As promised, an earlier than usual update!
I'm about to be descended upon by family for the Thanksgiving holiday and figured between cleaning, cooking, eating, fighting, watching football and cleaning up, it would be forever and a day by the time I got back to my computer.
So, here we are, one step closer to the Parliament dinner. Not much more to say really, except that if it seems short, keep in mind that the next chapter is already 80 percent finished so a quick turnaround on the next chap is in the offing.
Happy reading! (And for those hip deep in turkey giblets like I am, Happy Thanksgiving!)
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Rupert meandered about the study, bored. The first one dressed and ready, as usual. It was infuriating; he could start getting dressed while everyone else walked down the stairs toward the limos and he would still be in his seat first. He understood the ladies taking a bit of time, but honestly, his father and Etienne were just being indulgent. He collapsed sulkily on the couch and settled in for the duration.
After countless moments and one scotch later, Etienne ambled into the room. Noting Rupert sprawled casually on the sofa, he asked, "So, how do I look?"
Rupert droned disinterestedly, "Very pretty."
Etienne studiously ignored Rupert's comment and made himself a drink. "Any sign of anyone else?"
Rupert stood and stretched, "Not a one." He sighed petulantly, "It's disgraceful how long it takes for some people to put on clothes."
Etienne glanced over his shoulder with a chuckle, "Nervous?"
Rupert shook his head dismissively, "No, not at all. Just anxious to get this evening over with. I hate Parliament dinners. We spend an entire year going at it hammer and tong with Parliament, and then for one night we pretend we all want to share a meal." He shook his head wearily, "It's ludicrous."
The more easy going Etienne merely sipped his drink and agreed, "Mmm. Well, at least this year you'll have some charming company on your arm."
Rupert smiled, "That's very true."
Etienne unbuttoned his coat and sat down, "So, how is Clarisse? I haven't spoken to her this past week."
"Oh, she's fine." Rupert walked over to the window and absently gazed at the garden. He continued with a small chuckle, "I think she's finally getting a bit worn out with all of this, though. She's been a bit quiet the last few days."
Etienne nodded, "Well, God knows she's got stamina, but it was bound to happen. She's a trooper and dealt with everything very well." Etienne laughed to himself, "Maybe too well. I think mother is getting annoyed that she's had nothing to harp on with Clarisse's handling of things."
Rupert turned and laughed, "Don't say that to Clarisse. She'll feel jinxed."
After they shared a laugh, Rupert exhaled deeply and sat in the chair across from Etienne, who noticed the pensive mood that slowly enveloped his brother.
Etienne raised his eyebrows a bit, "What is it?"
Rupert looked up suddenly, startled out of his reverie. "What? Oh, nothing." He sighed, "It's just…difficult." At Etienne's questioning look, Rupert continued, "I feel responsible to Clarisse; for what I'm putting her through." He sighed and shook his head, "Just watching what she's had to go through…"
Etienne nodded in understanding, "Ohhhh, yes, I see. It's very hard not to feel guilty about all the hoops she'll have to jump through by being with you." Etienne smiled, "Believe me, I know."
"Exactly. I had the urge to apologize to her when she arrived this morning and the limo was besieged by the press as she drove through the gate."
Etienne shrugged, trying to console as best he could, "She's got that part down. She doesn't even flinch at the cameras, anymore. She never did, really."
Rupert grumbled, "I know, I know." He sighed and looked at Etienne, a frown on his face, "It's just that, listening to some of the things that Marcel counsels her on…it's makes me cringe. Silly things like how to drink champagne, you know, 'always take a glass when offered, but make sure at least four to seven minutes pass between sips', and 'when at a public function, don't smile too big at anything anyone says or the camera might catch your fillings in the photos.'"
Etienne nodded knowingly but remained quiet. Rupert shook his head slowly, staring broodingly into the distance before marveling quietly, "I just about died when Marcel reminded her always to wear a slip under her dress so no one could get a risqué picture if the sunlight was behind her."
Etienne smiled a little to himself, having watched Sara go through Marcel's crash course in how to be a royal. He knew exactly how uncomfortable Rupert was, but Etienne and his wife having come through the other side of things, he had some perspective on the matter that he hoped would be of comfort. "You know, Rupert, Marcel's just doing his job. Ultimately, as silly as these things sound, his little 'tricks' make things easier on Clarisse."
Rupert's eyes came back to Etienne's and he said sincerely, "Oh, I know. It's not that; it's not Marcel." He explained, with some difficultly, "All of this…nonsense is second nature to us, I mean, I never even think about it." Etienne nodded in agreement. Rupert continued with real worry in his voice, "But now, looking at my life through Clarisse's eyes, it all just comes across as so…preposterous." He paused, looking down at his hands, "I guess on some level I just don't understand why she is doing this. Why would she, or anyone, for that matter – Sara, Mother, whomever Madeleine marries – anyone…why would they deliberately put themselves through this?"
Etienne took a breath and raised his eyebrows, not entirely prepared for such existential questions before dinner. But then, for all his outward nonchalance, Rupert always was a man of deep complications and worries. For the millionth time in his life, Etienne thanked the Lord above he had not been the first born.
Trying to answer Rupert's question as best he could, Etienne began, "Well, mother's parents arranged her marriage to father out of a sense of responsibility and duty to the country."
He paused noting the pensive discomfort that crossed Rupert's face at that answer. Etienne hoped to be more reassuring as he spoke of his own marriage. "As for Sara, well…she loves me."
Rupert laughed slightly and nodded. Addressing the third part of Rupert's question, Etienne furrowed his brow in genuine curiosity, "I don't know about Madeleine…I don't know how much different it makes the situation when you switch the genders around."
