A.N- Ok I'm so sorry for not updating sooner but I'm right in the middle of my end of year exams. And that means they are really important coz they're my last school exams ever!! So I've been a little busy studying lately...

Thanks to all those who have reviewed, you all really made my day! You guys are so encouraging, I can't thank you enough!! Anyways the story...

Clarisse couldn't help but smile as she opened her eyes to see the sunlight threatening to burst through the curtains. She slid out of bed and wrapping her robe around herself, walked into her huge wardrobe. After selecting an outfit perfect for riding, Clarisse showered, dressed, applied makeup and headed for the door.

Just as she reached the door, there was an eager knock from the other side. Clarisse opened it to find Amelia almost jumping with excitement.

"Guess what Grandma! Lilly and Michael are arriving today!" Amelia said, while beaming at Clarisse.

"Is that why you're up so early?" Clarisse teased.

"Well...that and the fact I decided I want to go riding with you this morning", Amelia stated.

"Let's get going then", Clarisse said as she headed off towards the stables, with Amelia bouncing along beside her.

The bonding Clarisse and Amelia had accomplished over the two weeks since Amelia's arrival was enough to make Clarisse's heart soar. They had grown so much closer through their time spent together that Clarisse had finally been able to get over the loss of Phillippe. The likeness between her son and Amelia was so astounding that Clarisse couldn't see how she could have lived if she hadn't found Amelia.

The loss of her husband, Rupert, had left Clarisse to take up so many responsibilities alone, which made her grieving even harder. Through his death she had lost the only person who could comfort her. She had lost a true friend...

But from that loss she had gained the friendship and love of Joseph. He had been her guiding force through all her pain and suffering. He had also taken the place of Rupert as her comforter. Reflecting on this, she began to wonder what Joseph actually felt for her...

"Grandma?!" Amelia's raised voice startled Clarisse out of her thoughts.

"Are you even listening to me?" Amelia questioned further.

"I'm sorry dear. What were you saying?" Clarisse asked apologetically.

They had been trotting around the grounds for almost half an hour, so were now heading back to the stables. Amelia had been switching subjects constantly as she was clearly excited for the arrival of her friends. Clarisse had only been half listening the whole time.

"Oh, it doesn't matter", Amelia sighed.

She clearly wasn't very concerned with the fact that Clarisse wasn't really listening, as she just stared ahead and began to softly sing.

"Miracles happen once in a while, when you believe".

They reached the stables where they were met by the beaming face of Charlotte.

"Good morning Your Highness, Your Majesty", Charlotte said as she bowed to each in turn.

"Princess Mia, I thought you might like to know that your friends' plane landed ten minutes ago. They will be arriving at the palace shortly".

"Yay!" Amelia jumped out of the horse's saddle and ran off towards the palace, leaving a startled Clarisse behind in the stables with Charlotte.

"Anyone would think she was excited", Clarisse murmured with a note of sarcasm. Charlotte didn't seem to notice as she moved on with her announcements.

"Your Majesty, you have no appointments until this afternoon. The first being a meeting with the Prime minister right after lunch".

Clarisse brightened at this, as it would leave the whole morning to herself, a luxury that was very rare for her.

"However the paperwork in your office requires some attention, as it has begun to build up", Charlotte added.

Clarisse sighed. She absolutely detested paperwork that needed signing or even just reading, as there was always just so much of it.

Nodding to Charlotte, Clarisse left the horses to the stable-hands and briskly made her way to her office. The sooner she gets the work done, the more time she gets to herself before the afternoon.

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Clarisse shifted irritably in her seat again. She had read a particular document three times now but still had no idea what it said. Finally she gave up.

"Charlotte?" Clarisse waited until her assistant looked up.

"I'm not getting anywhere here so I'm going for a quick walk around the grounds. Could you please deal with the papers I've already sorted through?" Clarisse told, rather than asked, her assistant.

"Yes, Your Majesty", Charlotte replied and Clarisse noted her surprised expression. Dismissing it, she walked out the double doors into the garden.

Once away from the palace, Clarisse breathed in deeply then let her breath out in a large sigh. She turned around briefly to look behind her and was pleased to find no security personnel following her. She always believed they were pointless when taking a walk around her own grounds.

'What could possibly happen?' she thought to herself.

Clarisse walked slowly away from the rose gardens and down a small path that led to the small lake beside the trees. Now that she was finally alone, she could return to her thoughts on Joseph.

She had been reflecting on whether or not it was love that he felt for her. She now had no doubt she loved him. She had known that fact since the night they had kissed all those weeks ago. But she kept coming back to the same question; did he love her?

He had returned the kiss she gave him and had even held onto her for some time while she let the rest of her tears fall. After that he had left her to make her way to her suite while he had moved off towards his.

Was it love he had shown her? Or was it just a coincidence that he had been close by to hear her cry so felt it his duty to comfort her? But then why return the kiss?

Frustrated, Clarisse sighed loudly and kicked a stone into the lake. She was glad no one was around to see her in such an undignified mood. The splash of the stone in the lake had sent the swans off in a hurry leaving Clarisse by the silent lakeside. She moved into the shade of the small forest and sat on a large rock opposite the lake.

She had a good view of the entire lake and surrounding gardens, so was marveling at its beauty when she heard a loud snap of a twig breaking behind her.

Immediately standing, she turned to face the forest and peered into its depths.

"Hello?" she asked tentatively, "Anyone there?"