Sunday 14th September 1980.
After having a restless night and as not to wake Rupert, Clarisse decided to just get up and go for an early morning walk with the dogs around the palace. After watching the sunrise she began making her way back when she saw Pierre stood outside the main entrance with Sophie. She watched a moment as they stood kissing and talking to each other before she continued around to the back entrance and after leaving the dogs with the maid, she made her way up to her suite.
Looking up as the door opened, Rupert smiled when he saw who it was. "Ahh good morning," he said as she closed the door and looked over at him "I was wondering where you had got too."
"I couldn't sleep so I took the dogs for a walk," she smiled and walked over to him "I didn't want to wake you with my tossing and turning." She said and kissed him.
"Ok," he smiled and watched as she made her way over to the bedroom door before looking down at his letter that he had been reading.
"I have just seen Pierre and Sophie out the front, they didn't see me though," she said as Rupert looked back over at her "I think they were saying their goodbyes." She smiled.
"Oh so he definitely broke the rules then," he smirked.
"He did," she smiled with a small nod "I'm just going to have a quick shower and get changed, see you in a bit."
"Yes, alright, shall I order us some breakfast?" He asked.
"Oh, yes please." She answered, making her way through the door.
Smiling, he stood to his feet and called down to the kitchens, ordering them breakfast before returning to his letter. Shortly after Clarisse returned and they both sat down to enjoy breakfast together before the both of them sat reading the papers when a knock came to the door.
"Come in," called Clarisse as she looked up at the door as it opened.
"It's just me, can I come in?" Asked Pierre as he stepped in and smiled over at them.
"Of course," said Rupert while folding his paper as Clarisse looked at him, and he looked over at Pierre.
"Thank you," said Pierre as he closed the door and made his way over to them.
"Oh Clarisse, would you look at that smile." Teased Rupert as he looked across at his wife "I take it, because you are grinning from ear to ear that she said yes then?" He smiled up at his son as he stood beside his mother.
"Yes, actually she did say yes." Pierre nodded and kissed his mothers cheek "good morning, mom," he smiled and moved to sit down.
"Good morning and congratulations, darling," she smiled while putting her hands up, tucking them under her chin as she rested her elbows on the table and watched as he helped himself to a pancake.
"Well that is good news, congratulations," said Rupert as Clarisse looked across at him, giving each other a knowing smile before they both looked back at Pierre "and where is she, we must congratulate her too."
"She's gone, she left last night." He answered, smiling nervously before taking another bite of his pancake.
"Oh she did, did she?" Said Rupert as Pierre nodded and Clarisse took a sip of her tea.
"Oh, but I saw you both out the front looking cozy this morning?" Said Clarisse as she placed her cup back down and looked up at him while tucking her hand back up under her chin.
"Oh," Pierre said as he began to sweat a little. "You both know that she stayed last night, don't you?" He asked and first looked at his father before looking at his mother, both of them nodding.
"We do," smirked Clarisse as she averted her gaze across to her husband while lowering her hands, folding her arms on the table in front of her.
"How did you find out?" Asked Pierre as Rupert sipped his tea, leaving Clarisse to answer.
"I heard you last night,"
"What?" Exclaimed Pierre, his eyes wide as Rupert laughed.
"And before you think that your mother was up to no good, she heard you both giggling by your door on her way back up the stairs," smirked Rupert as Pierre laughed nervously.
"Oh, okay," nodded Pierre.
"I figured you used the back entrance, as not to get caught?" She said as Rupert placed his cup back down and looked up at his son.
"Yes, we did." He nodded and watched as his mother stood to her feet, taking her cup of tea with her. "Alright, give it to me, tell me off, ground me or whatever it is you're going to do."
"What do you mean?" Asked Rupert as Clarisse moved to sit on the sofa "we aren't going to tell you off, and we certainly aren't going to ground you," he said and looked over at Clarisse as she laughed.
"I think you are a little too old to ground, don't you?" She asked and smiled over at him while crossing her legs and resting her cup down on her thigh.
"So," he began and turned to look back at his father "no telling off for having a girl in my room?" He smirked.
"No, because we trust you, Pierre." Said Rupert as Clarisse sipped some more of her tea.
