The Duchess of Clarence is PREGNANT!

The Duke and Duchess of Clarence dropped the pregnancy bomb this morning on their website and Instagram account. With a photo of the official press release that featured the couple's royal cypher, following a breathtaking capture of the pregnant Duchess that was taken by none other than The Duke himself, the couple shared their excitement.

An official version - used only by the Royal Family - of the press release, which can also be read underneath the photos, states the following:

"THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CLARENCE ARE EXPECTING TWINS

Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Clarence are very pleased to announce that The Duchess is expecting their first and second child.

The King, The Queen, The Prince and Princess of Wales, The Duke and Duchess of Oxford, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Prince Louis of Wales, the Bolton Family and other members of both families are delighted with the news."

The official press release features a red letterhead (the crest of His Majesty) of Royal Communications whereas the version used by the Royal Family has a navy letterhead with navy text on a light grey background. The version of the Royal Family was used by various other members of the Royal Family - including His Majesty, The Prince and Princess of Wales, The Duke and Duchess of Oxford, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Prince Louis of Wales, Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice - who congratulated the couple that way on this exciting news via Instagram!

There has not yet been any confirmation of when the twins are set to arrive. However, given the adorable pregnancy photo that's been shared, it is fair to say the Duchess is quite early on in her pregnancy with twins.

The second photo on their IG account was taken by The Duke of Clarence at the St Barth's beach on sunset, where the couple is currently enjoying a holiday. The Duchess decided to wear a lovely blue dress with pink flowers on it - perhaps an indicator of the gender? Duchess Josie is holding her bump, which is not very big yet. As every mother, she is glowing in the pastel lightning of the sunset.

The third picture, that was shared to voice their gratitude for all the warm wishes, shows the happy couple standing in front of the waves at the beach with their foreheads touching and their hands placed on Josie's belly. The Duke is wearing a white linen shirt and beige pants that have both been rolled up.

It's one of the most intimate photos Royals have ever shared with the public!

The official spokesperson of the couple refused to further comment on a due date but did say that the couple as well as both families are 'overjoyed' with the news, but wish to 'respect their privacy' as they settle in this new chapter of their lives. Josie and Oli have been enjoying the process of getting ready for their babies with the nursery already being half-way finished. However the spokesman did confirm that the Duchess will continue to work for 'as long as her pregnancy allows her to'. The Duchess is said to be doing well under the circumstances, occasionally suffering from morning sickness.

We wish the couple all the best and can't wait for more adorable pregnancy photos. The couple's next official engagement is the Easter Service with the rest of the royal family at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.


Royal pregnancy celebration! But what about The Duke's side of the family?

With the announcement of another two royal babies on the way, the nation is celebrating once more. Gone are the days of fake royals and not-my-royals. The folks however can't help but frown when they re-read the statement that was released by Clarence House and Hampton Court Palace, the official residence of Their Royal Highnesses. The reason is simple: the Bolton Family was mentioned but not the Rodriguez family, which is the Duke's side. This fuelled rumours of an alleged feud between The Duchess and The Duke's family.

Given the fact that wording means everything on royal statements, it's almost an affront against the Rodriguez family.

When we contacted Hampton Court Palace, they denied any comment.


Oliver

The sun is standing high as we watch Le Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille, the St. Barth's Bucket Regatta as my wife calls it. Basically, it's a yearly race of boats. Of stunning yachts. St Barth's marks the first regatta of the year and it's a fixed appointment in Josephine's schedule - and therefore mine. The official logo is a pineapple in a black bucket, which I find rather amusing.

After just a little over a week and a half in our new home we jetted off to the Caribbean again. We landed on French Cay, but took Sapphire to St. Barth's. The mega yacht is looking magnificent next to the other yachts of super rich people and those who desperately want to be.

We're here with our security team. I think Ralph and his five headed team is already enjoying their work for us. I doubt that lots of security teams get to see the world as much as ours will. We've already been to East Africa and the Caribbean - and the year is just three months young.

"Which one is your team?" I ask her as I stare at the many yachts that get ready to race. Today's the first day of the race, that will last three days. The blue water is absolutely stunning!

"You'll see." She smirks at me, looking magical in her pink dress and black sunglasses.

"I will?" I ask her back before looking back at the racing yachts. They all have black hulls and black sails, the sails however each have different stripes. Some have two green stripes, while others three blue and others two orange stripes. I guess it's to distinguish them from another. Suddenly a honk sound appears and all eyes are on the sea in front of us. The people start cheering while the boats start racing and soaring over the sea. The racing yachts turn left and really bend into the water, making the yacht turn almost vertical to the water. It's a lot of fun to be sailing through the waters like this. A third sail opens up, the spinnaker as Josephine explained to me once. It's something we did when we sailed with Sapphire once as well. The wind needs to be pretty strong for the spinnaker to catch it properly and it needs to be released in the most perfect moment. But it was a hell of a lot of fun to race over the sea. That's when each boat gets individual. I spot the Jamaican flag, a big red rose, a compass, a pink grinning woman, a mermaid... and then I see it. The lion's head. The roaring lion's head.

Invictus.

"And where's my team?" My wife asks me with a grin on her lips.

"No doubt it's the roaring lion's head."

"I knew you'd know."

We're surrounded by the world's richest people that drink chilled champagne like it's water. The women brought out their biggest hats and most sparkling jewels while the men put on their most expensive watch.

It's about seeing and being seen.

I briefly wondered if Rothschild would be here but I haven't seen him so I think we're good. Although Josephine said the who's who is here for the next three days. My wife introduced me to a few important people like Elon Musk, Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos. I shook hands with these men but I wasn't impressed by them. Some of them were surrounded by half naked women, others were doing more work than enjoying the race. Josephine even mingled with a few American celebrities that use this event to secure some acting roles in future movies. But it's not just Hollywood's elite that's here. When my wife introduced me to the head of OxFam, UNICEF and Doctors Without Borders, I understood why this is a fixed appointment in her schedule every year. My wife loves yachts and sailing, but she loves helping others even more.

And in these three days she gets to combine the both.

No wonder she didn't want to compromise when I asked for one day here instead of three.

I spot Pierre Casiraghi that's standing just a few meters away from us. He is this year's regatta ambassador and also happens to be a member of Monaco's ruling family. The fact that this year two Royal Families are represented here makes the event even more exclusive. As we represent the British Royal Family and he Monaco's Royal Family, there was no way we wouldn't get photographed together. It's part of my job now. I represent the King, whether sitting on a loo or standing next to a Casiraghi at the yacht haven. However, Casiraghi is way more than just a figurehead. He's sailed with legendary Italian offshore racer Giovanni Soldini on board the Multi70 Maserati and raced on scary fast, high-tech-hydrofoiling GC32's.

Picture-perfect conditions greet 1,000 sailors that are competing in nine classes. Veteran Les Voiles competitor Sir Peter Harrison's 115-foot long Sojana is the largest boat racing while the 24-foot-long Team Island Water World is the smallest. I thank my wife for teaching me all of this.

"Is your team racing with an Oyster?" I ask her as their boat looks similar to ours.

"Yes! Yes, they are."

"That's why you were gifted an Oyster?"

Josephine nods, "I always loved Sapphire but I wasn't sure if I wanted a smaller version. I was torn between an Oyster and a Mondago, which is a New Zealand model. But in the end I went for the British Oyster and I'm glad I did. Racing with an Oyster is second to none. No other boat I ever sailed with, whether a Mondago, Hanuman or Perseus, has been able to compete with the Oyster. The designing process was fantastic as well. It took the company two years and a half from start to finish."

"Wow, that long?"

My wife nods, "My parents decided to gift me Liberty when I was fifteen. We started talking about having another sailing yacht in Europe and I expressed my wishes and the functions it should have. I had just joined the Britain's junior sailing team and I was the only girl. I was so detail oriented that my parents decided to have me build my own yacht. We met up with Oyster during my winter holiday, just a day before I flew back to Le Rosey. Within an hour, the company had a clear vision of what I wanted. I wanted exclusive materials and a very unique design. Because the materials were rather hard to get, it took them over two years. Usually it takes about a year, maybe less if you want the basic version. In the end I was gifted the yacht for my seventeenth birthday and I have been taking very good care of it ever since."

"And you used to participate every year in regattas?"

She nods with a wide grin on her lips. I've rarely seen her more happy than on a yacht. "Yes. Up until last year. It's such a magical experience and that's why people come here year after year. The whole island is incredible. The people, the food, the parties plus the boats that are here are off the charts. It's already the most special sailing experience I have ever had, and I've been sailing my whole life. My Skipper Johnson is worth a mint! We won every race with his guidance."

"I'm surprised you allowed him to guide you." I mock her with a smirk.

She blushes slightly. "I told you, I have a thing for sailing boats. Especially sailing knots of all sorts and Johnson was very good at what he was doing."

Her words ring a bell, "Did you guys fuck?"

My wife sighs, "Almost too bad we did. Years ago. It was when we first met. Which was about seven years ago. It didn't last long, though. We quickly discovered that our mutual love for sailing is worth more than the sex we had, which wasn't even that good. We weren't compatible." She shrugs it off before embracing me with one arm. "Unlike us."

"Do you miss it?"

My wife licks her lips at the question, "I do. Maybe next year I can compete in a charity regatta. Perhaps I can convince Johnson to join me for the King's Regatta that's in September."

"The King has his own regatta?"

My wife nods, "It's usually a race of two patronages. It's a lot of fun and for a good cause. The raised money goes to the winner of the race."

"That's a wonderful way to raise awareness."

"Yes. I've never been part of it or seen it but perhaps if we talk to Catherine and William about it we might be a part of it." She shrugs, "Perhaps we could make it a race between the Oxfords, Windsors and Clarences. A family event to collect maximum attention, money for the patronages."

"That would be really cool."


Duke and Duchess of Caribbean! The Clarences were spotted cheering on the teams of the St Barth's Regatta!

St. Barth, 40 degrees Celsius in the shadow and the whole sea full of sailing boats - that's the St. Barth's Regatta. It's the starting point of the Regatta season, viewed by the mega rich and famous. The haven was bursting with A-list celebs, politicians, socialites and even royalty! Eagle eyes spotted The Duke and Duchess of Clarence among the many cheering crowds. While The Duke kept low by wearing beige shorts and a white shirt, The Duchess opted for a bright pink maxi dress with a wide brimmed hat as a shield from the harsh sun. The British Royals are apparently old hands when it comes to Regattas. The Duchess has been a regular contestant but this year she opted to support her team from the mainland, visibly pregnant. The Duchess used to race under the relentless eyes of Skipper Johnson, who has won all major Cups in the world of sailing with his team. Johnson and Josie are said to have had a brief summer romance, an affair that lasted from May 2043 until August the same year. The pair apparently split due to their mutual love for sailing, oddly the same reason they connected over in the first place. But the duchess continued competing with Johnson as her Skipper for several years, they clearly parted on good terms. Even during her time at Harvard Business School she didn't stop racing with her teammates. The very same teammates describe her as very driven, rather competitive, very intelligent, eloquent, fun and hardcore. A combination that brought her a royal title with a HRH prefix.

What the Duke thinks of this remains speculative, but sources close to him say that he's confident and has unshakable trust in his wife and their relationship. With a ring on her finger and two babies in her belly, it's not hard to have faith.

Duke and Duchess of Holiday: How the Clarences are holidaying again after less than two weeks in England!

The Duke and Duchess of Clarence have been photographed at the world famous St. Barth's Regatta. The elite event is a stable in every socialites' circle given the magnificent location it is being held at. The regatta really doesn't matter when you get to mingle with billionaires, secure acting jobs and make deals with some of the richest people on the planet.

Of course, The Clarences aren't far away.

In fact, the couple was snapped standing on an elevated spot at the beach, watching the race of the black yachts on the water. While the Duke kept a low profile by wearing a white linen T-shirt beige shorts, sandals and Aviator sunglasses, his wife went all out. The Duchess wore a bright pink Dolce & Gabbana dress to conceal her bump. The ruffled dress retails for an astonishing amount of 200.000! That's more than the average Brit makes a year. The Duchess paired the dress with Chanel sandals (1.800) and a wide wavy scalloped brimmed hat by Cheshire based OutDazl (160). At least the hat by the British designer was sold out within a few minutes. Understandably, since no average hard working human can afford any of the other things the Duchess wore.

