Hi everyone, just wanna thank you all so much for reading and for leaving me reviews, I appreciate the support :) so thank you so much.
Also, a million thanks to Leopardy's Sylvia for all your help :) appreciate it.
Anyways, here's the next chapter for you...
Sunday 30th September 2007.
Yawning, Pierre made his way slowly into the breakfast room to find Eleanor sitting alone. "Morning," he said sleepily and made his way over to the fresh coffee, "where is everyone?" He asked.
"Well Gino is helping Charlotte with the decorations for your mothers birthday celebrations later and everyone else is, as far as I know, still in bed," she smirked.
"That doesn't surprise me, I know a lot of the younger ones continued with the party after all us older folk called it a night," Pierre said while pouring himself some coffee and took a sip of it while still holding the coffee pot.
"That's true," Elly said as she nodded slightly, "there'll be a lot of heavy heads today then."
"Yes, there will be," Pierre nodded in agreement and finally placed the coffee pot down before walking over to the table.
"You look like you didn't get much sleep last night, are you sure you weren't one of those who stayed up late to continue partying?" Elly said and watched as Pierre laughed.
"Ha no, those days are long behind me," he said and looked at her, "I just never got around to asking Mia if I could swap suites, so it's my own fault." Placing his cup down, he made his way over to get a plate of breakfast.
"Oh," Elly nodded knowingly and took a sip of her tea. "So it wasn't the storm keeping you awake then?" She smirked and watched as he stopped what he was doing and turned back to her.
"No, it wasn't," he said and turned back to the food.
"Oh dear," Elly giggled.
"At their age though, I would love to know where they get their energy from," Pierre said as he made his way back over to the table and sat down.
"Oh leave them alone, it shows they are madly in love with one another," Elly smirked as Pierre drank some more of his coffee. "Love does make you do silly things, remember?"
"Yeah, I suppose you are right. I just wish they would be a bit more considerate knowing I'm in the room next door," he said and smirked while placing his cup back down and picked up his knife and fork. "But it is nice to see them happy at last though."
"Exactly, especially after everything they have been through they deserve it," Elly smiled and placed her cup down on the table.
"Yes they do, absolutely," Pierre nodded and put a fork full of food in his mouth as a giggly Clarisse and Joseph walked through the door.
"Oh here they are now," Elly smiled over at them as they both looked up at her and Pierre, "good morning."
"Good morning," Clarisse smiled as Pierre turned to them.
"Are your ears burning? Because we were literally just talking about you," he smiled and turned back to his breakfast.
"You were?" Joseph said in surprise and put his arm around Clarisse's back as they walked over to the table. "Why don't you sit down and I'll get you some breakfast?" He smiled at Clarisse.
"Okay, thank you," she smiled and closed her eyes as he kissed her while smoothing his hand down her back and over her bottom before looking into her eyes.
"You're welcome," he smiled and walked over to the breakfast table as Clarisse pulled her chair out from under the table.
"So, what were you talking about?" She asked and held her cardigan closed with one hand while placing her other hand on the table in front of her and slowly sat down beside Pierre.
"Would you like some tea, ma'am?" Asked the butler as he stood behind the chair next to Clarisse.
"Yes please," Clarisse said and smiled up at him as he leant between the chairs and placed a cup and saucer down on the table for her.
"And what about sir Joseph?" He asked while pouring her some tea.
"He'll have some coffee please," Clarisse smiled.
"Very well ma'am," smiled the butler as he stepped back.
"Thank you," Clarisse smiled and looked back towards Elly and Pierre before putting a cube of sugar in her tea and stirred it.
"Well that's not fair, I had to get my own coffee," said Pierre as Clarisse looked up at him while picking up her teacup.
"Well in all fairness, Pierre, you didnt really give him much of a chance to offer you any, what with you heading straight for the coffee pot as soon as you came through the door," smiled Elly as Clarisse took a sip of her tea, "I mean you were practically drinking it from the pot."
