The characters stillbelong to Meg Cabot and Disney, this is just a bit of imaginary fun!

Part Four – Midnight Escapades

Clarisse returned to her suite, tired, but very happy, Joseph had disappeared off somewhere. She pushed open the door, slipping her murderous shoes off. She hitched up her dress as she was now two inches shorter, and crossed the room to her dressing room.

She removed the silk gloves, and her necklace and tiara, the only piece of jewellery she left was the ring Joseph had given her, with three diamonds inset into it, cut into heart shapes. She smiled at it, it was then she noticed a crème envelope sat in front of the mirror, 'My dearest Clarisse' was written on the front, in handwriting she recognised instantly, she slipped her finger under the seal and carefully opened it with her perfectly manicured nails. She opened the piece of paper inside and began to read:

Clarisse, my darling, meet me in the rose garden when you are changed, I have a surprise for you.

All my Love,

Joseph

Xxx

Clarisse smiled, she folded the letter away, and unzipped her dress. She got changed as fast as she could, into a pale rose cashmere sweater and thin rose pants, she slipped on some court shoes in a similar colour and made her way down to the rose garden. She turned the corner onto the main hallway downstairs; she stopped suddenly, seeing Viscount Mabery snooping along the corridor, hoping not to be noticed. Clarisse hid herself behind one of the ornate tapestries that hung from the walls; she found herself in a passageway. Feeling a little anxious she tiptoed along in the semi darkness, the light from the main hallway behind her fading fast, the path began to slope downwards, so steeply she found herself tripping a little. Eventually she reached a stonewall, with an iron ring attached. She tugged on it, but it didn't budge, she tried again, tugging much harder this time, it slowly creaked open, revealing the small piece of garden between the castle wall and the swimming pool. She grinned.

'Awesome!' she whispered, then she laughed, realising what she had said 'Mia, you're a bad influence on me!' she muttered walking through the door, and pulling it to behind her. Slowly she made her way across to the rose garden where she saw Joseph looking very agitated, pacing back and forth. She walked toward him, stopping just short of him. He smiled at her.

'I thought you were taking a while…now I see you were making yourself camouflaged! Attempting to sneak up on me?' He joked, eyeing the dusty marks on her sweater. She looked down, and blushed.

'The viscount was snooping around, to avoid him noticing me I hid behind one of the tapestries upstairs, it turned out to lead me down here! It must have been dusty when I sneaked passed the rug.'

'Which passage?' he asked, gently brushing the dust off her front. She smiled

'The one that comes out over by the pool' she pointed 'it starts behind the wailing nuns near the library!'

'Ah!' he nodded, he reached in his pocket 'I found you a map of the others! Just in case you need a quick de-tour again!' he passed her a sheet off paper, that was slightly yellowed with age.

'Surely that isn't the reason you bought me out here in the middle of the night Joseph!' She questioned.

'No my love, I bought you down here with other motives. Shades just gave me it as I was on the way down that's all!' Clarisse smiled, fingering the paper between her fingers as he spoke 'I wanted to ask you something'

'Oh yes?' she was intrigued now. He took hold of one of her hands, stroking its softness gently.

'I have been thinking about this for a very long time, from the moment we met all those years ago in that sandbox, I knew you were the woman I loved, (even if you were four at the time!)' she smiled at his words, her mind wandering back to the carefree days of fairytale castles of sand rather than real ones of stone. 'You were also the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. Had I been the one to plan destiny I would have done this a long time ago, but, Clarisse my darling' he stooped to one knee, retrieving a velvet box from his pocket 'Would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?' Clarisse gasped.

'Oh Joseph! I…I…' she stuttered her words for perhaps the first time in her life 'Darling I…Now isn't…' she took her hand from his and wiped her face. 'Joseph, you know I would love to marry you! I just…I need to be there for Mia right now…and…' she couldn't go on. She sat down on the bench nearby, resting her face in her hands, tears trickling down her cheeks.

'I'm sorry, I should of thought…you don't want me…I get it!' Joseph turned away trying to hide his hurt. Clarisse looked up, startled.

'Whatever gave you that idea? Joseph you know that I love you!'

'Just not enough to marry me'

'Darling, give me two weeks…I need to know Mia is capable of being the great queen I know she can be…I need her to prove it to the country! Once she can I will have more time to be around and to be you wife!'

'I've waited my life…I don't want to wait anymore' Joseph turned away and walked across the grass. Clarisse watched him go, the tears streaming down her face. She shivered, realising how cold it was. She made her way back to the passage, slipped inside, running back up the steep slope. She peered around the dusty nuns and looked out, the hall was clear she dusted herself off, wiped her face, blinked herself back into controlled queen and walked along the corridor. Charlotte walked towards her.

'Oh! Your majesty, the viscount is waiting for you in your suite. He wanted a word if you weren't too tired?'

'That's fine, I will go and speak to him.'

'Is everything alright ma'am?' Charlotte looked concerned, as she noticed Clarisse's tear stained cheeks, Clarisse nodded.

'Why wouldn't I be?' Charlotte didn't answer, she simply pulled a tissue from her dress and said:

'Don't give the Viscount anything that he can upset you with' Clarisse understood,

'Thank you!' she turned to face the mirror behind her and wiped her face. She then walked briskly back to her suite and entered.

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Part five to come...no title yet! Thanks for the great reviews...Please keep them coming...

Iwill upload more story ASAP, I'll get the Viscount soon!