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A Rose A Day - Part 3.

Pulling up behind one of the palaces many limousines parked on the drive later that day, Clarisse unbuckled her seatbelt and looked at Joseph sitting in the drivers seat beside her. "Looks like the men are back from golf."

"Yes, and it looks like from the way they staggered out of the limousine that they've all had a drink or two too," Joseph smirked as he turned his head to look at Clarisse.

"Yes it does," she agreed as she looked back out the front car window at her sons, Larry, who was now staggering towards the palace steps, and Rupert. "But then I can't really talk," she said and looked back at Joseph with a smile, "I enjoyed a couple glasses of wine with Sabrina."

"That is true, yes, but there is a difference. You managed to walk perfectly fine," Joseph chuckled as Clarisse smiled at him then down at her hands resting in her lap.

"Anyway," she said while looking back up at him and studied his face, "are you coming in?"

"Not right now," he said with a shake of his head, "I'm going to go and park the car up in the garage first then I'll be in."

"Okay," she nodded with a smile, "I won't kiss you, don't want anyone seeing."

"Okay, save it for later when we are alone," he said as she smiled back at him while opening her car door. "I'll see you in a bit," he laughed, watching her as she climbed from the car.

"You will," Clarisse said and looked at him before closing the car door. Straightening out her skirt and jacket, she walked around the front of Joseph's car and around the side of the limousine where her son's and Rupert were standing as Joseph drove off for the garages.

"Now then, where was I?" Rupert said, his voice slurred as he wrapped his arm around his youngest son's shoulders. "Oh I remember now," he nodded, "you must always make time for her, that's very important, and so is making love. You must do it as often as you can. It's very important," he said as both Pierre and Philippe grimaced.

"Oh father come on," Philippe exclaimed, "I don't wanna hear that."

"What's going on?" Clarisse asked after hearing the tail end of the conversation and clasped her hands together in front of her as they all turned to look at her.

"Hello," Rupert exclaimed. "We are home."

"I can see," Clarisse nodded.

"Would you believe," Pierre began as Clarisse looked at him, "father, of all people, is giving marriage advice to Philippe," he said and watched as his mother frowned before shaking her head slightly at him.

"Oh, Pierre, it's not that bad," Rupert said as he looked at Pierre, then back to Philippe, "I just remembered something else, do something nice for her every day, and thank her for something at least once a day too. Oh, and," he said, pausing a moment, "take a walk together as often as you can, and hold her hand in yours. Isn't that right?" He said while looking at Clarisse.

"Oh yes," she nodded, "you must always take a walk together and hold hands, that's a must," she smiled. "Anyway, did you all enjoy golf today?"

"Yes we did," Philippe grinned, "and we won."

"Yes we did," Rupert beamed.

"Oh that is good news," Clarisse smiled as she studied her youngest son a moment before briefly averting her gaze to Rupert standing beside him then back to Philippe. "Well, I think you all need to go and get yourself to bed to sleep off the drink for a couple hours before the family dinner tonight," she said.

"I couldn't agree more," Pierre nodded and watched as his father moved to stand beside his mother and draped his arm around her shoulders. "Are you coming, father?"

"Yes, I'll be there in a minute," Rupert nodded while looking at him, then at Clarisse as he pulled her closer to him, causing her to briefly lose her balance as she quickly reached out her hand onto Rupert's chest.

"Mother," Pierre worried as he hurried forward to them and reached his hands out to her as she regained her balance.

"I'm okay," Clarisse nodded, "but can you go and fetch Lyle for me," she said as she looked at her son, "he can help your father in and up to his suite for me."

"No I'm okay, I don't need any help… I can walk in by myself," Rupert smiled and lowered his head closer to Clarisse's, to whisper something in her ear as Pierre watched on and raised his eyebrow over his mother's shocked reaction as she pulled her head back to look up at her husband and shook her head in disbelief.

"Okay, come on father," Pierre said and watched as both his parent's looked at him. "Let's get you inside."

"I'll walk in with you," Philippe said as Rupert removed his arm from around Clarisse's shoulders, "you can give me some more marriage advice."

"Yes, I have plenty of that," Rupert said as he stepped closer to Philippe and put his arm back around his shoulders, "now, you must listen to this one, it's very important. You must always, no matter what is going on or what mood you are in, listen to what she has to say and put yourself in her shoes while she's saying it," he said soberly, "and never take her, or anything, for granted. Be grateful everyday for the life you have together and the love you've found."

Clasping her hands together in front of her once again, Clarisse looked down at the ground and listened to what advice her husband was giving as he and their youngest son slowly began to walk away from her and Pierre. "Are you okay?" Pierre asked as she looked up at him. "What did father whisper in your ear just now?"

"Nothing, it doesn't matter," Clarisse said with a shake of her head, "are you coming in?" She asked.

"In a bit, yeah," Pierre said.

"Alright," she said and stepped closer to kiss his cheek, "see you later."

