The Following Week.
Stepping out onto his balcony, Pierre sipped his morning coffee before looking around the Palace gardens. As he lowered his cup, he thought about all the happy memories he had with his father. This week had been a long one for everyone, but today is the day they will say their goodbyes.
Taking another sip of his coffee a few moments later, he noticed an early morning rider just coming into view. And as he watched them come to a stop on top of the hill, he realised it was his mother.
"Who's that?" Philippe asked as he stood beside his brother on his balcony.
"Mother," Pierre answered, turning his head to look at him "I imagine she took the route her and father used to love taking together." Turning his head, looking back out at his mother.
"Wow, she's out early." Philippe exclaimed as he watched his mother looking back at the Palace.
"Yes she is, but at least she's out." Pierre said.
"That's true," Philippe nodded "Talking of mother, have you talked with her yet?" Philippe asked, looking at his brother.
"No, I haven't had chance, or seen her much since father died." Pierre answered, shaking his head.
"That's true," Philippe answered in agreement.
"I will have to try later on, as I'm flying home tomorrow so I don't have much time. Even though I don't think today is the best day to bring it up, do you?" Pierre asked, looking at his brother.
"I know." Philippe answered.
After several seconds they both looked back out at their mother and watched as she slowly led her horse into a canter.
Coming into the foyer a while later, Clarisse saw her mother stood waiting for her.
"Mother..." She whispered, hurrying over to her.
"Oh my dear," Victoria said sadly "I'm sorry I couldn't get here before." She said softly as she hugged her daughter.
"It's okay, you're here now." Clarisse said, closing her eyes "And I'm so glad you are."
"Are you looking after yourself?" Victoria asked as they pulled apart.
Nodding, Clarisse looked down as her mother reached up, putting a bit of her hair back behind her ear for her. "The boys are making sure I am eating, and taking care of me, but Beatrice is making it hard.." She whispered, looking up into her eyes.
"How so?" Victoria asked, reaching down to take her daughters hands.
"She doesn't like me, she never has and since she arrived she's made my life hell, mother. When we were arranging Rupert's funeral, she picked everything, even though Rupert told me what he wanted." Clarisse said sadly.
"Did you tell her?" Victoria asked and watched as Clarisse nodded.
"Yes, I did. And all she said was that he's her son, she should know what he liked and would have wanted." Clarisse answered, looking up at her mother as tears filled her eyes.
"Oh, I should have got here earlier, my darling." Victoria said sadly, her heart breaking as she pulled her daughter into her embrace. "I'm so sorry."
"You're here now, I feel a bit stronger." Clarisse said through her tears.
"Yes I am," Victoria nodded.
Later That Morning.
After getting ready in a black knee length dress, with matching knee length jacket, Clarisse slipped on her black heels and made her way over to her scarf rack. As she reached out for one with red roses on it, Pierre appeared in the doorway, and watched as she raised her arms, putting the chosen scarf around her neck.
"Father loved that one," Pierre said softly, half smiling as Clarisse looked over at him.
Looking down, she nodded "Yes he did, he gave it me on our last anniversary together." She said and slowly looked back up at him.
"Oh, is this the one he had made for you?" He asked, walking over to her as she turned to face him.
"Yes, it is." Clarisse nodded and looked up into his eyes. "Is it time?" She asked.
"Nearly," Pierre nodded and watched as she looked back down while closing her eyes. "It will be okay, mother." He said softly and stepped closer, giving her a hug.
"Thank you," Clarisse said a moment later as they stepped apart. Looking up at her son "I know he never told you, or showed it, but your father.. he was proud of you, you know." She said softly and watched as he looked down. "He hated the fact you wanted to become a priest at first, but he came around to the idea. And he.. um.. he did plan on sitting down with you, but then he got sick." Tilting her head a little, she noticed a few tears escaping his eyes "He was so proud of you." She whispered and stepped closer, hugging her son.
"That makes me so happy to hear, mother." He said softly as they pulled apart. "Can we talk later, please?"
Nodding, she reached up and cupped Pierre's cheek. "Of course we can." She nodded, wiping away his stray tears before giving him another hug.
And after a few moments they made their way downstairs, finding everyone waiting for them. When they reached the bottom, Isabella ran over and took hold of her mummys hand as everyone looked on. And seeing Joseph appear in the doorway a few moments later, Clarisse's heart sank.
