Thank you so much for your review; Shakayla, CJmynixMG and Clarisse Renaldi. And again thank you SO MUCH to Diana for being my ever lovely and patient beta, again it is thanks to her that this is readable, and it is also thanks to her that this chapter ends in such a lovely way, so remember to thank her.
And thank you to KathleenK for giving me the inspiration of what a name means.
This chapter contains some mature material so if you are under aged please turn around and don't go here lol otherwise I hope you will forgive me.
On with the story……
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Busy, busy, busy…
Our lovely little boy is now seven months old. So many things have happened during those months: The christening; the return to "normal" life; learning to be a family; dealing with the rest of the family; and everything else that has come along the way. All of this has brought Rupert and I even closer together. He has even gotten up in the middle of the night and taken care of Pierre for me so I could be well rested for the day that followed. I've only attended a few official engagements during these past months. Both Rupert and I have tried to be as normal as possible; we've taken strolls around the park and have been doing almost everything ourselves. Of course, the nannies or security is constantly looking over our shoulders. I'm used to the security; but the nannies make me uneasy. I simply do not like having them around.
As part of Renaldi tradition, the children of the heir to the Genovian throne are to be christened at one month old. We, of course, followed that tradition. So on August the 18th Pierre was christened. I tried to eye my father all of the way through the ceremony. I was lucky enough to be able to see him when we got to the actual christening.
"What is the name of the child?" The bishop asked.
"Albert Christiano Pierre Gerard Renaldi." I answered with a smile. I could see my father glow and his chest swell with pride when the name Christiano was said. His name…his royal grandson would carry his name.
Pierre was great during the entire ceremony - not one cry or whimper, not even when the water was poured. The large crowd outside the church didn't affect him either. When we got back to the palace and the reception started, Pierre didn't want to play along any longer; he started screaming. So after greeting a number of people, I excused myself and Pierre and went to his nursery to feed him. Right after he finished; he fell asleep and a nanny took over watching him. I left with specific orders that she was to get me the second he woke up again.
I made my way back to reception. The minute I entered the Glass Ballroom, Rupert smiled at me and took my hand. "Is he sleeping?" Rupert asked
"Mmhhm… he has been holding out for almost two hours; and…he was hungry!" I shared.
"Oh…ok" Rupert said.
"Why do you sound so disappointed, darling?" I asked.
"It's just usually that I'm around and get to hold him after he is done eating." He said.
"Oh you are sweet Rupert; but you can't always count on being there when he finishes his meals!" I offered.
"I know…but I'm usually there!" He answered. I hugged his waist as he led me over to get something to eat.
"Rupert, I'm not really hungry." I said and started to turn away.
"Clarisse, you need to eat something…you skipped breakfast as well - you need to eat something. Otherwise you won't have anything for Pierre!" Rupert stated.
"How come you know so much about breastfeeding?" I asked curiously.
"Hmm…. because I'm a big admirer of both breasts and eating!" He whispered in my ear. I answered him by laughing heartedly and his laughter joined with mine. He handed me a plate and leaned in and gave me a short, but loving kiss.
About one month after Pierre's christening, he fell ill. I was up almost all night with my little boy who kept on crying no matter what I did or tried. He was running a fever so the doctor was called. He looked Pierre over and advised that he had caught the flu and we should have someone watching him every minute of the day. I, of course, insisted on that person being me. After two days, however, of getting absolutely no sleep…I couldn't take it any longer. Rupert had seen it long before I was willing to let go and arranged for a nanny to take over so I could get just a little sleep.
He came into the nursery with the nanny and carried me to our bed and laid me down. I protested a little, but not for long because I quickly fell asleep.
After a week, Pierre was bouncing back to his normal active baby mode. I recovered from my lack of sleep not long after…Rupert was a big help by taking a turn at watch. I still insisted on taking watch at least half of the time. One of the last days of Pierre's illness I found them in the chair in the nursery. Pierre was lying on Rupert's chest sleeping and Rupert had also fallen asleep. I stood and watched them for a few minutes…enjoying the beautiful sight of my handsome, sleeping boys.
When Pierre was four months old, the pressure started again from the Royal family and from Parliament. The King had just informed both Rupert and I that it was expected that we produce at least one more heir, in case something should go wrong with Pierre and his ability to assume the throne. I was nursing Pierre while contemplating the King's words. I could only focus on the one sentence "…something should go wrong with Pierre" and on the fact that the royal family almost "craved" another heir even before the pain from the birth of Pierre had worn off.
Rupert knew instinctively that I would retreat to the nursery after hearing what his father had told us. My facial expression had left no question as to how I felt about what was being said. He came in slowly and soundlessly, walking over to me and put his hand softly on my shoulder so I turned my head to look at him. "How are you Darling?" He asked softly.
"I don't know - confused I think." I whispered back.
