A couple of author's notes to start us off:

1) Thank you to everyone who has been reading and reviewing - you KNOW how much I enjoy hearing from you and appreciate it. So a special thank you!

2) This chapter is identical for both 24 Hours and 24-1 Hours as there was no need to edit anything in these scenes.

3) The subject matter may be a little dark/difficult for some readers...so please be warned. There is nothing graphic but references are made to some forms of punishment that some (ok most) will find distasteful...as punishment often is distasteful, there's little I can do to sugar coat that. Blame the muse for bringing this snippet of information into my head!

4) Finally, you will get some answers...not all, but some :)

Chapter 11: The Body Never Lies

11:45 pm

Clarisse tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Normally, she would reach out to Joseph for a listening ear…for comfort…for distraction. She sighed and wiped the errant tear away from her cheek. For now, that was no longer an option. Joseph may be willing to protect her body, her life – but she had to protect her heart.

Her heart…

For the first time in her life, she was falling in love. She wanted to tell Joseph…tell him she loved him as she had loved no other, but she wasn't sure he could commit to a future with her. Oh, he loved her. Of that, she had no doubt. She could see it in the way he looked at her, the way he touched her, the way he kissed her. There was something holding him back, though. Something that kept him from saying the words she desperately wanted to hear. Something he wouldn't share with her.

Rupert had never confessed any love for her. He hadn't loved her. He had used her, plain and simple: Used her to produce heirs to the throne. Used her to satisfy his baser needs. Used her as a receptacle for his uncontrollable anger.

Joseph was just the opposite. Loving, attentive, and kind. He had introduced her to pleasure and to the woman buried deep inside of her. But that woman had been hurt so deeply in the past that she would protect herself at all costs. If Joseph couldn't tell her that he loved her. Then there could be no future.

And therein was the problem. She couldn't be concerned with only her future. She had to be worried about Amelia's future… Parliament's future… Genovia' s future. Those final three concerns were interwoven and responsible for the current mess that comprised her life.

Clutching the extra pillow close to her body, she tried to clear her mind and just sleep.

^^C/J^^

Sleep.

Despite every trick he had tried to get his mind to relinquish its hold over his body and offer some rest, he had failed. He didn't dare drink any more scotch as tomorrow was a work day and he needed to be sharp, especially since the Queen was less than pleased with him at the moment.

The Queen.

Clarisse.

His stomach twisted in knots at the thought of how they left things. She was so upset, both at his inability to tell her what she wanted to hear and over this whole deal with Mia. Charlotte had not fared any better with the Princess. Both members of the royal family were so very stubborn.

Maybe he would try to speak with Mia in the morning. It was almost midnight now…morning seemed a long way away. The phone beside his bed rang. His stomach clenched. Would it be Clarisse?

"Hello"

"Joe?"

"Princess, what's wrong?"

"Did I wake you?"

He had to bite back a bitter laugh, "No, Princess. Why aren't you asleep?"

"I'm too upset, Joe…"

Joseph sighed. Well maybe he'd have better luck with this member of the Renaldi clan. It wasn't like he was sleeping anyway, "I think Chef left some ice cream in the freezer. Meet me in the kitchen in five?"

He could almost hear her sigh of relief, "Thanks, Joe. See you in five."

12:05 am

Joseph watched in amusement as Mia's eyes closed in honor of her first taste of pear ice cream, "Oh Joe…why haven't I had this before? It's soooo good!"

"I think Chef thought you would appreciate a taste of home rather than Genovia when you had your ice cream. This time, he decided to have some on hand, just in case you wanted to try it after you enjoyed your chocolate, chocolate chip."

"Well please be sure and thank him for me." She smiled as she indulged in another bite.

"He would probably enjoy hearing the praise direct from you, Princess."

"Well then you have to tell Gramma to lighten up so I have a few minutes in my schedule to come to the kitchen to say thank you." Her face turned troubled and the spoon was stabbed into the ice cream dish.

"I know it's been a difficult visit, Princess." Joseph wanted to start by letting her know he was on her side before he tried to point out Clarisse's point of view.

"Difficult is an understatement. I haven't seen her this…this irritable since we first met. What is going on that she's not telling me, Joe?"

