Saturday 13th September 1980.
That Evening.
Coming into the bedroom, Clarisse done a little twirl to show off her attire before smiling across at her husband as he stood watching her.
"So, do I look OK for our dinner tonight?" She asked, walking over to stand in front of him.
"Yes you do, you look very lovely." He said and kissed her cheek.
"Thank you," she smiled up at him.
"Shall we?" He asked and extended his arm towards the door as Clarisse bowed her head just once in acknowledgement before leading the way into their suite where a palace butler was waiting. "I'm glad we changed the plans for tonight, I don't think I could have managed a party."
Stopping, Clarisse turned and watched her husband close the distance between them. "I knew that walk this afternoon was going to be to much, do you need to rest?" She asked.
"Not at the moment, I plan on enjoying dinner with you first." He answered.
"Are you sure, because you can go and rest if you need too." She said while reaching up to cup his face.
"I'll be fine, I promise." He said while taking hold of her hand, kissing the back of it as she nodded "now can we eat?"
"Alright, but if you feel tired at any point you make sure you tell me." She said and turned to take her seat as the butler got her chair for her. "Thank you."
"I will, now please stop worrying." Rupert said as the butler walked around to get his chair for him. "Thank you." He too said, and grabbed his napkin to lay on his lap. "Now let's enjoy our dinner."
"Yes, let's." She said while picking up her glass to hold it up "here's to us, may we have many more happy years together." She said with a smile.
"To us," Rupert smiled and they both took a sip of their drink before placing their glasses back down as the butler began dishing up dinner. "I forgot to ask earlier, but did Carol finalise your trip to Rome next week?"
"Yes she did, everything's done." Answered Clarisse as she grabbed her napkin to lay on her lap "she also suggested that I speak with you about hiring an assistant for myself, because if I am going to be taking over some of your duties I am going to need one." She said, looking across the table at him as he looked across at her.
"I don't see why not," he said and took a sip of his water as she thanked the butler. "We will arrange it upon your return from Rome, if that's suitable." He said, putting his glass back down.
"That would be perfect, and I actually have someone in mind." She said, smiling across at him.
"Who?" He asked, looking up at her.
"Isabella? I already have her husband as my driver and bodyguard, so it makes sense really and I know that she will do a good job." She smiled.
"Okay, we will talk to her about it tomorrow and see what she thinks." He said, smiling across at her. "I can't thank you enough for helping with everything and taking on some of my duties." He said.
"It's no bother, it's what I am here for." She smiled across at him as he thanked the butler.
After they had eaten and all the plates and left over food had been cleared away, they moved to snuggle on the sofa in their suite.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you that Pierre's going to ask Sophie to marry him tonight." Said Clarisse while lifting her head to look at her husband "so we will need to stay away from my gardens tonight."
"Well it's about time," he smiled and looked into her eyes "how special that he's doing it tonight, on our anniversary."
"I know," she smiled and put her hand up to cup his face before burying her face in his neck "I just hope she will say yes."
"Me too," he nodded in agreement while running his hand up and down her back "how long have they been together now?" He asked as Clarisse raised her head.
"Since they were sixteen, I think, it's hard to say really seeing though they kept it a secret for so long before finally telling us." She answered and rested her head back down on his chest.
"That's true," he said softly, going into a daydream as they just sat in silence for several moments. "Clarisse?"
"Yes?" She said, lifting her head to look at him as he looked at her, hesitating.
Shaking his head, he glanced away momentarily before looking back into her eyes "I just wanted to tell you I love you."
Smiling, she put her hand up to cup his face once again "I love you too," she whispered and kissed him before placing her head back down on his chest for a moment.
"I wonder if you would mind if I went to bed, I'm feeling rather tired now." Rupert asked softly.
"No, of course not." She said while sitting up.
"Thank you, I'm sorry for being a bore." He said while sitting up too.
"Oh shh you," she smiled and leant closer to kiss him "it's absolutely fine."
"Thank you, I love you," he smiled and stood to his feet.
"I love you too," she said and watched as he walked over to the door, disappearing into the bedroom. Letting out a sigh she sat back for a moment before glancing over at the balcony doors then at her watch.
Standing to her feet, she smoothed down the skirt of her dress as she made her way around the sofa and over to the French doors. Stepping out onto her balcony she couldn't help but smile, the sun was just setting, the sky beautiful with array of pink, orange and yellow. And as she leant against the balustrade, she placed her hands down on the top and instantly felt relaxed. Closing her eyes, she remembered watching the sunset almost every night with her father when she was growing up. It was something she had always loved doing at the end of the day, she even tried to get Rupert to join her but learned pretty early on in their marriage that it wasn't his thing.
And as soon as the sun had gone and the sky had darkened Clarisse made her way back inside to get changed into something a bit more comfortable before heading downstairs to get some tea. But on her way back up the stairs, she had to stop when she heard Sophie giggling and Pierre telling her to be quiet before giggling himself. Realising that they must have came up through the back stairs as not to be caught, Clarisse decided to wait until it had gone quiet before returning to her suite. When she reached the door she put her hand out onto the handle and stopped, turning slightly she looked towards Pierre's door which was opposite hers and smirked.
Continuing on into the suite a moment later, she sat and read a little while drinking her tea before calling it a day. Climbing into bed beside Rupert, trying to not to wake him she lay staring up at the ceiling when he pushed himself up on his elbow and looked at her.
"What's the matter?" He asked and watched as she turned her head to look at him.
"Nothing, just thinking," she smiled as he lay back down. Turning, she looked at him "I think Sophie said yes,"
"Really?" He smiled and looked at her as she moved closer "how do you know?" He asked, putting his arm along her pillow as she snuggled up to him.
"Because when I was coming back upstairs after getting some tea I heard them in the hallway Sophie was giggling and Pierre was telling her to be quiet, nicely of course." She said and rested her head on his chest while wrapping her arm around his waist "which means,
"He was being naughty and snuck her in behind our backs?" He said and smiled as Clarisse lifted her head "and I thought you banned that sort of thing before marriage?" He smirked.
"Oh sure, we can talk considering we were the same." She smirked and moved her hand from his side to his chest.
"That's true," he smirked, moving his hand from her back to the back of her head "as long as he doesn't get her pregnant until after they are married then I don't care." He said and kissed her.
"Neither do I," said Clarisse as she rested her head back down on his chest "I know it's not the first time she's stayed over, and I'm sure it won't be the last."
"It most definitely won't be the last," Rupert said softly as he closed his eyes "but if they are happy, that's all that matters."
"That's true," Clarisse smiled, feeling him relax she let out a contented sigh as she closed her eyes "good night, my love." She whispered.
"Good night," Rupert whispered softly.
Italy.
Sitting out on his balcony, Joseph watched as the sunset before him. It was one of his favourite things to do, there was something quite peaceful about it. Sipping his drink, he thought back over the last month. After leaving Genovia he travelled a bit before returning home, where upon his return he put his home up for sale. Sure it was the one he had shared with his soon to be ex wife, Liliana, but it also held memories of his time with Clarisse and now that she never wanted to see him again he knew it was time to let go, and so this morning he signed the papers on a new house.
A fresh start to move on and get on with his life.
Shortly after the sun had disappeared he stood to his feet and made his way back inside, and standing by the mantle he picked up a photo of himself and Clarisse from his nieces christening, staring at it momentarily before turning and moving to stand by the coffee table. Wrapping it in a sheet of old newspaper he slowly placed it inside a box that sat on the coffee table, a box that was filled with bits that will be put in the loft, soon to be forgotten about.