"Why darling?" Clarisse asked while placing her cup back down on the saucer and straightened out her scarf before looking back at her son. "Did you not sleep well?"
"Not really, no," he said with a shake of his head.
"Oh, did the storm keep you awake?" She asked and watched as he looked at her and raised his eyebrow.
"No mom, it wasn't the storm that kept me awake," he said and watched as her face fell.
"Well, I.. " Clarisse blushed and averted her gaze away as she thought back to last night.
Hearing a rumble of thunder in the distance, Joseph slowed his pace and gently rested his body down on Clarisse's and slipped one arm under hers, placing his hand on her shoulder as he buried his face in the crook of her neck while trying to catch his breath. "Are you okay?" Clarisse asked breathlessly.
"Yes," he nodded and raised his head a little as she placed her hand on the back of his shoulder, "I just need a minute," he whispered against her jaw.
"Okay," she said softly and watched as he raised his head a little more to look down into her eyes. Feeling his other hand cup her cheek, she smiled.
"You're so beautiful when we make love," he replied softly and smoothed his thumb over her soft, swollen lips before lowering his head to kiss her a couple times as she smoothed her hand from the back of his shoulder to the back of his head. "I love you."
"I love you too," she smiled and closed her eyes as he buried his face in the crook of her neck once again.
"Are you ready for more," he whispered huskily against the spot below her ear.
"Oh yes," she smiled as he lifted his head to look into her eyes and picked up his pace, thrusting harder and faster than before. "Oooh...good...god, Joseph," she moaned and grasped the back of his shoulder with her other hand as he laughed.
"What are you three talking about?" Joseph asked as he came back to the table with a tray.
"Oh, Pierre didn't get much sleep last night," Clarisse said as she turned to look at her husband and watched as he placed a plate of breakfast down in front of her, "and it wasn't the storms fault."
"Oh I see," he smirked, knowing exactly who was to blame, and placed a plate down on the table for himself before looking back at them and taking a seat beside Clarisse while resting his arm along the back of her chair.
"Seriously, how.." Pierre said before trailing off as his mother looked back at him, "how do you do it?"
"I'm sure I don't need to explain that to you again, darling," Clarisse laughed and looked across at Elly as Pierre shook his head.
"No no, I mean, how do you both have so much energy at your age?" He said as Clarisse looked back at him and smiled.
"Oh," Clarisse exclaimed and thought a moment.
"It's called being madly in love, Pierre," Joseph smiled and looked Clarisse in the eyes as she put his hand down on his thigh, "she makes me feel so young."
"Aww, I love you," Clarisse smiled and leant closer to kiss him.
"I love you too," Joseph whispered as she sat back up straight in her chair and watched as she looked back at her son.
"Anyway, change of subject as I have been meaning to ask you something and I want to do it now while I remember," Elly said and looked across at Clarisse as Joseph buttered a slice of toast, "who was the tall American at the wedding yesterday?" She asked and looked at Joseph as he took a deep breath.
"Actually, I wanted to ask about him too," Pierre said as Clarisse looked at him. "Remind me again how he's related to us?"
"He's your fathers cousin, Christophe," she said and averted her gaze away to think a moment before looking back at Pierre as Joseph placed his butter knife down on the plate a little to heavily, "his mother was your fathers aunt," she said and turned her head to look at her husband sitting on her other side.
"Oh, I thought I could see a bit of family resemblance in his eyes," Elly said as Clarisse reached her hand out, placing it on Joseph's thigh and gave it a little squeeze.
"But he doesn't have a title?" Pierre said before taking a sip of his coffee as Clarisse looked back at him, "or does he and I just didn't realise?"
"No he doesn't, because his mother wanted to marry someone her parents didn't approve off so she had to give up her title and Royal rights in order to do so," Clarisse said and picked up her teacup with her other hand.
"Oh, I see," Pierre said.
"How terribly sad," Elly said and stood to her feet.
