Disclaimer: Thanks to all for your wonderful reviews, I really appreciate them all. And please do tell if there is something you'd like to happen and I'll see what my magic wand and I can do. NO PROMISES!

I hope you all will enjoy this part. Thank you so much to Shakayla for being my beta on this chapter! I've read around and people seem to dedicate their chapters to someone, and I of course will do the same, but I will dedicate this chapter to my lovely little dog that was run over by a car this morning, but doing ok.

So now on to the story.

Enjoy.

A lesson well learned…

Well...only 3 months until my, no our wedding. We just returned home from what the press called our love escape or royal vacation of love. They also said that we took this vacation to get some privacy to get to know each other better before the wedding and to get away from the press. That is somewhat right; but the real reason why Rupert suggested and arranged it was so that we could get away from the Queen. She has been watching us every minute of every day since the engagement; but, the worst of the worst was that the day after the announcement. She called both of us into her office and handed us a very thick ring binder which contained our wedding: every single detail was written down. From the colour of the flowers to the length of my veil. Even the seating plan was included - some of the names were crossed over and replaced with someone else. Perhaps the guest first planned to attend had fallen out of the Queen's favour, which doesn't seem that hard to do – as I have already learned.

I could see from the plan that she must have done a lot of rearranging after I was selected to be Rupert's wife. I have five brothers, four of which are married. So they were placed around the tables in her plan. I also learned that Rupert actually has three older sisters. I had never seen them or heard about them; but Rupert told me that he has been raised as an only child, because he was the only boy. I immediately told him that this was not going to happen with our children, no matter what their gender.

So much has happened since the engagement. Not one week has gone by without the mentioning of either Rupert, me, or the both of us in the media. It has been a little frustrating and I didn't expect it to be like this. It didn't bother me in the beginning but, after the first few weeks and until now, every time I turn my head I can feel the cameras on me. I can't even take a sip of tea without hearing the dreaded clicking of what seems to be thousands of pictures being taken.

I am still struggling in the popularity category with my mother in-law. It all started when she came into my room, which is now in the royal wing of the palace, to talk about why I ran out in the rain right before the press conference. Before I had a chance to tell her why, she started giving notes to Karen about me: how my hair should be changed, my make-up and my clothes. It wasn't until she waved at the people lined up by the wall that I noticed them inside my room and they pulled, pushed, and painted me, according to her instructions. So I yelled at her when she came up to me and looked me over like a fine china pot.

"So what does her Majesty think?" The hair dresser asked with anticipation

The Queen looked me over once more and looked at the woman, "Better, much better!"

Having given her reply, she turned her attention to the dresses which hung on the wall.

"BETTER? Better is that all you have to say?" I yelled at her in shock.

She looked at me with horror in her eyes. I was yelling at her in front of the staff; and, to make matters worse, I didn't even address her properly.

"You will watch your mouth young lady!" was her harsh and only reply.

"I will not watch anything. You have turned me into you, only younger. I have sat through this for the past three hours, and all you say is better!" I continued loudly.

"Well that is all you deserve!" She spewed back, cold as ice

"You could maybe have said something nicer." I answered back just as cold.

"NICER! Nicer! You are supposed to stand beside MY son as ruler of MY country. I want it to be perfect. All you have to take care of is smiling to the public and make sure this country gets its heirs. That is your only responsibility - your duty if you choose to look at it that way!" She said loud and fast.

I looked at her shocked, then at Karen who looked down at the floor as soon as we made eye contact. Before I could say anything further, my thoughts were interrupted again by the Queen.

"You will get a lesson in how to present yourself at the state dinner tomorrow morning at 8. Don't be late!" She instructed while walking out the door.

I looked at Karen who seemed to be taking notes. I felt tears pressing to fall and they soon did. I felt Karen's hand on my shoulder, "Don't cry - she never shows happy emotions." was her soft reply.

"But she could have said something else. Something like it was just what she wanted, or that I looked beautiful, just something!" I said with tears running freely.

"She never does. The last happy emotion anyone saw from her was on her wedding day; and I guess the next will be at her funeral." Karen said matter-of-factly and then left me.

I was still stunned at the scene that just played in front of me; but I wiped my tears away and went out to the stables to go for a ride and to clear my head; However, Rupert was there and he came running over to me.

"Clarisse, are you alright? You look like you've been crying? Wha……Oh my God, you are beautiful. Perhaps a little too much like my mother, but you are stunning!" He said with wide open eyes. I couldn't help but laugh at his last remark.

"Thank you Rupert - I think! But this - it's not me this, this….yes all of this!" I answered back sadly.

"Fine. We will get it changed right after we have taken a ride!" He quickly said.

"No Rupert, I do not want to be in more trouble with your mother. She is happy with this and we will keep it like this at least for today" I softly replied.

"Ok my dear if you say so. If you can live with it for one day then so can I!" He said and then placed a kiss on my forehead. He took my arm and we went riding for at least two hours too long resulting in us being late for dinner, again.

The following day I was at my lesson with the Queen. I was being taught the what, when, where and how to sit, stand, walk, and talk. Everything that would be required at the state dinner. This would be my first official dinner party as Rupert's fiancé; and I was to be quiet and polite. I was to be still and not make a scene. I was reminded to wear gloves, white was preferable; but gloves were a must. I learned later why the gloves were necessary.

At the day of the state dinner, I had to have Rupert thrown out of my room. I decided that, for once, I didn't want to be late. It seemed that he always was the reason for my tardiness; so I had him thrown out when he came to talk while the last arrangements of my clothing and make-up were being done.

