She Needs To Know - Part 3.
"What am I going to do?" Clarisse asked as she came back into her suite after getting changed for dinner and looked at her sister sitting on the sofa.
"About what?" Elaina asked as she looked up from the book she had found on Clarisse's coffee table and had started to read, causing momentarily distraction.
"Well this whole thing with Rupert, and Joseph," Clarisse said and briefly looked down at the silk scarf she held in her hands that she had chosen to wear with her outfit, "I want to be with Joseph, my heart is with Joseph, but can I still be with him now I know this about Rupert."
"Hmm yes, it is a tricky situation," Elaina said as she placed the book back down on the coffee table while getting to her feet and walked over to her sister as she looked up at her, "I know if it was me I would continue seeing Joseph, Rupert has given you the ok to do so after all, but I would be careful what you do, and say, around Pierre. Because it seems to me that he doesn't exactly approve of you and Joseph being together."
"I know, and he never has," Clarisse said sadly and let out a sigh. "Philippe knows and he's okay with it, well he wasn't at first but he soon saw how happy he made me and accepted it, I just wish Pierre could do the same."
"Philippe knows, wow, I never knew," Elaina said in surprise.
"Yes, well, he may have caught Joseph kissing me against the door in here one day," Clarisse said, the memory popping into her head as she glanced across the room before looking back at her sister as she gasped, "in my defence though, I didn't know he was home from New York, he never said anything about it when we spoke on the phone a few days before, as he had wanted to surprise me."
"Well, he certainly did that," Elaina laughed, "but after what we have talked about on our wine night's, about you and Joe hardly being able to wait some day's and not being able to keep your hands of one another, I'm glad it was just that he caught you doing against the door and nothing else," Elaina said and they both giggled.
"Oh goodness, yes. Me too," Clarisse said and nodded before letting out a sad sigh, "but I don't know Elaina, what if Joseph's mad over what Pierre said and doesn't come back. What if he really thinks that we are getting back together."
"He won't, he will come back," Elaina said and stepped closer to give her a reassuring hug, "he love's you to much to just walk away," she said and pulled back to look into her sister's eyes, "and I know you love him to much to just let him go."
"Oh I do, tremendously," Clarisse nodded and raised her arms up to wrap her scarf around the back of her neck, letting it drape down at the front as she tucked it under the collar of her blouse. "But I can't help worry about it, just like I am worried about him being out there now, especially after hearing what Pierre said. I just hope he's okay, wherever he is."
"I know you are, and that's natural," Elaina said as she watched her sister adjust her collar and blouse. "But he will be fine, you'll see."
"You're right," Clarisse said and dropped her arms down at her sides. "Well, I suppose we better make our way down to dinner."
"Yes we should, they'll be wondering where we are otherwise," Elaina said as Clarisse began to lead the way across the room and out the door into the hallway. "I've been meaning to ask, what are you going to do about Pierre?"
"I don't know really," Clarisse said as she turned back to her sister and watched as she closed her suite door behind them before they continued walking slowly down the hall, "I haven't decided."
"Well you do need to speak to him at some point about this," Elaina said as she watched her sister clasp her hands together in front of her, "you can't let him destroy your happiness."
"I know," Clarisse said and nodded as they reached the top of the staircase and started walking down it, "that's enough of this now though, I don't want people hearing what they shouldn't."
"Ok," Elaina nodded and put her hand briefly on her sister's back as she leant closer to her, "and please try not to worry about Joe, he will be home soon. You'll see," she whispered.
"I hope so," Clarisse nodded as they continued down the stairs and to the dining room. Smiling, they entered the room a moment later and watched as everyone turned to look at them before getting back to their conversations.
"I'll see you in a bit," Elaina smiled as she turned to her sister, "just going to check on father and Lyle."
"Alright," Clarisse nodded as she looked at her sister, when she noticed Larry and Grace were walking over to her.
"Good evening," Grace, Helen's mother, smiled as she and her husband stopped in front of her, and she stepped closer to kiss her cheek. "I'm so glad you came down for dinner."
"Me too, and good evening to you too," Clarisse smiled and watched as Grace stepped back and her husband stepped closer to her, "have you both had a good day?" She asked and she and Larry kissed each other's cheeks. "Am I right in thinking you both attended church this morning with Pierre?"
"You are right, we did yes," Larry smiled as he stepped back to stand beside Grace, "it was a lovely service, everyone was so warm and welcoming. It was lovely to see some of them from yesterday and to be back in the church again," he said as Clarisse smiled and nodded in agreement, "after the service, Pierre and the reverend even gave us a personal tour of the church."