"Unfortunately, that's the way it was in them days," Clarisse said and took a sip of her tea.
"Hmm, suppose," Elly said and pondered the idea a moment before shrugging slightly, "anyway, I'm going to go and find Gino."
"Okay," Clarisse smiled up at her as she walked towards the door while waving her hand behind her. "See you later."
"Right, that's me finished," Pierre said a while later and finished his coffee before placing his cup down on the table, "now I better go and pack."
"Okay darling," Clarisse said as she rested her elbows on the table in front of her and tucked her hands under her chin.
"See you when I'm finished," Pierre said as he leant to the side and kissed her cheek before standing to his feet.
"Yes, you will," she smiled, watching him tuck his chair under the table and walk over to the door before turning her head to look at her husband, who was slumped in the chair on her other side, checking his phone. "Are you okay?" She asked while lowering one of her hands and placed it down on his thigh to get his attention.
"Hmm?" He mumbled while looking up at her.
"I asked if you were alright?" She asked again and watched as he nodded.
"Oh yes, I'm alright," he smiled, "why wouldn't I be?"
"Oh I don't know, perhaps your feelings getting the better of you earlier when you were showing a bit of jealousy when we were talking about Christophe?" She said and watched as he reached his arm out and placed his phone on the table in front of him.
"I can't help it," he said and let out a sigh while looking back at her as she turned in her seat to face him and watched as she leant closer to him.
"I know you can't," she said softly while putting her hands up to cup his face and kissed him a couple times before looking into his eyes, "I love you."
"I love you too," he said and kissed her back as she closed her eyes.
Later That Morning.
Standing in the doorway of the palace sitting room, Pierre smiled as his mother tipped her head back and looked over at him. "Hello," he said and slowly walked over to stand behind the sofa, resting his hands down on the back of it.
"Hello," she smiled and looked back at the book she was reading, "are you okay?"
"Yes," he nodded as she looked back up at him, "I just wondered if you would like to come for a walk with me?"
"Of course I would," she smiled and placed the book down on the coffee table in front of her before standing to her feet, "let me just get my jacket and I'll be ready."
"Okay, I'll wait outside," he smiled as she made her way around the sofa to him.
"Okay," she smiled.
"I'm here," Clarisse smiled and slipped on her knee length jacket as she made her way towards her son standing on the drive.
"Perfect," he smiled and they started walking slowly away from the palace as Clarisse done up the buttons on her jacket.
"So," she said a moment later as she linked her arm with her sons arm and put her free hand down on his forearm, "does this mean you are the decoy to keep me away from the ballroom so I won't see what they are up to?"
"What?" He said, looking at her in surprise and shook his head, "no, of course not," he laughed nervously and rubbed his hand on the back of his head.
"You're not a very good liar, Pierre," Clarisse smiled as she looked back up at him.
"Alright, I am the decoy but please don't tell dad I told you that," Pierre said and watched as she tipped her head back and laughed.
"I won't tell him anything don't worry," Clarisse smiled and rubbed his arm.
"Thank you," he smiled and looked on ahead, "talking of dad, is he okay?"
"How do you mean?" She asked as she looked up at him and watched as he looked back at her.
"I don't know, he just seemed to be acting oddly when we were talking about Christophe at breakfast," he said and looked on ahead, "like he was jealous."
"Ah, you noticed that?" She asked as he looked back at her.
"You mean he was jealous?" He asked and watched as she nodded, "but why?"
"Because," she said and hesitated a moment before taking a deep breath and carrying on, "we, me and Christophe, were once an item."
"What?" He exclaimed and looked at her in shock, "when?"
"Before I fell in love with your father," Clarisse answered, her gaze remaining ahead of them. "We dated for just over a year before he moved to America with his family."
"Wow?" He said, shocked. "How did I not know this?"
"No one knew, only Joseph's sister, Victoria," Clarisse answered as she finally looked up at her son.
