Part 6

Clarisse passed several security members and a rather harassed looking private secretary on her way to the King's private quarters. She entered quickly and quietly balancing the tray on one hand whilst managing the doors with her other. It was late, past 2a.m. the palace was virtually shut down, the majority of the staff in bed. Only she remained to take the King a hot drink.

He was in the lounge, on the couch by the fire; casually dressed he looked perfectly relaxed and perfectly healthy.

"Warm milk sir." She said business-like as she entered the room.

"Clarisse, thank you so much for the hot milk, makes me feel like a complete invalid."

She placed the tray down on the coffee table. "Then Sir permit me to take it away again."

He laughed, it surprised her. "That is why I love having you around Clarisse, you're always direct."

She couldn't help but curtsy for him. "I aim to please, I shall leave you alone to enjoy your milk and recuperate."

"No please, stay, talk to me… as a normal human being perhaps, not as the returning hero."

"I hardly think you're being treated as a hero sir, after all a flat tyre can happen to anyone."

"Indeed it can, how would you describe me as being treated then?"

She smiled. "I'm not sure you wish me to say." She turned and closed the drapes.

"Feel free to tell me exactly what you think."

"Well I think," she turned back to him. "I think you're being treated as a much-loved monarch who went missing for a few hours during an unpredictable snow storm."

"Much-loved?" He raised an eyebrow.

"You know you are, by all the staff, young to old."

"All?" He questioned, his face suddenly very serious.

She hesitated then nodded. "All."

He swallowed and took a deep breath. "Do you fancy having a drink with me? Something more than warm milk."

"Well I…" She stopped herself and smiled. "Yes, but I'll get it. What would you like?"

"Brandy, thank you."

"Very well."

He watched as she crossed the room, the way she moved, the way her legs looked in that dress.

"Are you looking forward to going home for Christmas?"

"Oh very much so." She found herself grinning as she turned back to him brandishing two glasses of liquor. "Can't wait to see my niece."

"Ahh Louisa right."

"Oh you remembered, how wonderful, I didn't expect…" She realised how over the top she must sound. "Well it's very nice of you to remember."

"Of course, I'm interested in your family, your interests." He held his glass out and she hesitantly clinked hers against it.

"That's very good of you. Tell me, just how did you occupy yourself in the back of the car for three hours?"

Joseph laughed. "That sounds rather, well, a leading question."

"Ohh you know what I mean." She said stifling a giggle yet feeling her cheeks instantly redden.

"Well Shades and I played a few games of eye-spy."

This time she did giggle. "I'm sure that passed the time."

"Very entertaining, now change the subject." He twisted on the couch to watch her. "Tell me about your day."

"My day." She took a sip of her drink. "My day was a little dull sir."

"Joseph."

"Alright, my day was a little dull Joseph." She smiled coyly at him over the top of her glass. "Everybody was worried about you."

"Including you?"

"Of course, you are the King."

"A fact we can never escape…" He watched intently as she took in the meaning of his words and leant back on the couch. "Tell me Clarisse, just what are we getting into here?"

She took another sip of her drink. "I believe it's termed 'a conversation', we exchange thoughts and ideas and pass the time of day."

"You're quite funny you know that."

"I do try."

Again he attempted to broach the subject. "And seriously, what are we getting into?"

"I have no idea what you mean sir."

He decided to side step the subject, or better still approach it from a different angle. "I wanted to apologise to you Clarisse, the way I acted after your dinner-date with Richard was completely out-of-line and out-of-character."

"Oh, well I'd already forgiven you, no need to apologise now." She drained her glass. "Would you like another?"

"I haven't finished this one yet." He smiled at her, at her obvious embarrassment.

She glanced away from him, to the fire, to the family pictures adorning the mantelpiece.

"Do you plan to go out with him again?"

"Why are you so interested." She snapped suddenly turning her attention back to him. She watched the faint smile play across his face, he enjoyed her forthrightness. "Does it bother you, my dating him?"

"Yes, if I'm honest, yes it does."

"Well I don't think you have anything to worry about."

"Oh?"

"I'm not sure Richard and I will be developing our relationship… I think he has plenty of female admirers without my attention being needed."

"But perhaps your attention is what he wants."

Clarisse shrugged. "I noticed Michelle was rather interested in his well-being this afternoon."

"Ahh, well, he once dated her."