"I can understand why. We'll have more children when we want - not when they do." He said lovingly and I nodded slowly.
"You do want more children right, Clarisse?" He asked suddenly uncertain.
"Of course Rupert, I couldn't even think about Pierre being an only child! But I would just like the opportunity to enjoy him first and then think about having more children later on!" I shared.
"I feel the same way, Clarisse!" He announced.
"Oh thank God." I sighed.
"Clarisse, I would never pressure you to do this, never!" He said as he looked me in the eyes. I handed him Pierre after a short while and he placed him in his bassinet.
"I know, Rupert; but I don't know all of the laws and royal traditions…even though I am trying to learn. As a result, I never know what would be right or wrong. Looking at your family; your second sister was born only twelve days after your oldest sister's first birthday!" I stated.
"Yes I know, Clarisse; and your parents had six children in ten years…just to please my parents so they would have a child that I could marry when the time was right. I would never ask you to go through that. I've already told you I would love to have lots of children; just not right away!" He smiled and held my chin up lightly and gave me a kiss filled with love.
He slowly led me out of the nursery, closing the door silently. He then turned around and looked at me with bright eyes; in an instant he was carrying me towards our bedroom. He kicked the door closed and almost ran over to the bed, laying me down gently. In one quick motion he was shirtless and on top of me. "Rupert, we just agreed on waiting to have more children!" I said as I caressed his face.
"I just want to make love with you now - not children!" He stated.
He slowly placed his lips on mine, pressing lightly at first and then a little harder. When I felt the pressure increase, I put my arms around his neck and opened my mouth to his. I slowly let my tongue run over his bottom lip, causing him to breathe in sharply, sucking out all of my air. Once I was able to breathe again, I deepened the kiss. Rupert followed my lead and slowly started unbuttoning my blouse, occasionally letting his hand run down over my lower body. I moaned a little with each caress. I felt his hand running over my exposed skin and under the material still covering my shoulders. He slowly pushed it down as I lifted in an effort to help him strip the blouse off of my body to give him better access.
I don't really remember what happened after that…it felt as though seconds later, we were both nude and fondling each other. Rupert rose a little and pressed his knee in between my legs and I willingly spread them for him. He quickly moved to settle himself and I instantly felt his length press at my centre, causing me to whimper for him to enter. He knew me well and recognized the sound. He pressed forward and I arched my back to allow him to enter fully. His hands were on my breasts, massaging them gently while setting a slow and sensual rhythm. He stroked his manhood back and forth between my slick folds. As my groaning and panting increased in both speed and volume, he quickened his pace and soon we both hit our climaxes. I hugged him tightly and stroked his back gently while he kissed my shoulder.
And then…I started laughing.
"What is it?" He questioned me with a puzzled look.
"Nothing - I was just thinking about what I will do to you if I find myself pregnant after this!" I laughed.
"Oh…and what would you do to me?" He asked curiously.
"I think I will have to hurt you badly!" I tried.
"Oh would you now? You and what army?" He laughed at me.
"MY army!" I stated firmly.
"For the record, darling, that is OUR army; and you can only get them to help you because you look better in a skirt than I do!" He bent down and kissed me.
Despite the fact that we do not want any more children right now, we have had more intimate moments and shared passion than we've had in a long, long time. That changed, however, after we were both scared to death about a month ago…
We were making an official appearance…the first one since the christening. In celebration of the birth of a royal heir and her first grandson, the Queen had a park built and named in Pierre's honour. All three of us were there for the official public opening.
"I hereby declare this park 'La Roche' as opened!" The Queen said and cut the red silk ribbon on the gate. The public cheered; some ran into the park from the side of the official opening. The other end of the park was already opened and filled with people. We entered slowly with Pierre in the stroller.
We were walking through the beautiful park when suddenly a woman interrupted our peace. "RUPERT, DON'T YOU WALK AWAY FROM ME!" The woman screamed from the top of her lungs.
I looked at Rupert, confused; he lovingly put his arm around me and softly told the guards to just ignore her. "Rupert, who is that woman?" I asked…confused this time since my look didn't get my point across.
"That is…..Belinda; she has been harassing my parents and me for years now." He calmly said.
"And Belinda is who?" I asked again
"Belinda is this woman who has been determined, like the Von Troken family, to become a royal. She was about sixteen years of age when I was born. She immediately approached my father and told him that when I was old enough, she would be ready to become my wife. Of course, my father politely turned her down. I think she may be the main reason that our postal service still exists – she has sent a letter each day to the palace, addressed to my father, mother or myself to offer her hand in marriage." He paused for a moment to let that knowledge sink in for me.
"After our marriage, which she was banned from so there would be no way for her to interrupt; she has sent a letter a week. Those letters, however have been confiscated ever since the first letter was opened because of their contents. Every time I make an appearance in public, she yells at me. No need to worry darling, I love you and will never leave you." He shared and kissed me softly on the cheek.