"Not even father?" Pierre asked and looked at her as she shook her head.
"No, I never told him and he never said anything if he did know," Clarisse said and looked back on ahead of them.
"Wait a minute, if you never told anyone other than Victoria, then how did dad know?" He asked.
"I had to tell him last night after Christophe told him I was the one who got away," she answered.
"Oh," he said and they walked on in silence for a moment, "it must have been serious though if you were together over a year," Pierre asked.
"If you call buying a one way ticket to join him and his family in America serious, then yes, I suppose it was." Clarisse answered.
"You nearly moved to America?" He asked and watched as she nodded, "wow, what stopped you from going?"
"I realised that I couldn't just abandon my family, my friends or my life here," she said and took a deep breath.
"Oh," Pierre said, "did you regret not going and starting a new life with him across the pond?"
"I did at first, yes, but marrying your father blessed me with you and your brother," she said and looked up at her son as he looked at her, "and that's something I would never regret."
"I love you, mom," Pierre said as he leant closer and kissed the side of her head.
"I love you too," she said and looked up at him as they continued walking.
Later.
Returning to the palace after their walk, both Clarisse and Pierre were surprised to find Joseph waiting in the foyer for them. "Here you are, I thought I was going to have to come looking for you," he said as he walked over to them and kissed Clarisse's cheek, "you were only meant to take a short walk."
"It's my fault," Clarisse said, removing her coat and put it over her arm before looking up at her husband, "we were talking and completely lost track of time."
"It's okay, you're here now," he smiled and placed his hand on her back, "your birthday lunch awaits."
Walking through the doors into the ballroom a moment later, Clarisse was greeted by a small gathering of family and friends all stood round a table with her birthday cake on singing happy birthday to her. Smiling, she watched Amelia walk over to her and handed her a glass of champagne.
"Thank you, sweetheart," she smiled and took a sip of her champagne, "it's been a long time since I had champagne at this time of the day."
"Better not give you to much then," Mia giggled and put her arm around her grandmothers shoulders as they walked slowly towards the cake, "now I know you knew about the lunch today, and even though it's officially not your birthday until tomorrow we all wanted to make today extra special for you because we can't celebrate with you tomorrow."
"Oh, you didn't have too," Clarisse said as she watched her granddaughter pick up a glass of champagne and held it up.
"To the best grandma in the whole world, thank you for all you do because I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for you," Mia smiled as Clarisse reached out for her hand, giving it a little squeeze as she continued, "we all hope you have a lovely day today, and an even better day tomorrow being spoilt by grandpa." She smiled at Joseph.
"Oh, yes," he smiled and slipped his arm around Clarisse's back as they looked into one another's eyes, "I definitely will be."
"Aww," Mia grinned as her grandparents shared a quick kiss before looking back at her, "to you grandma, because we love you."
"Thank you, darling," Clarisse said as she stepped closer and wrapped her arm around her shoulder as she kissed her cheek, "thank you all so much."
"You're welcome," Mia smiled and looked towards the cake, "it's time to make a wish and blow out your candles, grandma."
"Oh, I don't need to wish for anything," Clarisse said as she looked around the guests, "I have everything I need right here, an amazing family and a handsome husband," she smiled as she leant against Joseph and tipped her head back to look up into his eyes while wrapping her arm around his waist, "I couldn't ask for more," she smiled and watched as he lowered his head to kiss her and everyone cheered, making them both laugh.
"Ok, but grandma you still need to blow out your candles," Mia smiled as Clarisse turned her head to look at her, "or it might set the smoke alarms off it you don't," she laughed.
"Alright, alright," Clarisse turned to her and smiled, "I'll blow them out."
Stepping closer to her, Joseph put his hand on her lower back and whispered in her ear, "make a wish and I'll my best to make it come true."
Smiling, she looked at her husband, thinking a moment before turning back to the cake and bent over, blowing out all the candles as everyone cheered once again. "So what did you wish for?" He asked while gathering up the back of her cardigan to slip his hand underneath onto her lower back.
