As the serving staff began to collect the now empty crockery from the meat course, Clarisse felt Joseph's hand slip under the table and come to rest lightly just above her knee. Smiling mischievously, she turned towards him, meeting his eyes,
"Did you enjoy the duck, my dear?"
Nodding carefully, he smiled back, squeezing her knee a little as he did so.
Turning back to look out over the room, Clarisse was pleased to see that people had begun to stop staring so much. Thankfully, their entrance had been discreet, with Joseph having made good use of his experience in crowd control. They had arrived a few moments after eight, just as the guests were being seated for dinner. As the second gong had sounded, announcing her presence, most people had been too concerned with finding their own seat to notice the new arrivals. Of course, as soon as everyone was seated, the stares began, but it was better than she had anticipated.
As much as the reception outside the church had been warm, Clarisse held no illusions as to the general opinion amongst her esteemed guests of their monarch marrying her Head of Security. Indeed, it was precisely that knowledge that had persuaded her so long not to. Feeling Joseph's hand tense a little in hers, understanding immediately his discomfort at the unaccustomed attention, she swiftly brought it to her lips and kissed the back of his hand. Instantly, he relaxed, and she felt the tension across her shoulders ease a little. Setting his hand down on the table, and quickly covering it with her own, she took the opportunity to look again around the room.
The planning had worked well, and it was with some satisfaction that she surveyed the fourteen round tables, each seating five guests, that now filled the ballroom. Having seated everyone herself, she had made sure that they would not be bothered this evening by any obvious dissenters. Mabrey had rather invalidated his invitation by his earlier performance, and, his fellow radical parliamentarians had all been seated appropriately in the very corner of the room, all huddled around the same table. No, tonight at least, they could be sure of no upsets.
Mia was seated next to Lily and Charlotte, on the next table, along with the Spanish Prime Minister and Pierre. Poor Pierre, not only had he had the pleasant, albeit somewhat traumatic experience of meeting Mia for the first time, when she rather unsurprisingly fell up the stairs to the church and into his back, but also had had to deal with his ancient mother getting hitched. Still, wine glass in hand, and Charlotte next to him, he seemed to be coping alright.
On her table, no, their table, was Sebastian and Lord and Lady Palimore. As she had expected, Sebastian was doing a grand job of entertaining the somewhat trying older gentleman – though, to be fair, after his actions today, Lord Palimore was a most welcome guest at the Queen's table.
Still she felt a little tense though, as much as Joseph's hand caressing her gently, soothingly, was a comfort. Not having planned for this kind of celebration, she had no idea what would happen when it came to the speeches. She wondered if Joseph had even thought that far…
OoOoOoOoO
After finishing the last bite of his duck, Joseph felt that strange sense of the surreal that had been clouding his senses all day, sink back down over him. Back under the scrutiny of all these eyes, he was thankful that he had planned out how this evening would end in advance. As much as he loved parties, loved to dance with Clarisse, dancing in front of a room of, of…well, of these people...filled him with a horror that he couldn't even begin to describe. Looking up from his plate, he met several pairs of eyes, and almost unconsciously slipped his hand under the table to touch her. As she smiled, her lips curling mischievously, he felt calmer, remembering why he was here, why this was worth it.
"Did you enjoy the duck, my dear?"
He smiled, nodding his approval. God, how could she be so cool about this? He gripped her a little tighter, and felt her shift a little closer on her seat until her leg was resting against his own. For a moment, she seemed lost in her thoughts, but then he felt her hand slip under the table too, coming to rest squarely atop his own. As their fingers laced together, he was overwhelmed at how the room and all the people in it seemed to fade at her touch. Incredible. Twisting his hand up to her lips, she kissed him delicately, and he shivered a little. Glancing at his watch he couldn't help but smile to himself. Nine-thirty. Just dessert…and then it would be time to blow this joint.
