Disclaimer: I do not own PD and/or its characters. They belong to Meg Cabot and Disney. I am responsible for the following storyline only.

Unmasking an Heir

Chapter 1

"AH, Viscount Mabrey, welcome. Please have a seat. Can I offer you a drink?"
"No, no that's not necessary," he said, placing a kiss on her hand a little longer than she would have liked. "I have a proposition I'd like to discuss with you in private, You Majesty."

"Oh, very well. Charlotte, would you see to it that I'm not disturbed please," excusing Charlotte, while at the same time relating a 'make sure you don't leave me alone for too long' look at her. Charlotte smiles directly at her, and with a small nod closes the door behind her.

"About this proposition, what exactly are you speaking of?"

"Your Majesty, I, like you, am very concerned about my country. I like to know that it will always be in good hands. You announced to Parliament that your granddaughter will be able to succeed you, in a matter of years. Yes, but Your Majesty, I know differently."

"What are you getting at?" Clarisse, clearly annoyed, sat across from him.

"I have done a little research. Surely you can understand why. This heir of yours, is not even a true Genovian."

"Mabrey, get on with it."
"Ah, that's what I like about you Clarisse, no beating around the bush. You don't mind me calling you Clarisse, now do you? After all, I believe you and I are going to get to know one another very well. You may call me Arthur."

"Mabrey, what is all this about?"
"It seems there is a problem with your heir, Clarisse. Nothing you and I together can't handle, however."
"Problem, what problem? I know she's young..."

"She's not a Renaldi."

"What? What do you mean she's not a Renaldi? She's Philip's daughter, and I assure you HE was a Renaldi."

"As much as I would like to question that, I will not. The presence of a certain security guard brings to mind many questions. However, I do not wish to ruin your reputation."

"How dare you..."

"It seems that this woman, Helen, was raped, and the question remains of who the father is to your granddaughter."

"What? I've never heard of this."
"It's true. Ask her. Find out for yourself. Your son married her anyway, and took the child to be his own."

Clarisse sat flaberghasted. He noticed her turn pale.

"Clarisse, should I have someone get you something?"
"No, no I'll be alright. How do you know all this?"

"Like I said, I was doing a little research. Actually I wanted to get something on your son, you see. Anything to keep the Renaldi bloodline away from the throne. He was, however, very noble it seems. Alot like you, he must have been. Coming across this bit of information was actually an accident. I thought alot about it, and decided to help you."
"Help me, why? Why do you want to help me? You wanted something to ruin my family, now why is it you want to help?"

He stood up and walked over to the window. It was beautiful day, although ruined by his view of a security guard no doubt making his rounds. "I can help you, Clarisse, and you can help me."

She stood, walked around her desk and leaned back against it. She gripped the desk tightly, waiting to hear his next words. "What is it you want?"
"It's simple Clarisse. I want you."
Her blood ran cold. For an instant she felt sick. His words were like a dagger to her soul.

"I seem to have left you speechless. My, Clarisse, that's not like you. You've never been so swept up in something that you didn't have a mouthful to say."

That wasn't true. She knew of something, or someone, that always left her speechless. Just last night as he said his regular 'good night' to her, he had kissed her cheek. It had left her so powerless she could not even reply back to him. She tried to remember his warm lips, letting them take the cold away now.

"I have gave you alot to think about, and to check up on yourself. I'll leave you for now, Clarisse."

A knock came at the door. Charlotte looked in, obviously checking in on her as instructed. "I'm sorry to bother you, Your Majesty, but an urgent call from the French Prime Minister is on line 2."

"Very well Charlotte, I'll have to take it."

So much was said in those two sentences, but to an outsider like Mabrey, he heard very little. The French Prime Minister was a personal friend of Charlotte's, and she always called him by name. He had romanced her since he met her. Charlotte would only announce his position if they were in a formal setting. Clarisse knew that. It was Charlotte's polite way of barging in to rescue her. Clarisse simply answered that she had to take her up on it.

"We are finished here, I believe Charlotte. Would you escort the Viscount out please?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."

Mabrey bowed slightly towards her, smiling. "I'll be waiting for your call, Your Majesty."

As soon as he exited, Clarisse dropped in the nearest chair. Was what he said true? She did have to find out, and soon. Joseph, no she couldn't ask Joseph to find out. It was his job, and he was the best at it. If there was anything to it, he would find out. Why did she want to leave him out of this? It wasn't like her. She had always turned to him. He had served her for a lifetime, and led a lifetime of service to the crown. She could try and find out herself. Oh, what had her son done? With his passing, there was no way to obtain an easy answer.

Her heart fell at the thought of it being true. There would be no Renaldi heir. The throne could be taken over by...anyone. There was several who could claim rights to it, and none of those were people who Clarisse wanted to rule her country. The Von Trokkens led the pack of wolves. She could not, and would not let them take over. She would do anything to stop that. Mabrey had known that. He held that over her head.

She was beginning to feel sick again at the thought of his words. 'I want you' ran through her head. Charlotte saw her face, and it worried her.

"Your Majesty, is something wrong?"
"Oh Charlotte, I must thank you for getting him out."

"From the way you look, I didn't come in fast enough."

"Oh, it's just a problem I have to deal with. Would you get me some tea Charlotte?"

"Of course."

"And some aspirin of some kind."

"Your doctor said no aspirin, Clarisse."

"He's right, I need something stronger."

"Should I call him?"

"No, don't make a fuss. How about a little brandy with my tea."

"Very well. I'll be right back."

She heard him speaking with Charlotte out in the hall before she saw him. He heart felt heavy. The sudden realization of what she may have to do dawned on her. Her first marriage was arranged, was her second to be arranged too? She had lived all these years with Joseph faithfully at her side. Their love for each was never spoken, it didn't have to be. Yet she had hoped one day she could marry him freely. He was the only man she had ever really loved.