Allegedly, the couple flew in from London to French Cay, the private island that's owned by the Bolton Family, by private jet just a few hours ago. The royals then took an Oyster 1225 named Sapphire from French Cay to St. Barth's. The luxury super sailing yacht has a starting price of 40 million pounds, but this version was allegedly a gift from Dame Gabriella to her husband for their 30th wedding anniversary and got regular luxurious updates.

Sapphire hoisted it's anchor at St. Barth's most expensive haven, looking bigger and more luxurious than its neighbours.

However according to our source the Clarences chose to spend their nights at the luxury hotel of Four Seasons rather than the yacht.


Josephine

I watch how the sailing yacht with the crew I used to be part of sails through the water, being on top of the game. I still remember the way the wind clashed against my face when Johnson ordered the team to turn the yacht on its side. The way the ocean salt water splashed against my face is something I will never forget. Funnily, Johnson was the only man that bossed me around - on a boat. And then I met Oliver, who completely turned my world upside down.

The crowds around us start cheering on the other teams but I know who will win. Because we always win. Up until a year ago I used to participate in these regattas regularly. While Johnson and I did fuck a few times, it wasn't anything but a way to let go of sexual frustration that builds up after weeks on the sea non-stop. There were absolutely no romantic feelings involved.

Nothing beats the love that I feel for my husband.

"Yes!" I cry out as my team gets in first. Champagne bottles get opened behind and around us.

"They won!" Oliver cries out.

With a boat name like Invictus it's no real surprise. "They won round one." I grin at my husband before kissing him passionately.

"Oh, we're allowed to publicly display our affection now?" He mocks me with an irresistible grin on his lips.

I blush and bite on my lower lip, "We're here as private citizens. So maybe no one saw that?"

My husband embraces me with one arm, "It's going to be all over the Internet in a few minutes."

"Well, then maybe the first public kiss over the victory of my former regatta team is half bad." I shrug it off.

"Do you want to congratulate the team now?"

"No, that's considered bad luck. Winning one race doesn't mean you won the whole thing. If I congratulate them now I might jinx their luck."

"We're just going to let them party by themselves at the Naxos Beach?"

Naxos Beach is the place to be after watching the race. It's where the rich and famous all meet to mingle with champagne flutes. It's not a spot for Johnson, despite what the media thinks of him. I chuckle, "No, Johnson doesn't celebrate this. Instead, the team is going to have a nutritious dinner and go to bed early. The next race is set for tomorrow at eight."

"No champagne?"

"No. Johnson's very strict on that. No alcohol before a race or between trainings."

"Oh, wow. I didn't expect them to be so disciplined."

"Most teams aren't. That's why you're going to see a significant decrease of power tomorrow in the race." I tell my husband.

"So, the skipper's secret to win is to say sober?"

I shrug, "That and fucking hard training. I've never felt so sore after training with them." I've never looked more ripped than during these years as well.

"How many regattas have you done with Johnson?"

"I think we've been doing regattas for seven years now. Obviously this year is a gap-year."

"But you sailed regattas last year?"

It was my last regatta before I graduated Harvard Business School and moved back to London - and met my husband. I can't believe how much happened in so little time! I nod, "It's always so much fun and bloody hard! At some regattas you never sleep more than twenty minutes at a time. Especially in the European Regattas."

"You're grinning from ear to ear when you talk about sailing."

I shrug, "I love sailing and I hope our twins will fall in love with it as well."

"I'm sure they will. So what's next then? Lunch?" Oliver asks me.

"No, actually I'd like to sail over to the Bahamas and visit a women's shelter and hospital there."

"Bahamas?"

"I'd like to see where the Commonwealth Trust can help there. We should get a feeling for it before we start tackling the Caribbean next."

"I thought Asia was next."

"I think the Caribbean would be easier with two babies on Sapphire." I suggest. "We've got French Cay around the corner if we don't want to sleep on the yacht or the twins get seasick."

"Good, the Caribbean it is then." Oliver agrees with me. "But maybe not before late summer."

"Okay. I wanted to start in late September anyway. I'd like to spend our first wedding anniversary on French Cay as a family of four and then start easing back into work."

"I'm surprised you've planned so far ahead."

"I think you're more surprised I'm willing to go on maternity leave. That I won't jump back into work as soon as I've given birth."

My husband chuckles, "Yeah, that as well."

"Do you want to fly home?"

My husband's confused face makes my heart skip a beat. Home is clearly no longer where he was born.

It's here. With me.

"To Brazil. We could fly down there. I mean, we're already in the area. It's a three hour flight from here."

My husband shakes his head, "No. We're only here for the weekend, for the regatta, there's no need to make this a week long trip."

"But we could. We could start looking for projects here in the Caribbean and spend a few days in Rio."

"Do you want to fly down to Rio?"

"Do you?" I ask him back.

My husband shrugs before tearing his eyes off of me. I watch him stare at the sea across us and completely ignore the cheering crowds around us. "I don't know. It's not like I have anything that pulls me back. I love the city, but-"

"We could visit Pedro." I suggest. I don't know a lot about my husband's past life and the friends we had but he did mention Pedro towards me. If I remember correctly they were both working at the coffee plantage.

My husband raises his left eyebrow, "You want me to visit him in an abandoned hotel in the middle of the Brazilian jungle, where he lives right between drug dealers and the poorest of the poor? Ralph's going to kill me if I get anywhere close!"

I lick my lips, "It was just a suggestion. You could visit other friends."

"No. I've cut ties with them. I can't come back like Pasha. It's... they're going to feel betrayed and hurt. It's better that way. I left without saying goodbye."

"Yet you're struggling when you talk about them."

My husband looks at me. "It's not like I don't miss them. I very much do but I can't do to them what you did to me. It would cause an never ending mechanism. We can't save the world, Josephine. And I can't start by saving my friends and their families. Families are big, there are uncles, aunts, grandmas, grandpas, cousins..." Oliver sighs, "It's better this way. Trust me."

I do but I also know I have to do something about it. He's clearly missing Brazil and the lifestyle it has. St. Barth's reminds him of that.

And when we celebrate in La Rosa Negra in Cuba in two days, he's really going to miss it.


I embrace the women that are living in the women's shelter as tightly as I can. I've spent the last hours listening to their stories and worries. Some stories were so horrifying that I couldn't help but shed a few tears. The shelter is struggling with finances as it's bursting with women and their kids. While they have enough clothes, toys and other materialistic things, they lack in simple things such as food.

That's why I sent my security team a message and asked them to go shopping at the local markets while I was talking to these women. I can't save the world but I can make the worries of these women smaller.

While I was visiting the women's shelter, Oliver decided to spend his time with the little ones at the closest hospital. Before I left him on the boat, I saw how he used my makeup to paint himself a clown mask on. He asked for balloons to be blown up. I think he wanted to knot animals out of them. I had no idea my husband had this hidden talent but I can't wait to see more of it.

The image of my husband looking like a clown and knotting animals out of balloons for little kids, let alone ours, makes me smile from ear to ear.

"Thank you for this visit, Your Royal Highness." Amber says to me with a smile on her lips.

I nod, "I'll be back sometime in early autumn. You'll hear from the Commonwealth Trust."

"You want to take us under your wings?"

"Yes but I need to make a detailed planned before anything can be announced. I want to be more than just a pretty face. I want to be more than your voice. I want to help. Not just be here for a few hours and go away. I will not forget you."

"We won't forget you either." Amber promises me.

"Your Royal Highness, we have to go." Ralph tells me.

I nod, "Until next time. Thank you for having me. It was... very eye opening." I shake Amber's hand again before turning on my heel and walking out of the shelter.

The silver Range Rover is waiting for me outside. Ralph opens the door for me and I climb in. "Is Oliver still at the hospital?" I ask as Ralph drives off. There's another car following ours. It's full of security members.

"No, he's back on Sapphire. He's cooking dinner. I think he asked for shashlik skewers."

I frown, "He's making shashlik?" Oliver has never made shashlik but I mentioned the typical Russian barbecue meal just yesterday noon. I didn't expect him to surprise me with it tonight.

Ralph nods, "It seems so."

My stomach growls so loudly that Ralph chuckles from the driver's seat.

"I think you agree with the dinner plans."

I smirk and place my hands on the bump as the twins go crazy in my belly again. Their kicks have gotten quite strong over the last days. I think it won't be long until Oliver can feel them as well. "I definitely do."

I look out of the window and stare at the moving images of the less touristy side of the Bahamas. It's still full of pretty colourful houses although the people aren't as wealthy as me. The less fortunate are evident here but that doesn't mean they're unhappy. It's the same energy I felt in Rio's poorest regions. People say money doesn't buy you happiness but I never truly understood it until I did the social work in Rio. It's the same here on the Bahamas. People are happy with what they have not with what they think they desperately need.

Oliver

I put the second skewers with sizzling pork on to the second plate as I can hear how my wife approaches me. I've been back on Sapphire for half an hour and started preparing dinner as quickly as possible. I've really grown to love sailing. Not so much to participate in regattas but enough to favourite it over staying in a hotel on St. Barth's. It gives more privacy. I turn around and watch her walking over to me in that stunning bright pink maxi dress. She's got a pink rose in her curly hair that she has sweeper over to one side. She looks like the sun in person. She looks like happiness, paradise on earth.

Especially with that bump she's been carrying.

"Hi!"

"Hi, there!" She greets me with a passionate kiss. "How was the hospital visit?"

"Brilliant! I made animals from balloons for the kids and told jokes. It was so good to hear them laugh and take their minds off of the illness for a moment. How was the women's shelter?"

"Eye opening. Very, very touching."

"Do you want to tackle that next?"

My wife licks her lips before looking at the food on the table. I've made a salad to go with the meat. "Let's eat first."

I sit down across her at the mahogany dining table on deck, "What's on your mind?"

"I want to do more than just build hospitals, wells, kindergartens, women shelters... I feel like this is not enough."

"And what do you want to do instead?"

She shrugs, "I thought about the programme for the whole Commonwealth. A health programme, something that covers everyone from foetus to senior. I mean, let's face it the medical care is nothing compared to what we have in England or other first world countries. We've discussed this at the forum in December-"

"But that was a five to ten years plan, Josephine. It's a step by step process. We can't just throw that overboard and start to subsidise the rebuild or renovation of the medical system in all commonwealth countries at once. We don't have the resources for it. Even our private income wouldn't be enough for that." I think. I don't know how many billions it will cost in the end, but I know it's a task that can only be done together.

"I thought we could test drive it in the Caribbean. Export it to Africa next and then to Asia."

My wife's mind has already made calculations on the way back to Sapphire. She's already got a plan and knowing her, this plan will come into fruition. Whether I like it or not. I sigh, "When do you want to start?"

"Officially after Easter."

"And unofficially?"

"We have an appointment with the governments of all Commonwealth nations in the Caribbean tomorrow noon. It's going to be online, so the people don't start wondering what's going on."

"Less attention." I read between the lines. "Are you sure we can do this so quickly?"

"It's still going to be a five to ten years plan, but the results might come quicker than expected. I just want to do more now rather than have conversations after conversations, going in circles about the financial model. If necessary we are able to fund it ourselves."

"But we cannot do this without the government behind our backs. We are not politicians. We are royals."

"I'm aware and so is everyone else. We can combine the government's power with the Commonwealth like we planned and fund all the additional costs ourselves. Just for the Caribbean."

"And what about the rest?"

"We'll figure it out. Collaborate with other health organisations if we have to. Or we just hold more dinners, banquets..."

"You want to kiss more asses."

"If we have to, yes. I am not doing this for us, but them. I want to know the people here can get basic medical care whenever and wherever needed. Especially those who don't have a health insurance. It's something we take for granted but for them it's the biggest luxury."

I gulp, I know exactly what she means by that.

