Chapter 7

Charlotte made it to the site of the new waterfall before tears spilled again.

"Stop it!" She commanded herself. "You've got to pull yourself together!" She sat on a bench facing the site, fingers running through her blond hair. "Come on, get a grip on yourself."

"Can I help?"

Her head shot up, horrified to find Lord Nicholas, book in hand, sitting under a shade tree.

"I'm sorry." Charlotte rose, wiping at her tears. "I didn't see you."

His lips curved in a slight smile. "I didn't think you had." He closed his book and rose, concern in his eyes. "What's upset you, Charlotte?"

"N-nothing." She stammered, smoothing palms down her skirt. "I need to get back to the queen."

And she hurried off, drying her tears and fixing a smile in place as she entered the palace, leaving Nicholas gazing after her in concern.

As she entered the foyer, she met Clarisse and Joseph coming down the great stairs to dinner. Close behind them came Mia.

"Charlotte!" The queen came toward her. "Have you seen Nicholas?"

"Um, yes... Your Majesty... I just saw him out by the waterfall reading a book."

"Great. I'll go get him for dinner." She tossed a wave over her shoulder and headed outside.

Clarisse eyed her former aide with concern; it was obvious to her at least that Charlotte had been crying.

"Charlotte—" She reached out a hand but the other woman took a step back, turning it into a short bow as she moved toward the stairs.

"The Queen's travel to America is all set," She said, licking dry lips... she knew Clarisse had always been able to see right through her and she needed to get upstairs until she could compose herself again. "And all the arrangement have been made on that end. Also, everything is ready for the parade tomorrow."

Clarisse nodded slowly. "Goooood."

Charlotte bowed again. "Your Highness, Joseph." And she turned and fled up the staircase.

"She's upset." Joseph commented as he guided his wife into dinner.

"Yes." Clarisse frowned. "I'm not sure why, but it was something that was said during our aborted meeting this afternoon."

"Perhaps you were wrong..." Joe ventured.

She looked up at him as she sat down at the table. "But you agreed with me."

He nodded. "Yes. And I still do. Perhaps it has nothing to do with what you discussed."

Clarisse shook her head. "No, it was something that either Mia or I said that's upset her.

"Upset Charlotte?" Nicholas asked and he and Mia entered.

"How did you know?" Clarisses' eyes narrowed as she regarded her grandson-in-law.

"Nicholas saw her crying outside." Mia told them.

"I offered to talk with her but she was quite embarrassed and fled into the palace." Nick said.

"I'll speak with her after dinner," Clarisse decided.

"Grandma, maybe I should talk to her." Mia suggested. "I mean, if we did upset her this afternoon, she might be reluctant to tell you...well...."

"That she doesn't want to work with me again?" The former queen nodded with a smile. "Yes, you're right, darling. But talk to her tonight."

"And she informed us that your travel plans are in place." Joseph added.

"Great! I can't wait to see Lily again."

The dinner conversation flowed over Clarisse as she pondered Charlotte's unusual behavior. She replayed the afternoon's meeting over in her head, trying to decide whether the news had been welcome or not. It was when she replayed the dialogue that she set her fork down with a clatter.

"Oh God!"

"What?" Joseph was out of his chair in an instant. "Are you all right?"

Clarisse waved him away and turned to Mia.

"Mia, I've just realized why Charlotte is so distressed. We had just told her that you were thinking of having her train Lily to be your assistant... and then you got the phone call from your mother...."

Mia's eyes widened as she realized where her grandmother was going with this.

"And then you had to meet with the prime minister and I had a Parlament meeting... Oh my God Grandma! She probably thinks she's being fired!"

"Exactly." Clarisse nodded. "We must rectify this immediately." She shook her head. "The poor girl!"

Charlotte walked toward the Queen's suite with squared shoulders and a determination not to cry. No matter what. After all, she already knew they were letting her go, didn't she? So she should be able to get through this without any more tears. Those would come alter when she had to tell Shades she was ... well, going wherever she was going. Taking a breath of courage she tapped on the door and was bid enter.

"Charlotte!" Clarisse smiled at her former aide and indicated an armchair. "Come and sit down. We have some unfinished business to deal with."

'She doesn't have to look so happy about it.' Charlotte thought glumly as she sat down, looking expectantly at the two women.

"Charlotte," Mia leaned forward earnestly. "We think you came to the wrong conclusion before our meeting was interrupted."

"Yes, Charlotte, if you think you're being replaced, you're mistaken."

"But... Lily..." She trailed off, confused.

"Grandma thought that if you trained Lily to be my aide... assuming she likes the idea... then you would be happier."

Charlotte bit her lip, banking down on impending tears.

"Happier? Without my job?" It was a broken whisper and Clarisse rose, going to kneal in front of Charlotte's chair. She laid a hand on the other woman's and met the watery gaze.

"No, Charlotte. Happier working with me again."