Nodding, Pierre watched as she gave him a small smile before turning to follow his father and younger brother into the palace. Letting out a sigh, he turned and began to walk away. Deciding to go for a small walk before going to have a rest before the family dinner later that day.

After helping the Queen dress for dinner, and doing her hair and make up, Éloise put the necklace that Clarisse had chosen to wear around her neck and fastened the chain at the back before smoothing her hands across Clarisse's shoulders. "All finished, your majesty." Éloise smiled at her in the mirror.

"Thank you, Éloise," Clarisse said and looked at her ladies maid in the mirror before averting her gaze to her necklace as she put her hand up, her fingers briefly resting on top of the Opal heart pendant. The necklace had sentimental value to her, it had belonged to her mother, who had worn it on her wedding day, and when Clarisse married Rupert. It had been handed down to her when she passed away and she thought wearing it tonight to the family dinner was appropriate for such an occasion.

"Forgive me, your majesty," Éloise said and watched as Clarisse averted her gaze back to her in the mirror, "but is everything alright?"

"Yes, of course," Clarisse said and gave her a small smile as she nodded, "just tired," she said and stood to her feet.

"I thought that would be the case, but I just wanted to make sure," Éloise nodded as the Queen turned to her. "You look simply divine, your majesty."

"Thank you, Éloise," Clarisse said as she folded her hands together in front of her stomach while momentarily looking down, "I wonder if you might leave me," she said while looking back up at her maid, "I would like a few moment's alone before I go downstairs."

"Of course, your majesty," Éloise said and curtsied before making her way out of the Queen's suite, leaving her alone like she had requested.

"Ahh Éloise," Philippe said as he and his father walked along the hallway towards her closing his mother's suite door behind her, "is mother ready?" He asked as his mother's maid turned to them.

"She is, your highness," Éloise nodded, "but she wanted a few moments alone before making her way down to dinner."

"Is she okay?" Philippe asked, his voice full of concern.

"She's tired, your highness," Éloise replied as she studied the young Prince standing in front of her. "And she has a lot on her mind too."

"Oh, has she told you what?" Philippe asked.

"No, your highness," Éloise said, shaking her head. "But even if she had, I'm not prohibited to tell you."

"Quite right," Philippe nodded, "forgive me for asking such a question."

"It's okay, your highness," Éloise said as she watched him glance back at his father, "maybe it's best to leave her be, allow her to come down when she's ready?"

Looking back at his mother's maid, Philippe nodded. "You're right, thank you Éloise."

"It's okay, your highness," Éloise said and bowed her head before walking away.

Meanwhile, back in the Queen's bedroom, Clarisse sat momentarily in the chair next to the window, gazing longingly out over the garden. Everything had been going so well that day, everyone was happy and excited for Philippe and Helen's wedding tomorrow, so why did Rupert have to whisper what he did to her out on the drive. She even wondered if she had perhaps misheard him, but every time she closed her eyes to rest earlier, something she so desperately needed after all the late nights she'd had over this last week, she heard him whisper them few words in her ear all over again and she couldn't get them out of her mind ever since.

But knowing that she had to make an appearance downstairs for dinner, or they would only come looking for her if she didn't, she slowly stood to her feet several moments later and smoothed her hands down over her hips and the top of her legs, straightening out the skirt of her dress before taking a deep breath and making her way through her suite and out the door to go downstairs.

"Here you are," her father, Philippe, said from the bottom of the stairway.

"Hello père," she smiled upon seeing her father stood at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for her, "is everything okay?"

"Yes," he nodded as she continued her way down to him, her hand gliding down the handrail with every step, "but are you? Philippe said you needed a few moment's alone?"

"Yes, of course," she nodded as she stepped from the last step and leant closer to kiss his cheek, "I just have a lot on my mind, what with everything going on."

"That's understandable," he nodded and glanced down at her peplum style dress then at her necklace, "you look lovely this evening, bunny, and I love that you're wearing your mother's necklace too."

"Thank you, père," she said while putting her hand up and took the pendant resting on her chest in her fingers as they both turned to walk towards the dining room together, "what with having to wear my tiara and matching jewellery from the Royal collection for the wedding, I wanted to wear it tonight." She said and turned her head to look at her father while linking her arm with his, "so a little piece of mère could still be here too."

"That's a lovely gesture," Philippe nodded slowly, "she certainly would have loved to have been here for this."

"I know she would have," Clarisse nodded thoughtfully as they walked a few feet in silence.

"Pierre mentioned earlier that they had a good day at the golf club and that they all got a little drunk," Philippe said, pulling Clarisse from her thoughts.

"Drunk," Clarisse said matter of factly as what Rupert had whispered to her earlier suddenly made sense. He didn't mean anything by it, he was simply drunk and probably wouldn't even remember what he even said come morning.

"Yes, Pierre said that they were drunk and had to go and sleep it off before the dinner," Philippe said as he turned his head to look at his daughter.