He always had a mischievous plan or idea that he wanted us to try right before we had to be somewhere with the King and Queen. I suspect it is his way of rebelling against their authority. I ended up being five minutes early this time. I spent the time waiting in the White Room, together with Rupert and the King, for the Queen's arrival, which wouldn't be a second before she had said.

During my lessons for this dinner, I was always in a short skirt and flat shoes; but the outfit that was chosen for me was a longer skirt and high heels. I had never learned how to walk in high heels because that wasn't proper for a young, unmarried woman. I had tried to walk in them in my room; but quickly realized that I would never ever be on time to the White Room if I tried to walk there in them. So I asked my ladies maids to hold them along with my white gloves while we made our way to the room. Stopping just outside the room, they handed me the shoes and helped me put them on, followed by my gloves. The signal was made for the door opening; and, fortunately, Rupert came to my rescue and escorted me inside. His strong arm held me up because my balance in the shoes was terrible. I did an awkward curtsy in front of the King and asked Rupert to help me over to the chairs so I could sit down until the Queen arrived and the official welcome was to take place.

Unfortunately, the sitting down didn't help me in anyway to prepare to keep my balance on the heels. I was placed as the last for the guests to meet. First they would meet the King, then the Queen, then Rupert, and finally me. I was standing too far from Rupert to lean on him for support; but, I came through it without trouble. It was after that I learned why I was to wear gloves: I shook hands with every single guest, which totalled 230 people. After all four of us completed this task, the white gloves we were wearing were no longer white.

My heels were killing me as we were lead to the Glass Hall where all the guests were waiting for the State dinner to begin. We entered the hall. Rupert was greeted by the Prime Minister and had to let go of my arm. This threw me off balance; and I could feel myself falling in slow motion. And fall I did. I could see, from the corner of my eye, Jacob running to catch me; but, he was too late. My arms were flaying around to try and gain balance; but instead of helping, I knocked over the suit of armour. This caused the spear to go right through the suckling pig. I could see the Queen hit the boiling point. She turned around on her heels and walked away from the party as fast as her feet would take her.

After the fiasco with the pig, I, together with Rupert, was lead out to allow time for them to clean up. We would then be escorted in again. Once outside the room, I quickly sat down.

"Clarisse, my dear, are you alright? What happened?" Rupert asked concerned.

"I've attended thousands of lessons with your mother. I was taught how to sit, talk, eat and walk for this event; but never in shoes with high heels!" I answered crying.

Rupert sat down in front of me, lifted up my chin, and wiped the tear that was falling. "I don't care what caused it; I'm only interested in knowing if you are alright?" He asked. I nodded and smiled at him.

"Good, and with the spear from the suit of armour through the pig, I don't have to do anything to lighten up the mood at this dinner. So, thank you my dear." He said and kissed my hand.

Twenty minutes later we entered the glass hall again and attended the dinner as if nothing happened. The Queen, however, never returned that evening.

About a month after the state dinner incident, The Genovian Times published a picture of me and Rupert about to kiss. He was on a horse and I was on the ground tiptoeing to kiss him. A quick photographer captured it all, except for the actual kiss. This did not please the Queen. She had not spoken to me since the dinner disaster, so I was surprised when I was called to her office the day the picture was taken. She didn't have much to say – only that Rupert and I were only to be seen together from this point on at official affairs.

Rupert got that changed and we went on vacation - for a month! It was very relaxing; and I had never felt better. That quickly changed as soon as we got home were called to the Queen's office to explain why Rupert had left my room at 4:30 in the morning with the same clothes on as the day before with messed up hair.

"I would like an explanation from you two right now?" She said while holding up the pictures that that had been displayed of Rupert in the paper.

"I'm leaving Clarisse's room and that's all!" Rupert answered.

"Why are you leaving HER room at 5 am?" The Queen asked coldly.

"Because I wanted to sleep in my own room! And it was at 4:30!" He answered with impertinence.

"Do not try to be smart with me young man. What were you doing in HER room?" The queen questioned again.

"Mother, would you relax, we had been out to dinner. We went back to the cottages and we all went into Clarisse's to play a round of cards. We started talking and I feel asleep in a chair. I woke up at 4:30 and decided to go back to my own to get some sleep in a bed instead of a chair - end of story!" Rupert said calmly and with a hint of giving up.

"You have no business in her room or cottage or anywhere until you are married!" She said harshly. Rupert just rolled his eyes at his mother while holding my hand, stroking it gently.

"Rupert I mean it, the entire country think you two are……that you are………uhm……..that you two are…………" She stammered.

"……having sex! Yes, I've figured that much; and so what! Let them think what they want. We don't care! We are just trying to get to know each other; and I do not mean intimately. We are simply talking and enjoying each other's company. We will get to the intimacy part once we've said our dos!" Rupert said as he stood, pulling me to my feet.

"You do not care about what the country, your country, thinks about you?" She asked shocked.

"No. Not in the least; and I'm impressed that you haven't found out that we see Genovia as OUR country. Now, mother, if you will excuse us, we have some business to attend. We will see you at dinner!" He waved to her over his shoulder as he pulled me gently after him.

As soon as the doors to her office closed, he pulled me into his arms and dipped me while placing his lips softly on mine to share a soft and sweet kiss. When we pulled apart, he looked deeply into my eyes.

"What the crown doesn't know won't hurt it!" He said and winked at me leaving me with a feeling of butterflies in my stomach. I think this must be the feeling of being in love, or maybe it's because I'm thinking about Rupert putting his mother in her place. Perhaps it could be a combination of all those things…I don't know.

To be continued…..