"Oh they did?" Clarisse smiled, "and what did you think of it?"
"Oh it was wonderful, the building has a lot of history," Larry nodded.
"Oh it has, several generations of Rupert's family married in that church," Clarisse said as she glanced across the room at her husband sat at the table talking to Lyle before looking back at Larry and Grace, "and some of them are even buried in the yard too."
"Yes, Pierre said," Larry nodded, "he showed us some of the old record's showing previous marriages too, it was all very interesting."
"It is if you like that sort of thing, history I mean," Clarisse said as Larry nodded, "anyway, did you do anything this afternoon?"
"I'm afraid to say after we arrived back here we didn't do very much, after all the drink I had at the wedding reception last night, I've had a slight hangover all day," Grace said and they all laughed a little.
"Oh goodness, me too," Clarisse said and turned her head to the waiter as he appeared beside them with a tray of drinks in his hands. "Probably shouldn't, but what the hell. Thank you," she smiled while taking a glass of wine from the tray and took a sip before looking back at Larry and Grace. "But it was a such wonderful day yesterday, it was worth the hangover today," she smiled.
"Oh I wholeheartedly agree with that," Grace nodded with a smile and took a sip of her wine.
"And I gotta say that it was so lovely to see you, the Queen, up, dancing and enjoying yourself too." Larry said, in a somewhat surprised voice.
"Mhmm, I agree," Grace smiled, "you looked so relaxed, it really was lovely."
"Thank you, and well what can I say? I like to have fun like the rest of them," Clarisse smiled and they all laughed a little.
"Where did you get too in the end?" Grace asked.
"When?" Clarisse asked as she tilted her head slightly.
"Last night, you disappeared," Grace said and took a sip of her wine as Clarisse looked down at her glass in her hands.
"Oh, I went out into the garden with my closet friends," Clarisse said and looked back up at her now in-laws with a smile as the head butler stood in the doorway.
"Dinner is served," he announced and watched as everyone turned to him.
Later that night and after everyone had eaten, they all remained seated at the table to carry on the conversation a while longer before bidding everyone a goodnight. "Tell me, Larry," Philippe said and looked across the table at him and Grace, who was sitting opposite him, "when are you departing our company?"
"The day after tomorrow, we are travelling to the alps with the newlyweds," Larry said and picked up his glass of wine.
"Separate chalets, obviously," Grace added and everyone laughed.
"Is that where they are going for their honeymoon?" Philippe asked.
"Yes, well the first part of it anyway," Clarisse said as she looked at her father.
"Talking of the newlyweds, has anyone seen or heard from them today?" Elaina asked as she looked at her sister sitting at the end of the table before looking up at the head of the table, where Rupert sat.
"I haven't," Rupert said with a shake of his head and looked down the table at Clarisse, studying her a moment.
"Philippe called this morning to let me know they were okay and that they would see us tomorrow," Clarisse said as she picked up her glass before looking up at him, then at Larry and Grace.
"Mmm, Helen did the same, said she was going to cook a lovely dinner for them both tonight," Grace smiled. "Oh, I wish we didn't have to leave, it's been so lovely staying here with you and getting to know you more."
"Well, you're welcome back anytime," Rupert said, "in fact, why don't we make it a regular thing. You coming to stay every few months, I know Helen would love it."
"Yes, we should," Grace said and looked at Larry before looking at the King, then at the Queen, "if you can put up with us that often."
"Honestly, it will be lovely to have you back," Clarisse said while raising her glass to her mouth and took a long sip of her wine when she noticed Andre sneaking over to Lyle's chair and leaning to whisper in his ear before he turned to Elaina.
"I'll be right back," Lyle said while removing the napkin from his lap and standing to his feet, "there's just something I need to go and deal with."
"But you're not even on duty," Elaina exclaimed quietly as her husband stepped between the seats and began to walk away, "Lyle!" She said in frustration and let out a sigh as she watched him walk out with Andre before turning back to the table. Looking up at her sister, she watched as her gaze remained on her glass as she placed it back on the table before looking up at her and she knew from the look on her face, she had seen him get up and leave.
Walking quietly into the foyer a few moments later, Clarisse folded her arms and watched for a brief moment as Andre, Lyle and Sasha all stood huddled together talking among each other. "What's going on?" She asked and watched as all three of them jumped and spun round to her in surprise.
"Nothing, your majesty," Andre said and shook his head before watching her avert her gaze to Lyle who was stood beside him.
"You do remember that I can tell when you are lying, don't you Lyle?" Clarisse said as she turned her head to her brother-in-law. "So I'll ask again, and I hope that you will at least be honest with me this time. What is going on?"
