Clarisse sat in the gazebo, sipping her tea quietly and picking at her breakfast while Rupert read the paper. she studied her husband carefully, something which she hadn't done in years. He was fatter and slower now, his health was deteriorating far too quickly for the usual monarch of Genovia. his constant health problems meant he couldn't deal with as much as he used to, leaving clarisse to do a lot of his work. he sipped his fourth cup of coffee and chewed on his bacon, disgusting clarisse even more. his hair was greased back with oil , and his shirt button was open due to the severe heat of the summer making him look relaxed and laid back, far from what she knew he truly was.
Joseph and his new security intern, someone she knew to be known as Shades stood at the entrance to the Gazebo, watching over them. she smiled at shades then to Joseph and motioning her gaze towards her husband, rolled her eyes. he grinned back and hung his head trying to avoid her all too enticing eyes. these moments were rare, when Clarisse felt the need to entertain herself, she'd pick fun at Rupert.
Joseph watched as Philippe ran down the gravel path, still pulling on his top and running his fingers through his floppy hair.
"rough night?", Joseph mumbled, Philippe nodded a sly grin passing across his face, but suddenly as if a reminder of what he'd left behind in America his eyes became sad and dull. Joseph squeezed his shoulder lovingly and nodding, Philippe made his way over to the breakfast table.
he couldn't quite believe his little girl was 14 now, he still only immortalized her at 3 months old, kicking and squealing and giggling. he missed Helen terribly as well- he could have as many one night stands as he wanted, but it was never the same.
Clarisse watched her younger son as he sat down, the sadness that would not disappear from his eyes was heart braking. she stood up and kissed his cheek, earning herself a smile.
"you enjoyed yourself at the movie premiere last night, darling?", she questioned, returning to her seat.
"yeah, yeah it was great fun Mama", he smiled, taking a bite out of his chocolate croissant. Rupert looked up from his paper and grunted unnervingly.
"have you any intention of settling down?", Rupert questioned gruffly.
Philippe ignored him, remembering the super model that was lying in his bed.
"answer Me!", rupert commanded, slamming his hand down on the table. Clarisse looked up, raising an eye brow at her son and sipped her tea.
"do calm down, Rupert", she said mockingly, a slight smile playing at the corners of her lips. his face turned a little red as he registered her mocking. he stood up, slammed his paper down and turned on his feet. Clarisse chuckled and Philippe laughed along, the momentary humour making him forget his sadness. Clarisse motioned for Joseph to replace rupert, something he often did and smiling he removed his jacket and sat down.
"so..", she smiled at her son, "you sent Amelia's birthday away?".
"mmm, yes. that Faberge merry-go-round you said you liked, I sent her that", he smiled back, "i can't quite believe my Mia's 14".
"no, neither can i", she concurred. he nodded sadly, and Joseph decided to change the subject quickly - not to let painful memories resurface.
"so, you met a woman last night?", Joe questioned, taking a bite of Clarisse's croissant.
"yes", Philippe answered, trying to avoid his mothers disapproving look, "she's going to accompany me to the prime ministers inauguration ball tonight, is that ok with you Mama?", he continued turning to clarisse.
"yes, if you wish", she answered non committal. Philippe knew his mother and Joseph didn't approve of his womanising, and if he was honest, he couldn't say he approved of it either. he had gained his reputation as quite the ladies man through his womanising with every high profile woman in his country and beyond and he certainly was not proud.
"just make sure you 'lady friend' does not cause a scene", joseph said sharply, standing up. Philippe nodded right away, knowing Joseph was not a man to mess with. Clarisse looked at him, confirming her support of Josephs warning and standing up, kissed Philippe on the cheek and went to her office.
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Joseph watched Clarisse from the corner of the ballroom were he stood overseeing security. she was talking animatedly to lady Jerome, commanding attention from all the aristocracy surrounding her in a circle. as usual she looked utterly ravishing. her turquoise dress clung to her curves, curves that joseph could spend hours marvelling at. she momentarily looked across the room to where he was standing and smiled the smile she only reserved for him and then as if nothing had happened, she returned to her admirers.
