Hey everyone, thanks again for reading and leaving me reviews. I really appreciate it :) and here's the next chapter for you all.


Sunday 15th June 2008 - Continued.

"No, I haven't and I'm not sure about any of the others. I will have to ask them when we get back to the palace," he answered as she placed the letters back on top of the sideboard and opened the drawer to take a look inside.

"Ok, that's fine," she said, rummaging through the drawer, checking the contents before looking back up at him, "it was probably me who left it open without realising, being in a rush and all when we left for Italy last week."

"Ahh," he nodded and watched as she closed the drawer back up, "well I will still check when we get back, just in case."

"Thank you, Shades," she said and smiled up at him before picking up the post once again. "Oh, I just remembered. Joseph mentioned something about you having done a rota?"

"Yes, with the security team. It's only while Joseph is in Italy, but me and Richard will be staying here with you tonight and then Lars and Andrew tomorrow night." He said and smiled, "if that's alright?"

"No not really, but given what's going on it will do," Clarisse said sadly and glanced away momentarily before looking back up at him, "I'll set up the guest rooms when we get back later."

"Oh there's no need, the armchairs in the living room will do just fine," he nodded.

"Are you sure?" She said in surprise.

"Absolutely, yeah," he nodded.

"Well alright," she said while looking away, "I will get some sheets and a couple pillows for you then, just in case."

"That will be fine," he said as she looked back at him then down at the letters in her hands, "Joseph only done it this way, so you get to stay here in the comfort of your own home instead of staying at the palace."

"I know, it's just.." she said and took a deep breath while shaking her head, "it doesn't matter, it's fine. Thank you to you and your team for the support during this time," she said while looking back at him.

"It's no trouble," he said, watching her as she looked back down and continued rifling through her letters a moment before placing them back down on the sideboard.

"Alright, I'm ready," Clarisse smiled and watched as Shades opened the front door, "let's go and see my beautiful great granddaughter."


Hearing a gentle knock on the suite door, Nicholas turned as he called out, "come in."

Opening the door, Clarisse popped her head in the room and smiled across at him standing by the balcony doors with her great granddaughter in his arms. "Can I come in?"

"Of course you can," he nodded and watched as she entered the room and closed the door behind her before walking over to them, placing her handbag down on one of the armchairs as she passed by.

"I know I have only been gone for five days, but I have really missed this little one," she said, coming to a stop in front of Nicholas.

"She's missed you too," he said, looking down at his daughter as he placed her in Clarisse's arms and watched as she opened her eyes. "See she recognises your voice."

"Hello little one," Clarisse smiled down at her in her arms a moment before looking back up at Nicholas, "where's Mia?"

"Oh, this one kept her up most of the night," he said while placing his hand gently on top of Imogen's head, "so she's just having a rest before dinner."

"Oh I see," Clarisse smiled and looked back down at her great granddaughter, still looking up at her with wide eyes. "Did you keep your mommy up last night?" She said in a soft voice and as if on cue, Imogen yawned. "Yes, I think you did," she laughed and looked up at Nicholas.

"Good timing," Nicholas laughed.

"Indeed," Clarisse smiled and looked back down at Imogen in her arms a moment before looking back up at Nicholas. "I am just going to take her out onto the balcony, tell her some secrets of the palace."

"Okay," he laughed and watched as she disappeared out onto the balcony. Turning, he walked around to the sofa, where he plonked himself down and rested his head back as he closed his eyes a moment.

"Someone needs changing," Clarisse said as they came back through the balcony doors a short time later only to find Nicholas was asleep on the sofa. Smiling, she looked down at Imogen, "I think you kept your daddy up too last night, didn't you?" She said and looked back up, "alright little one, with your mommy and daddy resting it's up to me to do this," she said, looking around the room for the changing bag, "and you'll have to forgive me, it's been many, many years since I last changed a nappy."

"Ok," Clarisse said moments later as she carefully knelt on the floor with Imogen in her arms and laid her out on the changing mat. "I can do this," she smiled, undoing the poppers on her baby vest while trying hard not to heave, "yes I can."

Standing in the bedroom doorway, Mia watched, while trying not to laugh, as her grandmother changed Imogen's dirty nappy.

"Aha, I done it," Clarisse said proudly moments later as she popped up the last popper on Imogen's vest and carefully picked her up, "I done it, yes I did," she smiled and kissed her forehead before cradling her in her arms.

"Well done you," Mia smiled from the doorway as Clarisse turned her head to look over at her.

"How long have you been standing there?" Clarisse asked as Mia walked over and took Imogen from her.

"Long enough," Mia smiled and looked down at her daughter in her arms, "at one point I thought you were going to throw up but I'm glad you didn't."

"Well it has been a long time since I changed a nappy you know," Clarisse laughed and stood up. "Anyway, hello sweetheart," she smiled and kissed Mia's cheek.

"Hello and welcome home," Mia smiled up at her, "we missed you while you were gone."