"But you do look rather impeccable in a tuxedo." She adds with a grin on her full lips.

I return her grin, "I love seeing you in gowns as well."

My wife's grin is infectious as she picks up her glass that's filled with lemon iced tea. "To the Commonwealth Health Care."

I pick up mine and cling it with hers. "To the Commonwealth Health Care."

Josephine

"It never gets old, does it?" I ask as I watch the sunset with my husband on the deck of Sapphire. I've always loved being on this yacht but being here alone with Oliver makes me love Sapphire even more.

"No, it doesn't." He agrees with me. The sun is getting reflected in his sea foam coloured eyes and his blonde hair glows in the colourful of vibrant reds, pinks and oranges. "I can't wait to spend more time here when we start working in the Caribbean."

"You're rather fond of Sapphire, aren't you?"

He smiles at me, "I can't wait to meet Liberty in the summer."

"And I can't wait to show you her." I run my fingers through his blond hair. "Oliver, there's something I need to tell you."

"I'm listening."

"When I met with the King to discuss our new roles, I made a deal with him."

"What kind of deal?"

"You once told me you wanted to become a doctor. A surgeon that works in the ER."

He frowns at my words, "You remember that? What does this have to do with the King?"

"The medical students start med school in the winter semester. The King ensured me to get you a place at the med school in Oxford. That's the university I went to with my siblings and George and Char. Rory and George studied medicine at Oxford medical school. You would start in the winter semester but you could start taking online classes and do internships prior to that. If you want."

"What?"

"You could become the doctor you always wanted to be. If you still want to, that is." I break it down to him.

"Y-you made a deal with the King about me? Without consulting me first? You've set my future in stone?!"

Shit, he's angry. That's not how I planned this to go. "No, that's not what this is. I opened a door for you and all you have to do is walk through it or shut it. Whatever you want. It's only an option. Nothing's set in stone."

He's punishing me with silence. Great. Okay, maybe I deserve this. I didn't talk to him before making the deal with the King after all.

I decide to wait until he wants to talk to me. I stare out at the sea and see how setting sun lowers. For minutes, I let him think about what I just said.

"What if... what if I don't want to become a doctor?" Oliver asks me after five minutes of silence.

I look back at him, "Y-you don't... You don't want to do it?"

He shrugs in response. "I mean, most students are going to be ten years younger than me and it's a very long journey, a long and tough journey... and I won't be able to do this anymore. I won't be able to be the vice-President of the Commonwealth Trust and study medicine at Oxford at the same time."

"But is this enough?" I ask him straightforwardly.

"It's more than I ever dreamed of be doing in my life. I wanted to help people and maybe this is the right way."

"But it's not the only way." I tell him. "You don't have to make this decision now."

"You should have informed me about this earlier."

"I won't apologise for what I did. It was for the best."

"The best for me?"

"Of course."

"You should have asked me for my opinion first before doing some dodgy deal with the king. I'm not a chess figure, I am your husband."

"Oliver," I stop talking as he raises his forefinger.

"I love you and I thank you for the opportunity, but... no thank you. I want to do this for as long as we can."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

I nod, "Okay..."

"But never ever do something behind my back. Planning a secret wedding behind your back was one thing, but making a deal about my educational future with the King is a whole different story. We promised each other honesty. Honesty above all, Josephine. It's why I forgave you when you cheated on me with the sociopath twice. It's why I fell in love with you. It's why I married you. It's why we have this unshakeable foundation. Because I know you will never lie to me, this is the foundation of our relationship. Don't gamble with that by making deals behind my back."

I meant well, but perhaps I overstepped my competences. I nod, "I promise."

He embraces me with one arm, "Good and now show me the sailor's knots again because I might want to use some tonight."

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise, "You're rewarding me?"

He chuckles, "I'm making use of the fact that we have a whole yacht to ourselves and are not stuck in a hotel room on the same floor as our security."


Laying naked on the bed of my cabin, I watch eagerly how my equally as naked husband picks up the two bright blue sailing ropes from the mahogany dresser. The colour of the two meters long ropes, a sky blue like my eyes, is the perfect contrast to his tanned skin. His sea foam coloured eyes stare at the ropes and without needing to say a word, I know he needs a fresh up of his memory. Ropes, the concept of bondage, is something that's still new to him. After all, you can't expect to be a pro after just trying it a handful of times. But the fact that he's willing to try for me, that he built a whole room in our home dedicated to this, shows me how utterly committed he is.

I rise from the bed and take a sky blue rope out of his hand. I do two half hitches. This knot has a self-explanatory name: one half hitch, followed by another half hitch. It is easy to tie and forms a running noose that can be made larger or smaller. This is the perfect hitch to use to tie a line tightly around an object - or my wrist.

My husband nods in appreciation before taking the other rope and doing the same knot around my left wrist. I'd rather have marks from ropes than sociopath's fingerprints there. He pulls each knot a little tighter because he knows I like feeling the ropes digging into my skin when he fucks me.

"Not too tight?"

"No, just right." I answer as I feel a rush of excitement running through my veins. I can't believe this is happening!

"Good. Lay down and pull up your knees." He orders and I do as he says. He picks up the ends of the right rope and knots two half hitches around my right ankle. He pulls it rather tightly. Then he does the same on my left side. How he's so calm when his dick is so eager to fuck me, I don't know. My head's already in the clouds and we haven't even started fucking yet. "Spread your knees apart."

I spread my knees, putting my soaking wet pussy on display for him.

"Wider."

I spread them as wide as possible, thanking myself for doing all the yoga and pilates. It gives me flexibility and strength that prevented me from having any pain caused by my pregnancy so far, but it also gives me the strength and flexibility for this.

For my husband. For this passion. For our love.

Oliver takes the lose ends of the ropes at my ankles and starts knotting a sheet bend. He forms a bight in the end of one line, before passing the end of the other line through the bight from beneath and around behind both parts of the first line. He finishes the knot by passing the working end of the second line under itself and then pulls the knot tight. He does this on my right and left ankle until I can feel the tension very tightly. My wrists are connected to my ankles and my ankles are stretched apart as much as possible, secured by two sky blue sailing ropes. I don't know why, but I find this the most erotic position I ever got fucked in.

"Too tight?" He asks me as his sea foam eyes dance over my naked body, that's ready to be thoroughly fucked by him.

I shake my head as my lips dry out to speak. "Fuck me."

He shows me a satisfied grin, "That's the plan."

"Now!" I demand and start pulling on the ropes.

My husband moves his forefinger from left to right, "I'm supposed to be the Dom here and you're the Sub, so we're doing this by my rules." He tilts his head to the side as he licks his lips, "I think we need ice for this." With that, he turns on his heel and leaves me alone in my cabin.

I look at the ceiling and stare out of the skylight that shows me the sparkling stars at night. Suddenly, a shooting star crosses the sky and I make a wish.

But there's nothing to wish for as I am perfectly happy.

Oliver

After a rather short night, I wake up first. The sun is shining through the square shaped windows, directly on my sleeping wife by my side. Josephine's chestnut curls are cascaded all over my chest as her head rests on my heart. There are a few caramel coloured strands in her hair as the sun has bleached it in the last days, giving her natural highlights. Her left arm is stretched over my abs, her fingers tightly interwoven with mine. The marks on her wrists and ankles are equally as red, but she constantly asked for more last night and I fulfilled her wish. The marks are better than those fingerprints of that sociopath.

The sound of the waves gently tapping against Sapphire is filling my ears as my eyes get drunk in my wife's sight. I was afraid to tap my toes into the water of bondage, but I really liked it. I liked the sight of my pregnant wife with ropes around her ankles and wrists. I liked the fact that she gave herself to me entirely, unconditionally... I liked the fact that she obeyed me, even if it's only sexually. She's got far more experience in the scene but she's willing to guide and teach me.

Still, the fact that some other man might have fucked her the way I did last night is a little unsettling. And we didn't even go all the way. We used ice and I drank some fine wine out of her navel. We didn't use the nipple clamps that I sneaked into my weekend bag, we didn't use any toys... the possibilities of pleasure are endless, I guess, but her past is just as rich.

Just the thought of last night makes me hard again.

My eyes stop at the bump that's bulging underneath the linen duvet. It's grown so much over the last two weeks. No wonder my wife was constantly tired and suffering from morning sickness. Clearly, our unborn children robbed her off of her energy. I place my free hand on the bump. I can't wait to feel them move as much as my wife feels them moving.

I watch how my wife slowly wakes up from the deep sleep she's had. She lifts her head off of my wife, wearing the brightest smile on her lips. It's the look of a sexual satisfied woman. "Good morning, my love."

The fact that she's using the same nickname her Mum is using for her Dad makes me feel incredibly special. "Good morning, Tesoro. I hope you're not too sore from last night."

She pulls her left fingers out of mine before stretching her limps, "No, all good. Actually, I feel so good that we could continue what we started." With that she climbs on top of me. She straddles my hips and sinks down my length, sliding to my balls in one quick motion.

I closed my eyes and moan. My back is on the sheets, and my feet hang off the edge of the bed. My eyes takes in the sight of the most beautiful woman on top of me, her legs spread to take my dick, her back arched so she can grind her clit against me. And the most erotic sight is the bump she's carrying. The small bump that holds our two unborn babies. Knowing we created them doing exactly what we could do best... the thought alone makes me want to come

She plants her hands against my hard stomach for balance and starts rolling her hips over and over while bouncing up and down my length, fucking me in a way only she has ever done. She performs a dance on my lap no one else ever will.

I prop myself up on one elbow and grab her hip with the other, wanting to feel her body move as she works to please me. I can see the way her skin gleams from my sweat that has transferred to her body. Her extremely voluminous tits bounce in the most erotic way, up and down with her thrusts. I spread my fingers apart and my thumbs move over her bump. We're united.

We're one in the most primitive way.

I catch her left bouncing nipple with my teeth and gently bite on it, causing her to release a cry of pleasure. If she's already enjoying my teeth on her nipple than she's going to love a clamp.

She presses her hand against my chest and leans over me, trusting that I am strong enough to support her and our unborn babies. Her eyes lock on to mine, her curls fall down, the ends landing on my chest and shoulder, and her lips part like she is about to moan in her own ecstasy. "Come with me."

I close my eyes as my body instantly shudders. Last night, it was me who was in control, but this morning she takes over like last night didn't happen. I really enjoy this dynamic between us, she allows me to dominate her and I allow her to dominate me. It's game of power.

It's a game of love.

Her lips seal over mine as she kisses me passionately. Our tongues start dancing with each other and I lift myself until I sit straight. She locks her ankles behind my lower back and I can feel her nails scratching my back as my they slowly move down. The bump is still small enough that I can still feel her voluminous tits pressed against my chest. I can feel how fast her heart is beating. It's beating in the same rhythm as mine.

For a moment, time stands still.

Suddenly a loud knock fills the cabin. Both of us wince at the harsh knock and let go of each other's lips.

"Your Royal Highnesses, the regatta is about to start in half an hour." Ralph's deep voice reaches our ears. "I suggest you take the boat in ten minutes if you want to view it from the shores again."

I totally forgot about that regatta, "Thank you, we'll be right there!"

"And sorry for the interruption... Your Royal Highnesses."

Josephine's blushing cheeks indicate that this was an interruption indeed. She giggles after Ralph's footsteps are out of our earshot. "Shit, do you think he heard us?"

I run my thumb over her full lips, "No and if he did he's very discreet about it."

She grins at me before kissing me softly, "I don't think I can be very quite now but I don't want our six headed security team on deck to hear us as well. But being horny for the next hours is no option either."

I will do anything to avoid that. A sexual frustrated Josephine is worse than a hungry one. Not that I've ever seen her sexually frustrated, but I have seen the hungry version of my wife and that's not fun at all. I let my left hand travel down her body until I reach her soaking wet and pulsing clit. "Bite me when you come. It's going to mute your cry of pleasure a little."

"What?"

"Do as I say."

"But-"

I start rubbing her clit in circular motions and I can feel how she pushes the balls of her feet into my lower back. But she's fighting her release. I can see it in her eyes and feel it in her pussy. She's holding back.