"What?"

"For a few months… people think I don't notice things."

"I think you notice everything." She took his now empty glass from his hand and moved across the room refilling it with more brandy.

"Why tell me now?" She asked gently as she returned to the couch. "I mean why didn't you tell me before, you could have dissuaded me from dating him."

"It's your decision my dear, I wouldn't try to influence you. You're a bright, intelligent lady, I'm sure you can reach your own conclusions."

"Well thank you, I think that's praise."

"I wouldn't offer anything less." He sat back, arms outspread along the back of the couch, totally relaxed. "I love spending time with you Clarisse, you're a wonderful woman. I enjoy talking to you."

She cleared her throat and turned her gaze away from his. "Thank you, so many compliments in one evening."

"I mean it, I've never been one to lie."

"I would never assume you would…"

"So do you believe me now when I say there hasn't been a woman in my life since the death of Isabella?"

He gave her time to consider her answer, no pressure, simply sat there a polite distance away from her aching to reach out and touch her yet far too proper to ever actually do it.

"Yes." She mumbled. "Yes I believe you."

"And do you believe me when I say I care about you, as more than just an excellent housekeeper."

She sensed the smile in his words and appreciated his attempt to lighten the mood. Yet she couldn't reply, not verbally, instead she nodded her head very slightly.

He took a deep breath as she did so and moved forward on the couch placing his glass on the coffee table. He was sitting next to her now, mere inches apart; he could hear the tightness of her breathing. She was as nervous as he was.

"That dance Clarisse, I can't forget about it, lord knows I've tried. You're always in my head… I find myself wandering the palace on some pretence just so I can catch a glimpse of you."

"Please don't." She blurted out. "Don't say things like that…"

"It's true, you must know." Hesitantly he reached forward and touched her hair, wound his fingers through the loose strands that hung over her forehead. His voice dropped to a whisper. "I can't take my eyes off of you."

Her breath caught in her throat and she made an odd noise as she attempted to breath again, she coughed and closed her eyes. The room suddenly felt so warm, so very intoxicating, surrounded by him.

"I was so worried about you, it's silly, we barely know each other, not really, not fully." She coughed again opening her eyes and sitting back slightly. "I was scared you wouldn't return, or that you were hurt. Scared for you… I felt sick all day."

"Clarisse." He said her name as if it were the most precious thing in the world; she finally gave in and looked into his eyes, such warmth and tenderness there. She couldn't ignore his feelings any longer; they were there for the world to see.

"We can't do this." She mouthed, her voice failing.

"Slowly, we can get to know each other, learn… I want to know everything."

His hand traced down her face and she caught his wrist to stop him.

"How? It isn't possible."

"It is." He was leaning into her, she felt his body against hers, memories of that night dancing after the Halloween ball flooded through her and her body longed for him to hold her again.

"This isn't right." She protested. "How can I feel like this? This isn't me, I don't do this kind of thing, instant attraction…"

"I fell for you the moment I saw you."

"That kind of thing doesn't happen."

"It did, you're the most beautiful…"

She held a hand up to silence him. "Please don't," she shook her head, "don't flatter me."

"All right." He smiled slightly and leant over her again, his face was moving closer to hers, she felt herself lick her lips instinctively. Oh god no it wasn't right.

"No!" She pushed him back. "No, I won't do that… I won't." She jumped up from the couch knocking Joseph sideways a little. "I won't sleep with you."

Joseph stood to face her yet allowed her distance; he didn't want to pressure her. "I never expected that." He said softly watching her closely. "I care too much."

"How do I know that really? Ohhh…" She clasped her head in her hands frustrated. "I don't know you. I can't ever know you, not the real you, don't you see that?" She asked imploringly.

"I thought…" his voice was shaking. "I thought we were getting somewhere, together."

"We can't ever be 'together', never. And I won't be the King's mistress. I won't be some common whore."

With that she replaced her glass on the coffee table and shakily straightened her cardigan. "It was a mistake to stay with you. I'm sorry, it won't happen again."

"Clarisse please, let's just talk, we can just talk."

"I need to… I have things, work, to do. I'm sorry." She strode towards the door. "Goodnight sir." She added without looking back.


"Here." Rose handed Clarisse another tissue and tightened her hold on her arm. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you."

"You haven't." Clarisse snuffled. "I'm the one whose sorry, I never cry, never. Now I seem to do nothing but."