OoOoOoOoO
To Clarisse's surprise, the moment the dessert plates had been cleared, Mia began to sound her glass, and stood up to speak. Somehow, Joseph's hand had found its way to the small of her back and was tracing tiny circles there. As Mia stood, he bent a little towards her ear, his breath tickling her slightly,
"Darling…would you mind very much if we leave after this?"
Just as she was about to reply, Mia begin to speak, cutting her off before she had a chance to express her reluctant disapproval.
"My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen…Grandma Clarisse and Joe…it is with great honour that I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your wedding, and wish you all the best for the future. I raise a toast, to Queen Clarisse and, um…" glancing at Joe she bit her lip and pondered the issue,
"If she dares call me Joey…."
Elbowing him gently in the ribs, Clarisse smirked discreetly, still a little nonplussed as to where Mia was taking this,
"…and soon-to-be-Sir Joseph, the Queen's consort. Ladies and gentlemen, the Bride and Groom."
As everyone stood, Joe could hardly contain his disbelief,
"She's going to knight me?"
Clarisse smiled proudly, nodding her approval at Mia's suggestion.
"Hmm…though I'm afraid technically she isn't really qualified…would I do? I mean, I'm sure I could fit it into my busy schedule at some point…"
Flashing her a cheeky grin, he seemed to breath a sigh of relief,
"Well, at least my neck will be safer with you…"
Turning back quickly, she raised an eyebrow, tracing a finger delicately along the skin just above his collar.
"Hmmm…"
OoOoOoOoO
Mia coughed lightly, and continued,
"Moreover, I'm extremely pleased to invite you all to stay after dinner this evening to enjoy the firework show that we have prepared. In something of a break with tradition, tonight we won't be dancing, but rather, we will all go out onto the main terrace and enjoy the remainder of the evening there. So if you will finish your liquors, the fireworks start in about forty minutes outside…"
As Mia sat back down, Clarisse turned to Joseph with a suspicious eye,
"Fireworks?"
He grinned, biting his lip a little,
"Indeed."
"Outside in the dark?"
"I believe that is the conventional setting…"
For a moment she glanced at Mia, who was grinning at Joseph rather too contentedly for her liking, and then turned back to her husband,
"Am I to take it that this has something to do with you?"
"Perhaps. Are you cross?"
She shook her head slowly, still holding his gaze, looking a little puzzled. Dropping her voice a little, she leant in towards him,
"But darling, you know I can't stand fireworks…"
He grinned, winking discreetly,
"I know…and that's how I was so certain that they would be something you wouldn't mind missing."
Her eyes widened as she realised the implications of his comment,
"But Joseph…we can't, really we can't…"
Her voice trailed off as he tapped her endearingly on the nose with his fingertip.
"Oh yes we can, my love….and we will. It's all been arranged."
"Mia?"
He grinned, finally taking her hand in his, his fingers instinctively coming to play with her wedding ring,
"Who else…"
OoOoOoOoO
Ten minutes later, they were back in her suite, the door firmly locked and clothes strewn all over the floor and bed. Well, Joseph's clothes to be precise, Clarisse was hardly one to throw a five-figure dress on the carpet. Joseph was in the bathroom, and Clarisse was wrestling with her chest of drawers. Wondering what all the commotion was, he stepped out to help her, only to be met by a low whistle,
"Goodness, now look at you…turn round…"
He did, and was met with another smile of approval.
"Nice jeans"
He took a deep bow, the perma-grin back in place,
"Why thank you, your Majesty…never knew you could whistle like that…"
With a smirk, she turned back to the drawer and tried again,
"Can I help, darling?"
Eventually the drawer opened, and she selected the sweater that she had been searching for and slipped it on.
Smiling at her now mussed up hair, Joseph pulled his own jumper over his head, and picked up his cell phone from the bedside table. Raising an eyebrow, she looked at him suspiciously,
"No, nothing like that….no more surprises…it's just that, well, having had you disappear on me more times than I care to remember, I have a certain sympathy with Shades tonight. I've told him we're going out…believe me, he'll be discreet."