"That'll be telling," she said, giving him a side smile before raising her glass and took a sip of her champagne.
"You tease," he laughed while smoothing his hand back and forth across the bottom of her back under her cardigan and watched as she turned her head to look back at him.
After having lunch, Clarisse stood talking to Nicholas and Sebastian when something caught her eye. Standing over by the door with a bunch of flowers and a bottle of wine in his hand, stood Christophe as he looked around the room for her. "Excuse me, I'm sorry," she said while placing her glass down and walked over to him.
"Hello, sorry I'm a bit late," he smiled when he saw her approaching, "these are for you," he said, handing her the flowers and the bottle of wine, "no idea what it's like, it's all I could get at the last minute."
"Thank you," she said, looking down at the bottle before looking back up at him, "where's Mercia and Julia?"
"Suffering a hangover I'm afraid, they send their apologies though and hope to see you again before we head home," he said as Pierre appeared beside them.
"I'm sure that could be arranged," Clarisse said and looked up at her son, "ahh Pierre, you remember Christophe, don't you?"
"Yes, of course," Pierre smiled and held out his hand for Christophe's, "fathers cousin, right?"
"That's right," Christophe said as they shook hands.
"Well, I'll leave you two to get better acquainted while I go and put these flowers in water. Be back soon," Clarisse smiled and glanced up at Pierre as she turned to walk away. Finding Charlotte, she gave her the flowers and bottle of wine before returning to her husband.
"Here you are," he smiled and slipped his arm around her shoulders as she stood to his side, "are you alright?"
"I am," she nodded and put her hand up onto his jaw, "but are you?"
"Well I'm not happy that he's here, but I'm alright now you are here with me," he said and looked into her eyes as she smiled up at him.
Later That Afternoon.
Standing in the library doorway, Christophe put his hands in his pants pockets and watched Clarisse for a long moment. She was stood at the table, gathering up some of the old photo albums that Pierre had got out earlier to put away, completely oblivious that she was being watched. After checking the time on her watch she went to pick up the albums when Christophe cleared his throat. "Hello," he smiled as she turned to him, "Charlotte said you might be in here."
"Yes, I'm tidying away the photo albums that Pierre had got out to show you earlier while waiting for Joseph to return," she said and picked up the albums before walking over to the shelves to put them away.
"I thought he was here?" He said and watched her another moment before walking over to the table.
"He was, but he took his daughter, her family and Pierre to the airport," she answered and turned back to him as he opened an album on the table.
"I see," he said as she slowly walked back over to the table and stood beside him. "I really just come to let you know that I'm heading back to the hotel shortly and to say thank you for inviting me, I have had a lovely afternoon getting to talk to Pierre and Mia more, and going through these albums of course," he smiled.
"You're welcome," she smiled and looked down at the page he had turned too in the album, "thanks for coming and thanks for the wine and flowers too." She said and began gathering more albums to put away as Christophe turned over the page.
"Actually, I have a confession to make," he said softly and turned to her as she stopped what she was doing.
"Oh, and what might that be?" She asked and looked up at him.
"Mercia and my sister aren't really suffering from a hangover," he said and looked into her eyes, "we had a falling out last night."
"How come?" Clarisse asked as she looked away, fearing what his answer was going to be.
"She caught me staring at you as you walked away from us last night out on the drive, claimed she saw something in my eyes that gave away my feelings for you," he said and watched as she froze.
"Christophe, I.. " she said as she turned to him and watched as he shook his head.
"No, please let me continue," he said, interrupting her and looked into her eyes, "the truth is, Clarisse, when I saw you again yesterday after all these years I realised I never stopped loving you, I had just simply buried my feelings away."
"Christophe," Clarisse said and shook her head.
"Clarisse, I still love you," he whispered and lowered his head to kiss her while putting his hand up to cup her face.
To be continued...