He was impressed with the maturity she displayed. Though she had thrown a few tantrums since she arrived, below it all – she understood there was something more going on…something more that was troubling her Grandmother than just the usual fussiness about her behavior. "Parliament has been giving your Grandmother a great deal of trouble, Princess. They don't think you are going to be ready to assume the throne in two years. She is under tremendous pressure and fighting battles on all fronts to make the way easier for you."

"It seems like she spends most of her time fighting with me. She has been pushing me so hard, Joe, I haven't had a moment to catch my breath since I walked in the palace doors a few days ago. I don't understand why she is treating me like a servant. No, wait, she's treating me worse than she treats the servants."

Joseph reached up and wiped the tears that were escaping down the young woman's cheek. Before he could speak, another weary voice joined the conversation, "Because she has forgotten to be a grandmother first."

"Gramma, I… we were just…what are you doing up?!" Mia was searching her Grandmother's face to see if another fit of anger was going to rain down on her or if she really was trying to make nice.

Clarisse offered her a small smile, "I'm afraid I couldn't sleep either. I see I'm not alone." She cast a glance towards Joseph.

"Would you like some tea, Your Majesty?" Joseph offered.

Clarisse shook her head, "I'd actually like Amelia to share some of her ice cream."

Mia shook her head, "I'm not sharing, but I'll be happy to get you a bowl and some of your own."

"That works too. Thank you dear."

Mia headed back in to the kitchen area to retrieve the treat, leaving Joseph and Clarisse alone. "It looks like you two need to talk. I'll give you some privacy." Joseph stood and walked past Clarisse. She caught his hand and held it.

"Please don't go, Joseph. I…Amelia obviously asked you to join her. I'm the one interrupting."

"She only turned to me because she knew you were upset with her and her earlier conversation with Charlotte didn't go well. It was either me or the maids." His shoulders shrugged; it was true.

Clarisse lifted his hand and put it over her heart and leaned into his body, "She turned to you because you are easy to talk with…a trusted confidant."

His heart clenched at her words. She knows I love her without having to say the words. He didn't voice his thoughts though as they would only serve to hurt rather than heal. Her felt her heart pound against his hand. "I'm not sure what you want me to say, Clarisse."

She looked up at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Tell me, Joseph. Say the words I need to hear or tell me why you can't. I know you feel as I do."

"And if you know that, why do you need the words?" He didn't want to hurt her, but he needed her to let this go…for both of their sakes.

Clarisse saw the pain in his face and knew that she was pushing it with him. Though she always turned to diplomacy first, when that failed, she had been taught to deal with the truth as though it were a bandage that had to be removed. Slow only delayed the inevitable – better to rip it off and deal with whatever is underneath. She dropped their joined hands away from her body and let go of the connection. Shoulders straightened and voice strong, "Because, Joseph…no one has ever said that to me and truly meant it. So you'll have to forgive me if, for once in my life, I'd like to hear the words."

He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead, "I'm sorry, Clarisse…I can't."

Mia watched the exchange from the other side of the kitchen. She couldn't hear what was being said but, as her Gramma always taught her, the body language speaks louder than a voice anyway. The body language she witnessed at first seemed tender, but then something changed…something definitely not good. Parliament may accuse her of not knowing much…but she knew that when things between her Grandmother and Joseph were not right…that wasn't good for anyone.

She saw Joseph start to walk away and knew it was time to make her entrance and try to salvage whatever she could, "Hey Joe! Where you going?"

Joseph stopped and exhaled slowly before turning around. He offered the Princess a small smile, "I thought it might be best to let you and your Grandmother speak over a bowl of frozen goodness."

"You can't leave now..." she stepped toward him and pulled him into a hug so she could whisper in his ear, "She's more reasonable when you're around. Please, Joe…stay…for me."

What was it about the women in his life? He just couldn't seem to say no to them. He pulled out of her embrace, "Alright Princess, I'll stay for just a bit. It's getting late and I'm not as young as I used to be."

Sporting a satisfied grin, Mia returned to her seat and dished out ice cream for her Grandmother, "Oh I don't know, Joe…I'd say you look pretty awesome for your age, wouldn't you agree, Gramma?"

Clarisse's eyes quickly darted to Joseph's before fixing on Mia. Her mind remembered the sculpted muscles that quivered under her touch, the dark skin that had just a sprinkling of white hair on the chest, and strong thighs that pressed her deliciously into the mattress. She took a quick bite of ice cream that resulted in a stabbing pain behind her eye, "Damn…you'd think after all these years I would learn," she finally managed after the pain subsided again.

