A/N: Hey everyone! Thank you to you all for reading the latest chapter (and all previous chapters if you've just discovered this story) and an even bigger thank you to DW.618, Chelsietx, bee-327, Mari (guest), guest, ClarisseMarie and guest for taking the time to leave me wonderful reviews. Thank you so very much, I really do appreciate it!

Here's the next chapter for you all now, enjoy…

Standing guard by the main door of the Queen's suite that evening, Joseph's heart began to race as he watched her emerge from her bedroom and walk slowly across the room towards him while fixing her earring. She looked breathtakingly beautiful, as she always did, wearing a light blue pencil dress that just skimmed the top of her knees, hugging the curve of her bottom and hips oh so perfectly, with a matching peplum jacket and a pair of heeled court shoes. While her hair was twisted up into a french twist like how she had it the previous night, a style he absolutely loved on her.

Anyone would think she was going to a meeting dressed up like that, but not tonight. She was actually having a last-minute dinner out at the pavilion with Lord Louis Durand, one of the potential suitors on the list that Charlotte had put together for her. He seems a nice enough man, and they have a few things in common. However, she really wished she wasn't meeting with him tonight. She would much rather be curled up in bed with a nice cup of hot chocolate and have an early night.

"I could have done without this dinner tonight," Clarisse said as she stopped a few feet away from her friend and turned to the mirror on the wall. "I have had a banging headache all day that just doesn't seem to want to go."

"Have you taken anything for it?" Joseph asked while turning to face her and leant against the frame of the door, with his hands clasped together behind his back, as she turned her head to glance at him before looking back in the mirror.

"Of course I have. All day I have been taking painkillers but because I'm over tired after not sleeping last night and stressed with everything going on they don't seem to be working. Not fully," Clarisse said while turning her head from side to side, to check she looked okay in the mirror. "They seem to only be taking the edge off it."

"A good night sleep will fix it, I'm sure," Joseph nodded, watching her most intently. She always prided herself on her appearance and was rarely ever seen with a hair out of place.

"Hmm I'm sure it would, and I'd love nothing more than to be able to go to bed and sleep," she said before turning to him with a sigh. "But unfortunately for me, having an early night won't find me a husband."

"Ah, yes. There is that," Joseph said and watched as she held her arms out at her sides for a brief second before letting them fall back down.

"Anyway, how do I look?" She asked anxiously and studied her best friend. "I didn't want to wear anything too revealing, but at the same time wasn't really sure if this outfit was suitable for this evening or not."

"No, it's just right," Joseph said, giving her a small smile as she looked down at herself. "Especially since it's your first meeting."

"That's what I thought," she said and looked back up at him, "however, it's not too formal, is it?"

"No, of course not," he said honestly and watched her take a deep breath with a small nod. "You look just perfect."

"Thank you," Clarisse smiled, and he bowed his head in acknowledgement. "I knew I could count on you to give me an honest answer."

"Always," he nodded and smiled. "Ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be," Clarisse said and pressed a hand to her knotted stomach as he, her trusted best friend, turned to open her suite door. "Will you walk with me to the pavilion?"

"Of course, if that's what you want," Joseph nodded as she began to lead the way out of the room before turning to look at him once she was out in the hallway and watched as he followed behind.

"Thank you," she said as he closed the door behind them and turned to her.

"You don't have to thank me. It's what friends are for, right?" He smiled and offered her his arm.

"Yes it is," Clarisse smiled and happily linked her arm with his as they began to make their way through the hallway towards the stairs leading down to the ballroom together. "You're awfully quiet this evening. Are you okay?"

"Yes," Joseph nodded and turned his head to briefly look at her. "It's just been a long day." He lied of course. He couldn't tell her the real reason why he was quiet. He couldn't tell her how he wished she was having dinner with him. Or, how much he wanted to ask her to marry him.

"Yes it has been a very long day, I agree. And, I can't wait for it to be over," Clarisse said as she turned her head to look at him.

"Me neither," Joseph nodded in agreement.

"Now, are you sure that I look okay?" She asked nervously.

"Of course," Joseph nodded as he turned his head to look back at her. "You look very beautiful." Now that wasn't a lie. She was, after all, the most beautiful woman in the world to him and he loved when he got to tell her so. When he got to tell her that she looked beautiful.

"Thank you," Clarisse smiled as they reached the top of the curved staircase to find her mother stood at the bottom of them. "Mother?" She said in surprise and let go of his arm while her other hand reached out for the banister.

"Ah, there you are," Béatrice smiled as she turned to them, now making their way down the stairs towards her. "I was waiting to wish you good luck with your dinner tonight."

"I'll wait outside for you," Joseph said as he reached his hand out, briefly placing it on the Queen's back as they stepped from the last step and turned their heads to look at one another.

"Alright, thank you," Clarisse nodded and watched him walk out of the french doors before turning her attention to her mother.

"Wow, don't you look great," Béatrice smiled with a small nod as she walked towards her daughter standing at the bottom of the stairs and extended her hands out in front of her. "However, you wouldn't have to go through any of this if you were to only open your eyes and see what's right there in front of you."