"Oh poor woman." I said inaudibly.
We had walked a little further when this Belinda-woman suddenly came running full force towards us. She ran as though her skirt was on fire. She ran past us, grabbing my darling Pierre on her way. In a blink of an eye, away she went with my son. I started screaming as the guards chased after her; I was so hysterical I couldn't stand. Rupert held on to me while barking out orders to all those around us. I cried in his arms as he rocked me back and forth, hoping to soon hear the whistles of the guards. As if on cue, the whistles were heard and I started running, my long skirt flying around my legs. I still don't know how I managed to get to the lake without tripping, but I got there faster than my usually very athletic husband and even faster than my bodyguard Jacob.
I stopped in my tracks when I saw her…out in the middle of the cold lake…with my little crying son in her arms. "STAY WHERE YOU ARE OR I'LL DROP HIM!" She screamed
A moment later Rupert came running up beside me, with Jacob and Eric in tow, "Now Belinda, we can talk this over. There is no need to harm my son." Rupert said as calmly as possible.
"OH RUPERT, WHY DIDN'T YOU MARRY ME INSTEAD OF THAT TART? I WAS WILLING FROM THE DAY YOU WERE BORN; SHE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE HALF THE CLASS OF WHAT I HAVE!" She loudly asked.
"Belinda, do you believe in love? Do you believe in love at first sight?" Rupert asked calmly
"Yes Rupert, yes I do. I know that we will be happy together; and I will try and love this bastard as if he were my own!" She said in a hyper voice looking down at my son.
"Then you must understand when I tell you that I love Clarisse; I love her more than life itself!" He said lovingly looking at me.
"NO! NO! NO! YOU DON'T LOVE HER - YOU DON'T. YOU LOVE ME! TELL ME YOU LOVE ME OR I WILL DROP HIM!" She threatened.
I saw Joseph walking out in the water slowly and soundlessly behind Belinda. I drew a breath that I held while Rupert, who had also noticed Joseph, kept speaking to her. He was trying to keep her attention away from what was happening behind her. Joseph hadn't even been on duty; he was just jogging in the park when he saw what had happened. He attempted this rescue as if it were the most natural thing.
"Belinda, you are 16 years older than me; we would never be happy." Rupert said.
"I WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY RUPERT; YOU ARE ALL I THINK ABOUT ALL DAY. I WILL BE A GOOD QUEEN FOR YOU. WHAT DOES SHE KNOW? SHE HAS DONE MORE DAMAGE TO THE THRONE THAN GOOD." She yelled and almost dropped Pierre into the cold water. With that slip, everyone made a shocked sound causing Joseph to stop dead in his tracks.
"Belinda, you know as well as I do that Clarisse has given the throne the best it could ever wish for…a male heir." He said smiling hoping to get Belinda to yell some more so Joseph could get closer.
"I WILL GIVE YOU THAT! I WILL GIVE YOU ANYTHING YOU WANT - ANYTHING. YOU DON'T NEED HER…YOU NEED ME, ME,ME……AAARRRGGGHHHH!" She screamed as Joseph grabbed Pierre from her and started moving away as fast as the water would let him. I started running around the lake in an effort to reach the other side as soon as possible so I would be able to hold my son in my arms again. Rupert followed closely behind. I think the other guards took care of Belinda, who was in complete distress by this time. I also think I recall her shouting, "I love you, Rupert!" all the way from the park.
Joseph handed me a crying Pierre as soon as he reached me. I was crying hysterics of joy by this time. Rupert was holding us and I kept saying, "Thank you, thank you, thank you" to Joseph. Once Pierre had relaxed in my arms, I handed him to Rupert and wound my arms around Joseph's neck, hugging him. In the middle of my joy, I gave him a kiss. I didn't realize what I had done until the next day when I saw a picture of it in the paper. Strangely, I couldn't really remember the kiss; but I remember the Queen's displeasure with my action. I didn't care, however, as what was most important to me, and to Rupert, was that this man had saved our little boy. As a result, he deserved every single form of gratitude I, or we, could give him.
So thanks to Joseph and a little luck, we still have our beautiful, healthy baby boy. We love him even more now, if that is possible. The King had, the beautiful snake, as he described Belinda put in a mental institution. It is our hope that we will never see or hear from her again. I have a meeting with Joseph in a few hours at which time I must ask him why he did this. He saved my darling Pierre, even when he wasn't on duty. I don't think I could live if something had happened to Pierre and I will forever be grateful to Joseph for his actions on that fateful day.
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Just a little info the park is named La Roche, which mean a rock which is the meaning of the name Pierre. And the crazy woman's name Belinda really does mean Beautiful snake.
Again thank you for reading till the end hope you enjoyed, please take the two minutes it take
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