the time and climbed out of bed.
Slipping on her robe, she made her way out into the suite to find Joseph fast asleep on her sofa. Smiling, she moved over and sat down beside him, tucking her legs up in front of her as she studied him.
Feeling her eyes on him, he stirred awake and opened his eyes, wondering if he had been dreaming but the soft voice beside him confirmed he hadn't been. "Good evening."
Turning his head to find her smiling at him, he couldn't help but smile in return "good evening, how are you feeling?" He asked, sitting up.
"A bit better," she nodded, taking hold of his hand "have you been out here all day?"
"I have," he nodded, caressing the back of her hand with his thumb "I checked on you a few times but you were sleeping," he said and watched as she nodded.
"I think I have slept right through since you put me back to bed this morning," she said, looking down at their hands knowing she would have slept some more if she hadn't dreamt about what she did "I'm feeling a bit hungry now though."
"That's great," he said, smiling at her "what do you fancy?"
"Soup, with a piece of bread," she smiled, remembering a memory from her childhood "it's what we always had when we were sick as kids."
"Me too," he nodded and leant closer, kissing her before standing to his feet "you stay here and I will go and sort you out some soup."
"Thank you," she smiled and watched as he walked over to the door.
"Anything else?" He asked, opening the door and looked back over at her.
"No, just that for now," she smiled and noticed the flowers on her coffee table "who are the flowers from?" She asked.
"Me, I got them to cheer you up," he smiled.
"Oh, well thank you then," she smiled and slowly moved to the edge of the sofa to lean over and smell them.
"I'll be back in a bit," he said, watching her.
"Okay," she nodded and sat back against the cushions before watching him walk out the door, closing it behind him. Letting out a sigh she looked at the ring on her finger that Joseph gave her the Christmas before last, slipping it off she looked at the writing inside and read it to herself as she thought about the dream she had and wondered if she really could marry the man who now owned her heart.