"What did Joseph have to say?"
"Rupert, I don't wish to talk about it."
"What did he do now?"
"Nothing…"
"Yes he did. Spill."
"I think he's having an affair."
"Why do you think that?"
"There was a woman in the background who was asking about towels and when I asked him who she was, he said that there was nobody there."
"Oh, dear. It would appear that once again, your relationship is in jeopardy. Is it really worth the trouble?"
"I thought it was."
She started tearing and he put an arm around her waist.
"Do you know what I think would take your mind off things?"
"Oh, great. I'm in the middle of a crisis and all you can think about is…"
"Cheering you up."
"Precisely, I…"
He started kissing her and she didn't hesitate.
"Clarisse, my dear, if worse comes to worse, you can move back here. I didn't realise it at the time when I was trying to get rid of you, but I'm very fond of you. I didn't realise how nice it was having you around until you went away. I realised that I needed you here. You or Elizabeth."
"Wow, great way to ruin the moment."
"No, I haven't finished. You two are the only people I've ever liked having around. And if you came to live here again, you would be able to see Philippe and Pierre every day. And you and I wouldn't even have to marry again because we're already married, so that would leave us more time to get to know each other again."
"That's very sweet of you to offer, but I don't think it's a very good idea. Besides, Joseph and I haven't broken up yet."
"I was just saying that if you do…my dear, please think about it."
"Oh, believe me, I will."
"In the meantime, I would like you to think about how not wrong it would be if you decided to join me in my suite tonight."
"Rupert!"
"I mean, considering the circumstances. You were all for the idea earlier, what's holding you back now? Nothing. You're thinking about leaving your fiancée anyway, so what harm could one night with me do?"
"Goodnight, Rupert."
"Think about it!"
Another sleepless night fell upon her as she thought about his offer and about how Joseph would react if he found out, but then she thought about how he probably wouldn't find out and that if she didn't join him, it would just have been a wasted opportunity. Her hormones were all over the place and his appeared to be also. She decided to go for a walk, but ended up at Rupert's door. She opened it, walked in, shut it and walked to where he was sleeping.
"Rupert, are you asleep?"
"I knew you would come."
"Well, are you?"
"That's a stupid question to ask. You should have said, 'are you awake?' People who are asleep cannot actually reply with the words, 'yes, I am asleep'. I take it you've changed your mind?"
"Well I thought about it a lot and…whoa!"
He pulled her onto the bed and started kissing her, "So, what do you want to do? Play scrabble or something?"
"I was thinking more along the lines of…Celebrity Head."
"Ooh, you naughty girl."
The next morning…
"I feel terrible. What if Joseph isn't having an affair at all and that there's some logical explanation? "
"Things always look different in the morning."
"But what if I was just hallucinating? That would mean I'd have done this for nothing."
"I'd hardly call it nothing. Anyway, it's not as if he's going to find out about us, unless you tell him."
"There's no way I'd tell him."
"Then stop worrying."
"I can't."
She heard her stomach rumble, "I think I'd better get something to eat. Please release me."
He kissed her and loosened his grip, "Don't beat yourself up about it."
"I'll try not to. Where is my nightgown?"
"I think I might have accidentally thrown it out the window last night."
"Oh. Do you have something I can put on?"
"Just walk down the hall naked. I do it all the time and nobody says anything."
"Really?"
"No."
"Well then, I'll just have to take your robe."
"Hey, that's a Kings only robe."
"See you later."
She walked out of the room and was immediately approached by one of the palace staff, "Ah, Your Ma…Ms. Renaldi, we've been looking for you. That Joseph fellow was ringing all night but you weren't in your suite."
He looked disapprovingly at her choice of clothing, "I think perhaps you should give him a call."
"Oh, thankyou, I'll do it later."
She walked back to her own room and sighed as she sat on the bed. She wasn't sure about what she would say if she called Joseph, so she decided it was best to just leave it until later.
"More tea, Clarisse?"
"Would I ever refuse a cup of tea?"
"No, I guess you wouldn't."
"Mother?" Pierre asked.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Are you going to go to hell?"
She was speechless, "Why would I be going to hell?"
"Because I heard one of the maids say it."
"What? Pierre darling, you shouldn't believe everything you hear."
"She said you were a dirty…"
Rupert interrupted, "Who said it?"
"I don't know her name."
"Pierre, I know when I'm being lied to."
"Rupert don't."
"No, I want to get to the bottom of this. Now who said it?"
"It was Ms. Partridge."
"Ms. Partridge? Ms. Mary Partridge? Well, I shall see to it that she gets what's coming to her. We can't have people like that in the palace going around and influencing my children can we?"
"No, sir. May I please be excused?"
"Alright, run along."
"Philippe, aren't you going too?"
"No, I want to stay here and talk to you, mummy."
"Aww…isn't that sweet?"
"Are you staying here for good?"
"Uh, I'm not sure. It all depends on what happens when I get home."
"I'd like it if you stayed. I miss having my mum around."
"I miss you too, but things are just so complicated. You'll understand when you're older. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to make a phone call."
She made her way to her room and picked up the phone. She dialled her number then waited for an answer. A woman answered the phone and Clarisse hung up straight away. That confirmed it; he was having an affair.
