Chapter 2:
Clarisse lay on her bed with the sheet covering her body and arms pressing it down either side trying to get her head around what just happened. Suddenly she was drawn from her thoughts as she felt movement next to her.
"mmmm, you look delicious laying there like that" Rupert smiled and placed a kiss on her shoulder "you no, in the silence I have been thinking"
"oh yes" Clarisse smiled turning her head to look at him "what about?" she asked curious
"well" he started as he raised himself up onto his elbow "as we are starting again, why don't we start sharing a bedroom?" he saw the look on her face "whats wrong?"
"nothing" she said shaking her head "it's just it took me by surprise, I have never shared a room with anyone, well only my sister when we was younger but never a man and yes we shared a bed a few times at the start of our marriage" she said looking at him as he placed his hand on her tummy "but you never stayed in my bed, you always went back to your own"
he nodded in agreement "well why don't we change that" he said kissing her shoulder again "I think after 25 years of marriage its about time we changed it"
Clarisse thought a second as he started kissing her chest "can I at least have a few day's to think about it? this is a big thing to think about after all?"
He nodded and looked into her eyes "that is fine" he smiled and kissed her as he moved his hand to her hip "you smell nice" he smirked
"thank you" she giggled as he gently tickled her a little
"you're welcome" he smiled snuggling up to her "I wonder what the boys will say when they find out we are trying again?" he said closing his eyes
"well do they even have to know?" Clarisse asked placing her hands on his arm that covered her body
"I think they might know something is going on, they are clever and will soon put two and two together" he smiled against her shoulder
"true" she sighed a little "I am sure that they will be fine about it, I mean we are their parent's after all" she said closing her eyes a moment, thinking about it.
"I agree" he nodded and continued to lay with her for a few minutes then slowly lifted his head, checking the time "Risse?" he asked "are you a sleep?"
"mmm, no" she whispered slowly opening her eyes and looked at him "what's wrong?"
"I have to go in a minute" he whispered back "promise you will think about the moving in together?" Clarisse couldn't help but laugh "what's so funny?" he asked
"moving in together? we already live together" she chuckled "I know what you meant though and I promise to think about it" she smiled as he moved his head closer and kissed her a couple times
"thank you" he whispered between kisses and pushing the sheet of
Clarisse sat up as he climbed of the bed, the sheets barely covering her "I thought we was going to spend the afternoon together? that's why you cleared my day wasn't it?" she asked confused watching him as he got dressed
"well I cleared it for you to relax a little this afternoon" he said pulling on his trousers
"ahh ok" Clarisse replied still watching him "Rupert?" she said as he done the zip up on his trousers and smiled when he looked at her
"you look delicious like that" he smiled walking over and kissed her
"thank you" she smiled "I have been thinking" she smiled as he raised an eyebrow at her "and I think we should give this living together thing a go"
"really?" Rupert said with a grin
"yes, really" Clarisse smiled "it may be fun" she said looking up at him as he tried to do his tie "here let me" she said moving and knelt in front of him "you and ties don't mix, do they?" she asked as he watched the sheet fall down completely in front of her
"no we don't" he said still looking down at her body as she knelt naked in front of him "I wish I didn't have to go"
"I wish you didn't either" she said finishing the tie for him then patted his chest "all done" she smiled and sat back on her legs as he took her hands "what time will you be back later?" watching him as he kissed her fingers
"oh I won't be leaving the Palace, I have a meeting here this afternoon" he smiled taking in her beautiful body as she sat in front of him, he couldn't help but wrap his arms around her and kiss her deeply for a few minutes then looked into her eyes "I really need to go" he kissed her a couple times then stood back
"I will see you later then?" she asked
"of course" he winked at her as she smiled at him and he left the room, shutting the door behind him.
She fell back onto the bed with a deep sigh, laying still for a few minutes. After which she got up and sorted something bright and wavy out to wear before grabbing a quick shower, after she was ready she headed back into her bedroom to find the bed had been made and a single red rose lay on her pillow. She smiled walking over to see a small note attached "for you, my love. Love R x" she read to herself then smiled smelling the rose before placing it back on her pillow.
After she slipped on her shoes she headed downstairs to face the music, when she reached the bottom she was surprised to see her eldest Son stood in the hall way watching her come down the stairs.
