This is a shorter one again, but with a lot to think about for a while. :)

Chapter 5: Clues and realisations

Jasper's heart was still beating wildly as he reached his staff room. He closed the door behind him, breathing heavily. What had just happened? He actually hadn't planned to kiss her like this (not so soon at least), but once her lips were touching his, he couldn't stop himself. He missed her so goddamn much! It was hard to hold himself back, but in a rare moment of bravery he finally found the strength to withdraw from her. He didn't want to rush things this time, but that wouldn't be so easy.

He desperately needed a distraction. So he immersed himself into the map that James Hill had given him this morning. And then, hours later, he noticed something...

The next morning he was talking to James: "I looked at the map again, cluster by cluster. Until I got here..." Jasper pointed it out.

"Is that...?" James realized "Blimey! That's the area where they found that maid's – I think her name was Violet - car after she vanished!"

"Exactly!" Jasper said "And I looked at the protocols. The phone call from there was made in the same night."

"You think, there is a connection?"

"It's probably nothing since the calls are spread all over the city, but I have a feeling we should make further investigations on this."

James nodded. "Everything could be important. I'll call MI5 and let them snoop around."

"Thank you, James!" Jasper said, relieved to be taken seriously. "So how do you like living in the palace, you and Sarah?"

The older man smiled broadly. "Oh, this living room is bigger than my old apartment. And Sarah loves it here, she only talks about the princess. Last week they had tea together. The way to school is a little bit longer but we feel very comfortable here."

Jasper was happy for James and glad to have him as his boss. He was kind of a father figure for him. At least he thought, a father should be like this.

Later that day, Eleanor was chilling on the balcony, enjoying the view. She hadn't seen much of Jasper today. He was probably consulting with James and Marcus, but a little part of her worried, he would avoid her after yesterday. She had mixed feelings too.

At this moment her mother joined her. "What are you mulling over, daughter mine?"

"Just... trivia, nothing important." was Eleanor's diffuse answer.

"I've noticed, you took Mr. Frost back as your security detail." Helena went on raising her left eyebrow, "So you have forgiven him then?"

Eleanor sighed "I try... but it's not that easy. You don't know what he did..."

"Oh, believe me, I know!" Helena stated. "The Queen knows everything."

"You know about the night of the birthday party?" Eleanor's eyes widened.

Helena nodded "Yes, Jasper told me himself a few days later."

"What?! And you didn't have him fired or imprisoned?" Eleanor exclaimed.

"Maybe I should have." her mother said quietly, "I already knew a lot about him since I had checked his record by MI5 and MI6. But he seemed remorseful and somehow... broken. And, even if the Koh-i-noor was his reason to came here... in the end, he was the one who stopped Ms. Cook and also brought your earrings back."

Helena's face had a serious expression as she continued: "I've seen him looking at you that night. He didn't notice me, but I saw him weeping. And after our mother-daughter-talk the next day, I was sure, you too have some feelings for him. And I felt guilty for screwing up on you two. That's why I finally decided to give him a chance to prove himself. But I made it quite clear, I would rip off his head, if he would ever hurt you again."

Eleanor stared at her mother open-mouthed. Weeping?! Stone-faced Jasper and tears? She had seen the hurt in his eyes that night she told him to leave, yes. But she never thought, he would care that much. Obviously she really was blind all the time. Her view blurred by her own feelings...