"Are you alright, Gramma?"

Clarisse sighed and stabbed the spoon in the ice cream just as Mia had done earlier, "No, Amelia, I'm not alright. I know the past few days have been difficult for you. They've been no walk in the park for me either. I'm tired…physically, emotionally, and in every other way a person can be tired."

Tears welled in Mia's eyes at her Grandmother's confession. She was always so strong…in control…and, unflappable. "Maybe you need a break, Gramma."

"There are no breaks, Amelia. There are thousands of people relying on you. You have responsibilities. You have a duty to Genovia. Why can't I make you understand that?"

Mia flinched while Joseph sighed at the tone of the Queen's voice. "You aren't being fair, Gramma! No person should be expected to give every hour of every day to ANY job…royal or not."

"Amelia!"

"Ladies, please…" Joseph made an effort to diffuse the situation. "You're both tired. It's been a long day. Perhaps some rest and we can try again in the morning."

Mia stood and pushed her chair in, sending a clear body signal that she was about done with this conversation, "There isn't time to try again, Joe. Every moment of every day is scheduled with a meeting, lesson, or other requirement that I must fulfill."

Joseph watched as she stormed out of the kitchen. "Well that didn't go well."

"What exactly did you expect, Joseph?"

Another sigh. "I expected her Grandmother who is a skilled negotiator to find a compromise."

"In some areas there can be no compromise. It's a difficult lesson to learn, but one she must." Clarisse stood and began to gather the dishes to return them along with the ice cream to the proper place."

"Painful."

"What?"

"Earlier you said it was a painful lesson for you. How old were you when you learned the lesson?"

A shiver crawled down Clarisse's spine as she remembered that night. "Fifteen."

Joseph moved closer, "Tell me what happened."

"You tell me why first."

He collapsed into the chair and cradled his head in his hands, "You are persistent."

Clarisse sat down beside him, "Cheeky and persistent."

Despite himself, he smiled a bit at her mimicking his words from the last night they shared her bed…it seemed so long ago now. The ghosts quickly returned to haunt him, though, as he found her eyes. "You told me earlier that no one had ever told you they loved you. Well, everyone I've said I love you too has died. So, no, Clarisse…I won't take that risk. Not with you."

"Alexandra…"

He looked at her but didn't say a word. Clarisse could see it in his eyes, in his posture…the body never lies. "That day at the beach…that was when you told her…"

Joseph stood and retrieved a bottle of his favorite scotch that Chef kept for him on a high shelf. He poured himself a moderate portion and then swallowed it all at one time. "Less than an hour later, I held her in my arms as she bled out."

"Joseph…"

"So now you know. I refuse to risk it again. Everyone I have ever loved…my parents, grandparents, Alexandra….are gone. So I can't admit it to you…not even to myself."

Clarisse walked over and put her arms around him, her front to his back. "Their deaths had nothing to do with you loving them, Joseph…surely you know that. Your family fell victim to Father Time…as we all will someday. Alexandra was a victim of her father's greed. Your love warmed their hearts and you fought hard against those who took your Alexandra." She let her hand smooth over the area on his chest that bore the proof, "You have the scar to prove it."

Mia allowed the tears to fall as she heard the exchange between her Gramma and Joe. So that was it…Gramma wanted Joe to tell her he loved her. Who was Alexandra though? Other than someone who Joe loved and died, Mia didn't have a clue. She wasn't sure anyone else in the palace would know either.

"You have scars, too, Clarisse. I fear the ones on the inside are far worse than those on the outside." He turned in her embrace, letting his hands smooth over the area on her lower back and hips that bore the physical evidence of Rupert's abuse.

Scars? Her Gramma had scars? She had never seen them. Where could they be? Mia pressed her body against the wall, hoping to be able to clearly hear anything else her Gramma might say.

Clarisse didn't answer him…she wasn't sure what to say. Both sets of scars felt equally painful and humiliating. She leaned into his embrace, grateful for the comfort it offered and the peace now that she knew the truth. Maybe someday he would be able to verbally profess his love for her. Until that day, she would be content knowing it was true.

"Tell me, Clarisse. Tell me what happened when you were fifteen."

"I learned the very important lesson of how my actions affect those around me. There is always a price to pay for our actions, Joseph."

He had to know. "Did your father…did he use a cane on you?"