"I can't. I don't want to hurt you."

"Bite me, Tesoro, or do you want everyone on this yacht and the whole island to hear you come?" I challenge her with a raised eyebrow before pressing against her clit.

She throws her head back as the orgasm start erupting inside of her. Her pussy starts clenching my dick with a force that's world record. Before releasing a cry of ecstasy, she buries her teeth into my right shoulder.

I don't know why but that bite, especially the strength sets me off and I come so hard that suppressing my growl seems tougher than a Herculean task. It feels so good, the kind that makes me see stars. Our orgasms seem to stretch on forever as we ride together wave after wave.

This feels like an exact continuation of last night.

Ropes or not, we explode for each other.

Only after the orgasm has faded, I start feeling the marks of my wife's teeth in my right shoulder. "Shit, I drew blood." She curses as her sky blue eyes still have that royal blue swirl from the orgasm in it. Her fingers touch the wound, that only feels half bad.

"It's okay. I don't care."

My wife looks at me and shows me her left fingertips. They're covered in my red blood. "It doesn't look like it. I'm sorry-"

"I said it's okay." I interrupt her and cup her face, "You may bite me whenever you want."

She shows me a soft smile, "Good because we rarely came this hard. Especially together."

"Maybe we should hire Ralph as an alarm."

My wife erupts into a laughter, "No, no thank you." She gets off of me but I can feel how bodies' lubricants coming out of her. It makes me wonder how soon she'll get pregnant again after she has had our twins.

Because those six weeks after she's had them will be a serious test for us.

"And you're really okay?" She asks me as she's off of me. Seeing her naked body, all the curves and toned parts... the bump, the tits, her arms, her legs... and that pussy that's dripping with my come...

It makes me hard all over again.

I nod and control my urge to pull her back into bed with me. "I need a cold shower, otherwise I might fuck you the whole day." I breathe out before climbing out of the bed.

"You know, it makes me damn proud to get to call you my husband." She admits with a smirk on her lips, "Because he's as addictive to me as I am to him."

Yeah, we really are two peas in a pot.

I watch her slip into one of my T-shirts. The grey fabric almost reaches her knees. "I'll shower in my sister's cabin so we don't accidentally make our security men wait any longer."

I nod, it's probably better that way. "Do you want to get a change of clothes?"

"No, I'll just borrow something out of Rory's closet. She's got a royal wardrobe anyway. She always has since she started dating George."

"And you're sure they will fit you?"

"Another maxi dress is surely going to fit the bump." She places her hands on the small bump.

"Are they moving much?"

She nods, "Much more than a week ago. It still feels like butterflies, though. Rather strong butterflies, but butterflies. I have a feeling it won't be long until you can feel them kicking, too."

"I can't wait. As long as your morning sickness won't return and these two will be born all healthy, I'm good."

"I have a feeling they'll be born with a love for sriracha sauce, though."

I chuckle, "I think you might be right."

"I'll meet you upstairs." She informs me before opening the door of her cabin and walking out.

With a smile on my lips, I turn on my heel and walk into the en-suite bathroom. It's a rather nice size with a shower that has a rain shower head, toilet and sink. Everything you could need can be found on this boat. I could easily live here for the rest of my life and travel the world's seas with my wife.

But I also do love our home at Hampton Court Palace very much.

I get into the shower and quickly wash off the remnants of last night and this morning. By my standards I was the harshest I've ever been to my wife last night, but hearing those cries of pure ecstasy, feeling her come around me over and over and over, was worth it. I get off of her pleasure. I get off of her. There's nothing I wouldn't do for my wife and her pleasure.

She's given me the biggest gift. She has given me her heart.

And she has gifted me twins. She's made me a father, maybe not on purpose on her side but still... she's made me a father and for that I'll be forever grateful. I'll forever love and cherish her until my last breath.

I get out of the shower and quickly dry my body with the white fluffy towel. It has her initials embroidered on it: JB. I frown as I see the big bright red spot on the towel. I throw it into the laundry basket and look at my reflection in the mirror. My wife's dental impression is clearly visible and she has drawn blood. Lots of blood. They fit to the scratches from her nails that are all over my chest and backside.

She's marked me.

I've never felt prouder.

I open the medicine cabinet and cover my wife's dental impression with a rather large plaster. Some things are better kept under wraps.

Then I leave the bathroom and quickly change into fresh underwear and a new set of clothes. It's day two of the St. Barth's Regatta, day two of being seen among the rich, super rich and old money. We belong to the latter, which means we're on top.

And then comes the royal status and title which catapults us on a whole new high. We're one of a kind, not even Pierre Casiraghi can compare to us.

No one can. No one ever will.

We stand out wherever we go. But what happens in this cabin, stays in the cabin.

I slide the brown leathered belt through the loops before closing the clasp. I slide into my moccasins and open a drawer that holds Josephine's sunglasses. I pick up a pair for her before opening another drawer and getting out aviator sunglasses for me. It's going to be another forty degrees Celsius day, so we need to protect our eyes. I also grab a bottle of sunscreen. We'll use it on the fifteen minute boat ride to the port.

I hope we didn't stretch Ralph's patience too much.

I walk down the hallway and stop at Rory's cabin. It's easy to find because it has a photo of her smiling face hanging at the door of the cabin. A very young future Queen is smiling back at me. I bet even she didn't know what happened when she was a teenager. She fell for George out of love but she grew into the role that comes with being with George. She'll be an excellent queen consort by her king's side one day.

I open the door and watch my wife pulling the towel out of her hair. Her rather curly hair is still wet from the shower but I hope she won't blow dry them straight. I love her curls so much! A white maxi dress is laying on the bed of the cabin. To my surprise Rory's cabin doesn't look any different to my wife's cabin on Sapphire.

"I brought you your sunglasses and sunscreen." I explain as my eyes get drunk in her state. She looks absolutely magnificent in that nude underwear. It's just a pair of panties and a matching nude strapless bra, but something about it is so mesmerising.

My wife nods before brushing through her hair with a wide tooth comb.

"Are you going to blow dry your hair?"

"No, they will blow dry on their own when we ride to the shore. Fifteen minutes is enough to get them about eighty percent dry. The rest will be done by the hot sun. No one will notice that my curls aren't perfectly dry or styled as I'll be wearing a fascinator."

"A fascinator?" I ask her surprised. I don't know if that's so wise considering the wind.

She points to a drawer space of her left and I notice a white fascinator with flowers and a netting detail. "It's more like a headband."

"It looks nice. I didn't know regattas are as important as horse racing events."

"Every event is about being seeing and now that we're royals the focus is even bigger on us. So, I thought instead of the wide brimmed hat I wore yesterday, I'd go with something more glamorous today. I found the headband in Rory's collection. It's obviously meant to go with the dress."

I nod, "But no heels, right?"

"No, not with my swollen feet. I'll be wearing sandals."

"Do you want me to get you some?"

"No need. Rory and I have the same size. I'll borrow a pair from her." She gets into her white dress before opening a drawer underneath the queen sized bed and getting out a pair of matching sandals. She slips into them and I watch how her red painted toes disappear underneath the white fabric of the maxi dress that she's wearing. It's a pretty dress made of linen. It falls beautifully over the still rather small bump. A small bump for carrying two cantaloupes.

But 24 weeks look rather lovely on her.

"Ready?" I ask her.

Josephine puts on the headband and checks on her reflection in the mirror, "Yeah, let's go."

"Do you think your team is going to win?"

"Oh, I hope so. I really hope so because I want to show you La Rosa Negra."

I frown, "That's not a boat, is it?"

My wife chuckles before shaking her head, "No. It's a nightclub. It's where Invictus celebrates its victories."

"They don't celebrate on one of the beaches of St. Barth's?" I ask as we walk on deck again. St. Barth's is known for its parties. Especially during the yearly regatta.

"No, half of the team is Cuban and the Cubans really know how to party. It's has been a stable for the last seven years. We can't miss it. We really can't."

"It's a tradition."

She nods, "And now you're part of the tradition."

We reach Ralph and his team. They have all developed a tan and look very relaxed in their polo shirts, shorts and trainers. They look like they've been enjoying the last days here on St. Barth's as well. While most of the six team members stayed in a five star hotel, two of them had the nightshift which means they slept on another boat a few hundreds of meters away from ours.

"Good Morning, everyone!" Josephine greets the small crowd.

They all smile and greet us with a simple morning.

Ralph's brown eyes stop at me and he frowns. "Your Royal Highness, there's something on your left shoulder."

Josephine frowns before looking at me. Her sky blue eyes widen in shock. "We'll be right back." With that my wife drags me back under deck.

"What's wrong?" I ask and stop at a mirror. There's a rather big blood stain on my left shoulder.

"I bit you too hard. I knew it!" My wife hisses as she gets out the first aid kit underneath the sofa in the lounge.

I chuckle, "It's half bad."

"You're bleeding!" She complains as she opens the first aid kid on the mahogany table. "Get here. I'm properly taking care of it. Open your shirt."

I unbutton the shirt and take it off.

"Well, of course a plaster won't do it!" My wife shakes her head as she pulls away the plaster in a quick motion. She cleans the wound with iodine, smears a ointment on it and places two muslin bandages on it before securing it with a special tape. "That should do."

"You don't just know how to create wounds, you can take care of them as well." I joke with a smirk on my lips.

My wife smiles, "I was quite harsh, wasn't I?"

"I don't mind it."

"You don't?"

"No, I get off on that." I admit.

"It's one of your fetishes?"

I shrug in response, "It's something I never paid attention to before I met you."

"Or it's something I awoke inside of you." She wraps her arms around my neck and lifts herself on her tiptoes to stare into my eyes. There's a royal blue swirl forming in her sky blue orbs. "I can't wait to christen our green room."

I find it quite contradictory that she calls a room full of sex toys, ropes, whips and floggers, simply a green room. She reduces it to its silk wallpaper or maybe she's named it green because of the green light it meant that I gave her. I never wanted to physical hurt her and it took her a lot to make me see that this is not about pain at all. It's about pleasure.

It's about green light for a green room.

"You should put on a different shirt. I think there won't be any blood spots but it's better if you put on a polo shirt."

I nod and run my fingers through her chestnut curls. She's the love of my life.

She shows me a shy smile and I can almost feel how her heart skipped a beat as well, "Hurry, we don't want to be late!"


Josephine

It's day two of my favourite Regatta of the season. The sun is extremely hot but there's a cooling wind blowing. With a humming pulse in my ears I watch how my former team sails over the turquoise coloured sea. It's absolutely beautiful and I can clearly remember the last time I was on Invictus, soaring over the ocean under Johnson's control.

Flashback

I sit down on the left side of the bow next to my team. I am the only woman in the team but that doesn't bother me at all and truth be told they couldn't care less as well. My legs are dangling down the hull as Johnson turns Invictus on its side. The wind is blowing quite heavily as we're soaring over the turquoise coloured water. It's a sail Johnson does whenever we won a Regatta. It's a sail just for the team.

After the official ceremony where he received the trophy and bathed us in champagne after he popped the bottle, our team captain likes to go for another sail over the waters. It's a pretty nice tradition and I love sailing in St. Barth's. It's just different to the Antigua Sailing Week, Cowes Week, Sydney Hobart, Les Voiles de St-Tropez or the Cole del Ray in Mallorca. Mallorca is pretty nice as well but St. Barth's... there's something incredibly special about the island.

The water is splashing against my face as the waves crash against our sailing boat.

"Woo-hoo!" Johnson's loud cry of excitement fills my ears. We as his team chime in and let out all the stress from the last days.

Winning the St. Barth's Regatta is always special; even after winning it eight times in a row.

With a grin on my lips, I pull the ponytail tighter and secure the navy cap I'm wearing. It has a white I for Invictus on it everyone on the team wears one.

"You're our lucky charm, O!" Javier says to me with the same grin on our lips. Half of the team is Cuban while the rest is a mixture from all over the world with Johnson and me representing the U.K.