"It's time, mother." Pierre whispered, putting his hand on her back as she looked at him.
Nodding, she took a deep breath and started leading the way out the door with Isabella at her side, and Pierre and Philippe close behind her. Reaching the back of the horse drawn carriage, she couldn't hold it anymore, she broke down as everyone gathered behind them, ready to walk to the church behind the carriage.
Later That Afternoon.
With her sons in deep conversation with several family members and her daughter playing with her grandmother, and in desperate need for some time alone, Clarisse made her way out of the room, heading towards the stairs.
"Clarisse?" Joseph called and watched as she stopped at the foot of the stairs, slowly turning to face him while putting her hands on the banister.
"Can I not go anywhere without it being noticed?" She said, watching him make his way over to her.
"I just wanted to make sure that you were ok?" He asked, putting his hands on the banister, either side of hers.
"Yes, I just need some time to myself. I will return shortly." Clarisse said, looking down at their hands.
"Rupert would be proud of you today, you're being very brave." He said softly and watched as she slowly looked back up at him.
"With three children and a mother in law who thinks I shouldn't be grieving, I have to be." She said, as Joseph raised his eyebrow at her. Staring at each other momentarily before Clarisse shook her head and started hurrying up the stairs as Joseph turned, watching her.
Reaching her suite, Clarisse slumped back against her door for several moments before walking over to pour herself a whisky. Putting down the bottle and picking up the glass, she slowly made her way over to her french doors where she stood looking out for a moment or two before looking down at the glass in her hands.
"For you," She said, raising her hand a little "Cheers!" She exclaimed and downed the liquid. Lowering her hand, she looked at the glass while pulling a face and putting the back of her hand up against her lips. "Yuck!" She exclaimed, making her way back over to the drinks table as someone came through her door. Seeing it was Beatrice, she stopped and put the glass down slowly.
"I want a word with you," Beatrice snapped, pushing the door closed.
"Okay." Clarisse said slowly and calmly, moving to sit on the couch. Tucking her foot behind her ankle, being as regal as she could while looking up at her mother in law as she moved around the room.
"Firstly, what is that man doing back here?" She exclaimed.
"What man?" Clarisse asked, watching her stop behind the arm chair.
"That man, that bodyguard.. Joseph, whatever his name is." Beatrice said while placing her hands on the back of the arm chair.
"Joseph is back here under Rupert's orders, he sent for him last week." Clarisse answered.
"I find that very hard to believe, why would he want that man back here after he slept with his wife, on your anniversary none the less!" Beatrice snapped and watched as Clarisse sat open mouthed at her "Yes, you didn't think I knew about that, did you?" She said, moving around the room again.
"That is none of your business, what happened between me and Joseph has nothing to do with you." Clarisse snapped.
"When it involves my son, it has everything to do with me." Beatrice said, glaring over at her daughter in law.
"I know you have never liked me, and told Rupert that he could do better than me but we loved each other very much, why else do you think we stayed together all these years?" Clarisse answered, trying to remain calm.
"Love? You don't even know the meaning of the word!" Beatrice snapped and watched as Clarisse stood to her feet.
"How dare you!" Came a voice from the doorway, causing both the women to look towards them.
"This has nothing to do with you, Pierre. Please go back downstairs." Beatrice said, walking over to her grandson.
"You may be my grandmother, but I am not going to let you talk to my mother like that." He said, looking at his grandmother.
"Pierre, it's okay. You can go back down and I will be there shortly." Clarisse said, watching them both look over at her.
"No way, I'm not walking away. I have stood back for long enough, I'm not taking this anymore." Pierre said and looked back at his grandmother. "Yes she cheated, but my parents put it behind them and moved on, just like they did when father cheated on mother all those years ago. But no matter what they went through, they got through it together, and they loved each other very much, even though you find that hard to believe." He exclaimed as Clarisse slowly sat back down in shock. "All week you have been putting my mother down, she knew what father wanted, not only because he told her but because she was his wife and knew his likes, and dislikes more than anyone else. And as for Joseph, you no nothing about him so don't dis him like you do. He's a good man, and would do anything for this family, and one day we hope that he and mother will be together." He said, looking over at his mother as she sat surprised at his words.