She shook her head against his chest, "It was much worse than that…"

He couldn't imagine anything much worse truthfully. The cane was a powerful deterrent. He had seen it used a time or two when he was in the military when they wanted to set an example and keep the other men from acting out. It had always been effective. No repeat offenders.

Clarisse pulled out of his embrace, poured herself a measure of the scotch he had left on the counter and let the fiery liquid burn all the way down. It gave her courage to continue. "When I was fifteen, I was quite full of myself. Being betrothed to the future King has a way of going to a young girl's head and making her forget the duty that accompanies such a privilege. I had become quite incorrigible."

Joseph allowed a small smile, "I can't imagine that. You have always been the poster child for duty and responsibility along with grace and poise."

Clarisse' s smile was filled with sadness and regret, "And that is because my parents were very effective in convincing me of the error of my ways."

Joseph guided her to the chair opposite him and gestured for her to continue. He waited patiently as she gathered her thoughts, courage, or perhaps both.

"My mother had tried to reason with me to do one thing or another…honestly, I can't even remember what it was, probably a lesson about one thing or the other." She smiled weakly at Joseph, "Despite what Amelia thinks, I had to endure the same lessons she is receiving now. I'm not solely trying to punish her."

"I'm sure deep down she realizes that…" His smile suggested most likely the opposite was true.

"Doubtful. Anyway, this went on for several days until one night my father brought me into the kitchen and sat me in a chair he had put in the center of the room. Another chair was a maybe ten feet or more away from me. He brought my mother in and then told me that since she was unable to make me understand my duty and responsibility, he was going to punish her instead of me."

"Clarisse…do you mean…?"

The tears welled up in her eyes again as the horror of that evening surfaced, "I mean he gave my mother five lashes with a cane and told me that if I got out of my seat or turned away, she would get more."

"What did you do?"

"I cried, screamed and begged for him to stop. Begged him to punish me instead. Promised him that I would always do what was asked of me and never forget my duty if he would just stop."

"He didn't stop though, did he?" Joseph was stunned.

Clarisse shook her head as the tears fell, "No. When it was finally over he left the room and I tended to my mother. I begged her forgiveness and promised her she would never have to ask me to do anything twice again."

"Effective, but harsh."

"Times were different then, Joseph. It wasn't a world where parents used time-outs or groundings to convey a lesson. I never again forgot that my actions affect other people."

"Your mother must have been a very brave woman to agree to such an object lesson." Joseph knew Clarisse's mother before she died. In no scenario would her husband have agreed to punish her in such a harsh manner if she hadn't went along with it.

Clarisse poured another measure of scotch, though a smaller portion this time. After downing the liquid, her eyes met his. "It was my mother's idea."

"What?!"

"Years later she confessed to me that Papa had been very hard to persuade and that when she was finally able to go to him when it was over, she found him sobbing in their room. He hated hurting her like that…but he did it for me. Once I learned the truth, I went to him and apologized for being so angry with him. It was weeks before I would even speak to him again. I focused on Mother and her needs."

Mia wiped the tears away that continued to fall down her cheeks. She felt sick to her stomach hearing the story her grandmother told from her childhood. She couldn't even fathom what would've happened if her gramma had yelled at her parents and stormed off the way she had a couple of times since her arrival. Though she couldn't promise that she would never have impatient moments or frustration at the requirements of her job, she was going to make an effort to complain less.

Though a part of her wanted to stay and see if she could learn anything more about her Grandmother and, especially, about her relationship with Joseph, Mia felt she had already risked enough by eavesdropping this long. If they found her….well, she shuddered to think of the tongue lashing she would get. As she walked away, she found herself immensely grateful that a tongue lashing was the only kind of lashing she would ever receive.

Joseph pulled Clarisse into his arms and just held her. At this time of night, there was very little danger of anyone walking into the kitchen and seeing them. He felt her body melt into his, the pain of the past slowly ebbing away as the comfort and love he offered infused her body. Silently, he prayed that the curse of his love wouldn't cause harm to this strong, vibrant woman. She had endured so much pain and loss as had he. Though the world new nothing of their feelings, he knew they would be lost without each other.

How could he be certain?

As Clarisse snuggled in further into his embrace, her hands seeking to hold his body tightly to hers as their hearts began to beat in rhythm together. He knew. He knew because…

Because the body never lies.

1:00 a.m.

tbc