Clarisse returned to her room saddened that she hadn't been able to find her granddaughter. She hadn't meant to be short with her, but the tiniest things angered her these days. She missed Joseph terribly and wished they hadn't had the encounter that they did. Over and over Clarisse replayed it in her mind. Why had he been so cold? Why had he driven off the cliff? Where was he now? The torture was almost unbearable. She closed the curtains of her room and sat quietly in the darkness. She reached for the stereo on her shelf and turned it to song thirteen. This was the norm for her lately. It was the only image of happiness she had right now.

"Clarisse! Stop daydreaming!" He laughed.

"Sorry Darling I was just trying to get a feel for the music." She smiled back at Rupert.

"Ok Joseph hit the button again. Let's try it."

The music came alive and Rupert took her hand again. She did all right at first but then she moved with the right foot instead of the left and sent her and her husband to the floor in a heap.

"I'm sorry Rupert, how can anyone dance without lyrics? I can't step correctly."

"You have to learn it that way, Clarisse. All the galas are played to classical music. You're an expert at avoiding it but you simply cannot do that forever."

"King Rupert?" The lady said entering the room.

"Yes Leona?"

"The Prime Minister called and asks that you join him and his Scottish dignitaries in Palvo this week."

"How did that old bugger manage to get them here so fast? Ah no matter I'm eager to show them how strong Genovia is. You don't mind do you, Clarisse?"

"No of course not. The boys are at summer camp and I can use this week for a holiday."

"And learn to dance. Joseph you're a skilled dancer. I'm giving you one week to teach my wife here how to dance properly."

"As you wish sir."

"Good. I'll leave you to it." Rupert kissed Clarisse and made his exit.

"Shall we begin now?" Joseph asked.

"Tomorrow. I'm tired of stepping on toes for today."

"As you wish your Majesty." He kissed her hand and left the ballroom.

She could feel her cheeks flush as he exited the ballroom.

The next day he appeared in the ballroom wearing black slacks and a white shirt that was loosened three buttons from the collar. The sight of him made her insides mush.

"Your Majesty if I may speak freely?"

"By all means."

"I noticed your problem almost immediately despite what the king had said. You are unfamiliar with the music and therefore you're body isn't able to flow in accordance. I can teach you how to dance with the music you know and when you've become sufficient I will teach you how to dance to anything."

"This ought to be interesting." She thought to herself. "How does he know what music I like?"

As if reading her mind he said, "I took the liberty of investigating your music collection and have taken a few selections based on that. We'll start out slow with a simple repetitive beat."

He pressed the play button on the stereo and a slow but very familiar song began. Clarisse recognized this as Anne Murray's "Could I Have This Dance."

Joseph put his hand on her waist and took her other hand, while her opposite hand was placed on his shoulder.

"Now you know the steps and can silently count off in your head. The lady has the easy part. It is my job to make your body go where I want it."

The statement brought her butterflies to full beating force.

"Here we go." He said.

I'll always remember the song they were playing

The first time we danced and I knew

As we swayed to the music and held to each other

I fell in love with you.

Could I have this dance

For the rest of my life

Would you be my partner everynight

When were together it feels so right

Could I have this dance for the rest

Of my life

"Beautiful, beautiful. I knew I could make you dance."

I'll always remember that magic moment

When I held you close to me

As we moved together

I knew forever

You'll all I'll ever need

Could I have this dance

For the rest of my life

Would you be my partner every night

When were together it feels so right

Could I have this dance for the rest

Of my life

By the end of the song, Joseph had wrapped his entire arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. He didn't hold her tight but the possessiveness in his grasp was unmistakable. She wondered what he was thinking at that very moment. It was rare that Joseph showed any emotions, and he'd never acted as if she made a difference to him other than as an employer.

As the song wrapped with its last chorus she could feel his hand begin to caress her lower back and his breathing began to come more raggedly. She prayed that he wouldn't be able to feel her heart pounding in her chest. When the song finished he quickly released her and stepped back.

"As you can see, if done correctly dancing can become quite intimate. That was what I was trying to show you. All right let's try something faster now. We won't get too hasty, just a bit faster."

Clarisse stared out the window. The rain was beating hard against the window. The memory of that first dance was still very vivid. Joseph had taught her the impossible. Dancing was something that no member of family, parliament, or royalty could teach her. But in one week she was dancing with the best of them. No dance however, felt as good as the dance in Joseph's arms. He had a delicate calmness to him that eased her nerves. As she remembered his smile, she began to cry. She opened the windows and let the rain saturate her; crying his name into the thunder. She lay down on the balcony and cried, wishing only to be released from her burden of loving him.