"I beg your pardon, they will never be together." Beatrice exclaimed. "I won't allow it!"
"Even if it was fathers wishes?" Pierre said, watching his grandmother shake her head.
"I don't believe for one second that he would want that," She said glaring over at her daughter in law momentarily.
"He loved mother very much, grandmother. So much so that he doesn't want her to remain alone for the rest of her life, it's his wishes." He said and took an envelope from his inside pocket "This letter is for you, it's from father. It explains everything." He said, handing it to her. "He wants mother to be happy, and he knows that Joseph will do that as well as protecting her, us, his family." He said and watched as Beatrice looked down at the envelope in her hands before looking up at them. "Hopefully when the time is right they will be together, and you can't do anything to stop them." He added and watched as she walked out.
"Pierre?" Clarisse began and slowly stood up "You know?" She asked, her heart sinking as he walked over to her.
"I do, Philippe knows too." He nodded while taking her hands "This is what I wanted to talk to you about, I just didn't plan on it coming out like this." He said, watching her as she looked down. "Father explained everything to us, and even though it was hard to hear him talking about it we accept it, because we all agreed you need to move on when the time is right and be happy again."
"But, I.." She began while shaking her head a little and looked up at him "I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything, mother." He said, giving her a hug as she closed her eyes "We just want you to be happy, and if that means being with Joseph, the man who has loved you for so so long then so be it." He said, pulling back to look at his mother "Philippe and I support you, and just want you to be happy." He said and kissed her forehead. "We love you, mother."
"I love you too, so so much." Clarisse said and watched as Pierre stepped back.
"Now, are you going to be ok?" He asked "I best go and check back downstairs, make sure Philippe and Isabella are ok. As well as Joseph, of course." He said, giving her a small smile.
"I will be fine, thank you, darling." Clarisse said, watching him walk over to the door.
"Please don't rush, take as much time as you need." Pierre said, giving her a small smile "We all understand, it is a hard day after all."
"Thank you, darling." Clarisse nodded, wrapping her arms around herself and watched as he nodded before walking out.
Moving, Clarisse sat down on the window seat, looking out at the gardens as she thought over everything.
Early Evening.
Making his way towards the gazebo, Joseph stopped and watched as Clarisse took a sip of her wine before leaning forward and resting her arm back across her leg. Nodding slightly, he continued on up to her, and upon seeing him she sat up straight.
"Please, stay as you were." He said, walking over and sat down beside her.
"It's very unwomanly of me to be sat like that," She said and took a sip of her wine before looking at him beside her.
"It doesn't matter to me, if you are comfortable like that, then please by all means sit like that." He said and watched as she lent forward and rested her arm across her legs once again. "You have always liked it out here, haven't you?"
"I do," She nodded and looked down "When Rupert became sick I couldn't get out here every night, and I missed it. So it does feel good being back out here, after all that time." She said and slumped back. "It's been a long day, I'll be glad when it's over." She said sadly, looking at her glass as she rested it on her thigh.
"I know," Joseph nodded, watching her.
"Pierre and Philippe know about us and what happened, Rupert told them everything." She said a moment later, and looked at him as he sat forward, resting his arms on his knees.
"I see." He nodded slightly, looking back at her a moment later "And how do you feel about that?" He asked, looking back over at the Palace.
"Shocked, surprised.. but I guess relieved at the same time." She said, raising her glass to take a sip.
"Why relieved?" He asked, looking back at her.
"Well that they know now," She said leaning forward once again "They also think we should be together, that's the biggest shock that they agreed with their father."
"I see," He said, watching her as she looked down "And how do you feel about that?" He asked, unable to take his eyes from her.
"Well hearing my son saying that today, of all days was hard. But they want me to be happy, what can I say to that?" She said, looking up at the Palace. "But it's not as easy as that." She said sadly "The boys are old enough to understand everything that's going on, but Isabella isn't. She's far too young to understand and I must put her before anyone else," She began and looked back at Joseph "I must take care of my family and attend to my duty before I can even think of commiting to someone else."
Studying her face, he found himself nodding as she looked back at the Palace as she stood to her feet "I understand."
"It's not that I don't love you," She said, making her way over to the two steps leading down to the garden "But I must do this." She said and turned back to him as he nodded "I'm sorry." She whispered and walked away, leaving him sat in the gazebo.