"No, this is the fruit of our collective labour. Ain't no lucky charms needed if you work hard enough." I yell over the crying wind. "Team effort!"

"Team effort indeed!" Johnson agrees with me as he puts the hull back on the water. A wave clashes against us, leaving us soaking wet. "And that was my way to clean you from the champagne earlier." Our blonde skipper wears a boyish grin.

End of Flashback

Oliver grabbing my hand rips me out of my flashback, just in time to see Invictus coming in first again. Javier used to call me their lucky charm, but they don't need me anymore.

"Invictus won again!" Oliver whispers into my ear.

I hope next year I can participate again. Maybe I can do a Commonwealth Regatta with 54 participants. Or one race per continent. That would be really cool.

A grin stretches my lips, "Of course they did."

My husband embraces me with one arm, "How about some lunch?"

My stomach growls in response. "Definitely."

"Do you know any good spots here?"

I think for a moment, "There's a small local place in Saline. Far away from the rich and famous. The food is simple but it's one of the most delicious meals I've ever had."

"Then we should go there."


St. Barth's dubbed as The Culinary Capital of the Caribbean for a reason. Here, you'll find an abundance of delis and more than 50 different restaurants, representing cuisine from all over the world. Local cuisine mainly revolves around French and Creole origins. Many restaurants on St. Barths offer a version of traditional French cuisine. Some ingredients are imported straight off the flight from Paris. Cheese and wine are a major part of French cuisine.

Creole cuisine is a little spicier and blends influences from all over the world. Dishes like Gumbo, Jambalaya or bread pudding can easily be found here. Popular methods in Creole cooking include barbecue, smothering, and curry style "colombo".

The area Saline is known for its salt. Until 1972, salt was extracted here on the island. It's now a curious landscape of deserted salt flats with naturally formed salt sculptures.

Lorient is one of the oldest villages in St. Barths. It's considered the cradle of the island's religion, so be sure to visit the recently restored church atop the hill. Lorient's beach is popular with both families and surfers.

L'Esprit de Jean Claude Dufour - or simply "L'Esprit" - is one of the most highly recommended restaurants for visitors to the island. The restaurant serves innovative dishes on a romantic garden terrace near to Saline Beach. Jean Claude, formerly the chef at Eden Rock, never fails to delight.

We're sitting in an enchanting garden setting that one local once dubbed as "beach-club rustic chic" as I finish my lobster ravioli. With around forty euros per course it's reasonably priced and I think Ralph and his six headed security team are getting something out of their jobs as well.

"Another round of lobster ravioli?" My husband asks me with a smirk on his lips. The turquoise coloured waves touch the white sanded beach just a few hundreds of meters away from him. It's a rather hot day but we're keeping ourselves as hydrated as possible.

I place my fork and knife on the empty plate, "Definitely. I am willing to share my portion with you." I offer. I had one of his duck spring rolls but I enjoyed my lobster ravioli much more.

"I'm feeling rather full." Oliver's emerald green eyes spot one of the waitresses that are hiding in the background and gives her a subtle sign for another round. We're surrounded by locals eating here. A few have recognised us and asked for a photo which we couldn't deny. While others prefer to take candid shots of us with their smartphones.

I have always been in the public. I grew up with the constant curiosity about my life, who I was dating and what I was dating. But it's different with Oliver. It's different because he's my partner of life, my husband and father of my two children. I want to protect him as much as I want to protect our children. Some days there's nothing more I want than cuddle up in front of our chimney at Chestnut House and stay in.

But we can't. We're representatives of His Majesty and the crown. We're HRHs. We're The Duke and Duchess of Clarence. Public figures even when we're out privately.

Like having lunch in L'Esprit.

"Well I hope you're still trying the homemade mango and coconut ice cream." I tell him. "Because I am ordering for two."

Oliver's lips stretch into a smile. "You could order for four and I think all plates would end up squeaky clean in the end anyway."

I blush, "I'm enjoying the nausea free time."

"As you should." Oliver grabs my hand over the table and squeezes it softly. His golden wedding band is shining in the light of the sun that's coming through the palms on the courtyard deck. "Is this one of the spots your team goes to?"

I shake my head, "It's a place I was at with Char years ago. We were holidaying at the other end of the island and wanted to do a road trip. We rented one of those vintage vehicles. We chose a bright pink Ford Mustang - not very invisible but Char insisted on the car so we went for it." I smile at the memory. We caught so much attention on the roads but it looked stunning on the photos I took at the abandoned beach.

"Sounds like fun."

"It was. We really enjoyed the girls trip. We ended up having lunch here before heading back. I really liked the food so I decided to go here whenever I'm on the island. But it's not an Invictus tradition."

My husband tilts his head slightly to the left as his dreamy green eyes stare at me.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"No, this look does not mean nothing."

"It's just... I am in awe of what you do for those you love. Charlotte is your best friend and family... which means there's nothing you won't do for her."

"And why's that so shocking?"

"Not a lot of people do that nowadays. It's heartwarming to see it, that's all."

I intertwine my left fingers with his, "My family is my soft spot. Always has been and forever will be. It's what makes our family bond so strong. We've got each other's backs no matter what."

"I'm glad we found each other."

I lick my lips to distract my eyes from releasing the tears that have formed in my eyes. "Me, too." He will never know how grateful I am for meeting him. He changed my life forever. He changed it into a life worth living. He helped me become the woman I always was deep inside.

This man is a gift from God.

And I will cherish this gift until my last breath.


"Thank you for your time. We'll see you soon." Oliver says to the governments of the Caribbean commonwealth countries before shutting the laptop and therefore closing the three hour long Zoom meeting.

I lean back against the couch and exhale. It's been a long but productive meeting. Now we just have to inform our team about the slight adjustments that need to be made to our schedules. We'll start working here in autumn, but we will visit the Caribbean again beforehand.

"How about you go out for a swim while I quickly send the mail to our team?" My husband suggests.

"You sure?"

He nods, "I'll join you in five minutes."

I get up from the sofa in the lounge area and stretch my limbs. Everything is sore from sitting so long. "Okay. I'll put on a swimsuit and swim a little before the sun goes down." I tell him before turning on my heel to walk down the hallway to my cabin.

"Oh, no!"

I turn around at his voice, "What?"

Oliver turns the screen of the iPad to me and my eyes catch the headline. Château Clarence. Château Clarence?!

"What the hell?!" I rush back to him and pick up the iPad.

Château Clarence! An exclusive look of The Duke and Duchess of Clarence's home

Star Media can exclusively reveal a first look at Chestnut House, the official home of The Duke and Duchess of Clarence! The red bricked Georgian house is set within Home Park, which is part of the grounds that belong to Hampton Court Palace, the official residence of the second in line to the throne, his wife The Duchess of Oxford and Josie's sister Lorelai, as well as their three daughters.

Chestnut House has been strategically placed between the Long Water and the river Thames, making it roughly a thirty minute walk away from Hampton Court Palace. The newly built home was designed by architect Marco Barsetti, who fulfilled every wish of Their Royal Highnesses according to our source. As seen in the photo Château Clarence has a unique shape: with its horizontal home base, a glass breezeway on each side that connects the base with its wings, the house reminds us of a cross between a W and U shape. The house was built to match the Baroque styled Hampton Court Palace, is flooded with light thanks to the many white transom windows and is framed at the front facade with pink peonies, the Duchess's favourite flowers. The couple have their own patio with a Portuguese water fountain, their royal coat of arms in stained glass in their orangery and an indoor pool.

It's thought that Chestnut House has a staggering amount of 25 bedrooms, and is set on over four floors - one being their exclusive attic rooms.

When we reached out to Mr. Barsetti, he refused to comment on the royal project and instead asked for giving Joliver privacy.

To keep away the prying eyes that might come from tourists on boat trips on the Thames, the Duke and Duchess opted to plant a huge range of acorn, walnut, chestnut, oak and birch trees around the perimeters of their new home. Eagle eyes however spotted wooden benches at the promenade of the river Thames in front of the lines of oak and walnut trees. So if luck is on your side, you might get a glimpse of a royal strolling along the promenade when you're out on your day trip with a boat.

According to experts the château have cost the Clarences "at least ten million pounds".

When asked to comment, Hampton Court Palace and Clarence House declined.

"Some bloody drone photographed our home?!" I hiss after I finished reading the article. The photo attached to the article shows our home from above! It shows our home!

"Our team is already handling it. Lydia just sent me the link to inform us."

I pinch the bridge of my nose. "Call Wlad as well. He knows how to stop this from going viral."

"I will. Get changed and go for a swim. I can handle this."

"Are you sure? I could call Wlad while you talk to our team-"

"I've got this." He interrupts me. "You've been sitting for the last three hours. You need to move your body, stretch your muscles and relax."

"You sat the same amount of time." I counter back.

"But you're pregnant."

"That's not an excuse!" I argue.

"It's a fact. Go swimming. I'll clear this as quickly as possible. Okay?"

I decide to give in. I nod, "Okay."

With that I walk down the hallway and into my cabin. I change into a one piece swimsuit by Versace. It's one of the little that still fit me. Normally, I would be frustrated about it but I am excited. Because it means our twins are growing at a healthy speed.

My children are alive and that's all that matters.

I pick up the towel from my bed before rushing out on the deck. I really like this Greek towel as it has a pink seahorse on it. It's Rory's but I don't think she minds me stealing it from her. I used to have one as well but I think Della took mine. Or maybe it was Charlotte on our last trip with Sapphire, I can't really remember.

I stop in the lobby and stare at my husband, whose deep in work mode. His pine green eyes are staring on the screen of his MacBook as he reads what his fingers are typing. It's mesmerising to watch him...

Suddenly, he looks up and meets my gaze. I watch how his eyes transition from pine green to a sea foam colour, to my sea foam colour. "I like that swimsuit on you."

I smirk, "I do as well." I show him my profile. The black and white material with the golden Acanthus-print hugs my bump beautifully.

He shows me a smile, "Have fun. I need ten minutes."

"If you make it five, I'll reward you."

He chuckles, "I'll do my best. Anything for my wife."

I walk on deck and spread the towel with the pink seahorse over the lounge area. With the warm mahogany wood underneath my feet, I walk to the swimming platform before getting into the warm turquoise coloured water. There are a few boats a couple of miles away from us. Two of these boats belong to Ralph and his team. I suspect the paparazzi have found out about our location and will use a long lens to get some high quality photos of The Duke and Duchess of Holiday.

Rory was right. We will be known as the couple who plays and doesn't work.

I feel light in the water as I swim around Sapphire. Oliver's right, it does feel good for my back to move. The more I move, the better I feel. I love the sound of the birds, the ocean around me and this peaceful place.

After a few rounds I feel fully relaxed. The thoughts about a drone invading my privacy, photographing my safe haven, are long gone. All that matters is the sun kissing my skin, the water warming my body and this peace I feel at heart.

I lay on my back and spread my arms and legs as I let myself float through the Caribbean Sea.

There's nothing that can disturb this peace.

Not even the dancing babies in my tummy.

After a few moments of serenity, I can hear my husband approaching me in the water. I look to my left and spot my husband floating in the ocean next to me. "Did you clear everything?"

"The article has been taken down and the photos are deleted. Our team threatened the tabloid with a lawsuit and gone is everything regarding our home."

I smirk, "Good."

"But that doesn't mean the photos are forgotten. The internet doesn't forget."

"And it makes sure the people don't either." I whisper and gulp. This might create another monarchy crisis. I'm not sure the monarchy can take another crisis as it's already standing on shaky legs thanks to our entry.

"No, but that's the best we could do."

I sigh before moving back into my horizontal position. Gone is the floating.

"Are you alright?"

"We're never going to win, are we? It's one good headline and thousands of bad ones follow." I let out my frustration. "I don't want to be loved or liked by the press but I want to be respected. I want our privacy to be respected... our children and families."

"We signed up for these jobs and they come with the press and paparazzi. It's another level of interest that comes with it but we'll adjust. We'll learn as we go. Together." My husband's green eyes sparkle in a turquoise shade as the water around us gets reflected in them.

