First of all, I want to apologize to everyone for the time I have spent since the last post. I promise it will not happen again.
I hope you like the new chapter and please leave a review. It only takes a few seconds and it's so important to me!
"It's going to be a long night, Charlotte. Artur Mabrey is sick. How can he do this to someone?... "Charlotte handed him the cup of coffee and sat down at the table next to him.
"I'm waiting for Charles to call me. I sent him a message saying that I needed to speak to him urgently. "
"You think he might have ..." Shades's phone rang and he answered immediately.
"Shades here."
"I'm sorry I'm calling at this hour, Sir, but here at the North gate is a guard named François who says he has a matter of vital importance to tell you. I told him to leave a message or the phone number to be contacted tomorrow but he says that tomorrow is too late ... "
"Okay, Tom. Come with him to my office right now. And not a word to anyone. "Shades hung up the phone and drank the coffee all at once.
"Tell me what's going on," Charlotte asked irritably. Shades looked at her in silence.
"Shades ... I'm unnerved by all this, do not make me lose my temper ..."
"Walk with me. It may be nothing ... But it may be news of Joseph. " Shades said getting up and heading for the kitchen door. Charlotte got up immediately and followed.
"I'll tell Her Majesty ..." Shades turned abruptly, startling her.
"Don't say anything, for now. Let's hear first what François ... "
"François? "
"Yes. And before you ask, I don't know who it is ... He can even be one of Mabrey's guards. And if this is the case and Her Majesty enters my office, Mabrey will immediately know that she does not intend to marry him. "
"You're right. But now let's go. Let's not make him wait. "
Tom and François were already in the office when Shades and Charlotte entered.
"Good evening, Tom, François." Greeted Shades, trying to imitate Joseph's intimidating tone.
"Good evening," Charlotte repeated with a tremendous effort not to start laughing at Shades' inglorious efforts.
"Good evening, Sir, Madam ..." They answered in unison.
Francois took a step toward Shades but Tom grabbed his arm and kept him from moving forward. François nodded and began to tell what had happened in the Police station that morning. Charlotte listened in silence and sent another message to Charles.
"You have no idea where they might have taken him?"
"No, Sir. But the captain was furious. I do not know how he stopped himself ... Maybe it was because he was not alone ... But the truth is that I fear for the physical integrity of Sir Joseph. These people are bad! Very bad!"
"Francois, your help is invaluable. Thank you so much for letting us know what happened, "said Shades standing up.
"Sir, may I join the Palace Guard? I know they first have to do a background check on me, but I'll wait as long as they want. "
Shades looked at Tom and then at Charlotte, and then Clarisse entered the room. Everyone got up and looked at each other confused but no one could speak.
"Good evening everyone. Shades, I heard someone here with news of Joseph ... "Clarisse said staring at Francois. Charlotte approached Clarisse and Shades closed her eyes ... The worst thing that could happen was Clarisse to appear at that moment ... And she appeared.
"Scoth? Charlotte? "Now it was Clarisse's turn to be confused ...
"What's wrong? Why don't they talk? "Clarisse approached Francois, but Shades spoke first.
"Your Majesty, François was on duty at the Police station when Sir Joseph was arrested. We believe the Mabrey's men could have him imprisoned in any place. "Clarisse clasped her hands in front of her waist and took a deep breath. Without a word, she went to Shades' secretary and sat down.
"I'll get you some tea, Your Majesty." And Charlotte left the room without waiting for the answer. Tom stood firmly beside Francois, but Clarisse's presence in the room was making him nervous. Shades noticed this and sent him out, leaving only Francois with Clarisse.
"François, how do we know that your coming to the palace is not a Mabrey maneuver?" Clarisse asked quietly.
"You can't, Your Majesty. The only thing I have is my word. "It was now François's turn to feel intimidated. The Queen's calmness left his nerves in a gelly. And, face to face, her beauty was almost mesmerizing. No wonder almost every man had a crush on her, he thought. And so close, he could swear that it was impossible for Joseph not to be completely in love!
"François?" Clarisse called, a soft smile on her face. François was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice that he was staring at Clarisse and when Shades was preparing to take other measures (after all, in Joseph's absence, it was up to him to protect the queen and woman who occupied the heart of his friend), Clarisse chose to speak first and spare young François, a great embarrassment.
"Your Majesty, I beg your pardon," he said, bending on one knee. "I was completely distracted in my thoughts.
"Yes, I noticed. But back to my question ... "
François got up and always with his head down, he answered.
"Your Majesty, I am the youngest of five brothers. My mother was always very sick and only my father worked. The money never arrived until the end of the month and so the owner of the grocery store gave us the goods until my father received the order. That is why I grew to know how to value a man's word. And it's the only thing I have to give you, Your Majesty. My word on how everything I've told is true and that I have no connection whatsoever with this perfidious Artur Mabrey. "Clarisse looked at him for a few seconds ... To have Joseph back, she would take any risks, however and, for a motive she could not explain, Francois seemed to be a good person ...
"Very well, I'll believe what you say." François lifted his head and smiled.
"You will not regret it, Your Majesty. I'll help bring Sir Joseph home. "
Clarisse did not answer ... Home ... She would willingly give her life to bring Joseph safe and sound, back home!
"Shades, I'm going to retire to my room, but I'd like to be informed as soon as you've drawn up a search plan and-" The door opened suddenly and banged, startling her.
"Charlotte?"
"I already know where he is, Your Majesty. Chateaux du Roi. It is a property near Aussery and belonged to the grandparents of Mabrey's late wife. "
Before Clarisse could respond, Juan Carlos and Michael came in as well.
"I'm sorry but seeing Charlotte running this way can only mean news from my cousin," said Juan Carlos. Clarisse smiled and got up.
"At least we think we know where he is and that's a big help."