Clarisse was being ever the hostess when she heard someone call her name. a familiar voice, yet one she hadn't hear since she was at boarding school.
"Clarisse!", Marie Ann called from the side of the ball room.
"Marie Ann?", clarisse questioned, detaching herself from the group quickly. Clarisse's face lit up as she recognised her best-friend from boarding school.
"what on earth?", she smiled, pulling Marie Ann into a hug.
"hello, clarisse", marie ann smiled.
Joseph watched as Clarisse made a quick exit out the French doors with what he could only assume was her friend. the woman in question seemed the same age as her. she was dark haired with olive skin, pretty- but not a patch on clarisse.
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"so tell me, where have you been?", Clarisse questioned, linking her arm through Marie Anne's as they made there way to a bench in the garden.
"hhmm, everywhere I've ever wanted to go, you know the things we talked abut when we couldn't sleep during storms", she answered, taking a sip from her champagne glass.
"most definitely the most interesting conversations", Clarisse laughed.
"yes, then you just weren't there one morning. i couldn't quite believe it when they told us you'd left to get Married! we were so shocked, Clarisse. why?", Marie Ann questioned.
clarisse sighed, remembering the day she'd been told at the age of fifteen that she was to be married. her father had came to her school, to fetch her. she hadn't cried, she hadn't reacted at all, she just packed her suitcase.
"Rupert was 30, none of his consorts were suitable. he was expected to marry a virgin and you know my father was friends with the king, so it just made sense i suppose", she sighed, sitting down.
"yes, but i mean it wasn't you, you never wanted to marry. you wanted to travel the world, get drunk, sleep with lots of different men", marie ann teased, causing Clarisse to blush.
"things change, i changed", Clarisse said curtly.
"no", marie ann smiled, "circumstances change. clarisse, i only watched you for ten minutes before i spoke to you this evening and yet i can see you're terribly un happy". Clarisse looked up at her intently, knowing this was someone she could not lie to.
"in some areas yes, but in others...", she trailed off as she seen Josephs silhouette striding mercifully towards her in the dark.
"your Majesty", he smiled, nodding his head slightly," king rupert requests you presence at once". she rolled her eyes at him, and he gave her a "just tolerate it, clarisse" look.
"Marie Anne", she smiled, standing up as her facade slipped back into place, " i would like you to meet my dear friend and head of security, joseph". marie Anne extended a hand which he kissed gracefully.
"Clarisse, shall i wait?", he questioned, motioning her to move toward the palace.
"no, no Joseph, you go back to his majesty, tell him i shall come when i see fit", she said shortly. joseph took her hand in his and kissed it lightly. she smiled, touching his cheek gently as he turned away from her to head up the path. marie Anne gave clarisse a knowing smile, the look she had in her eyes for her head of security could not be denied.
"ooohh", she sighed, "he's devastating. is he available?". Clarisse laughed lightly and shook her head.
"no, he has a girlfriend", Clarisse answered, linking her arm in her friends.
"oh right, you know her well", marie ann teased.
"very", Clarisse confirmed, a slight smile playing at her lips.
"i figured as much", marie ann laughed.
"and anyways why should it matter to you, aren't you happily married?", Clarisse laughed.
"Clarisse, darling I've been happily married four times", she said with a mock knowledge, "but I'm far too much of a rebel, you know that".
"well hopefully you've done enough rebelling for both of us", clarisse sighed.
Clarisse gave her a rueful smile as she disappeared back into the ball room, surrounded yet again by the aristocracy of Genovia. Clarisse knew her un happiness was beginning to become terribly evident - even to those who hadn't seen he since she was merely fifteen years old.
Did you like, I hope you did! Please review. Sorry it took so long, I was away all week - but I took my laptop!
Yours,
M