Clarisse suite…
Phillippe and Helen walked in instantly greeted by Clarisse and Joseph who were standing together.
"I'm sorry we interrupted" Phillippe apologized. Helen nodding her head in agreement.
"Don't be silly. Come on over" Clarisse reassured them.
Phillippe and Helen walked over to them.
"Let's sit" Clarisse suggested.
Phillippe and Helen sat side by side, looking at one another nervously.
Joseph noticed their strange behavior. He glanced at Clarisse, but she was not looking his way.
"We are actually glad that you two came. Joseph and I had something we wanted to discuss" Clarisse admitted not realizing what Joseph had realized.
"Oh..." Phillippe replied sounding like his mother.
"Yes, we have some news" Clarisse admitted as she glanced at Joseph who smiled at her reassuringly.
"About father" Phillippe asked as he grasped Helen hand?
Clarisse noticed and tried to choose her words carefully, "yes and another recent development."
Phillippe looked at Joseph confused.
"May I..." Joseph asked Clarisse, as he wanted permission to explain.
"Please…" Clarisse replied relieved.
"We recently received some information that has lead us to believe that there may be someone and/or several people who are in the Palace that are supplying information to the people responsible for what has happened to the King" Joseph admitted as he waited until he felt they grasped what he was saying. "Due to this information I believe it is in the best interest of everyone that your mother be moved to a different location" He finished hoping they understood what he was saying without having to say it.
"You mean mother is in danger" Phillippe said nervously as he looked at his mother.
"Yes, I believe she is" Joseph admitted.
Helen grasped Phillippe hand tighter. She instinctively wanted to touch her belly but stopped herself.
"We will, of-course, ensure that the King is protected. If you decide to stay in the Palace that protection will also be provided o you" Joseph shared wanting to reassure the young Prince.
"I want to stay with Father" Phillippe replied as he looked at Helen for approval.
Helen looked down clearly unsure.
Phillippe squeezed her hand and asked, "do you want to leave?"
Clarisse looked at Joseph sadly. She knew that this was a lot for Helen to take in. She truly felt bad for her.
"I need to think on this as we discussed earlier" Helen replied hoping he knew she was referring to the baby.
Phillippe nodded his head, understanding fully what she meant and stated, "mother we came because we have some news to share."
Helen looked at him relaying her support with her eyes. He knew it was time to tell his mother. Now more then ever given the circumstances.
"Oh…" Clarisse replied making Joseph smile.
"Helen and I are in love" Phillippe began not knowing how else to start this conversation.
"We've noticed" Clarisse teased them both.
Helen smiled at her.
"I was hoping we would have time to talk when we arrived, but it was never the right time. He took a deep breath. Mother, we…we are having a baby. I have asked Helen to marry me. I love her, I love them both." He forced himself to say. Not because he was ashamed but because he knew what her reaction would be. He had hoped to have more time to convince his mother that their marriage was a good thing, and the baby a blessing.
Clarisse facial expression changed.
Helen felt her stomach drop as she noticed.
"I wanted to talk to you about this sooner but after what happened to father…I…there was never a good time to talk. I realize now is not the best time either, but Helen, she needs to see a doctor. I did not want to do anything without discussing it with you first." He said honestly.
Clarisse nodded her head slightly showing she understood his reasoning.
"Please say something mother" He begged as he looked at her with hopeful eyes.
"Thank you both for coming to tell me. I know all of this has not been easy. I, too, wish we had the time to talk about everything" She said keeping her voice and reaction calm but, inside she wanted to scream at her son for being so irresponsible.
Phillippe face fell when he realized he was not going to get congratulated.
Helen sat quietly but she also felt the same disappointment Phillippe felt.
Joseph remained standing in silence. He understood Clarisse reason, but he felt that she needed to be Phillippe mother before being his Queen.
Clarisse stood ending the visit which shocked Phillippe and Joseph. Helen was confused on what was happening, so she followed Phillippe when he stood up.
"Let us talk more tomorrow" Clarisse added as she kept reminding herself to remain calm and not scream.
"It has been a long day. We understand. Goodnight mother" Phillippe forced himself to say although he was deeply hurt. Helen followed him out.
Once the door closed, Clarisse sat back down, her hand going up to her face.
"Clarisse…" Joseph approached her concerned.
"He can't stay here with her Joseph. We cannot risk the Helen and the baby getting hurt. I want you to arrange their travel back to America immediately" She forced herself to say as her eyes watered.
"Talk to him love" He said as he sat beside her.
"And say what? How could you do this? Because that is what I want to say. How could he be so damn irresponsible? He knows what this could mean. A child conceived before marriage with an American, an artist, at that" She spat angrily.
"And say that you love him and that you love your grand-baby already. And that you want to protect them, so you are sending them to America" He said his eyes full of love.
"I can't do that Joseph. Yes, I love him and the baby. Of-course I love my grand-baby already. But, as Queen, I must…" She tried to explain her reasoning.
"You are a mother and a grandmother first, Clarisse" He said upset by her automatic response.
"No Joseph, I'm not. I am Queen first; you know how it is" She finished firmly.
Joseph felt his heart drop. If this is what it was like with her son and grandchild what did that mean for them?
Across the Palace….
"I'm glad you came" Charlotte whispered shyly.
"I was hoping we could have dinner sometime or an evening drink" Pierre suggested.
"Do you truly mean that" She asked hopeful?
"Yes, I do. I know things have been on hold but, I would like for that to change" He smiled.
"I would like that too" She admitted smiling back.
"How does tomorrow sound" He asked gaining more courage?
"Sounds perfect" She said hoping he would not think badly of her for wanting this as much as she did.
Before they could speak further Charlotte phone rang. She answered it with a smile on her face.
"Charlotte, is my brother still there" Phillippe asked his voice sounding off?
"Hi. Yes, he is. Hold on. It's Phillippe" Charlotte quickly handed the phone to Pierre with a concerned look.
"Phillippe, what is it" Pierre asked concerned?
"I need to speak with you. Can you please come to Helen suite" Phillippe asked feeling himself on the verge of tears?
"Yes, of-course. I will be right there" Pierre reassured him.
Pierre hung up a moment later, looked at Charlotte with concern.
"Is he alright" Charlotte asked?
"I think he had a falling out with mother. I have to go but, tomorrow, dinner" Pierre asked again?
"Yes. Tomorrow" She reassure him as she watched him walk away.