She grinned, looping her arms around his neck, amused as he tried to put his jacket on at the same time,
"Was I so very bad, Joseph?"
He shook his head, kissing her tenderly on the nose,
"You have no idea, my love, no idea…"
OoOoOoOoO
Making sure they left through the back staircases, so as to avoid any stray guests, Joseph and Clarisse wandered out into the orange grove at the back of the palace. Taking her hand in his, Joe led her down the now pitch-black pathways into the rose gardens. Although the air was still humid, the temperature had dropped steeply from the afternoon. Even with the thick jumper and his jacket, he felt a little chilly. Pulling her closer, he wrapped an arm around Clarisse's shoulders.
"Happy?"
She smiled, snuggling in a little against his chest,
"Do I need to dignify that with an answer?"
He chuckled and kissed her tenderly on the side of her head.
OoOoOoOoO
As they sat on the bench, Joseph upright, cradling her head in his lap, they hardly noticed the fireworks going off in the distance. Tracing a hand through her hair, massaging her scalp, he smiled as she closed her eyes in relaxation,
"Rather a long day, my darling…"
She smiled, still not opening her eyes, focusing instead on the rich tone of his voice,
""Joseph, what do you think the Archbishop meant when he said 'finally' today…do you think he knew?"
He smiled sadly, tracing his thumb over her lower lip, remembering the way he had broken down in front of his confessor just after his mother's death,
"Yes, Clarisse, he knew…I'm sorry."
As her eyes slowly opened, she was surprised to see him staring off into the distance. Sitting up carefully, easing herself onto his lap, her hands coming to cradle his face, she kissed him tenderly on the lips.
He started a little, lost as he was for a moment in that terrible night when he had practically collapsed on the older man in grief and exhaustion, but her lips on his brought him back to himself. As she pulled slightly back, gazing deep into his eyes, she smiled,
"You don't have to apologise to me, Joseph…"
"But…"
She smiled again, moving in closer.
As their lips met, as they had so many times before, Clarisse wrapped her arms tightly around him. So many times she had not held him tightly enough, had not done enough to keep him. She wouldn't make that mistake again.
OoOoOoOoO
By the time they reached the lake, the moonlight was reflecting brightly on the still water. The sculptures lining its banks glistened in the ethereal light and for a moment Clarisse wondered if she had somehow fallen out of time.
"It's so beautiful, isn't it…"
He nodded, moving to stand behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on the crook of her shoulder,
"I know…it's my favourite place in the whole palace."
She giggled, turning round a little, kissing his chin as she did so,
"Your favourite place?"
Raising an eyebrow, she attempted a look of disappointment.
Kissing her back, he pulled her back against his chest,
"God, you're so picky…fair enough, it's my second favourite place…better?"
She grinned, snuggling into his warmth,
"Good boy"
OoOoOoOoO
By the time they made it back to the palace, it was well after three and there was no sign of any of the staff or the guests. Looping an arm casually around her shoulders, Joseph escorted Clarisse in through the kitchens and up to the main stairwell. Yawning loudly, she leant back against him,
"Oh….I'm sorry….I think today's beginning to catch up on me."
He smiled, gently rubbing her shoulders,
"That's okay, darling…and anyway, technically it is already tomorrow"
She groaned softly, hunching her shoulders to try and ease some of the tension,
"Heavens…we really should be going to bed, you know."
He grinned, this time entirely in control of his brain and tongue,
"I thought you'd never ask…"
OoOoOoOoO
As she stepped out of the bathroom, Clarisse couldn't help but smile at the sight that met her. Apart from her bedside lamp, the bedroom was in near darkness, the curtains slightly parted to allow a shaft of moonlight to spill over the foot of the bed. Curled up under the covers was her darling husband, book in hand, glasses still perched on his nose. Slipping off her robe and draping it over a chair, she slid in beside him, careful not to wake him. Easing the book from his hand and carefully removing his glasses, she set them both down on the floor. Turning back to him, she was amused to find his eyes now open, and very much gazing back at her,
"Have I ever told you how extraordinarily beautiful you are, my darling?"
