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Saturday 7th June 1980.
Standing in the doorway of the open balcony doors, Clarisse thought about what she needed to do as she sipped her morning tea. It was going to be another hot day, but that didn't matter to her, for today her baby sister is to be married to Charles, the palace head of security. They have been preparing for it for over a year and now that the day was finally here, she wanted to make sure it was as perfect as can be, even if that meant getting up with the sun, whilst everyone remained in bed.
Standing in the bedroom doorway, leaning against the door frame Rupert watched her a moment. The sun was glowing around her but he could see that she was still in her summer pyjamas, very rare but he had to admit he loved to see her this way, chilled, relaxed and with no makeup on. He just couldn't help it, he simply loved how she looked first thing in the morning, always had.
Smiling, he put his arm up and knocked on the door frame to finally get her attention and as she turned, smiling over at him he was captured by her beauty. "Good morning," he smiled finally, making his way over to her as she turned to him, drinking some more of her tea.
"Good morning," she smiled and looked up as he stood in front of her "you are up early, and dressed too?" She said as he lent in to kiss her.
"I know, an emergency meeting was called last night." He said as she put her cup down on the table.
"Meeting, what meeting?" She asked as she began to straighten his tie "we have to leave in a couple hours."
"Oh it's to do with the Independence Day parade, I was going to tell you when I came to bed last night but you had already fallen to sleep." He said, looking down to watch her hands as she sorted out his tie.
"Ahh ok, the prime minister did mention something about that when I saw him yesterday, but he didn't know when it was going to be." She said, finishing off his tie "there all finished." She smiled as he looked back up at her "will you be back in time?"
"Thank you," he smiled and kissed her "I should be back before you leave, if not you all go on ahead and I'll meet you at the hotel as soon as I can, I promise." He smiled.
"You better be, or there will be trouble." She smirked.
"I will," he smiled and looked down at his tie "and thank you for straightening my tie," he said and looked back up at her "what would I do without you?" He smiled, watching as she grabbed her cup and sipped some more of her tea.
"Actually, I wonder that often," she smiled as he stepped closer, kissing her cheek.
"Hmm," he smiled and brushed her hair back behind her ears as she studied his face "what are you doing up so early anyway?"
"Because I have so much to do before we leave for the hotel, I wanted to get up and get it all sorted in time so we wouldn't be late. She's been through a lot since we lost our parents, I just want it to be perfect for her." She answered as he stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her as she put one of her arms up around his shoulder.
"You have been through a lot too," he said, looking into her eyes a moment before she nodded and looked down.
"I know," she said quietly while looking back up into his eyes "but she's the baby, she's my little sister and deserves a perfectly special day."
"She does, and I know that she will love it." He said, studying her face as she nodded.
"Thank you," she smiled and reached up to kiss him before they stepped a part.
"I better get going," he said and kissed her once again "I will see you later."
"Yes you will," she said as she watched him walk over to the door "are you taking your suit just in case you don't make it back here in time?"
Stopping at the door, he looked over at her and smiled "I am, of course."
"Good," she smiled and watched as he disappeared. Sighing she turned back to the open balcony doors, where she stood a moment longer before going to get dressed.
Making her way downstairs a short while later, she placed her bags down by the doors along with Rupert's and Isabella's whose were already there, and headed to her office where she slipped on her glasses and stood behind her desk, going through her messages.
"Knock, knock," smiled Isabella, slowly entering her sisters office as she glanced over the top of her glasses at her before smiling.
"Well good morning," Clarisse said while looking at her properly and lowering her arms "did you sleep well?"
"I did," Isabella nodded as she made her way around to kiss her cheek "and the breakfast you sent up for me was delicious, thank you."
"You're welcome," she smiled and looked back at the messages before placing them back down on her desk.
"I can't believe that you are behind your desk today of all days," Isabella teased as Clarisse placed her hands on her hips and looked back down at the messages for a split second before looking back up at her sister.
"Ahh, but I was only checking my messages, that was all," Clarisse answered and smiled at her "are you nearly ready to leave?"
"I am," she nodded "I was actually wondering if we might have time to take a small walk around the gardens, there is something I must speak to you about."
"Of course," Clarisse nodded and checked her watch "we have time, but before we go, let me run up and make sure that those sons of mine are up and are getting ready." She smiled and made her way over to the door and out into the hallway, as Isabella followed her.