My heart swells with love for this man so much that it nearly bursts in my chest. "Northern Lights." I whisper.

"Northern Lights, Tesoro." My husband kisses me softly.

I kiss him back, not caring about the many boats with paparazzi on them, that surround us for a moment. For a moment, there's just the four of us... a family.

But when my conscious returns, I let go of his lips. "We're getting photographed. We should stay professional."

My husband smirks at my words. "I think it's a little too late for that, Tesoro."

Before I give into the urge of my body and soul to kiss him again, I swim back to the platform and get out of the water. Photos of royals kissing go viral. Especially if they're photos of private moments, taken on a holiday.

I squeeze the water out of my hair before laying down on my pink seahorse towel on deck. I decide to lounge in the sun for a while, until it's warm rays have dried my bathing suit. We might have been able to erase the photos of our home but we've given the press new stuff to write about.

We can't win.


Josie and Oli's mega yacht! How the Clarences spend their holiday on the celebrity island St. Barth's

Josie and her husband were photographed swimming around a spectacular mega yacht just a few miles in front of St. Barth's. The Duchess was seen in a three thousand pounds worth bathing suit by Italian luxury designer Versace while the Duke wore simple black swimming trunks.

After their swim the couple lounged on two hundred dollars worth of towels, one with a pink seahorse on and one with a colourful lobster, both by luxury brand sun of a beach and both have a charitable aspect as a percentage of the sale is going to WWF.

The Duchess proudly showed off her baby bump as she dried her tanned skin in the sun. Her husband joined her later on. The couple was snapped laughing and chatting before going under deck.

The mega yacht that they called home for the last two days is named Sapphire. The Oyster is owned by the Bolton Family. Allegedly it was a gift from Gabriella to her husband Troy for a wedding anniversary.

Experts estimate the yacht to be worth a two-figure million sum.


Oliver

I run my fingers through my wife's chestnut curls as she rests her head on my chest. After our swim outside the nausea kicked in again, so this is the maximum of intimacy we're going to get tonight.

I place my free hand on her bump, but I don't feel any movement.

My wife lifts my hand a moment later, "Don't touch them. You're making them move." She complains and growls.

"They're kicking?"

"Yes and that doesn't pair very well with the nausea."

I let out a sigh. I wish she would feel better. I wish she wouldn't feel any nausea. But it's something I can't cure. It's something she has to deal with all by herself.

"Maybe we shouldn't go to the regatta tomorrow."

My wife lifts her head, "Are you nuts?! No nausea is going to keep me away from my team! It's bad enough I can't support them on board, I can't be absent from the finale day! I have to watch them win!"

I lick my lips to suppress a grin. The confidence in her voice is so typical for her. "Okay but maybe we shouldn't party with them afterwards."

"We could skip the official party but we will go to La Rosa Negra. I want to show you the club. I think you will really like it."

"Is it here on the island?"

"No, it's in Havana."

"Cuba?! You guys party in Cuba?" I ask her shocked.

My wife nods, "It's a tradition. I go there every time we win or lose. You are now part of me and therefore this is your tradition as well."

It's her way to introduce me to her team, her inner circle. It's really important to her. I nod, "Okay. We'll watch the regatta and then meet the team at La Rosa Negra."

"Oh, no we won't meet them there. We'll bring them there."

I frown, "With Sapphire?"

"No, with our jet. Johnson and I always flew back home together."

"Home?"

"England. Not home, home. England. London for me and Bristol for him. He took another flight from Heathrow to Bristol. We're friends now. It was just sex."

"I'm not worried about you and Johnson." I ensure her. "Nothing can shake my belief in us or break our bond. Not even your skipper."

My wife smirks, "Maybe we could watch the regatta from Sapphire."

"How about we'll decide that tomorrow morning? Let's see how you're doing tomorrow and then decide whether we go on land or stay on Sapphire, okay?"

She nods, "Okay." Suddenly, she grimaces before covering her mouth and quickly getting out of bed to run into the en-suite bathroom.

The moment I hear her vomiting dinner into the loo, I have enough. I get up and pick up my iPhone from the nightstand. I text Ralph, asking him to book us a room in a hotel and to pick us up as quickly as possible. His response is short.

10 minutes.

That gives me enough time to pack a bag for my wife and one for me. It seems like being on this boat is making her nausea even worse and I don't want to see her vomit the whole night.

Just as I close the zipper of her brown leather weekender, my wife comes back. "What's going on here?"

"Ralph booked us a room on land. We're not staying a minute longer on board. It's making your nausea worse. We're leaving."

"But the whole island is booked. There's not a single room left in a hotel!"

"Ralph's picking us up in five minutes. Pack whatever I forgot. We can come back tomorrow morning and get the rest. Let someone else sail her back to French Cay. We're taking the plane."

My wife gives me an exhausted nod. I expected her to argue with me but the fact that she's too tired for that, means the nausea is quite bad.


The next morning I wake up to the sound of my vomiting wife. It's a sound I will never get used to... It's a sound that reaches the deepest parts of my soul and heart and almost breaks them both. I know it's because she's pregnant, it's because her body is growing two humans, and I guess that makes it a little easier because we all know there's an end in sight and we'll have two beautiful babies in the end... but the sound is almost unbearable to hear.

I let out a sigh, guess we'll be seeing the regatta from our balcony then.

I roll over and get up just as my wife turns on the water in the shower in the little bathroom. My wife was right, every hotel on St. Barth's is fully booked. So, Ralph was kind enough to give us his double room for the night. He slept in another room of one of his teammates.

I walk into the white marbled en-suite bathroom and watch my wife standing in the shower that has a glass door. The water is running down her body, washing off the eucalyptus smelling shower gel that she used to clean her body. She clipped her chestnut coloured hair up with a brown hair clip.

My eyes stop at the bump.

It grew. Significantly.

It's at least three to five centimetres bigger than it was yesterday.

The worse the nausea, the more our children are growing.

"I noticed the growth as well." My wife's voice rips me out of my thoughts.

I look up to meet her gaze. She looks tired. "How are you?"

She shrugs, "Holding up, I guess. I feel better than last night despite the early morning vomiting session. I hope I didn't wake you."

She should never worry about that. "Don't you ever worry about me. All I care about is you being okay... you and our children."

She turns off the water and opens the door of the glass shower. I pick up a large white towel from the open shelves before walking over to her and wrapping her into it. I embrace the love of my life and hold on to her tightly. How much I wish I could take that bloody morning sickness away from her. But there's nothing I can do expect for watch her go through this again and again...

"Don't beat yourself up. It's a normal symptom of pregnancy. It's the flush of hormones that's making me do this. It's nothing abnormal or scary. It's part of growing life." She whispers before she tilts her head back to look me in the eyes. Her sky blue eyes have gotten much more alive since yesterday. They're sparkling now whereas they almost seemed lifeless yesterday night. Her skin colour has come back as well. Her cheeks are rosy and her full lips have that dark pink colour that I love so much again.

She is feeling better.

"I love you."

Her full lips stretch into a smile and she pivots her weight on her tiptoes to kiss me quickly. "I love you, too. And they do as well."

I place my hands on the bump that's now quite visible, but I don't feel a thing. "They're moving?"

"No, they tend to stay quiet when they make their Mummy vomit." She shrugs.

A grin stretches my lips. I like the way she refers herself. Mummy. Hearing her say this one single word gives me the greatest joy. I always wanted kids and I knew I wanted them with her as soon as we met... but hearing her say this word, seeing her grow our two babies and being married to her... I have to pinch myself to make sure this is not a dream.

That reality is better than any dream I'll ever have.

"What?"

"I like the sound of that."

"I do, too. I never thought I would but I do... a lot." She places her hands on mine. "There's nothing in the world that I wouldn't do for them or you... but I do hope these vomiting sessions stop rather sooner than later."

I open the hair clip and let her chestnut curls lose. "Are you hungry?"

To my relief she nods, "I'll order us breakfast while you shower."

"And you're alright?"

"I will be. I guess we'll be watching the regatta from the balcony today." She informs me. "But we need to head back to Sapphire so I can get ready. I bought a red dress for tonight and I will wear it."

I hoped she had forgotten about that nightclub in Havana. But what I really forgot was how stubborn my wife is. When she has a goal she will do anything to reach that goal.

And tonight that goal is La Rosa Negra in Havana.

Josephine

I chew on my watermelon slice as I stare out at the turquoise coloured sea in front of me. The harbour with its magnificent yachts is to my left. The hotel is set right at the beach, but we decided to stay on the balcony instead of going down to the many tourists that have gathered on the beach. It's regatta season, which means the hotels are fully booked on St. Barth's.

The press hasn't caught up on our new location but I figure it's only a matter of time. However, sitting here under the sun umbrella and eating fresh fruit, does feel pretty nice. The nausea is not gone but it's not so bad that I can't eat. Actually, I'm starving. I have already eating two portions of yogurt, fresh berries and banana before moving to the melon and pineapple slices - all before Oliver got out of the shower.

I'm starting to see a pattern. Every time I feel very nauseous and vomit, I want to eat even more when the feeling starts to fade a little. Pregnancy is a constant roller coaster ride, but I'll do it all over again for any of my future children. Because feeling them move, hearing their heartbeats on doctor's appointments, gives me the greatest joy.

No nausea can destroy that feeling.

"Have they started yet?" My husband's voice fills my ears.

I look over my shoulder and gulp down the slice of melon in my mouth as my eyes get drunk in his image. My naked husband with a towel wrapped around his hips makes my mouth dry. His abs are glittering in the sun. Just like me, he has darkened his tan in the last few days. His blonde hair is darker because it's still wet from the shower. His usual pine green eyes are glittering in an emerald shade.

It hardly gets any better than this.

I can't believe I'm married to this man.

Let alone pregnant with his babies.

I am the luckiest woman on earth!

"I interpret your look that they didn't."

I didn't realise I was staring at him shamelessly. But I was. I still am. My eyes stop at his golden wedding band. I have every right to do so. "Y-you should put on clothes."

"I will. And I'm not fucking you tonight." With that he turns on his heel to head back into the bedroom.

I get up from my chair and follow him inside. "Why not?"

Oliver gets into black boxer briefs and looks over his shoulder at my voice. "Because you've been throwing up the whole night."

"But-"

"Let's get your energy back. Relax and enjoy the regatta. Enjoy this last day here on this island."

"No, you don't understand. I've always wanted to have hot Cuban sex in Havana! This is one of my bucket list points! You can't-"

"You're still planning to go to La Rosa Negra?"

I wave with my hands, "Obviously! I was planning to get all glammed up, put on heels and that sexy red dress... dance the night away with my husband and end up fucking him in Cuba's capital city!"

"It's one of your sex fantasies?"

"Yes. It has been for a very long time and although I haven't imagined being pregnant with twins and married while fulfilling it, I'm still going to go with the flow and fuck my husband anyway."

That earns me a smirk from his lips, "Okay, maybe we can work on fulfilling this fantasy of yours. But only if you lay low the whole day to get back your energy. I don't want to risk your or the health of our babies. I'm just being protective."

"And I'm being very stubborn, I know." I roll my eyes as I read between his lines.

"It's why I love you. You don't give up no matter how hard it is." He grabs a white shirt and puts it on before slipping into a pair of beige linen slacks. His white shirt matches my white linen dress.

"I ordered you a scrambled eggs and baked beans for breakfast." I inform him as he walks over to me. But not even talking about food takes my mind off of the desire that's boiling in my veins.

My husband smiles, "You know me well."

Of course I do. He might be Brazilian and therefore have an affinity towards anything sweet, but he loves a savoury breakfast. Especially baked beans with scrambled eggs. It's the most British food he could love. "I might even share my fruit plate with you."

He chuckles as he embraces me with one arm, "You really are feeling better if you're so generously offering me that."

I inhale his fresh scent. It makes me feel safe and sound like nothing before. I smile, "I am. But for the sake of getting my energy back, we won't attend the celebration ceremony after the regatta but instead lounge at a private beach or take a nap in this bed. Because we both will need or energy for my plans for tonight." I promise him.