"Your ..." Michael began to speak but Clarisse's gaze interrupted him.
"Clarisse, I'm sorry. I am at your complete disposal to do whatever is necessary. "
"Thankyou, my friends. Let's leave it to Shades to plan to rescue Joseph. "
"They are ready in half an hour, Your Majesty," said Shades, approaching François.
"Thank you. Then we wait in the living room. "
The room was plunged into utter silence, even though there were seven adults there. Clarisse sat down by the fire and looked at the flames in silence... She could not lose Joseph. However, the image of him in the hands of Mabrey put to test her faith. Charlotte looked discreetly at Clarisse. The warmth and tenderness that Charlotte felt for her could only compare to how she feels about a mother. In that room everyone was born in feelings that have been built in recent months. Everyone had a bond that united them and at this point no one dared even have negative thoughts. Juan Carlos was looking at Sofia in silence ... The woman who had accompanied him all his life ... Who had forgiven him the betrayal, who raised his children, who gave him a family ... And that he had treated so badly, to the point that they no longer wanted to touch or speak! And yet when he imagined Sophia might be emotionally interested in Joseph, he was blinded with jealousy. And at that moment he made a decision ... He wanted his wife back!
Agnes, Paul, and Michael were sitting in another corner of the room. Harry's refusal to join them was being noticed, but no one was talking about it. The entrance of Pierre and Shades into the room made everyone stand.
"I already have the plans, your Majesty."
"Thank God!" Said Clarisse. Pierre hugged his mother and smiled.
"And it's an excellent plan, Mom. Tonight we'll have Joseph back. "Clarisse did not answer and leaned her head against Pierre's chest. Shades still waited for a few seconds, but the anxiety to save Joseph made him interrupt.
"Your Majesty, I'm sorry but we're going to have to leave now, if we want to have Sir Joseph in the Palace before dawn ..."
"Sure, sure. I'm the one who apologizes. Explain to us the plan and what each of us should do. "Clarisse approached Shades and that was when he started to get really nervous.
"Your Majesty, I beg you to forgive me but none of you are included in my plans." The papers in his hands shook visibly. Clarisse looked at him admiringly but understood immediately.
"This operation has to be done quickly and without the minimum of noise. The men trained by Sir Joseph will know, in the second, exactly what to do. And if you... "
"Shades, please, you do not have to explain. If Joseph didn't trust you completely, he did not name you Second in Command! But now tell us what you want to do, please. "
"Yes, Your Majesty. Let's make a clean entrance. As soon as we arrive, we will analyze the whole area with a thermal camera and we will enter the basement which is where there will be less chance of finding someone. As soon as the basement is clear we enter and bring in Sir Joseph, leaving Francois in his place. "
"François in the place of Joseph ? It's impossible. They will notice immediately and he will suffer the consequences ... "
"In addition, the poor man will be immediately connected to us," said Juan Carlos.
"I told him the same but still, he insisted. And in fact, it's the only way for they do not notice that Joseph is no longer in jail. And he said he'd get a make-up that no one would recognize him." Shades hears a call in his earpiece.
"Just a moment. I will deal with that. Don't do nothing and wait for me." Shades left and returned two minutes later with a very ill-treated François.
Everyone stood up. Sofia and Clarisse approached them.
"But what happened, François?" Clarisse asked genuinely concerned.
"If I did not come so quickly, he would be killed by the guards of the palace."
"I needed a good makeup ... It was the easiest thing in the world ... I just went to the bar where the Palace guards get together and say that what was happening to Sir Joseph was deserved." And smiled, showing several bruises , scratches, kicks...
"Well, François, it's going to look like we gave you a brave beating. Maybe it will. You'll have to say what we agreed. That we found you out of the Police station, beat you and took you there. "
"I told Sir Joseph that my loyalty was to Her Majesty and to him. Now I have a way to prove it. "
Charlotte got up and dimmed the lights in the room. Clarisse and Silvia talked about the baby and the anxiety of the new life. Sofia could barely keep her eyes open but she could not help but smile at Silvia's nervousness. Slowly, and without noticing it, she slipped on the couch until her head rested against her husband's shoulder. Juan Carlos opened his eyes and smiled. He lifted his arm very slowly and put it on Sofia's shoulders. Frightened by the unexpected touch, Sofia got up but Juan Carlos pulled her back to him and smiled as Sofia let herself go and leaned her head against his chest. Michael and Paul slept in another corner of the room and Agnes joined Clarisse, Silvia, and Charlotte.
"This anxiety is driving me nuts. What if they were discovered? "
"My dear Charlotte. Shades knows what he's doing. You'll see that he's coming back soon, "Clarisse said, but the truth was she could not even sit. She got up and went to put more wood in the fireplace.
The door opened without a sound but Clarisse felt it ... His Joseph was home! And without a word, she ran to the door and threw herself into his arms.
"Oh Joseph! You are home! Let me look at you ... "
"I'm fine, my queen. Nothing that some rest does not heal! "Clarisse smiled and leaned her head against his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist as Joseph wrapped her arms around her shoulders. A slight groan reminded Clarisse of Joseph's wounds, but when she was about to leave, he tightened her grip.
"Do not leave me, Clarisse! I need to have you in my arms! "And Clarisse could no longer hold back her tears.
"Joseph! My Joseph! "And kissed him.
"Clarisse, my love, I'm too old for these things!" And he let out a laugh. And then the whole room woke up. Everyone spoke at the same time, everyone asked questions.
"Calm Please. I answer to everyone but let me sit down. But first, I have a question: Who is going to marry Mabrey ? "And they all laughed out loud. Joseph sat down and Clarisse sat down next to him. It was a long night, but no one cared. Within a few hours, Genovia's future would be decided and he was coming home to protect his Queen!