Disclaimer: Own none of the Princess Diaries characters just having some fun with them.

Part 10

Rose folded her arms and leant on the wall over looking the fields behind Clarisse's newly acquired home.

"You have some view here, you know that right."

"I do." Clarisse leant next to her.

"I suppose you're used to fine views."

"Hmm, I suppose I was getting that way. Spoilt."

"Very by the sounds of things, although it seems to me like you were working your way through things."

"Yes, for a while…" she laughed suddenly.

"What's so funny?"

"That next day, oh, I was spoilt."

"Go on… I'm intrigued."


Clarisse rushed her early morning tasks, she realised she was doing it and tried time and time again to slow down and concentrate. But for once her heart was the organ in control and she longed to see him again.

Under the pretence of needing him to sign something or other she casually strode into his office just before lunch with a wad of completely useless documents beneath her arm.

This time she stopped and knocked on his office door.

"Come." He said quickly.

Breezily she entered the room attempting not to grin as she neared his desk.

"Well hello." He said suddenly breaking into a smile and removing his glasses. "And how may I help you?"

"Sir, I have some very important documents for you to sign."

"Oh really." He said amused but deciding to play along. "And just what might they be concerning?"

"Oh something highly important." She said dropping them onto his desk and placing her hand over his. "Hello."

He dropped his pen and took hold of her other hand. "Hello my dear, how has your morning been?"

"Erm, rushed. And yours?"

"Dull, very dull. I'd much rather sign things for you."

"I'm sure, you haven't had any lunch."

"I know, have you come to chastise me over it?"

"Only a little, I haven't eaten either." She stood up straight again. "Though I see you've worked your way through a rather large plantation of coffee."

He eyed the collection of coffee mugs gathering on his desk. "Hmm, I lost track."

"You should be buzzing." She said as she passed by his desk and began fiddling with the plant standing on one of the cupboards.

"I promise to cut down on my coffee intake, now does that please you?" He swung round in his chair watching her.

"Greatly." She replied rather nonchalantly and moving on to the next cupboard where another plant stood. She pulled the dead leaves out and dropped them into the wastebasket.

"Clarisse."

"Yes?"

"Come here for a second."

Ceasing her ministrations she moved back to his desk, only this time on his side. "Yes sir?" She said feigning shyness.

He caught hold of her waist. "No, come here."

She slipped down onto his lap. "Why this is unexpected." She smiled fiddling with his tie.

"Stop tidying me and kiss me instead."

"Is that an order?"

"A request." He said moving his face inches from hers.

"Oh all right then." She lowered her mouth to his and instantly they fell into a sweet intoxicating moment of bliss. He nipped her lower lip with his teeth, cradled her head in his hand as they continued to taste each other.

Her hands ran over his back, she tilted her head back and he found her neck and gently suckled on the tender skin there.

"Join me for dinner." He whispered huskily as he moved up to nip her chin.

"Now?" She smiled.

"No," he kissed her mouth. "Later, this evening. In my suite."

"Won't the staff wonder who you're eating with, ordering for two?"

"Surely your brilliant mind can come up with some elaborate plan."

"Perhaps." She ran her hand over his beard, funny how it didn't bother her when they kissed.

"I have something for you anyway my darling, a gift I bought back from America."

"Joseph you don't have to buy me things."

"I know, but this time I sincerely wanted to. Accept it without questioning, just this once."

She eyed him suspiciously but nodded her consent before releasing herself from his grasp and shakily standing up. "Until this evening then." She said tidying her hair.

"Yes, until then." He held onto her hand as she tried to move away and kissed her fingertips. "Enjoy your day."

"I will try." She slowly pulled her hand away and headed for the door.

"Oh Clarisse."

"Yes?"

"Don't forget your very important documents."


"And what was the gift?" Rose asked staring at her sister, she couldn't remember seeing such a complete look of abandonment come over her.

"I'll show you." Clarisse said turning towards the house. "That evening was wonderful though, we ate well, drank well. Just chatted and laughed and…"

"Danced?"

"But of course, la musique est la nourriture de l'amour."

"Je conviens tout à fait."

Clarisse laughed. "I forgot how well you speak the language."

"Well you did marry a Frenchman, one must make the effort."

"Your accent is better than mine."

"On peut mais essai."

"Indeed." She smiled as she slipped her shoes off and headed upstairs closely followed by Rose.

"I'm assuming he serenaded you with the whole deal, candlelight and the rest."

"How did you guess?"

"Hmm… well he sounds rather romantic."

"He could be, when the mood took him. We danced for hours that night, until the early hours, hardly even kissed."

"Kissing as you danced."

Clarisse allowed herself a private smile at the memory, swaying in time with Joseph's body, feeling his hands caress her body through the silk of her dress whilst his mouth worked wonders on hers.

"Now, when I show you this, don't faint."

"I will try not to." Rose stood by the window as Clarisse rummaged through one of the boxes, her belongings were beginning to take over the house now, she simply needed to unpack them.