"Afternoon, Mother" Pierre smiled walking to meet her and gave her a warm hug
"Afternoon Pierre" she smiled as they stepped apart
"you look amazing" he said holding onto her hands and checked the dress "ahh is this the dress Philippe and Helen was talking about?" he asked letting go of her hands
"it is indeed, Amelia picked it out" she smiled looking down at the dress for a second then back at him "she may only be two months old but she has perfect taste, don't you think?" she beamed
"of course" he smiled "she gets that from you, clearly" they both chuckled
"what are you doing here anyway?" She asked
"what can't a Son drop in from time to time to see his parents?" he chuckled
"of course, it's just we don't normally see you this early in the day" Clarisse replied
"well I just dropped in actually to see how my friend was getting on today?" Pierre smiled looking at a maid coming in the door then looked back at Clarisse
"Friend?" Clarisse asked
"yeah, Charlotte" he smiled "I was coming back to see you and Father later" he smiled
"Oh Charlotte's your friend? I never knew that" Clarisse thought a second "and she never said anything this morning" she said looking at him "and by friend you mean?" she asked cheekily putting her hands together in front of her
"She's just a friend, Mother" he answered with a chuckle "we went to school together"
"ahh of course" she nodded "well a Mother can hope" she smirked "do you have time for a walk? there is somethings I wish to talk to you about?"
"of course, I always have time for you" Pierre replied with a smile and held out his arm for her
"thank you" she smiled taking his arm and they started heading out to the gardens
"there is somethings I wanted to talk to you about also" he said looking at her
"oh really, like what?" she asked watching her footing as they walked down the stairs to the garden
"well when I saw Father earlier" he said looking at her as she lifted her head and looked ahead "he said something that amazed me" he said looking ahead as they started walking across the grass
"and what was that, what amazed you so?" she asked looking at him as he kept his gaze ahead then she too looked ahead
"that you two was trying again?" he asked looking at her as she stopped in her tracks "not that we would mind of course, you are our parents and want nothing more for the both of you to be happy" Pierre said watching as she started walking again as Clarisse kept silent "Mother?"
"hmm" she said looking at him "yes?"
"whats wrong?" Pierre asked
"it is true, we are trying again" she answered looking at him as they continued walking "well we celebrated 25 years of marriage yesterday, and we all know that he wasn't my first love, we was forced to marry when I was 17 because I was betrothed to him of course" she said looking down as they walked "we ain't getting any younger and we both wanted a bit of romance back in our life's, so we decided to have another try" she said looking at him "if it doesn't work out, then people can't say we didn't try" she whispered
"what do you mean?" Pierre asked looking at her as she continued to look at him "you mean, divorce?" he asked as Clarisse nodded "oh"
"I don't want it to come to that as when he's in the right mood and treats me well I do love him, he gave me two very beautiful Sons" she squeezed his arm a little with a smile "I would never change my past, I have been living a dream after all" she said as they came to a bench and both sat down
"are you happy though Mother? because I hate to see you unhappy" he said with a sigh "like I have most of my life" he whispered looking at her
"oh darling" she reached her hand over and cupped his cheek "I am happy, at the moment" she smiled as he put his hand up onto hers "besides you don't have to worry about me, as I may be sad for a day or two but I will get by with the love of my Sons and adorable Granddaughter I will get by just fine" she smiled at him as she lowered her hand and took hold of his "I promise" she smiled at him
"ok" he nodded and lent forward to give her a hug "we love you, Mother" he said wrapping his arms around her and rubbed her back "oh by the way" he looked at her "you look amazing for 42" he smirked
"why thank you, I love you both too" she smiled as they sat back "now then, tell me what's new with you?" she smiled crossing her legs, her Royal way with a bright smile
Pierre couldn't help but laugh at his Mothers laugh whenever she got going, he was happy to make her laugh whenever he could and loved spending time with her when he could. He watched as she continued to laugh, then he noticed someone running over towards them.
"oh dear, what's happening now" he said standing up "Mother"
stopping herself from laughing "what?" Clarisse said looking at him then followed his gaze to the guard running over to them "what's going on?" she asked standing up
"I don't know" he looked at her for a second then back at the guard as he reached them "what in heavens is going on?" Pierre asked as he made eye contact with the guard
"You both need to come back to the Palace, His Royal Highness needs to talk to you right away" replied the puffing guard
"what's going on?" asked Clarisse
"just please come back to the Palace, Your Majesty" he simply replied
"not until you tell me what's going" Clarisse replied firmly while folding her arms
"well?" asked Pierre standing close to Clarisse and saw something in his eyes
the guard took a deep breath "it's Philippe" he said looking at Pierre then Clarisse
Something in Pierre snapped knowing without words and found himself running of towards the Palace. The guard looked at Clarisse as she slipped of her shoes and ran after him the guard following.
After a short distance Clarisse came to a stop in the door way to the hall, her eyes clapping Pierre as he sobbed on his knees "whats going on" She demanded as Rupert looked up at her tears in his eyes "Rupert?" she asked getting scared
"He's dead" Rupert whispered as tears escaped his eyes "Philippe's dead" he said again