Hatter forced himself to stop pacing and breathe deeply. A visit from the Queen was usually a privilege. However, in light of recent events - hiding a couple of resistance fighters for one and refusing to let the suits search his shop for another - he had reason to believe that this would not be a pleasant visit.

So he needed to make a good impression. He started by following the instructions of the Queen's envoy to the letter. His shop was closed for the day, so that the Queen would not be forced to mingle with the common-folk. He'd told no-one of her coming save for his assistant, Dormie and he had refreshments on hand should the Queen desire anything.

Still, he tried to hide his concern, pushing it beneath a professional veneer. She would pounce on him in a moment if she caught even a whiff of something suspicious. He could hear the scarab landing nearby and he braced himself.

Donning a charming smile when the Queen finally entered the shop, Hatter immediately bowed low, hat in hand. "Majesty," he greeted, "You do me and my humble shop a great honor." He glanced up to notice that her entourage was smaller than he expected, about a dozen or so suits filled the space. The Queen herself was not smiling but then she didn't look particularly displeased either.

"Yes, I'm sure." She said dryly. "I have much to do so let us dispense with the pleasantries and get our business underway."

Hatter straightened, replacing his hat and offering the Queen a seat. She declined with a wave of her hand. "My suits tell me that some rebels were spotted in this area and you refused to co-operate in their efforts to find them. Is this so?"

"Yes," he affirmed, getting his half truth firmly in place. Holding a steady gaze with the Queen as she delicately arched an eyebrow at his admission.

"If there is an explanation forthcoming, Hatter, I should dearly like to hear it." She replied sharply.

"No offense was meant, Majesty, to you or your agents, but the rebels are getting their claws into everything. I didn't want to run the risk of it if any of them were posing as your suits. You see, I've been very cautious since Lord Dumpty's betrayal and I did what I thought I had to do to protect your investment, as it were."

The Queen regarded him for a moment, her penetrating gaze scrutinizing him. Hatter did not look away. "You see," She cast her glance around to her suits, "if I had more people around me who thought like you, Hatter, I would only need 13 in my house of cards instead of 52."

Hatter slowly released a breath he hadn't known he was holding, eager to let the issue pass without incident. "Can I offer you a cup of tea?"

"There is one other thing," The Queen said smiling, "I hear that you have attained the patronage of the Duchess. Word at court is that she will attend no other tea shop… save yours."

"I much enjoy her company." Hatter affirmed.

"That sounds as though you two are becoming quite familiar."

"Actually," Hatter started, "I had hoped, Majesty, for your permission to court the Duchess. Since her parents are deceased, I thought it only appropriate to ask you."

The Queen's smile had gradually faded as he spoke, her eyes seemed as though storm clouds gathered within. It sent an uneasy feeling throughout Hatter as though his stomach plummeted while he stayed still and this silent moment was the calm before an awful storm.

"To the contrary," she stated, her voice darkening to match her gaze, "This is the very height of impropriety!"

Hatter took an involuntary step back, "Majesty?"

"You would do well to remember that I have raised you to your current position. You'd be nothing if it weren't for me. Now, you seek to use her status to raise yourself even further above your station and become Hatter the Duke, is that it? I have never seen such ingratitude!"

"Not at all!" Hatter defended, stunned that the Queen could jump to such a conclusion. "Let me explain-"

"There is no need." She interrupted. "The Duchess already came to me with a similar request." She snapped her fingers and Hatters eyes were drawn to the figure currently entering the shop. In walked the Duchess, smiling vacantly as she curtseyed to the Queen and stood by her side.

"Clearly the poor thing had taken leave of her senses. I had my scientists help to rid her of this…" She paused making a face as though the word she was thinking was something awful to be spit out. "…infatuation."

"I don't understand…" Hatter replied, confusion and dread combining to make his voice crack.

"Say hello to him, dear." The Queen ordered.

"Hello. It's nice to meet you." She greeted, absent smile still in place and no hint of recognition in her clear blue eyes.

"Don't you know who I am?" He whispered in shock, feeling an intense ache caused by the shards of his breaking heart.

She tilted her head in thought, "Should I?"

Hatter was horrified. The Queen had somehow managed to erase the Duchess' memories of him and with them any chance of the two of them being together. He tried to keep his face stoic as he looked back at the Queen's victorious expression, anger stirring within him.

This was all his fault. His punishment had been exacted on someone he cared for… and for no other reason than she cared about him in return. The Queen, he realized, was clearly insane.

She pinned him with a glare of extreme displeasure, "Let this stand as a lesson to you so that in the future you will remember your place. Let's go." She waved to her suits. "Goodbye, Hatter."

They began to file out and Hatter watched them go with a heavy heart, weighed with too many varied emotions. The Duchess halted, turning back to look at him, "Goodbye…" She paused, a confused expression knitting her brow as she asked the Queen, "What was his name again?"

*~*~*~*~*

His shop remained closed for the rest of the day. Hatter sat in his room, ineffectually trying to drown his misery in tea.

Dormie approached and clapped him on the shoulder. "This isn't like you, Hatter. You always have a plan."

"Do I?" He asked, staring blankly into space.

"Sure, a businessman's got to have plan." He said, smiling reassuringly, even as his head started to droop down towards his chest.

"A plan," he said, muttering to himself by the sound of Dormie's snores, "I can't get the Duchess back and I certainly can't go up against the Queen. She's crazy. I've got to try to move on, get back to business as usual."

Hatter downed a shot of Resolve, "Supply and demand means that there's always someone in need of what I can give them, and a client with similar interests…" He stood as an idea came to him, "…makes for a mutually beneficial relationship."

He moved quickly to his armoire, grabbing a coat. "Dormie, watch the shop for a bit. I have to try and find someone."