"Uh..." Lyle replied, suddenly becoming very nervous under his sister-in-law's glare. Something that very rarely happens. But truth be told, he was absolutely terrified to tell her what he had been told.
"Alright, everyone, in my office now," Clarisse said and began to walk over to her office door as Lyle, Andre and Sasha all looked at one another before following her. "A lot has happened today, and I would appreciate it if you could all just be honest with me," she said while closing the door behind them all a moment later and walked around to stand in front of them as they all nodded. "So, right, which one of you is going to tell me then what's going on?"
"It's not that we don't want to tell you, because we do," Lyle said as Clarisse looked up at him and raised her eyebrow, "it's just we are worried how you will react once we have told you."
"Okay," Clarisse said and looked across her office a moment, contemplating what he had said and folded her arms once again while looking back at her brother-in-law. "Go on."
Nodding, Lyle briefly looked down at the floor while taking a deep breath and looked back up at her. "It's Joseph."
"What about Joseph?" She asked, "is he okay?"
Looking back up at her, Lyle slowly shook his head and watched as she unfolded her arms, "he's in hospital, he was involved in an accident earlier this evening," he said, taking one step closer, but stopped when she held up her hand to him, "and is in a bad way."
"What," Clarisse gasped and looked down to the floor, "he couldn't have been, you're lying to me," she said and looked back up at her brother-in-law.
"We aren't lying Clarisse, he really is in hospital," Lyle said, watching as the news slowly sank in and she began to panic, "Sasha can you go and get Elaina for me," he said as he hurried towards Clarisse. "It's okay, I'm here," Lyle said as he stood in front of Clarisse hyperventilating and put his hands up onto the tops of her arms, to try and calm her, "breathe, please remember to breathe Clarisse," he soothed.
"Of course," Sasha said as she hurried over to the door, but just as she was about to walk out, Elaina appeared.
"What's going on?" She asked, seeing her husband holding onto her sister's arm's.
"It's Joseph," Lyle said as he turned his head to look at his wife walking over to them, "he's been in an accident."
"Nooo," Elaina exclaimed in shock and looked at Clarisse, who was stood shaking her head. "Is he ok?"
"He's in a bad way," Lyle said with a shake of his head.
"Oh god," Elaina exclaimed and put her hands up to briefly frame her face. "How did you find out?"
"His sister called the palace, because his parent's are down as his next of kin on his medical notes, they called them to inform them then they called here to let us know," Andre said and watched as Elaina lowered her hands from her face.
"I have to go to the hospital, I have to see him," Clarisse exclaimed desperately.
"You can't Clarisse, it's not safe for you there at the moment," Lyle said softly and watched as Clarisse covered her eyes with one hand and cried. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"Oh Clarisse," Elaina said as she moved to stand in front of her and embraced her in a hug. "It'll be okay, he will be okay," she soothed.
"What on earth is going on," Rupert said as he and Pierre walked through the door and saw Clarisse crying on her sister's shoulder, "Clarisse? What's happened?"
"It's Joseph, your highness," Andre said as the King looked up at him, "he's been involved in an accident and is in bad way."
"Good God," Rupert exclaimed as Clarisse pulled back from her sister and brushed her fingers under her eyes to wipe away her tears.
"Oh mother, I'm so sorry," Pierre said softly and went to step closer to her as she looked up at him.
"No.. No, no!" She exclaimed angrily and put her hand up to stop him from coming any closer, "no," she cried and shook her head.
"Mother?"
"Clarisse?" Rupert said and watched her a moment as she looked down at the floor and shook her head.
"You had no right to tell him what you did earlier," Clarisse exclaimed as she looked back up at her son. "If you had just kept quiet, he wouldn't have left the palace and none of this would have happened."
"You don't know that for sure, Clarisse," Rupert said as Clarisse averted her gaze to him. "He does go out of the palace on his days off, so today wouldn't have been any different."
"Not today, he wasn't even going to leave the palace today," Clarisse said tearfully and shook her head.
"How do you know?" Pierre asked.
"I know this because we had made plans to spend the day together, until you opened your mouth," Clarisse exclaimed and looked back at her son as she folded her hands together on her chest, "he should have been here with me right now, but instead he's lying in god knows what condition in some damn hospital bed because you had to tell him what you did."
"I'm sorry," Pierre said, hanging his head. "I didn't know he was going to go off and have an accident."
"I know you want me and your father back together, Pierre, but it's not going to happen," Clarisse exclaimed angrily through her tears as everyone looked at one another, "when are you going to accept that?"