Thank you all for your kind reviews - I really appreciate them! Here is our next hidden moment reveal - enjoy!
Rating: T
Warning: Some angst
Chapter 2
Scene: When Mia is with Charlotte and Clarisse for her "evaluation" and then the next day Joseph picks her up and has a new pair of black heels for her to wear as Clarisse…"never wants to see those shoes again!"
Clarisse needed someplace that she could think – somewhere peaceful. She was exhausted; but, more importantly, she was worried. After evaluating Amelia this afternoon, she had serious concerns about even her ability to transform this young woman into the Princess she needed to be before the Independence Day Ball. She knew she had been hard on the young woman; but, truth be told, it was painful to look at her. Not because she was unsightly – no, that wasn't it. Underneath that untamed mane and bushy eyebrows was a beautiful woman just waiting to be revealed. No the problem was that every time she looked her granddaughter in the eyes, she saw Philippe. She realized it the first time their eyes locked and Mia removed her glasses and smiled at her. It was in her eyes, her smile, her ears, and, above all, in her sense of humor.
Clarisse couldn't swear to it; but she was certain Amelia had been mocking her behind her back and, thereby, causing Charlotte to erupt in an uncustomary fit of giggles this afternoon during the Princess lesson. Philippe had been known to do similar things to both she and Rupert over the years.
Joseph stood in the shadows of the dimly lit library and watched her. She was wringing her hands slowly – something that she only did when she was very troubled. Her eyes were focused on the moon that hung over the landscape of San Francisco, but he knew her thoughts were troubled. When he saw the tears slowly slip down her cheek, he couldn't help himself. He moved out of the shadows to sit beside her on the loveseat.
She was startled when she felt him sit down. Usually she was aware of him watching her. She must have been very distracted with her thoughts. She hastily wiped the tears away. "Oh Joseph…I'm sorry. I didn't hear you come in."
"Shhh…come here." He didn't allow her to refuse him as he put his arm around her and pulled her body toward his providing the proverbial shoulder to cry on.
After a few minutes, he quietly asked. "Do you want to talk about it?"
She let out a deep breath. "Would you let it go if I said no?"
"Of course. Although…" he paused for effect. "then I will just have to guess. And you know how bad I am at guessing."
Clarisse thought back to some of the times she had asked him to guess what she had purchased for him as either a Christmas gift or birthday gift. For being a highly astute and perceptive security guard, he was very bad at guessing. She sat up and smiled slightly at him. "Indeed I do."
He waited for her to start; but when she remained silent, he decided to help her out. "So I'm going to guess this has something to do with Amelia?"
Clarisse's thoughts drifted back to her youngest son that was so cruelly taken from her at such a young age. "In part…yes."
Joseph smiled. "See I'm getting better at this guessing!" He offered, trying to get her to smile as well.
She rewarded him with another small smile before she stood and walked to the large picture window she had been staring out of for the last thirty minutes or so. "I am concerned about her being ready in time…I'm sure you've noticed there's a lot of work to be done."
"Such as?" He inquired softly as he rose from the sofa to come and stand just slightly behind and to the left of her.
"Oh Joseph, surely you've noticed?! Her hair, those eye brows, fingernails, and don't even get me started on those shoes. They were…" she paused, searching for just the right word. "…hideous."
"All outward adornments that don't even begin to reflect the true beauty that she possesses."
She sighed heavily. "I know and I have asked Charlotte to contact Paolo to work his magic. As annoying as the man is, he certainly can work miracles. After all, he performed nothing short of a miracle by making me presentable that morning…" Her voice drifted off as the painful memory surfaced.
Joseph stepped closer, letting her lean back on him for support; his hands resting lightly on her waist. "Yes, outwardly, you looked as beautiful as always."
"Even if I was ravaged on the inside…"
"No one expects a mother to keep it all together on the day she buries a child…not even the esteemed Queen of Genovia."
Clarisse decided not to debate that one with him. They both knew that there were some people in Genovia that really didn't expect the Queen to be human – to show emotion – to have feelings – to love. "She looks so much like him." She whispered.
That was it…she finally told him. "And that makes it very hard for you, doesn't it?"
"Her eyes, her smile, even her ears. I see so much of him in her."
"As it should be."
"I miss him."
Joseph wanted to pull her into his arms and just hold her; but he knew that even if she were to allow that to happen, she would be so embarrassed by it later that it would create tension between them. "As do I, your Majesty…as do I."
He let her work through her emotions and when he sensed she was calmer. "You can see Amelia as a double blessing. Not only will her accepting her destiny save Genovia from the hands of the Van Trokens; but her presence in your life will allow you to get a small glimpse of Philippe each time you are together. "
She turned and touched her hand to his cheek. "You may not be a good guesser, Joseph; but you are a very wise man and my best friend."
He smiled. "Don't forget your knight in shining armor who will scour the stores in San Francisco until he makes sure that he has a suitable pair of shoes for the Princess to wear in the presence of the most beautiful Queen there has ever been."
"Thank you, Joseph. There's just one more thing…"
Joseph bowed slightly. "At your service, ma'am."
"She will need to practice her ballroom dancing tomorrow and no one is a better dancer than you."
"You ask a lot, Clarisse – the child can barely walk as you instruct and you want me to lead her in the dance?"
"I have confidence in my knight in shining armor." Her smile much brighter now.
Joseph sighed. "Let us hope that although she may look like her father that she possesses the grace and dance skill of her grandmother."
Clarisse wanted to kiss him – even if it was on the cheek to show her gratitude. She wanted to…but didn't. Instead, she let her fingers trail along his cheek as she slowly pulled away, enjoying the slight five o'clock shadow that was present on the normally smooth skin. "Thank you again, Joseph. I feel much better now."
He escorted her back to her suite and then kissed the back of her hand as he bowed. "Good night, Your Majesty, sleep well."
"You as well, Joseph. We will conquer tomorrow together."
He smiled. "Always."
**C/J**