They sat for a moment, Etienne lost in wonder as to what kind of man would wind up walking beside his sister, and Rupert chewing on Etienne's observations. Rupert finally admitted, "I just don't know – if I were in the position to choose – if I would do what Clarisse is doing; opt to live this life." He looked up at Etienne directly, "Would you? Choose this public life? "
Etienne closed his eyes and shook his head, "Oh, Rupert, you shouldn't be asking yourself questions like that…let alone asking me. They're pointless and impossible to answer. You feel bad about all that Clarisse has to get accustomed to in order to be with you. That's normal, it's fair and it's damn sensitive of you, but don't start trying to take responsibility for Clarisse's whole life. I mean, she has been inundated with advice and words of caution and encouragement from you, me, Sara, Madeleine, Marcel, even mother and father. Well, father."
He was relieved to get a small smile from Rupert. He went on, he hoped, reassuringly, "My point is, she's gotten a real picture of the maneuverings and logistics that go with being by your side and she hasn't run screaming into the night. At some point you are just going to have to trust that she is here because she wants to be here."
Grumpy worry still creased Rupert's brow as grumbled, "I suppose, but it's difficult to put your trust in something that you don't really understand."
Etienne wanted to comfort Rupert and finally just stated the obvious, "For all you know, part of why she's stayed is because of…you." After giving Rupert a moment to be reassured, Etienne added, "The mind reels at the thought, but it could technically be true. I suppose."
Rupert nodded indulgently, "Ha, yes, I was waiting for the rest of that."
Etienne chuckled, "Well, at dinner tonight, if she throws her barely touched glass of bubbly in your face, you'll know whether you were right to worry." At Rupert's first genuine smile of the afternoon, Etienne said, "Then you can fire Marcel for his telling her to take the champagne in the first place. I'll explain it all to mum and dad."
Henri strolled in straightening his sash, "Explain what, pray tell?"
Rupert exhaled dramatically, "Oh, finally, some movement from upstairs! I thought you'd all slipped into comas."
Henri shot his cuffs briskly, ignoring Rupert, "I passed both of your ladies chatting in the hallway. They should be down momentarily." He looked at the two of them archly, "And what such lovely creatures are doing with the rumpled likes of the two of you is beyond me."
Rupert and Etienne shared a smirk as Henri continued, "My lovely lady, on the other hand…" He meandered over to the bar and murmured, "There's definitely time for a drink."
Rupert sighed dejectedly at that news, but perked up when he heard Clarisse and Sara on the stairs. A smile slowly spread across Rupert's face when Clarisse, a vision in light pink, came into the study. Her eyes found his and she smiled, immediately crossing the room to him. He took her hands and held them aloft, content to merely gaze at her for a moment.
Henri muttered to no one in particular as he took a sip of his drink, "I told you."
Rupert leaned down to kiss Clarisse's cheek and whispered, "You're stunning."
Clarisse closed her eyes and accepted his kiss, giving his hand a small squeeze. She exhaled, almost sounding relieved, and smiled at him as he stepped back. She looked at him in slight wonder, shaking her head, "You look so handsome."
He shrugged and glanced down at himself in full military regalia, "Anyone can look good in one of these." He motioned to Etienne in his dress uniform, "See?"
Rupert smiled when she chuckled and lead her to the couch to sit and wait the arrival of the Queen. As he chitchatted with his father, brother and sister-in-law, two things distantly occurred to him. One, Clarisse had lapsed into silence as she had been doing for the last week, and two, she hadn't let go of his hand when they sat down. At some point, in fact, had even put her other hand on top of their already clasped ones. He took a concerned peek at her and saw the faraway look in her eyes and the slight frown line between her eyebrows. His eyes dropped to their entwined hands for a moment and leaned in to her quietly, "Clarisse, are you alright?" At her startled and questioning expression, he whispered, "You're shaking."
She shrugged vaguely but said nothing, the frown line in her brow never leaving her face. He cocked his head to one side in surprise, "Are you nervous?'
Her eyes seemed to restlessly scan the room before dropping to her lap. Almost too quietly to hear, she breathed, "A little."
He was quite frankly surprised to hear that. He certainly was aware that she had been nervous during this moment or that over the course of the past few weeks, but she'd never owned up to it when he'd asked. The fact that she had given voice to her nerves tonight gave him pause. He hoped it meant she was growing even more comfortable around him. And not that her willingness to admit to the relatively benign emotion of 'nervous' meant she was actually petrified.
He whispered seriously, "Clarisse."
When she looked over at him he slowly shook his head, "Everything is going to be fine." He paused for a moment and promised, "I'll be with you…everything will be fine."
He watched her closely as she seemed to decide to believe him. The crease in her brow smoothed itself and her hold on his hand loosened slightly. She offered him a nod, "Alright."
He gave her a small grin, which she returned. She seemed almost embarrassed when she quietly said, "Thank you."
Thinking back to his conversation with Etienne, Rupert shook his head, "Thank you, Clarisse, for coming with me tonight. And for everything else you've done."
She took a deep breath and smiled a smile he knew was real. "You're welcome."
He knew she was feeling better when, after a few minutes of comfortable silence, she leaned to him and said, "If you can figure out how to get them to my plate, I'll take the pears half of your dessert so you don't have to eat them."
He laughed at the very idea, then suddenly cocked his head to one side, "Wait, that might actually work." He looked down at her, "I'll have to think about that."
She nodded decisively, "I'll think of a code name."
By the time his mother finally made her appearance and they all began their trek to dinner, to Rupert's utter relief, Clarisse seemed to have shed her uncharacteristic nervousness and was once again the calm and comforting presence on his arm.
TBC
