A/N: Hello everyone, I just want to say a quick 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 Chelsietx, guest and bee-327 for taking the time to leave me such wonderful reviews. Thank you so very much, I really do appreciate them and your continued support!

Here's the next chapter for you all now… which, by the way, is rated M for the small scene of violence included in this chapter.

By the time Lord Durand had finished his fourth story about himself, Clarisse was bored. They had only finished dinner a short time ago, and so far, he hadn't stopped talking about himself. Yes, her life was widely known, given she was the Queen, but not once had he stopped to ask her about herself. About her sons. Which to Clarisse was a no-go. A great big cross through his file.

Because at the end of the day, whoever she picked to be 'the one' had to show an interest in her sons, too. They would, after all, be their stepfather. It was important to her that she was making the right decision when bringing someone new into the family. And if he couldn't even ask her about them, take an interest in what they do, what they like, then Clarisse wasn't interested in having him as her husband.

And, not only that, she had noticed that he liked a drink. Like his stories, he had just polished off his fourth glass of champagne while she was still on her first. It was a red flag and reminded her of her first husband, and she wasn't prepared to go through another marriage like that. Being married to a man who wasn't remotely interested in her or her sons, but liked a drink and a gamble.

"Did I tell you about the time I attended a charity ball in London? I can't remember," Lord Durand slurred while raising his empty glass and looked towards the butler standing at the entrance of the pavilion. "May I have another drink, please?"

'Oh no,' Clarisse thought and shook her head. She wasn't prepared to sit through another self obsessed story. She had to put an end to the night, and she had to do it now. "Actually Lord Durand," she suddenly exclaimed and had to stifle a laugh as he jumped and looked across the table at her. "I'm actually feeling rather tired, and I need to be up super early in the morning."

"Oh no, already?" Lord Durand said, somewhat disappointedly and nodded while putting his glass back down on the table before looking back up at her. "That's a shame, we were having such a great night. Weren't we?"

"Oh sure, but you know how it is," Clarisse said as she reached out for her glass and drank the last little bit of her champagne before placing her now empty glass back down on the table and getting to her feet. "Come on, I'll walk with you back to the Palace."

"Okay," Lord Durand nodded and slowly got to his feet as she walked over to her butler to thank him for serving them this evening. "You know," he said and watched her turn to him as he unsteadily made his way over to her, "I have always liked you. I always thought you were beautiful."

"Oh," she laughed and carefully stepped down the two steps leading to the pathway before turning back to him. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Your Majesty," he replied and carefully followed her down the steps until he was standing beside her. "You were too good for Rupert. He didn't deserve you."

"Well Lord Durand, you're not the first person to tell me that and I'm pretty certain that you won't be the last," Clarisse said and clasped her hands together in front of her as they began to walk slowly along the path together, "but he isn't here anymore."

"No he's not, and you're in need of a new husband now," Lord Durand smirked smugly as he reached his hand out onto her back and brazenly smoothed it down lower.

"Yes I am," Clarisse nodded and glanced around the area in front of her. She knew Joseph would be close by and wouldn't let anything happen to her if he were to try anything. But she couldn't help but feel a little uneasy at how close he was getting. At the feel of his hand now on her lower back. "Well, thank you again for coming and spending time with me this evening. It's been great putting a face to a name."

"Oh, it was my pleasure," Lord Durand said, coming to a stop and watching her take a few more steps before stopping and turning to him. "Honestly I have had a wonderful night, and I hope that you have to?"

"Oh yes," she lied, of course. Truth be told, however, she had hated every minute of it and couldn't wait for him to leave. There was no second date or marriage for him. "Come, the car will be waiting to take you home," she said, trying to usher him along.

"Wait a minute, there's something I wanted to ask you first," Lord Durand said as he stepped unsteadily in front of her and reached his hands out onto her sides. "How do you feel about sleeping with someone on the first date?" He asked her quietly.

"Lord Durand, if that's what you are expecting from me this evening, then I am sorry to disappoint you but I am not that kind of person," Clarisse exclaimed, her hands instinctively going to his wrists, to try and push his hands away from her. But his grasp on her waist was far too strong for her. She was powerless compared to him holding her against his tall frame.

"You do not touch her," Joseph exclaimed as he ran out of the shadows towards them and watched as Lord Durand removed his hands from her waist and held them up in the air. "Are you okay?" He asked, standing now between them and looking at Clarisse as she brushed her hands down over the bottom of her jacket. To straighten it out.

"Yes, I'm fine," she nodded and looked at him. When seeing movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. "Joseph, watch out," she exclaimed, trying to warn him, as her hands flew up to frame her face in them. But it was too late.

Lord Durand's fist punched hard into Joseph's face, knocking him sideways into Clarisse and sending her flying onto her back on the patch of grass behind her and winding her. "No one tells me what to do," he raged, his fists still clenched as Joseph stood dazed a moment with his hand up on his face.

Turning his head, Joseph glared at the Lord. "And no one punches me and gets away with it," he snapped angrily and darted towards him.

"Joseph, he's not worth it," Clarisse exclaimed breathlessly, putting one hand up onto her chest as she used her other hand to slowly push herself up and watched as Joseph tackled the Lord to the floor before grabbing his radio from his belt.

"Security, the pavilion NOW!" Joseph snapped into the radio and looked down at the Lord as began to mumble angrily while trying to get to his feet. "I don't think so," he exclaimed and knocked him out cold.

Watching him, her hand still pressed against her chest, Clarisse found herself taking her bottom lip between her teeth. He had protected her against so many men, even her husband on occasion, over the years, but this time was different. It felt different. There was something different about him. She didn't know what it was. He was just different, and she felt different watching him be so protective of her, too. And since she was so lost in thought, trying to figure out what was different about him. She didn't even notice that he'd moved to stand in front of her until he spoke her name.

"Clarisse?" Joseph said softly and offered her his hands to help her up as she first looked up at him, then down at his hands.

"Thank you," Clarisse said, a blush creeping fast over her features as she took hold of his hands and allowed herself to be pulled up from where she had been sitting on the grass after being knocked over.

"It's okay," Joseph nodded, absentmindedly holding onto her hands a moment longer than he should have. It was only as other members of his security team began to appear that he realised he still had hold of them. "Are you okay?" He asked, concerned, and pulled his hands free from hers. "Did you get hurt?"

"No, only winded," Clarisse said with a small shake of her head.

"What happened, boss?" Lars, one of the security guards who had responded to Joseph's call for help over the radio, asked as he looked down at Lord Durand still lying out cold on the floor in front of them.

"Nothing that he won't remember in the morning," Joseph said as he turned to his team. "When he comes round, can you escort him from the grounds?"

"Of course, boss," nodded Lars and other members of the security team.

"And under no circumstances is he to be left alone, do I make myself clear?" Joseph snapped.

"Of course," Lars nodded again and watched as Joseph turned to the Queen, who was stood now with her arms folded beside him.

"Come on, let's get you back inside and up to your suite where I know it's safe," Joseph said softly and gestured towards the pathway.

"Not until I have personally got some ice for that eye and your hand," Clarisse said, unfolding her arms, and watched as he shook his head.

"I'll be fine, honestly," Joseph said as they began to walk together along the path.

"That may be, but I wouldn't be much of a good friend if I didn't help you, would I?" Clarisse said as she turned her head to look at him with a small smile.

Knowing he had lost this one, Joseph nodded. "Very well, but then it's straight up to your suite."

"Yes, boss," Clarisse teased, and he laughed with a small shake of his head.

"Come on," he said, smiling at her and placing his hand on her back as they continued to make their way back to the Palace together.