"Here we go." Clarisse lifted a tightly wrapped package from one of the boxes, unwrapping the protective paper she'd obviously placed around it and handing Rose a black velvet box.

"Looks expensive."

Clarisse shrugged as Rose opened the box and whistled. "Well, diamonds and pearls indeed."

"We argued for over an hour about my accepting that particular gift."

"What the hell for? Goodness woman, dating a King, take whatever jewels he offers you."

"Very funny Rose." She took the box back and snapped it shut without even glancing inside.

"You've never worn that have you."

"No, I haven't."

"It is rather elaborate for lunch at the Ploughman's Arms."

Clarisse laughed and stood up offering her hand to her sister. "Come on, I should drive you home."

"Okay." Rose wearily accepted her hand and hoisted herself to her feet. "Hey if you're not going to be wearing that perhaps I could borrow it."

"Ha! I think not."

"Fair enough, but I'm getting impatient now dear."

"About what?"

Together they made their way down stairs into the wide airy kitchen, the sunlight seemed to bring the entire room to life, although still absent of furniture.

"Why you left, the final nail in the coffin."

"Rose."

"Well it's about time you finished this off I'm feeling rather irritated about it now, perhaps a little anxiety, in fact come to mention it my chest does feel a little tighter."

"All right, all right, goodness I wonder why I came home. I'll finish the story but when I have that's it, no more questions, no more revelations. What I haven't told you remains a secret."

"That's fair enough. You can tell me on the drive home and whilst helping me prepare dinner, family invasion this evening."

"Ahh, is my little god daughter coming along?"

"She is indeed, you can spoil her rotten… hey there's a thought, in years to come she might inherit that little box of expensive jewels."


The first two weeks of March passed pleasantly enough, the last of winter melted away and spring firmly stamped its hold on the Genovian palace. Clarisse had organised a revitalising clean throughout and the staff rose to the request admirably. Yet she had begun to notice subtle changes, the odd whisper as she passed, the odd glance her way that lasted a little longer than was comfortable.

March 23rd was her usual Wednesday breakfast with Joseph and after rising early she spent an hour in the gym before taking a shower and changing into a pair of smartly fitted black trousers and a different style of top for her. It was fairly long, simple black and fastened around the waist with a tie. A pair of earrings and a little perfume and she was more than ready for breakfast.

Humming as she made her way up the main staircase she felt wonderfully at ease and, though she loathed admitting it, happy.

"Good morning Michelle, Anna." She said warmly as she passed them.

Anna smiled and walked on but Michelle said not one thing simply glared at her. Clarisse noticed out of the corner of her eye that the girl had stopped and, with hands on hips, was watching her make her way down the corridor. Turning her head and slowing her step slightly she glanced behind her wondering whether to stop and ask what the problem was when Anna swiftly moved back and grabbed Michelle's arm almost pulling her down the stairs.

Desperately trying to shake the feeling of unease that was forming in her stomach she made her way down the long red corridor and up the small staircase that led to the King's private apartment. Always taking breakfast in his personal dining room Clarisse headed directly to it and, pausing to knock gently on the door, eased it open and stepped inside.

Her mouth formed to say something when she noticed the King wasn't alone. Joseph sat at the head of the table and Richard was standing over him leaning down on the table, obviously Clarisse had inadvertently walked in on something.

"Oh, I am sorry… I apologise." She moved to exit.

"There's no need Clarisse really, Richard was just leaving." Joseph said the words calmly but knowing him well now she noted the slight hint of anger in his eyes.

She stood aside as Richard shakily straightened himself and before shooting one last heated look at Joseph marched directly past her without even a second glance.

"Well." She said folding her hands together. "Some kind of ill mood seems to have settled over the palace this morning."

"Indeed." He stretched his legs out and uneasily smiled at her trying to change the mood. "But it will pass, come, let's have breakfast I'm ravenous."

He jumped up and strode towards her, arms open as he approached her and gripped her shoulders, kissing her cheek. "Good morning my love."

"Good morning Joseph." She returned his kiss and gave him a little hug. He smelt so good; she often forgot just how much she loved it, that familiar fragrance. The way his shirt felt beneath her fingers, warm and silky, expensive.

"Let's eat." He guided her towards a chair next to his by the window; the morning breeze lifted the curtains lightly.

"I've just had the most odd encounter with Michelle." She said as she unfolded her napkin and placed it over her lap.

"Really, how so?" He poured her a glass of orange juice.

"I'm not entirely sure, gave me the funniest look as I passed her and then just stopped and stared at me." She lifted her glass to her lips. "Before Anna dragged her away, tell me," she took a drink. "Does the top look that disastrous?"

He laughed. "Not at all, you look as gorgeous as you always do."

"Why thank you." She helped herself to pancakes. "Are you going to tell me just what was going on with Richard?"