"We most certainly do," smiled Clarisse as she looked over at them while resting her cup back down on her thigh.
"Oh this is great, so she can stay over whenever then?" Asked Pierre.
"Yes, as long as you don't get her pregnant until after you are married." Said Rupert as Pierre put his hands up, covering his ears as both Clarisse and Rupert laughed.
"Dad, please, you just said that you trusted me," exclaimed Pierre as Clarisse stood back up and moved around to stand beside Rupert.
"Yes, I did," smiled Rupert as Clarisse put her arm around his shoulders.
"So give me some credit, please," he said, looking over at his parents as Rupert put his hand on Clarisse's hand.
"We do, Pierre, we do," said Clarisse "now if you'll excuse me, I have to go and meet your aunt for our morning walk." She said and kissed Rupert's cheek.
"Are you going to ask her about what we talked about last night?" Asked Rupert as she leant over, placing her cup down on the table.
"I will," she smiled and kissed Pierre's cheek "see you guys later."
"You will," said Rupert as he watched her walk over to the door and walked out.
"What was that about asking aunt Isabella?" Asked Pierre.
"Oh, your mother is going to speak to her about her becoming your mothers assistant. With her taking over some of my duties, she will need one and Clarisse thought that having Charles as her driver and bodyguard already makes sense if she was her assistant." Said Rupert as Pierre nodded.
"Well yeah, it does," said Pierre "so tell me, how was your romantic night?" He said, smirking as he leant closer to the table and took another bite of his pancake.
"It was lovely, but I was tired after our walk yesterday afternoon so I ended up going to bed earlier than planned." Answered Rupert before sipping some more tea.
"Oh that was a shame, maybe when you are fit enough you could take mom away somewhere?" Said Pierre as Rupert looked across at him "I know she will like that, and the break will do you good, I'm sure."
"Yeah, maybe," answered Rupert. "The truth is though, Pierre," he said staring at his son, hesitating.
"What is it, what's the matter?" Asked Pierre.
"Well I had every intention on being, well trying to be intimate last night but I don't feel very romantic anymore, the spark in me has gone." Said Rupert as he watched his son staring at his plate a moment before looking up at him "I know you don't like talking about this stuff with me, but I can't talk to anyone else."
"It's okay," said Pierre.
"No no, maybe I should find someone else, my doctor maybe." Said Rupert.
"No father, you can talk to me," Pierre said, giving him an reassuring nod.
In The Gardens.
"So what do you say, will you be my assistant?" Asked Clarisse as they made their way slowly through Clarisse's rose garden.
"Honestly Clarisse I don't know, I know it's a lovely offer and yes I would love to be if I'm honest but me and Charles are trying for a baby, and if I take this job then I will have to put having a family on hold,"
"You won't have to put having a family on hold, if you take this job and you fall pregnant we will deal with it." Said Clarisse as she turned her head to look at her sister.
"Alright, so if I take this job and then find out next month that I'm pregnant, eight months down the line I will have to go on maternity leave, or quit, after you have just completed training and I've got used to doing everything you will then have to find someone else and start from the beginning." Said Isabella as she watched her sister look ahead.
"I see your point and understand what you are saying," said Clarisse as she nodded.
"Please don't get me wrong though, I would love to take it but it's just not the right time."
"I know," nodded Clarisse as she put her arm around Isabella's shoulders and kissed the side of her head "and thank you for being honest."
"It's fine," smiled Isabella "It's nice to be thought off though, so thank you." She said as she watched her sister bend over to smell her roses "Clarisse?"
"Yes?" She said and closed her eyes, smelling the next rose.
"I was honest with you, and now can you be honest with me?" Said Isabella.
Opening her eyes, Clarisse stared ahead a moment before standing back up straight "it depends what it's about?" She asked, glancing over at her before looking back down at her roses.
"Joseph?" She said and watched as her sister froze "what happened between you last month?"
"Why?" Clarisse said and turned to her "why do you want to know what happened between us?"
"Because he's selling his house, you know the one that he said he would never get rid off? That's why." Said Isabella as she watched Clarisse look away a moment before looking back at her sister.