"It's nothing to be embarrassed about."

"Maybe not." Clarisse closed her eyes and dropped her head backwards against the wall. "Perhaps it's a sign I'm getting older, over-run with hormones playing up."

They were sitting on the bare lounge floor, both leaning against the wall, cuddled up next to each other. The sun was setting and a dusky light now filled the room, it was still warm though, almost sticky.

"Listen, how about we stay here tonight?"

"How can we." Clarisse said huskily. "There are no blankets, no food…"

"I can provide that, if you'll permit me to borrow your flashy new car."

Clarisse smiled. "Thank you Rose, for being here, for listening to me."

"But of course. Now I think we indulge ourselves and have pizza and wine and something with chocolate in it." She squeezed Clarisse's hand. "I'll go fetch the essentials, you stay here and gather yourself."

"I need to tell you everything Rose, the rest… I need to tell somebody, I can't keep bottling it up."

"I know darling I know. I won't be long. Then we can talk more."


Clarisse poured the wine and carried it through to the lounge, whilst Rose collected napkins and followed her. She placed the pizza box on the floor and sat down on the only piece of furniture left in the house, an old couch. Clarisse stood by the window sipping her wine, night was definitely here now and the valley was shrouded in darkness.

"Are you going to sit down?" Rose asked as she helped herself to a slice of pizza. "You should eat."

"I will." She glanced over at her sister and smiled. "It's years since I had pizza."

"You've been away too long. Come sit down."

She nodded her agreement and sat down next to Rose curling her legs beneath her. She'd decided over an hour ago that there would be no more dancing around the subject now, she would tell Rose everything, she would finish the story.

"He came to find me the following morning, after that night, after… well, after I turned down his advances."

Rose slowly chewed her food and said nothing allowing Clarisse to delve into her memory and share her inner most thoughts.

"I was in the Gym of all places, it was only early, not even 6a.m. I was foolishly trying to alleviate some of my frustrations, anger even. And he stood watching me, sweaty and looking frankly bloody terrible."

Rose laughed and Clarisse took a gulp of her wine. "I was leaning over the exercise bike, trying to catch my breath and he came up behind me."


"Good morning Clarisse." His voice was gentle yet it shook her and she jumped feeling her heart constrict.

"Please, don't feel… unnerved." He offered and held his hands out. "I haven't come to upset you, that's the last thing in the world I would ever do. I don't wish to put any pressure upon you."

She stepped down and dabbed her face with a towel. "All right."

"I just want you to know that I would never think of you as somebody who was… less."

She raised an eyebrow, querying what he meant.

"I'm sorry, I'm struggling here." He said honestly folding his hands together. "I'm not very good at this, to be honest I've never had to deal with this kind of situation. I just couldn't let you, us, go on with our day without clearing the air. I'm not angry Clarisse and I don't wish you to be angry or upset or anything that might cause you to feel you have to leave here…"

"Leave?"

"I wondered," he swallowed. "I wondered if you might feel that it was too much, that I had over stepped a line, I don't want you to feel uncomfortable working here, you're a damn fine house keeper and I want to keep you here. As much for my staff's well-being as my own." He allowed himself a small smile.

"I didn't mean to scare you, or to offend you, and I certainly have never and would never think of you as 'a common whore'."

She shrank at the reminder of the words she had used the previous night and suddenly found herself at a loss to speak.

He was watching her closely, gauging her every reaction. "I can't deny that I care about you Clarisse, already, but I certainly would never push you into anything just because of who you are… and who I am. If I misread the signs I apologise, if this is one-sided I apologise. I understand your position."

He sighed, sadly she thought. "This has taken me by surprise." He said nervously. "The truth is I think you're a very special lady and I enjoy being with you, spending time with you. I hope we can go on working together."

He held out his hand for her, formally, standing tall. She noted the signet ring on his wedding finger and hesitantly placed her hand in his. He placed his other hand atop of hers and shook their hands very gently.

"Thank you for coming to speak with me." She said flatly, any trace of emotion hidden from her words.

"Of course." He reluctantly let go of her hand; her skin was so soft, so silky. He resisted the urge to lift it to his lips and kiss the back of her hand. "Well have a good day Miss. Arcenciel."

"Thank you sir."


Well, we're slowly getting there, hope you're all sticking with me & still enjoying it! x R