Hello to you all reading, leaving positive reviews, following and adding this story to your favourite lists. I appreciate it all so so much and honestly can't thank you enough for the support.

Here is the next chapter for you, I hope you all enjoy this one too ;)


Pulling up outside one of the guest cottages on the grounds of the palace a short drive later, Joseph shut off the engine and turned his head to Clarisse in the passenger seat. "We're here." He said in anticipation, worry, over if she would like his surprise or not.

"Already," Clarisse said in surprise as she turned her head to him, "that wasn't a very long drive at all," she smiled.

"I told you it wasn't far," Joseph chuckled and reached his hand out to open his car door, "stay there, I'll come round and help you out."

"Ok," she smiled to herself and listened as Joseph climbed out of the car and shut the door behind him. Taking a deep breath, she turned her head towards her door and waited for him to open it.

"Here we go," Joseph said just seconds later as he opened her door and reached his hands out to her waist while stepping closer, to help her out of the car.

"I have been thinking," Clarisse declared as she stepped onto the ground in front of him, "and I think I might know where we are."

"You do?" He said, amused, as they stepped away from the car and he shut the door before locking it.

"I do," she nodded as Joseph turned back to her and placed his hand on her back, "it's one of the guest cottages."

"Ahh but which one," he teased, guiding her closer to the garden gate.

"The one with the roses growing on the trellis archway around the front door," she said and bit her bottom lip in anticipation. Excitement. "It has to be this one, as the other cottage is occupied with guests attending the wedding. And, we didn't drive far enough away for it to be anywhere else."

Smiling, Joseph studied her a moment, in complete awe of her. She could have said the actual cottage name, but she didn't. She said what stood out more to her. Leaning closer, he whispered seductively in her ear. "You can remove your blindfold now."

"Ok," she said, nodding slowly as she put both her hands up to her face, to push her scarf upwards and removed it completely from her eyes and from her head as she gasped at the sight that lay before her. "Oh my goodness, Joseph."

"Do you like it?" Joseph asked and watched as she turned her head to him, her eyes sparkling with the reflection of the lights shining in them, while taking hold of her scarf in both of her hands in front of her.

"I do, it's so beautiful," Clarisse nodded and smiled while looking back to the cottage in astonishment. At what he had done for them. For her. The picket fence surrounding the garden and lining the pathway leading to the cottage, and also the archway over the front door had been decorated with string lights, making it look pretty all lit up and oh so very romantic.

"Did you see the rose petals scattered over the path?" Joseph asked after a moments silence while extending his arm out in front of them and pointed to the path as she looked down at them.

"No I hadn't," Clarisse exclaimed in surprise and turned her head to look at him while bending one arm up, briefly touching under his chin and jaw with the tips of her fingers before looking back at the cottage and lowering her arm.

"I thought, with it being our wedding night that we could stay here tonight instead of at the palace," Joseph said softly while placing his hand on her back and watched as a breath hitched in her throat at the mere thought of them spending the night there together. Alone. "We don't have to, it was just an idea."

"No no," Clarisse said and turned to face him, "it's just, I've been so caught up in everything that's happened today and with all the dancing, I didn't even give our wedding night a thought, which was, of course, silly of me," she said and looked down at the scarf in her hands a moment. Suddenly feeling extremely nervous over what lay ahead for them.

She wasn't silly though, she had been married before and knew very well what was expected of her. But she knew in her heart that tonight, with Joseph, it would be completely different than her wedding night with her first husband. King Rupert. Her marriage to him was arranged, and even though they had grown fond of one another over the years, they didn't know each other all that well on their wedding night and it proved to be awkward, painfully rushed and over within minutes. No satisfaction for her. Just for him. And that's how she's spent the whole of their marriage.

"Listen Clarisse," Joseph said softly, sensing her nerves, and watched as she slowly looked back up at him, "we don't have to do anything that you are not comfortable with, and if you don't want to stay here tonight, then we don't have to."

"No, I do want to," she nodded while stepping closer to him and put her hands up to frame his face in them, her scarf still in one hand. "Of course I want to stay here with you, I'll just need to get a few things from the palace first."

"Already taken care of," he said, flashing her his gorgeous smile while slipping his hands under her jacket and onto her sides as she pulled back just a little.

"What do you mean, it's already taken care of?" Clarisse asked as she lowered her hands onto his chest.

"I had Olivia pack a small overnight bag for you, with all the essentials you might need," Joseph smiled. "And I have had the cupboards and fridge stocked with all your favourite foods, so I can even cook you a delicious breakfast in the morning."

"Oh, that's sneaky," she teased, her pulse racing as she reached up to kiss him while smoothing her hands over his shoulders and around to the back of his neck. It was a slow, sensual kiss. One that stirred the desire deep within not only her, but her husband too. Reluctantly breaking the kiss a moment later, Clarisse pulled her head back to look up into his sexy blue eyes. "At least we will have privacy here."

"That's exactly why I did it," he said, smiling mischievously and kissed her a couple times while smoothing his hands up her back under her jacket. "But please remember, we don't do anything that you are not comfortable with."

"I know," Clarisse said and nodded as her stomach somersaulted, "thank you."

"You're welcome," he said and studied her a brief moment, "shall we go in?" He asked and glanced towards the cottage before looking back into her desire filled gorgeous eyes. "I have a couple more surprises planned for you inside."

"You do?" She said in surprise and giggled, "well we better go in then, hadn't we."

"After you," Joseph smiled with a twinkle in his eye and extended his arm out for her to lead the way before watching as she reluctantly stepped back from him and took that first step forward. Leading the way up the garden path towards the front door.

Reaching the door a moment later, Clarisse stopped and turned to her husband following close behind her, "I'm guessing you have the key?" She smiled.

"We don't need the key, yet," he smiled coyly and moved to stand beside her before they both turned to face one another. Keeping his gaze on her, he reached his hand out and slowly pushed open the door to reveal several led light candles sitting on the sideboard in the entrance hall. Forming the only source of light in the room.

Turning, Clarisse peered into the cottage and put her hand up onto her chest before squealing in surprise as Joseph scooped her up in his arms. "Joseph, what are you doing?" She exclaimed while locking her arms round his neck. "Put me down."

"Carrying you over the threshold of course," Joseph teased and turned his head to look at her.

"But I'm too heavy for you to be carrying," Clarisse exclaimed nervously, her eyes sparkling wide, "please Joseph, put me down."

"Nonsense, I'm fine," he smiled and nodded. "I'm doing what every new husband is meant to do on their wedding night, for good luck and all." He declared and kissed her before looking deep into her gorgeous blue eyes once again. Those gorgeous blue eyes that reflected just how he was feeling. So full of passion. Desire. Need. "I'll be fine, honestly."

"Ok well, please be careful," she said and buried her face in his neck as he carefully stepped into the entrance hall with her in his arms. Even though she was scared he would hurt himself, she had never been carried before, not like this. It wasn't customary to carry a Royal in this manner, but she found it rather exciting. Exhilarating.

To hell with tradition and rules, they both knew they would be breaking a few more tonight.