"What do you mean?" Clarisse asked as her mother stopped in front of her and took hold of her hands in hers. Holding them close to her.

"Joseph, my dear," Béatrice said, glancing towards the french doors that Joseph had just left through a moment earlier before looking back at her daughter and smiling.

"Oh, not you as well," Clarisse laughed and pulled her hands free. "Pierre and Philippe said the same thing last night, and this morning, actually."

"Great minds think alike," Béatrice smirked and watched as Clarisse folded her arms with a shake of her head. "Honestly dear, why don't you consider him? He's perfect for you. And you might be pleasantly surprised by his answer if only you asked him."

"Because it wouldn't work, I can't ask him to give up his life for me. For us… wait a minute," Clarisse said as she unfolded her arms and slowly lowered them down to her sides while turning her head slightly to the side as she studied her mother a moment. "What do you mean, I might be pleasantly surprised by his answer if only I asked him?"

"Just that, he might surprise you by saying yes," Béatrice smiled and took a step closer to her daughter while reaching her hands out onto the tops of her arms. "Now you don't want to be late for your dinner with Lord, oh what's his name, do you?"

"His name is Lord Louis Durand," Clarisse said and briefly closed her eyes as her mother leant closer and kissed her cheek.

"Oh yes, of course it is," Béatrice smiled as she pulled back and looked into her daughters sparkling blue eyes. So full of love and curiosity. Just like how her fathers used to be.

"Mother, what did you mean?" Clarisse asked as she studied her mother.

"I have to go, check on those cheeky grandsons of mine," Béatrice smiled and patted her daughters arms before making her way past her.

"Mother?" Clarisse exclaimed as she turned to her mother, making her way now up the stairs. "Come back here."

"I can't, I have to go," Béatrice said, hastening up the stairs and onto the landing. "I'll see you in the morning, dear. Have a great night."

"Mother, what did you mean?" Clarisse exclaimed, now feeling slightly frustrated as her mother disappeared out of sight. Sighing, she turned back to the french doors, pressed a hand to her stomach, and took a deep breath before walking over and opening one of the doors.

Turning, Joseph smiled and watched as she stepped outside in front of him. "Everything okay?"

"Yes," Clarisse nodded and closed the door behind herself before watching him offer her his arm once again. "Thank you," she smiled, linking her arm with his.

"You're welcome," Joseph smiled as they began making their way slowly along the pathway leading towards the gardens together.

"I'm actually feeling rather nervous about this dinner," Clarisse said and turned her head to look at him as they walked along. "I never had to do this with Rupert, go on 'dates' together. He was already picked out for me."

"I remember," Joseph nodded and turned his head to look at her. "It's only natural to feel nervous, but you'll start to relax once you start getting to know each other more." He said and looked back on ahead.

"Or after a glass, or two, of champagne," she said, and they both laughed as he turned his head to look back at her. "You will stay in the shadows, won't you?"

"Oh absolutely, I won't be far away, so if you need me, then just shout," Joseph nodded, his gaze remaining on her.

"Thank you," Clarisse said in relief and nodded as she looked on ahead.

When her sons had told her the night before that since she was Queen, she could marry anyone she wanted, she had brushed them off. Told them that marrying Joseph would never work because he wasn't someone considered a suitable husband for a Queen. But the more she thought about it, the more she wondered if she really could marry him?

He wasn't a bad looking man. If she were honest, he was actually rather handsome. He was headstrong, protective, and caring, with impeccable breeding and a long family line dating back generations. Any woman would be lucky to have him by her side. But she had never thought of him in that way before, a potential partner. The one to stand by her side as her husband. They had grown up together, they were best friends. But now she had to find herself a new husband, and after what her sons had said, and now her mother too, she had started to look at him in a different way.

Maybe it would turn out to be quite splendid if they did marry. They already knew each other well, her sons looked up to him and she always felt a calmness in her heart whenever he was around. He may even turn out to be the love of her life. Her longed for soulmate. If only she was brave enough to ask him. To ask him to give up his life to stand by her side as her husband for the rest of their lives. All so she could keep the crown in her family.

"Well, here we are," Joseph said a moment later, pulling Clarisse from her thoughts as they came to stop half way down the path leading to the pavilion and watched as Lord Louis Durand got to his feet. "Remember, shout if you need me," Joseph said and turned to his friend.

"I will, thank you, Joseph," Clarisse nodded and gave him a small smile. If only she was brave enough, she thought as she turned and continued nervously along the path alone.

Standing back, Joseph watched her step up the two steps to the pavilion as her possible suitor moved closer to greet her and kiss the back of her hand. Oh, how he wished it was him that she was having dinner with tonight. But alas, it wasn't, and it never will be. They will never be. Not with their positions. Their class. Their roles. The country would never accept it. Even if she was a Queen and could therefore marry anyone she wanted. They would never accept them. He just had to face it. She was out of bounds for somebody like him.

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