"I missed you both too, now let me go and get rid of this and wash my hands," Clarisse smiled and began walking across the suite towards Mia's bedroom as Mia moved to sit in one of the armchairs and rested Imogen on her chest.

"I can't believe he's fallen to sleep," Mia smirked and looked across at Nicholas sleeping on the sofa as her grandmother returned. "Anyway, how was the wedding?"

"It was beautiful," Clarisse said as she sat in the other armchair, "they ended up changing the ceremony from the garden to the beach the day before, but it turned out perfect."

"Oh a beach wedding, how beautiful," Mia smiled, "did you manage to get any pictures?"

"Oh yes, Joseph managed to take a few on his phone and sent them to me on my phone," she said, getting her handbag from behind her and got her phone out.

"Oh good," Mia smiled and watched as her grandmother stood up with her phone in her hands.

"Here you go," Clarisse smiled as she walked over to her and passed her, her phone.

Seeing the first photo of Clarisse and Vicki, Mia smiled up at her grandmother. "She looked so beautiful, and I love her flower crown," she said before continuing to look at the photos. "I wish we could have been there, but it just wasn't possible."

"Vicki knows that and completely understands, but she told me to tell you she sends you her love and hugs for Imogen, and that she will be in touch after her honeymoon to arrange a visit to come and see you both," Clarisse smiled as she watched her granddaughter.

"That will be nice," Mia smiled as she looked up at her grandmother then back at her phone. "Grandma," she gasped and turned the phone to show her the photo, "are you naked in this photo?"

"No," Clarisse exclaimed and shook her head, "I had a swimming costume on, I just took the straps off to get an even tan, that's all."

"Sure, grandma," Mia smirked, teasing her.

"See I told Joseph people would think I was naked," Clarisse said as she shook her head.

"Oh grandma, it's ok. So what if you have a picture like this, no one can see anything so who cares if people think you are naked?" Mia said as Clarisse looked back at her, "at the end of the day you weren't, so don't worry."

"I just don't want people having that image of me when they see this photo, that's all," Clarisse said as Mia handed her, her phone back.

"I know, grandma, but honestly you look great," Mia said and looked up at her as she looked at the photo, "you are positively glowing and you are happy, so who cares?"

"That's true," Clarisse said as she moved to sit back down.

"Anyway, are you staying for dinner?" Mia smiled.

"I am," Clarisse nodded as she put her phone back in her handbag and looked back up at her, "and Charlotte has given me the notes to go over for tomorrow's luncheon."

"Oh good," Mia smiled as Imogen started fussing.

"Oh, I think someone's hungry," Clarisse smiled.

"Yes, she is," Mia nodded.

Later That Evening.

"Ok, Shades and Richard," Clarisse said as she walked into the kitchen and across to the counter to pour herself a cup of tea, "I'm going to call it a day now, but just so you know, I have placed sheets and pillows down here on the sofa for you both, and also up on the beds in both of the guest rooms, just in case either of you change your mind and decide to sleep in the bed instead of the armchair," she smiled and looked up at both men as they sat looking across at her.

"Oh that isn't necessary, but thank you," Shades smiled across at her.

"You're welcome," she said, walking across to the door where she stopped and looked back over at them. "Please make yourself at home and help yourself to anything you may need," she smiled, "goodnight."

"Goodnight, and remember we are here if you need us," Shades smiled.

"Thank you," Clarisse said and walked out into the hallway.

Heading up to her suite, she placed her cup of tea on her bedside table and got ready for bed before calling and leaving a voice mail for Joseph when his phone went straight to answerphone. Placing her phone on the bed beside the notes for tomorrow's luncheon, she pulled the covers back and climbed onto the bed and got comfortable sitting back against the pillows.

Taking a sip of her tea, she pulled the notes onto her lap and glanced at her phone when a flash of light lit up the unlit parts of the bedroom. Looking up towards the window, she listened as a rumble filled the air. Arching her brow at the noise, she looked back down to make a start on the notes when something else caught her attention. Looking back up, she looked across the room towards the bedroom door when she heard another noise coming from her suite.

Placing her cup back on her bedside table as her heart began to race, she grabbed her phone from the bed and crept quietly into her bathroom. Locking the door behind her, she stepped back and dialled Shades' number, listening for him to answer and speaking before he had chance to say anything, when he finally did answer. "Shades, I'm in the bathroom! There's someone in my suite." She whispered.

"We are on our way, stay where you are," Shades exclaimed and hung up as he and Richard rushed up to her suite.

"Clarisse?" Richard called out moments later as he stood in the doorway leading to the bedroom, "it's safe to come out now?"

Unlocking the bathroom door, she slowly emerged and looked across the room at him standing in the doorway, "what, or who was it?" Clarisse asked.

"No one," Richard said and shook his head as Shades appeared beside him, "there's no one here."

"We have searched the whole of the room, and out on the balcony but there's no one there and there's no sign of entry either," Shades said as he and Richard entered the bedroom.