"Hmmm." He took a deep breath. "Maybe not."

"Oh?" She glanced over at him as he bit into a strawberry.

"He isn't very happy with me."

"And I thought he'd like promotion, relish it in fact."

"Promotion?"

"Well I'm assuming that's why you're hiring this new lady… what's her name again?"

"Charlotte."

"That's it Charlotte, you said she'd be here next month."

"She will."

"So I'm assuming Richard will be moving up to a new post."

"Not exactly…" he hesitated for a second but he couldn't exactly lie to her, not now. "Richard will be leaving us I'm afraid."

"Wha… why?" She placed her fork down as she watched him.

"He knows about us Clarisse… figured it out a while ago I believe and, well we've been having a few disagreements over a few things."

"Not me."

He shrugged. "Amongst other things, his advice is that I should get you out of my system and put you away somewhere, pay you off."

She was too shocked to reply and simply continued staring at him.

"I'm not sure if it's jealousy or not but I won't have it."

"Perhaps he was trying to help… offering you the best advice that he could, isn't that his job?"

"Yes, it is. But some advice you don't wish to hear, I already know the problems this entails… I don't need him reminding me of them."

"So you fire him."

"I don't like the term but yes, the bottom line is I did."

"Because of me."

"In a very liberal sense yes."

"In every sense… and that's why Michelle," she gasped clasping her hand over her mouth. "Oh god the rest of the staff must know."

"I hardly think so, Richard isn't one to gossip."

"But he might be if suddenly he finds the King has gone behind his back and hired a new assistant without telling him and now he's facing redundancy."

"Oh it's hardly that Clarisse." He threw his napkin onto the table suddenly no longer hungry. "I'll make sure he gets another post, just not here."

"You're driving him out."

"Clarisse."

"That's what the staff will think, well isn't it!" She demanded. "And I'm the reason, that's what they'll all think. Richard's been here for over ten years and yet you dismiss him like that," She snapped her fingers. "You dismiss him when some housekeeper falls into bed with you."

"Well, we haven't." He said gruffly before standing. "There's nothing we can do to change it now."

"Oh well thank you so much for your support." She rose to her feet and shakily placed her hands on the table trying to hold herself together enough to string a sentence together. "Can you even begin to imagine how difficult it's going to be for me to walk out of this room and face all those people today?"

She glanced at him but he had his back to her, hands in his pockets and staring out of the French windows.

"Joseph, I have to work with them, this is my life too you know."

"And don't you think I'm trying to find a way to balance both." He finally turned to look at her. "I'm trying…"

"But you make these snap decisions without talking to me, you did it with Philippe, I'm not your child, you can't mould me."

"I would never dare to." He barked in response. "Lord knows you have your own views on everything. Including me."

"I can't talk to you when you're in this mood." She moved from behind the table and headed for the door.

"So you walk away!"

"What the hell am I supposed to say when you turn the blinkers on, you see one point of view, yours. So thank you so much for attempting to defend my honour and determine what route my life takes but I would like to make a decision."

Again she turned for the door but he caught her wrist. "Don't just walk out on me."

"Let go of me Joseph." She tried to pull her hand loose but he turned her around so her back was against the door.

"I'm turning my world upside down for you."

"I never asked you too, I wasn't the one who pursued you. You wanted this."

"I still do, more than ever."

"If you care as much as you claim to then try and see things from my point of view, my world is being turned upside down as well. I have no family here, no friends, certainly after this none of the staff will want anything to do with me. And, this is my job."

"You don't have to work."

"What are you suggesting, that I become some live in lover, on tap for your demands with no outside interests?"

"No. God no."

"Then what do you visualise this being Joseph… what can we ever be? You can't simply say 'this is what I want, get it for me.' No matter who you are, not everyone is going to jump at your commands."

"You paint me as some ogre."

"You're acting like one, firing Richard, that man would do anything for you. Putting me in this position…" she shook her head.

"Well then deny it all, anyone questions you deny it!" He was shouting at her now, she wasn't used to it. "If it's so awful to consider being with me then lie."

"Because having a reputation as somebody who fucks the King to get what she wants is such a wonderful destiny." She took a few deep breaths, finally shaking his hold off. "I told you before we can't have a future together. Never before has that seemed so true."

He opened his mouth to respond but found no words would form, dropping his head and closing his eyes briefly he took a deep breath and stepped backwards. Holding his arms out he shook his head.

"I have no response to that Clarisse."

"No, I didn't think you would."

No longer restrained by him she opened the door behind her and slid out. Once out in the hallway she leant forward just for a second, her forehead resting on the cool surface of the door. She refused to cry, refused to, she was too damned angry.

Digging out some inner resolve she stood up straight and tall and marched down the hallway, she had to get through this somehow.


Hi all - just to let you know i'm off on holiday tomorrow so may not be any updates for a couple of weeks... sorry! Please don't forget me - and do take the time to review, i love reading what you think. x Rhonda