She giggled, snuggling down under the covers, his arms coming to rest around her, her hand coming to lie against his chest, stroking him gently,
"Yes, darling, many times…"
He yawned, and kissed the bridge of her nose,
"Hmm…not enough."
Pressing her lips gently against his neck, she was amused to elicit a deep growl. Pulling her even closer, his leg wrapping around hers possessively, he began to stroke her back.
She sighed, closing her eyes in pleasure and pure unadulterated relaxation. His breathing soothed her, it always had, and soon she felt her body begin to grow heavy.
"Joseph?"
He felt her hand snake up to stroke his cheek, smiling as he noticed her eyes were shut, her voice heavy with sleep. Kissing her palm, he settled them both against the pillow,
'Tomorrow, darling…we have all the time in the world. Sleep well, my princess"
She yawned again, smiling as his fingers tenderly massaged the base of her head,
"Good night, my darling…"
OoOoOoOoO
The sun was spilling into the room by the time Clarisse stirred the next morning. Shifting slightly, she was immediately aware of being still in Joseph's arms. Smiling to herself, she remembered the events of the previous day and leant over to kiss his cheek. He groaned softly, and she bit back a giggle. Kissing his jaw line, working her way round to his ear, she tried desperately to keep a straight face. He was beginning to stir, and she brought her fingers up to stroke his beard, amused as his lips twitched a little at the tickling. Suddenly, though, she was swept up and thrown on the other side of the bed with a shriek. As she opened her eyes, she found herself pinned to the pillows, with a rather irate looking Joseph straddling her.
The urge to giggle somewhat stifled by the shock, she wriggled a little to free herself, only to no avail.
"Damn woman, always trying to stop me from sleeping…"
His voice was nothing more than a growl, and, as he lowered himself to gently kiss her forehead, Clarisse couldn't help but shiver with desire,
"…you never seem to learn…tormenting me is not a wise plan…"
She smiled, meeting his lips with her own, still unable to move her arms, frustrated as he once again evaded the kiss she so wanted,
"So…do you promise not to do it again?"
He looked at her, the mischievous twinkle so obvious in his fearsome glare. She shook her head carefully, biting her lip a little as she did so.
Letting out a loud chuckle, he finally brought his lips down onto hers, his hands coming to caress her face, her arms wrapping firmly around his back,
"Good…"
OoOoOoOoO
As his breathing slowed, he pulled her gently to lie on his chest, his lips dropping a tender kiss to her hair. Running a hand tenderly down the smooth skin of her back he smiled the smile of a truly contented man. Shifting up his body a little, Clarisse pulled herself up to look at him, wanting to say something, not entirely sure where to begin,
"Thank you…"
He looked puzzled, knowing her expression well enough to know that she wasn't referring to their recent activities.
"Thank you?"
She nodded, her head coming back to rest on the pillow next to him.
"Yes, thank you for everything…"
Understanding, he reached for her hand and brought it to her lips.
"You're welcome"
For a moment she was silent, thinking back to all the times they had shared together, remembering all the times that they could not, and then consciously rousing herself from what was best left alone,
"But at least we got there in the end, my darling Joey…"
He chuckled, knowing full well where she'd got that one from, and squeezed her playfully. Pulling her into his arms once more, he ran his fingers tenderly down her cheek, his mind already spinning with the possibilities,
"Oh this isn't the end Clarisse….this is only the beginning."
THE END. (OR IS IT?)
A/n I just want to say a huge thank you to all of those lovely reviewers out there who have been so encouraging about my writing. This was the first fanfic that I ever wrote, and so I'm kind of sad to bring it to a close, but hey, I've plenty of other ideas to keep me occupied! Hope you like the 'ending' – please review, just for old times sake ;o)
PS. I will be re-editing this story (putting past events in italics, and the like) so it should be more readable soon.