"But I definitely heard someone moving about in there," she said and watched as Richard knelt down beside the bed, checking underneath it before standing back to his feet.

"Are you absolutely sure," Richard said as Shades disappeared into her closet to check in there, "perhaps it was just the rumble of the thunder?"

"What's going on?" Joseph exclaimed as he appeared in the bedroom doorway, making both Richard and Clarisse jump, and her scream out in surprise.

"I'm here, I'm here," Shades exclaimed as he hurried back into the bedroom with his gun drawn and turned to aim it at Joseph, before realising it was him.

"Whoa, it's only me?" Joseph exclaimed as he held up his hands, and watched as Clarisse walked over to him and lashed out.

"Don't you ever do that to me again, you nearly gave me a heart attack," she exclaimed.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," he said, grabbing her arms and pulled her closer to him. Wrapping his arms around her shoulders, feeling her heart racing against his chest, he whispered, "I only wanted to surprise you, not scare you I'm sorry."

"So you should be," Clarisse answered and pulled back to look up at him, "what are you doing back here anyway, you weren't meant to be back until Tuesday."

"Well Vicki saw how down I looked when I returned from dropping you off at the airport so she insisted I come back to you," he said, looking at her before looking up at Richard disappearing into his closet, "now will someone explain to me what is going on here?"

"Clarisse heard a noise coming from your suite, so we are just checking to make sure that there's no one hiding," Shades said.

"Oh, any sign of entry?" Joseph asked as Clarisse moved to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Nope, everything's still secure," Shades said and shook his head.

"Perhaps it was the thunder," Clarisse said as she turned on the bed and looked at her husband and Shades, "I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, it's absolutely fine," Shades said as Richard came out of Joseph's closet, "I'm glad you called us though, I'd rather it be checked out than leaving it just in case."

Nodding, Clarisse agreed, "thank you."

"It's no trouble," Shades said and looked at Joseph, "we will still stay here tonight as planned and return to the palace in the morning."

"Alright, thank you guys," Joseph said as Shades and Richard walked out of the door.

"Yes, thank you," Clarisse called out.


"I was so certain someone was in the suite, but I don't know, maybe it was the rumble of the thunder after all," Clarisse said and looked across at the bedroom door as Joseph climbed onto the bed beside her. "I think with everything that's been going on, its all getting to me and playing on my mind," she said as she turned her head to look at her husband, "when we returned to drop off my suitcase before heading to the palace earlier today I discovered one of the sideboard drawers was open a bit."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, and you know what I'm like with drawers needing to be closed or it looks messy, so I asked Shades if he or any of the others had gone in there, but he hadn't and when he asked the rest at the palace, who'd had access to the house while we were gone simply replied with that they had no reason to go in the drawer, so why would they?" Clarisse said as she looked back up at the door, "So I just put it down to me having gone in there before we left and because we were in a hurry to leave, didn't close it properly. But then when we got back after visiting Mia and Imogen, when I came upstairs, I found my underwear drawer slightly open and the cupboard door on my bedside table open too."

"That's strange," Joseph said and watched as Clarisse covered her face with her hands, "apart from us, Pierre and the palace, who else has a key to the house?"

"Only Isabella," Clarisse said as she lowered her hands and looked back at her husband, "but she wouldn't come in and go through my belongings surely?"

"No I don't think she would, but I think someone else would if he had access to the key and the alarm code," he said.

"Peter," Clarisse said as she froze on the spot, "do you really think that it would be him?"

"I don't know, but she has had the key before and Jaures managed to get it remember," he said and watched as Clarisse nodded while looking across the room.

"That's a scary thought if he has been in here," she said and looked back at her husband.

"Was anything missing?" Joseph asked.

"Not that I'm aware, unfortunately I can't remember how everything was before we left, just that the drawers and cupboard door was open when I'm sure that I would have closed them with me being me." Clarisse said and watched as Joseph nodded.

"Yes I agree, it's suspicious with three of them being left open, one perhaps but not three," he said as she slumped back against the pillows.

"Is there anyway you can check the alarm to see when it was turned off and put back on while we were gone?" Clarisse asked.

"Yes, I'll look into it tomorrow and I'll also look into getting security cameras in certain areas of the house too," Joseph said and Clarisse nodded.

"I think that would be best, I know I said I didn't want that here but with everything that is going on I'll feel safer if we did," Clarisse said and turned her body to snuggle up to Joseph, "I am so glad you came back tonight."

"Me too," he said softly while wrapping his arms around her and kissed the top of her head, "let's see if we can get some sleep."

"I'll try, but I don't think I will get much, if any now," Clarisse said and tipped her head back to look up at her husband.

"It'll be ok, I'm here and Shades and Richard are right downstairs," he said while looking into her eyes, "nothing is going to happen."

"I love you," she said and rested her head back down on his chest.

"I love you too," he said softly and rested his chin gently on top of her head.