"Alright, I will wait here." Smiled Isabella as Clarisse made her way towards the stairs.
"Ok, I won't be long." She called back, hurrying up the steps.
Sighing happily, Isabella turned and looked over at all the bags by the door before walking over to sit in the chair by the table, waiting for Clarisse to return. And hearing footsteps on the stairs just moments later, Isabella looked up to see her sister walking down carrying two overnight bags.
"Are they up?" Isabella asked, standing to her feet.
"Yes, surprisingly they are." She nodded and smiled over at Isabella as she stepped from the last step and made her way over to the rest of the luggage.
"They are just having breakfast and then they will be getting ready," Clarisse smiled, placing the bags down before turning back to Isabella "ready?" She asked.
"I am," Isabella smiled.
"Let's go," Clarisse smiled back as they made their way out the door.
"Good morning Isabella, Your Majesty," bowed her driver then smiled at Isabella.
"Good morning," smiled Isabella and continued walking as Clarisse stopped.
"Good morning, Edward," smiled Clarisse as she clasped her hands together in front of her "all the bags are ready to be loaded into the car, Isabella and I are just going for a walk, and the Princes are getting ready, I did tell them but I wonder if you could remind them to bring their suits down and put them in the car? As we don't want to get to the hotel only to find that they have forgotten them." She smiled as Isabella stopped walking and turned to watch them.
"Of course, Your Majesty," Edward bowed.
"Thank you," smiled Clarisse as she continued walking, catching up with Isabella "now, what would you like to talk to me about?" She asked, linking arms with her as they headed on their walk.
"I know that we have talked about this before, but I just wanted to make sure that you are absolutely fine with Joseph coming to the wedding," Isabella said as she felt Clarisse walk slower, almost coming to a stop as she looked down at the gravelled driveway a moment before looking back up at her.
"Of course I am," she nodded as they continued on their walk "he's a good friend to Charles, it's only right that he's there too."
"And Rupert? Is he going to be alright seeing him again?" Isabella asked as Clarisse looked at her.
"Rupert will be fine, we have spoken about him being there and he agrees with me. Of course it will be strange seeing him again after all these years because we have that history together," Clarisse said as she looked ahead while taking a deep breath "but it's in the past, so please don't worry."
"I do worry though, you lost his baby," Isabella began as Clarisse looked back at her "you both loved each other so much, you risked everything for him and he wanted to marry you."
"I know," Clarisse nodded as she looked down once again "I did love him, but sometimes things don't work out how you want them too." She said, giving a small smile as she looked back ahead "things took a different turn, and I couldn't be happier."
"I know I hated Rupert for a long time after what he done to you for the first ten years of your marriage, and I believed that he didn't deserve you back then but he's completely turned himself around and I love that you decided to give things another go." Isabella said as Clarisse looked at her.
"Thank you, I'm glad I did too." She smiled, looking ahead once again as Isabella smiled at her a moment before also looking ahead "these last ten years have been tough, we have been through so much together, but it just made us stronger and now look at us, soon to be celebrating our twenty second wedding anniversary."
"And still both madly in love, like two randy teenagers." Isabella teased and watched as her sister blushed and bit her bottom lip "you can't get enough of each other."
"There is nothing wrong with that, a husband and wife being madly in love, you and Charles are just the same." Clarisse smiled and tried to change the subject "anyway, are you feeling nervous yet?" Clarisse asked, looking at her sister.
"I loved the change of subject there," Isabella smiled while nudging her shoulder gently with hers and they both laughed "and no actually, I'm not, I'm not nervous at all."
"You take after me, I wasn't nervous at all on my wedding day." Clarisse smiled and glanced away a moment before looking back at her "I was actually very calm."
"I remember, I was amazed at how calm you actually were," Isabella smiled "considering what you was marrying in to, I'm sure if it was me I would have been a complete wreck." She said and the both of them laughed.
"No, I think you would have been fine," Clarisse smiled as she unlinked her arm from hers and turned to sit on the bench over looking the palace. "Let's just sit here for a few moments," she said while checking her watch as Isabella sat down beside her "we will be leaving soon."
"I know, I can't wait to start getting ready." Smiled Isabella excitedly as Clarisse looked at her and laughed.
Later That Morning.