My husband's lips stretch into a dirty grin. "Knowing you and more importantly our past together, I don't doubt that at all."


"I can't do this anymore." Oliver says before sliding off his wedding ring. He places it on the glass coffee table that's standing in front of the red velvet sofa that I'm sitting on.

Panic rises in my body. "What?! Oliver, what did I do?"

"You know what you did!"

I jolt myself awake. My racing heart takes a moment to calm down as I realise it was just a dream. A silly, silly dream.

I fell asleep on my husband's lap after we watched the regatta together. I wanted to take a nap and I ended up sleeping for two hours, I notice as my eyes find the watch that's hanging on the wall across the sofa.

I look up and stare at the Portuguese words which form the title of the book that my husband has chosen to read while I slept on his lap. It's a novel about a shipwrecked man. Robinson Crusoe.

A moment later my husband closes the book and sets it aside. "Good Morning, sleepy head." He greets me with a thousand watt smile. But his smile drops as he notices my facial expression. Tears have started to stream down my face as the remnants of the dream still linger on my mind. "Hey, what's wrong?"

I shake my head, "I just had a bad dream, that's all."

He frowns, "No, there's more to it."

I could never lie to him. "I'm pregnant and hormonal, that's what's more to it."

He raises his left eyebrow, "Josephine,"

"I dreamt you left me." I confess. "I dreamt you slid off your wedding ring and left me."

"I would never do that."

Yet the dream scared me to death.

"I will never leave you. You are the love of my life." He places his hand on the baby bump, "And you're carrying the other two loves of my life. I will never ever leave my family. I love your soul, I love your body, I love your heart... I love your feisty mouth, even the way you drink your soup with a straw out of a cup instead of eating it out of the bowl with a spoon like the rest of the world."

I chuckle at his words.

"Tesoro, I will never slide this ring off." He promises me.

I place my hand on his and squeezes it softly. "I know. And I have no idea why I dreamt what I dreamt. But it scared me. A lot."

"There's absolutely no reason for you to fear that. There never will. I have never left you and I never will. You pushed me away the last time and you had to because I would have never left you otherwise. You are my universe, my everything. My destiny, Tesoro. You are half of me and that's not just because you're literally carrying half of me. We are soulmates."

I nod, "We are."

He fondles my right cheek with his free hand. "Sometimes dreams are just dreams, Tesoro."

And sometimes dreams become reality. But I will do everything for this dream to not become reality. "What's the worst I could do?"

"I don't know. Commit a crime? Murder someone? But even then I wouldn't leave you because I know you're not like that. You would never kill someone, not if there's another option."

I might kill Rothschild if I get the chance.

If, not when.


Get Duchess Josie's Cuban style!

Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Clarence have been photographed dancing on the paved streets of Havana. After a delicious celebratory dinner at one of the best restaurants in Cuba with Josie's former teammates, the couple went for a stroll through Cuba's capital city. The gang stopped in a paved market place that was full of locals dancing to the music of a small band. The band was playing typical feel good music on guitars. The Brazilian Duke and the British Duchess didn't have to be asked twice to dance. The couple swirled over the paved floor as they danced to the salsa music.

Josie wore six thousand pounds dress but you can steal the style for less than a fifth of the original price as we found a dress similar on Topshop. The Duchess' shoes, black stilettos by Versace, however are rare to find and likely bespoke. The shoes have red sparkly stones that are likely to be Swarovski stones or perhaps even real rubies.

The Duchess quickly became known for her exquisite and expensive fashion choices. This caused her to be called Duchess of Luxury with some folks.


Oliver

I follow my wife's former sailing team into a club in the middle of Havana. La Rosa Negra, The Black Rose, is the hotspot among locals. It's bursting with Cubans that are dancing as freely and passionately as in Brazil. This is not a polished luxury club with champagne bottles popping open, it's rare and real. It's the heart of Cuba.

The sailing team goes to this club every time they race in the St. Barth's Regatta. Although, Josephine didn't race with her team this year, she definitely won't miss out on the celebrations that happen far away from the hotspot beaches in St. Barth's. Instead they sail all the way to Cuba and party here.

Half of the team is Cuban, the rest is a mixture from all over the world. But they always come back to La Rosa Negra.

And tonight, I'm going to be part of the celebrations. Because I'm her husband. I'm part of her and she's part of the team despite not competing with them for two years.

"What do you think? Quite the atmosphere, huh?" Mario asks me with a grin on his face.

"It's a lot like in Rio." I answer.

"But the music is a little bit better." Mario teases me before he gets lost in this grape of people. The people here are not dressed in luxury designer clothes. The women are in either dresses with ruffles or wide skirts with tops that barely cover their boobs. They're dressed sexy but not too sexy. The men don't wear fancy watches and polished shoes. No, the men here wear shirts or Oxford shirts with jeans or slacks, but nothing about the men is fancy. It feels like coming home.

It's absolutely fascinating. I've never been to a club like this before. White's nothing compared to La Rosa Negra. It has a live band with a sensational singer, trumpets, maracas and drums that performs salsa hits, which heat up the whole club. The atmosphere is buzzing with people having sex in form of dances on the dance floor. The bartender is busy mixing cocktails, pouring shots and swinging his hips to the songs.

It's a nightmare for Ralph and his security team.

"You like it?" My wife asks me. She has changed into a red dress with ruffles and spaghetti straps. The ruffles on the v-cut neckline make her boobs look even bigger. In her hair she's wearing a black rose. She looks sensational.

"I can't wait to hit the dance floor with you." The atmosphere is addictive, but my wife is even more addictive.

"Shall we dance, my beloved husband?" She asks me while holding out her hand.

I take it without thinking twice. "Let's show them how the Brazilians celebrate."

My wife giggles as we make our way to the dance floor. The men here are not ashamed to cherish their partner's body. Their hands dig into their partner's asses, their fingers glide down women's boobs, they bury their noses in the nape of her neck and cover it with kisses, they lick away the sweat that's formed in the valley of the women's boobs. Some men are dancing with two women at once. Their bodies are not afraid to take what they want when they feel like it - or the music tells them to.

It's been a while since I've last seen that.

The song changes into a passionate song about love, hate, desire and heat. The atmosphere is buzzing with a kind of heat that can only be found in Havana. Josephine and I start dancing a salsa among all the other couples. The music starts filling out bodies with a kind of energy I've only ever felt with my wife. We're feeling the music vibrating between us.

Between the four of us.

"They're dancing." My wife's grin and the whisper is all I need to live.

"They are?"

"Oh, yes. They love the music." She takes my hands and places it on her bump. For a moment there's the usual silence but suddenly, I get to feel tiny kicks. It feels like tiny knocks that vibrate through her skin and onto the palms of my hands...

"Oh, they are!" This is amazing!

"You can feel them?"

I nod as the emotions get the best of me. Our lives are kicking in there. Our children... our flesh and blood... Ours. "Yes. It's not very strong but I can feel it." I lick my lips. It's the most amazing feeling in the world!

"Real Hispanics." She whispers as we continue dancing to the beat.

"Half Hispanics." I remind her.

"That British stiff upper lip won't be part of their lives. Not as much as this."

"A club?"

"Feeling the music from the ends of your hair to the tips of your toes." She reminds me. "It's a kind of rush I've only ever felt with you."

I know exactly how she feels like. I've had some hot dances with Brazilian women at one of the many beaches in Rio over the years, but no other woman compares to Josephine. She's a Brazilian by blood and British by passport. She's everything I never knew I wanted and needed. She's my soulmate and the love of my life.

"Oh, look at that! The Clarences' got some moves!" I can hear Johnson teasing us.

But Josephine and I don't even react to the words. We're in our own world like we always are when we're dancing together.

"Rio's dancing like a Cuban!" Javier whistles so loudly that it reaches our bubble.

I smirk as I twirl my wife around, "Rio? That's my nickname?"

Javier grins back at me as he dances a heated salsa with a brunette. The way he touches her would be viewed as scandalous anywhere else in the world. But here it's called dancing - and I love it. "You can take the man out of Rio but not Rio out of the man."

Truer words have never been spoken.

Josephine

"I'll fetch you some water." Oliver tells me before turning on his heel and dancing his way through the crowds to the bar.

"I didn't know you could dance like that, O."

I turn around at Andrew's words. He's the only one in the world that calls me O. Josephine was too long for him to shout when we were racing and he didn't like Jo or Josie, so he decided to use the first letter of my second name. "It takes the right partner to dance with."

"I'm sorry about the debacle with Rothschild. I apologise for not calling afterwards."

Debacle doesn't even cover it. The world has no idea what trauma that psychopath has caused me. "I didn't invite you to my wedding on French Cay so I think we're even."

"You married him on your island?"

I nod, "On the beach at sunset. With no shoes so we could feel the sand between our toes." Just remembering that day gives me goosebumps and fills my heart with warmth. It was the most perfect day. It was the best surprise ever.

Andrew grins at me. "Sounds like you."

He has no idea how much. "It was very magical and special. Oliver surprised me with it."

Andrew looks at my sparkling engagement and wedding ring. "I like that ring much more than the one Rothschild gave you. It was obnoxiously ugly."

I follow his gaze and stare at my wedding rings. If I told myself from one year ago that I'd be married and pregnant, she'd call me nuts and drown her confusion in bourbon. Oliver always asked for more but I refused to give in. Yet, it was me who proposed to him, who wanted the ultimate more. Marriage.

I'm wearing the ultimate mores, an engagement and wedding ring, on my left ring finger and I have never felt happier. I'm also carrying the ultimates mores in my uterus, our two children.

He wanted more and I refused to give it to him at first.

But in the end I gave him double as much as he asked for.

I chuckle, "It was quite a statement."

"And heavy, too I can imagine."

"Oh, yes it was!" I almost forgot about that huge yellow diamond ring from Harry Winston. It scratched my face at night so I started taking it off whenever possible, meaning whenever I was in a private room where no one could question my behaviour.

"The middle stone has the colour of the sea. The rough, wild sea. The kind you love to sail in. I assume the ring is bespoke?"

I have never seen it that way. To me, it was a sea foam green colour. The colour of my husband's eyes when he makes love to me. But seeing it from this point of view, Andrew is right. The ring does capture my love for the sea and sailing. Perhaps that why I love the colour so much. It was my colour long before I met my husband. But when I did and saw it's reflection in his eyes, I felt like home.

As home as I feel on a sailing yacht.

I nod and lift my left hand. "The sapphire is from Madagascar. It's one of a kind. My wedding band is made from Welsh gold. It's halfway twisted with diamonds that once belonged to my great-great grandmother."

"Historic yet new."

I nod.

"Was this your choice with Edward as well?"

"No." I say simply as I can't remember what ring I chose. It was in a different lifetime.

"I never liked Edward, you know. You guys didn't dance like you just did with Oliver, on your engagement party. That night was a big red flag for me - and it wasn't because of the red dress you wore on that night."

I remember that evening. The engagement party was a feast and success for Hannah Rothschild. Her son and me were the picture perfect couple. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Edward would have spun it into some sort of manipulation and jealousy thing, I'm sure. But I wasn't feeling either of these things. I was concerned. Deeply concerned."

"But you're not concerned right now."

Andrew shakes his head, "No, not at all. I am beyond delighted."

"You know, Javier has given him the nickname Rio."

Andrew smirks, "Fitting."

"Yeah, I think so as well."

"The o in Rio also stands for you." Andrew points out to me. "He's part of you and therefore part of this team. And these two are part of the team as well." He looks at the bump.

I place my hands on the bump. There are two cantaloupes in there. Two beautiful, beautiful cantaloupes... that enjoy dancing as much as their parents.

"You look happy."

"I am." I smile at Andrew. For a moment, I forgot about all the negatives that happened to me. Maybe it's the Cuban music, maybe it's the fact that I am pregnant with two dancing babies or maybe it's talking to Andrew, one of the little people that know me... "You'll find someone as well. Every Jack has his Jill."

Andrew sighs, "Oh, I don't know. My only love is the sea. Always has been and always will be."

"You'd be surprised how much love your heart can feel." I sure as hell was when I met Oliver.

