Chapter 14.
Skipping to the wedding or actually the scene right afterwards.
14. After the royal wedding
Holding hands Clarisse and Joseph walked into the small office adjoining the main entrance hall of the church. The room was usually used to give newlywed couples a few minutes alone before the day would continue with handshaking and talking to friends and family. The same use of the room was applied today, but rarely it was used for such a special couple.
When the door closed behind them, they let go of one another's hand and faced each other. Both quite confused from the rushed actions from minutes ago. Both happy for being married and also still a bit angry at the other for past week's events. Nerves for dreading the other's reaction running through their body's and filling the room.
They stood arm's length apart, Clarisse staring at her clasped hands fiddling with a piece of fabric on her dress. Joseph had his hand loosely in his pockets while he watched her face closely.
He wanted to close the distance between them, hold her, kiss her if she would allow him. But he feared that all of this was a mistake somehow. Why on earth did she refuse him a few days ago and marry him at an on the spot service today? He had to know that first before he would give in to his happy feelings. So, he spoke.
"Clarisse, what...why did you do that?"
She sighted and looked up at him. "Have I acted the wrong way? Was this not what you wanted?" Her voice sounding sad and tired. She sat down on the nearest chair her hands covering her face.
"No, no Clarisse. I am happy, very happy. This is what I wanted."
"Really?" She asked in order for reassurance, looking up from her hands.
With his voice full of emotion, he replied "Yes, I love you."
She outstretched her hand towards him and he took it. She abandoned the chair and leaned against his torso. "I love you a great deal as well."
Clarisse tilted her head and brushed her lips against Joseph's. Then kissing him sweet and softly. No desire, just love. Breaking the kiss Joseph addressed his question again, a bit clearer now.
"Why did you ask me to marry you today when just a few days ago you told me no?"
She sighted into his chest. "I did not want to tell you no Joseph. I wanted to tell you yes, but just not yet."
He looked at her thunderstruck.
"I just could not find the right words and you did not want to wait, or did not have to patience to listen." Clarisse let her fingers wander over the collar of his shirt.
Still very surprised he answered "No, no, that is not true." Stroking her arms, he continued. "My proposal was meant to reassure you that I am serious with you. To tell you that I wanted to wait."
"I already knew that you were serious, that we both are serious." Smiling at him she placed a small light kiss on his jaw. "Don't you think that asking me in such a stressful time with Amelia and her arranged marriage was difficult for me?"
"That was the exact reason that I asked you at that moment. To support you, to let you know that I would be there, as your partner."
"But why did you not just tell me that? Silly." Giving him a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth. "You have given me a lot of stress and sleepless nights." The mood was a lot lighter already.
"You call me silly?"
He brought his mouth down to hers quite forcefully and gave her a deep kiss. She gave in after a few seconds and they shared their first real kiss as husband and wife. When Joseph felt that Clarisse tried to pull back to grasp for breath, he pulled her even closer and let his tongue play across her lips, asking for entrance which she gave him after a short silent battle. Both of them losing themselves in the feeling, anticipating for more.
After kissing for a minute or two Joseph finally broke the kiss. "Do you still think that there is something silly now?"
Clarisse shook her head.
"But it still doesn't explain why you proposed to me today. Why not talk it over tomorrow? Why did you want to marry me today?"
Still enjoying the tingling feeling on her lips her answer came a bit later.
"Your letter of resignation."
He kissed her temple. "Yes, for that you have to forgive me. I was hurt and drunk and... stupid. The next morning, I realised my mistake, but I decided to wait until tomorrow to talk with you."
She spoke softly "You once told me that your breakups always end up with a fight or a clean cut."
He stroked her hair and neck while he nodded.
Clarisse continued her explanation. "If I had to make a choice between never seeing you again and losing you or marry you today, the choice was easy."
"Oh Clarisse. I... would you rather have married me...well...later?"
For a moment Clarisse debated with herself if she would keep the truth hidden. But she decided not to, she got a husband today, better not start off with the first lie.
"Yes Joseph, I would rather have married you later. So that we could have talked things trough first, discuss what our life together will look like, to invite your friends to our wedding day..."
"But" He sounded insecure "Are you happy with this? I mean..."
She smiled up at him and kissed him again. Not the deep kiss from before but more like the first one that they shared in this room. Soft and sweet. "Joseph, I am happy being married. I don't want to change it back."
He pulled her close crushing her against his chest, relieved.
"We just have to do this step by step. See how we make this marriage work."
For a while they just stood there sharing kisses, hugging, touching faces, cheeks and arms. Until...
"Clarisse..."
"mhh...yes"
"Are you anxious? For the reactions?" The thought slipped into Joseph's mind and that broke the spell of their safe and warm heaven.
"Only a little. Amelia encouraged me into this you know, trough the earpiece. So, I think she will support us, don't you think?"
Joseph laughed at that. "Ah yes, a fairy tale ending."
"You heard that?" Clarisse sounded surprised but then corrected herself. "Of course, you did, you were wearing such a thing too."
Joseph smiled again but then turned serious, still holding her close. "I meant reactions from the press and parliament actually."
Clarisse sighted. "Well, most parliament members were in the church today. So, they have had their chance to object. And for the press and the people of Genovia I probably should make a statement later, somewhere in the afternoon."
"Someone probably can fit that into the schedule with the reception, dinner and ball this evening. I gather that all those things are still happening?" Joseph did not look too keen on going to all those official meetings.
"Yes, I think we have to brace ourselves for the rest of the day. We need to shake a lot of hands."
Joseph suddenly looked alarmed. "I have to be there too? I mean... I understand that I will be there...but I also have to be there..."
Clarisse interrupted "doing the same job as I? Yes. You are married to a queen now you know."
"Well I'm not sure..." But Clarisse interrupted him again. "Yes, you are. You watched me at official gatherings for years."
She gave him her most brilliant smile.
"You'll do splendidly."