After checking into her suite and dropping off hers and Rupert's bags, Clarisse made her way down the hall to the bridal suite at the very end. And reaching the door moments later she looked down at the box that she was carrying a moment before opening the door to enter the suite. Smiling, she walked slowly over to where Isabella sat getting her hair done and stood in front of her.
"Elizabeth, I wonder if you could leave us a moment?" Asked Clarisse.
"Of course, Your Majesty." Said Elizabeth as she bowed and turned to leave.
"What's the matter?" Asked Isabella as she looked at the box in her hands before looking up at her.
And once Elizabeth had left, Clarisse looked down at her sister still sitting in front of her. "Shortly after you told us that you and Charles had set a date for your wedding, I sat for hours going through mother and fathers belongings that I still have at the palace."
"You did?" Isabella asked and watched as Clarisse moved a chair closer so she could sit opposite her.
"I did," Clarisse nodded "I even went through the thousands of photos that they took over the years."
"Wow, that must have took a long time." Smiled Isabella, as Clarisse laughed.
"You could say that, yes," Clarisse nodded "but it was worth it, because right at the bottom I found this." She said while looking down at the box in her hands "and I want you to have it." Looking back up at her sister, she extended her arm out to her, passing her the box.
"What is it?" Isabella asked while looking down at the box a moment before looking back up at her.
Placing her hand on top of Isabella's, Clarisse smiled "open it," she said with a small nod.
"Ok," said Isabella as she looked back down and slowly opened the box. Seeing a photo of their mother on her wedding day, she smiled and slowly lifted it out of the box "she looked so beautiful."
"She did," Clarisse nodded as she watched her sister stare at the photo "father described her as heaven on their wedding day."
"I agree," Isabella nodded and looked back up at her sister.
"Did you see what else was there?" Clarisse asked and watched as Isabella shook her head "have a look." She said softly while pointing to the box.
Placing the photo on her lap, Isabella put her hand up and carefully removed an item wrapped in tissue paper and taking the box from her, Clarisse watched as she unwrapped it, followed by a gasp when she saw what it was.
"Mothers locket what father had given her to wear on their wedding day?" Said Isabella as she watched Clarisse nodding.
"The one that we hunted all over the house for when she died, because father wanted her to be buried with it but we couldn't find it anywhere." Clarisse said tearfully as Isabella broke down "come here," she whispered and pulled her sister into a hug.
"I used to love playing with this necklace when I was little, mother used to let me wear it whenever I was poorly." Isabella said after a few moments "always made me happy."
"I know she did, and that's why I wanted to give it you today, so you can wear it on your special day too," Clarisse said softly as Isabella looked up at her "it will be like they are right there with you as you walk down the aisle."
Nodding, Isabella stared down at it in her hands a long moment "thank you so much," she said softly, looking back up at her as tears escaped her eyes.
"You are welcome," Clarisse said softly as she wiped away her sisters tears "would you like me to put it on for you?" She asked.
"Please," nodded Isabella as she passed it to her.
After putting it on for her, they moved to stand in front of the mirror a moment before Isabella turned to her sister "thank you so much."
"You don't have to thank me," said Clarisse as she gave her a big hug before pulling her head back to look at her "now are you going to be alright while I go down to make sure aunt Clara is alright?"
"I am," nodded Isabella.
"Ok, I will be back as soon as I can." Said Clarisse and kissed Isabella's cheek before walking over to the door "I'll send Elizabeth back in."
"Please," nodded Isabella as Clarisse smiled over at her before walking out the door.
Turning back to the mirror, Isabella stared at the locket a long moment as tears filled her eyes once again before moving away to sit back in her chair to wait for Elizabeth's return to finish her hair whilst Clarisse made her way to check on their aunt.
And once she was done she left to go back up to Isabella, leaving aunt Clara to have a nap. But as she made her way down the hall towards the lift she began to slow down, coming to a complete stop after several steps. There was a man stood by the lift, and even though he was stood with his back to her she could tell who it was.
"Joseph," she said softly and watched as he turned around to face her.
"Clarisse," he said and watched her as she looked down at her hands momentarily before looking back up at him.
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For those of you that are still reading and following this story, this part probably wasn't what you were all expecting haha but I do hope you enjoyed it, please remember to leave your thoughts, the support is very much appreciated :) thank you.