"Yes, they did," Clarisse nodded and looked at her father, "thank you father," she smiled and leant closer to kiss his cheek.

"Whatever for?" He exclaimed in surprise.

"Because for the last few hours I had been worrying over something so ridiculously silly when I really didn't have too," Clarisse said and smiled at him.

"Oh, well I'm glad I could help," he smiled as they came to a stop and turned to one another. "Come on, let's go and join everyone else in the dining room."

Smiling, Clarisse nodded and began to lead the way towards the dining room doors as the doormen opened them for her and her father to enter.

Walking into her suite later that night, Clarisse let out a sigh and put her hand up onto the side of her neck as she stood beside her sideboard and slipped off her shoes. "Why don't you go sit down and I'll get us a drink," Joseph said as he closed and locked the door behind them.

"Oh yes, that would be wonderful," Clarisse said as she rubbed her neck while turning to him. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he smiled as he stepped in front of her and reached his hands out, placing them on her sides. "Wine?"

"Please," she nodded and briefly closed her eyes as he leant in and kissed her. "There should be a bottle already on ice that Sasha brought up earlier."

"Okay, one glass of wine coming right up," he smiled as he turned and walked over to the drinks cabinet while gesturing to the sofa, "go and get yourself comfortable." After pouring the wine and putting the bottle back in the ice bucket, Joseph picked up their drinks and walked over to take a seat beside Clarisse on the sofa. "How was the dinner?" He asked while handing her, her drink.

"It was good, yes, and went well, I think," Clarisse nodded as Joseph took a sip of his wine.

"You think?" He said while placing his glass down on the coffee table and sat back, to get comfortable as Clarisse took a long sip of her wine. "Is there something bothering you?"

"No," she said with a shake of her head, "should there be?"

"No, well I hope not," Joseph said as she took another long sip of her drink before reaching her arm out to place her glass down on the coffee table. "It's just you don't seem your usual cheery self tonight."

Turning her head she looked back at him and placed her hand on his thigh. She wanted to tell him what was bothering her, what had happened earlier between her and Rupert out on the drive, but with her sons wedding tomorrow and her father reminding her that Rupert was of course drunk when he said what he had, she decided not too, as not to make things worse. "I'm just really very tired, that's all."

"Well you have been doing a lot this last week and haven't been getting to bed until the early hours, so that's understandable," he said and patted his thigh, "but are you sure that's the only reason."

"Yes," Clarisse said as she manoeuvred herself on the sofa so she was now lying down with her head resting in Joseph's lap.

"You can talk to me, you know," Joseph said softly, knowing that there was something on her mind, and placed his hand gently against the top of her head as she looked up at him.

"I know I can, and I appreciate that," she nodded while folding her hands together on her stomach. "But honestly I'm OK, I just need a really good night's sleep."

"Okay," he said softly, giving her a small smile and began brushing his fingers through her hair as she closed her eyes. "You know," he said after a few moments silence, "I have been doing some thinking this evening."

"Hmm, what about?" She asked sleepily, her eyes remaining closed.

"Well your birthdays coming up in a few weeks, and I thought about arranging a trip somewhere for us," he said and watched as she opened her eyes to look up at him. "Maybe we could ask Harry and Sabrina if they would like to join us too, that way it wouldn't cause suspicion to the press and anyone who doesn't know about us if we went alone. At least it would be seen as four friends simply going away somewhere if they did join us."

"That's true and it's a lovely thought," Clarisse said and chewed on her bottom lip as she contemplated the idea of them going away.

"You don't want to go," Joseph said disheartenedly. "And that's OK, it was just a thought, an idea."

"No no, I do," Clarisse said as she quickly sat up and turned to him, "of course I do, I would love to go away with you. Yes, I would prefer if it was just us two but for obvious reasons it can't be," she said, "I just need to check my schedule and talk to Sabrina and Harry about it. To see if they would like to join us too."

"Are you sure, because honestly if you don't want to then we don't have to," he said as he looked into her eyes.

"Yes, I'm absolutely sure," she nodded and leant closer to kiss him a couple times before whispering against his lips, "we will just need to be careful still."

"I know, but," he smiled as she pulled back just a little to look at him, "at least we can be open in front of them, instead of hiding it behind closed doors."

"That is true," Clarisse smiled while moving to rest her head on his chest and snuggled up to him as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. The idea of going away for a few days together and being open excited her, caused her stomach to somersault at the mere thought of what that trip away would entail.

"I should get going, let you get to bed and get some sleep," Joseph said moments later as he absentmindedly ran the tips of his fingers in circles over the top of her arm. "Tomorrow is a big day."

"OK," Clarisse said as she tipped her head back to look up at him. "Don't forget about my rose in the morning," she smiled.

"Oh I won't," he chuckled and lowered his head to kiss her a couple times while putting his hand up to cup her chin.

Thoughts? Please do let me know what you think, it is and always will be appreciated :) thank you.