Mia watched as Charlotte's miserable expression change to one of stunned disbelief.

"Say something, Charlotte." Clarisse said. "Have I made a terrible fool of myself? Are you happier working with Mia?"

"No!" Horrified, she glanced at the queen. "I mean... I'm happy working with you, Your Majesty." She said quickly, "I..."

"You won't hurt my feeling." Mia said softly. "If you had the choice, you'd rather work with Grandma, wouldn't you?"

Charlotte met Clarisse's eyes and nodded. "It's just that .... "She shrugged. "I can't explain it."

"Well I can. You love her and you're used to doing for her." Mia paused, a smile pulling at the corner of her mouth. "And maybe you worry just a little bit whether she's being taken care of properly?"

Charlotte flushed, but nodded.

The former queen breathed a sigh of relief and rose.

"Thank goodness for that. Joseph accused me of projecting my feeling onto you, Charlotte." She made a face. "I'd hate to have to tell him he was right."

They laughed.

"Well, now... " She peered at her soon to be aide. "My dear you're pale as a sheet. Are you all right?"

"Yes ma'am. When I came in, I thought... well I thought you were going to give me notice."

Clarisse shook her head, regret in the brilliant blue eyes.

"I am sorry, Charlotte. We never meant to upset you... things just got away from us."

"Yeah." Mia grinned, "And you're still stuck with me until you train Lily. I'll talk to her more about it when we get there tomorrow, but she's up for trying it."

"Good." Charlotte nodded, hands clutched in her lap. "Good."

"Um... why don't you go and start to devise some sort of 'lesson plan'," Clarisse suggested, "And we'll talk about it later... tomorrow, after the parade when Mia and Nicholas leave for the airport."

"Oh, yes ma'am." Hastily Charlotte rose and, with twin curtsies, left the room.

"Grandma," Mia frowned at the older woman. "Wasn't that a little abrupt?"

"No dear." Clarisse smiled. "It was just in time. The poor thing was about to burst into tears and I know she wouldn't have wanted to do that in front of us."

"Ah." Mia rose and hugged her. "Good job, Grandma."

Clarisse laughed, hugging her back.

Joseph walked into their suite to find his wife trying to fasten the clasp of her necklace.

"Oh, Joseph, can you help me?" Clarisse held out the offending chain. "Olivia's gone to the parade and I'm having trouble getting this fastened."

He moved behind her and fastened the necklace, then kissed the back of her neck.

"So how did it go?" He asked, kissing the back of her neck as he fastened the chain. "I didn't get a chance to ask last night."

"You mean with Charlotte?"

He nodded.

"Very well. I was right, while she's not unhappy with Mia, she admitted that if Lily were to take over she would prefer working with me again."

Joe smiled at her. "I never doubted you."

She gave him a look. "Of course you did, but then you convinced yourself when you spoke to her." She smiled, kissing him on the cheek. "Next time just admit I'm right and save yourself the trouble."

Joseph shook his head, then his expression sobered.

"Clarisse..."

"Um, I know that tone." She smiled slightly, head cocked as she turned to look at him. "I'm not going to like this am I?"

"I don't think so, no." Joseph agreed. "Clarisse, I'd like you to stay here."

She frowned. "I don't understand. We need to leave for the parade—"

"Yes, I know." Joe nodded, taking her hands in his. "But I'd like you to stay here."

"Not attend the parade?"

He nodded.

"Joseph, I can't do that! I need to be there with Mia. It's our first public appearance since the shooting. If I'm not there, the people of Genovia will think that something's wrong." She protested. "They'll think I'm really injured."

"You were injured, my darling, and I want you to stay here and rest. Watch it on television."

"That's nonsense!" Clarisse told him. "Tell me the real reason you don't want me to go and I'll consider it."

He regarded her for a long moment, then nodded.

"I received a note last night from our assassin. We think he's going to make his move during the parade."

She waited, listening.

"I think probably he's just taunting us... the clue was too blatant. But in case..."

"You want to concentrate on protecting Mia without having to worry about me." Clarisse finished.

Joseph nodded. "Yes."

She sighed. "All right. I don't like it, but I do see you point."

Joe kissed her forehead. "Thank you."

"Well, you'd better get going." She wrinkled her nose. "You don't want the queen to be late."

"I though the queen was never late?" He teased.

"Oh, go on!" As he turned to go, she stopped him. "Joseph."

He turned back.

"Yes?"

"Take care of her. And find out who's doing this."

"I promise."

And he was gone, leaving Clarisse with a feeling of apprehension creeping through her.

Half an hour later, in the security control room in the basement of the palace, he unlocked the door and entered the empty room. Flipping on the main monitor, he watched as Clarisse bid her husband goodbye. Joe motioned for Mia's guards to follow him, then headed for the queen's car.

With a sneer, he turned and left the room, heading outside. This was the payoff. This was when they'd both pay.