"I'm afraid Invictus will be the only one that can return my love for the sea."

I grin, "You know, I surely wasn't the last woman to join the team."

"But you were the first and that makes you rather special." Andrew winks at me.

"Sadly, I don't think I can ever join the team again. Except maybe for a charity regatta."

"I'll do all the charity regattas in the world for you, O."

"Good, I might come back to you on that after I've spoken with the courtiers and His Majesty."

"You know, I always knew you'd be destined for greatness, but even I didn't see this coming." He stares at the bump. Funny, how he thought I'd be a Royal but not a married Mum. "But you'll be an excellent Mum."

It's my greatest fear to let them down. I place my hands on the bump, "I hope so."

Andrew gives me one of his megawatt smiles. "I hope that victory secured me a job as a godfather."

I chuckle. We haven't even thought about their godparents. "We'll see."

"Your water." My husband's lion-like voice fills my ears before I look to my right. It takes me less than a second to read his pine green eyes. He doesn't like Andrew.

I guess he won't be a godparent to any of our children.

"Thanks." I take the glass of water out of his hand just to distract him from Andrew.

"I'll better find myself a dance party." With that Andrew leaves us alone.

"You didn't have to do that."

"Do what?"

"Scare him off. We're friends. What happened was a lifetime ago." It's only now that I notice the water in his glass. "You can have a drink. You don't have to stay sober because of me."

"We're a union. You stay sober, I stay sober."

"But I am pregnant and you are not." I remind him and lift my finger when he opens his mouth. "And please don't say we're in this together. We obviously are, but weight gain... please don't look for excuse to gain weight. Actually, try to only gain muscle weight."

My husband smirks, "You like my abs?"

"Yes... and your biceps, triceps... and that sexy ass." I lick my lips as I'm reminded of everything that's underneath these clothes that he's wearing.

"How about we make each other a promise then?"

I'll promise him anything. "I'm listening."

"I promise to stay fit and you promise to do anything in your power to stay healthy and gain weight."

"I'll do my best." I promise him. My eyes spot Andrew taking another shot of vodka with a Cuban woman at the bar. "But you should really try your best with Andrew. He's a good guy. We're just friends."

My husband turns around and looks at Andrew. "I promise to offer him an aspirin tomorrow on the plane."

I grab his left hand and squeezes it softly, "He might need two."


Royal Cuban Nights: The Clarences' night out in Cuba's capital city!

The Duke and Duchess of Clarence have been photographed in the streets of Havana along side the winning team of the St. Barth's Regatta!

Despite skipping the official ceremony and viewing the finale day of the regatta, the couple celebrated with the winners in a local restaurant, eating seafood and drinking champagne. The Duchess stunned in a red chiffon dress with ruffles at the front and spaghetti straps designed by Roberto Cavalli with a price tag of six thousand pounds. She paired the dress with black stilettos by Versace. The couple looked happy as they enjoyed the company of the Duchess' former sailing team members on the balcony of the restaurant. The dinner was paid by the Royals and they are said to have given a rather large tip to their waiter. The couple denied any selfies when approached by other guests. However, they did have genuine conversations with them, expressing their love for Cuba and sailing.

After the three hour dinner, the couple alongside the male sailing team went into a club, where they danced the night away. Photographers snapped the royal couple heading back to their hotel at around two in the morning. The Duchess and Duke looked joyful as they strolled through the paved streets of Havana until they reached the Four Seasons, their hotel of choice, where a night costs over two thousand dollars a night.


Oliver's large hand rests on my big, bare bump as our twins kick against the walls of my belly again. His yellow golden wedding ring is shimmering in the lights of our suite in the Four Seasons in Havana. My husband's chuckle is full of amazement. "They're kicking!"

They are indeed. I smile at him but he doesn't see it as his sea foam coloured eyes are focused on the bump, on our unborn babies.

This is not how I expected the night in Havana to end. Never in a million years would I have thought I'd be laying in a hotel bed in Havana with my husband's hand on my pregnant belly and being the happiest I've ever been - without the need to fuck the whole night.

Two years ago, I would have dragged a stranger into this suite, made him sign a NDA and give into my sexual need. Two years ago, I would have fucked and forget about the stranger as soon as we were done.

But then I met my husband and he turned my world upside down.

He made me see and feel what true love is. I always knew what true love looked like, especially with Della and Wlad, Ana and Sasha, Rory and George, Nate and Char, and my parents - but I never felt it.

Never, until I met my husband. I never saw myself as a mother, not because I couldn't picture myself with children but I couldn't picture myself raising them. Children deserve parents who put them first. Always.

But for me my career was always my priority. I always respected children, loved them even. But I always thought that children needed parents who wanted them... who wanted them more than their work.

And I didn't think I could want anyone more than my work.

But then I met Oliver... and suddenly I wanted it all. I want him. I want to wake up every morning for the rest of my life with a wedding ring. I want our children. I want every single one we'll have according to Ana. I want our philanthropic work via the Commonwealth Trust - it's a privilege to be able to call that work! I want this life more than I could have ever imagined.

And that's all because of that one morning when I entered that cafe in Battersea and helped Oliver out. It was one moment, one coincidence, that changed everything for me.

How life goes.

I place my hand on my husband to get his attention.

It takes everything in him to tear his eyes off of the deformations on my bump that's caused by our babies, but eventually he does. "I love you."

Oh, how much I know that he loves me.

But he will never know that I love him more.


Oliver

I watch how my wife finishes the tenth portion of luxurious black caviar. "Okay, I'm going to take a nap."

The sound of the flying airplane is gently humming in my ears. I nod and my eyes follow her movements as she raises from the comfortable chairs and walks down the way that leads to the private sleeping rooms. The cabin is lined with rich ivory coloured leather and bespoke mahogany veneer while the floor of the plane is either covered in heated marble or carpet.

The flight from St. Barth's to London has been smooth so far but we still have five hours to go.

My wife stops at the lounging area where Ralph is working on his iPad. The rest of the security team is enjoying themselves on the first floor, but Ralph always seems to be in work-mode. Josephine sits down across him and starts talking to him.

I turn around and stare at the empty plates that are on the mahogany table in front of me. My wife tends to enjoy salty meals when she's up in the air. She ate caviar, drank tomato juice and paired that with salty crackers and nuts.

I haven't eaten anything yet because I wasn't hungry. I was anxious my wife would be feeling nauseous again but luckily she didn't. She felt fine although our twins did kick a lot.

Every time she place my hand on her bump and I can feel them kick, it brings me the greatest joy. I can't wait to meet them!

I throw an aspirin into my water glass and watch it dissolve. Then I get up from my seat and walk over to Andrew Johnson, who has turned his leather seat into a day bed while he watches TV with his AirPods in his ears. As Josephine predicted, he is feeling really hung over from last night. He literally danced the night away at La Rosa Negra and went home in the colour playing of sunrise.

Not that Josephine and I didn't get much more sleep, but we do feel better than him. Maybe it's because I fulfilled one of Josephine's sex fantasies or perhaps it's the fact that she finally allowed me to touch her bump whenever I want to.

We enjoyed every single second of last night.

I sit down on the leathered chair next to Andrew's and hand him the water glass. "For your headache."

Johnson takes out his AirPods and nods before emptying the glass in one go. "Thank you."

"I suggest you drink lots of water or tomato juice." I tell him.

"You and Jo make a beautiful couple. You complement each other very well."

"She told me about what happened between the two of you." I read between his lines. "We don't have secrets from each other."

Andrew nods, "Complete honesty is hard to find nowadays. I want you to know it was nothing serious. I can't commit to anyone."

Josephine used to be the same way. "One day you will."

"There was a split second I thought it was your wife." Andrew admits in a breath.

He wasn't the only one. Rothschild managed to persuade her into an engagement and nearly dragged her down the aisle. But Josephine can't be pressured into anything.

She's the one who has to come to you.

And I will never forget the day I found her standing in front of my house in Rocinha. Never in the world would I have expected her in Rio, let alone find my house in Rocinha.

It was one of the most life changing moments of my life so far.

"My wife's quite charming so I'm going to let that go." I have to restrain myself and remind me that I'm a Royal now and no longer that man from the streets of Rocinha. "You and my wife are friends but that doesn't mean we are as well."

"I know Josephine very well."

"And I know her even better." I counter. "Josephine likes you so I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt but don't mistake that for foolishness." I threaten him.

I watch how Andrew becomes as little as a mouse. "Yes, Your Royal Highness."

I rise from the chair and decide to leave Andrew alone. He shall dwell in his thoughts until we land in London.

I walk down the way and pass Ralph, who is FaceTiming with Sarah, our private secretary. He looks much happier. Josephine is gone so I assume she's already asleep in one of the bedrooms. I pass the mahogany conference table that can seat 16 people on plush ivory coloured leather seats. There's a wide row of skylights above and on the sides of the table, giving the illusion of being one with the clouds.

I stop in front of the shut door of the master bedroom at the end of the way. There's a spiral staircase next to me that leads to the first floor of this Boeing plane. The first floor offers more seats, six bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a multimedia theatre, a study and more sofas to lounge on.

I open the door and enter the private bedroom. There's a huge bed with white cotton bedding in the middle of the room and just like in our master bedroom at home there's a skylight above the bed. On our way to St. Barth's Josephine and I watched the sunset and sunrise through that skylight window. It was absolutely breathtaking to witness it.

To my surprise my wife is not laying in the bed. When the door of the en-suite bathroom opens my question has its answer. There's another that leads to a walk-in wardrobe. This plane is a palace in the air.

Josephine has changed into her sky blue cashmere pyjamas. The bump looks as stunning as the rest of her body in it. The colour matches her eyes.

"I thought you'd already be asleep."

My wife shakes her head, "No, I talked to Ralph. I think he and Sarah took a pause but obviously he wasn't very happy about it. I made him call her and explain his feelings and the situation. Sarah asked for this break because of their jobs. She feared we'd be firing her and Ralph if we knew. I'll talk to her when we're back at work on Monday."

Josephine the relationship expert. I smirk. How things change...

"What?"

"Nothing."

"No, this smirk does not mean nothing."

I lick my lips, "I'm just happy that you're so concerned about Ralph and Sarah."

"He deserves to be happy. He's been my security man for a very long time. He was at Harvard with me. I know this job requires him to be flexible and adjust to our schedules, however that doesn't mean he doesn't deserve to be loved and have a healthy relationship with the woman he loves."

"And you think that's Sarah?"

"I think he deserves a chance to find that out." She runs her fingers through her long chestnut curls before she yawns.

I decide to not question whether or not that implies to Andrew.

"I saw you talking to Andrew. Did you apologise to him?"

"No, I set the record straight. Just because he's your friend, doesn't mean he is mine. Whatever there was between the two of you, it meant more to him than it did to you - and I feel like it's a pattern."

She sighs and grabs me hands, "It wasn't like that with you. It never was. You saw through all these masks that I wore."

"It's still uncomfortable to talk to a man that has seen you naked."

"I'm pretty sure my Daddy saw me naked when I was little as well. He changed a lot of diapers and we bathed together." She tries to cheer me up. "And you seem to get along with him just fine."

"Not funny." I stand my point. "But maybe I shall rephrase that to it's uncomfortable to talk to a man that has seen you naked and fucked you the way I do."

She licks her full lips, "Well, Andrew and I never did what you and me are doing. We never used props, ropes or any other toys. I never did it with anyone again after I was introduced into the scene. Because it requires trust. Unconditional trust. And I never trusted anyone enough to even consider it. But then I met you... and the rest is history." With that she places my hands on the bump. Our twins are kicking against her belly and my hands.

It's the most wonderful feeling in the world!

I can't hide the smile even if I tried.

"Sweet dreams, Tesoro." I wish her after kissing those full lips.

My wife returns my smile, "Northern Lights."

My heart skips a beat every time she says those two little words. "Northern Lights."


Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter! I hope you enjoyed it.

Sorry for the delay, but I hope this extra long chapter makes up for it a little.

Please review and stay healthy and safe!

In gratitude,

Nicole