Mia decided that it was time to confront her Grandmother. She was so eager to find out the answers to her questions.

Clarisse was still deep in thought. She was wondering what to say to her people. Should she tell them the truth, or take Joseph's suggestion and lie? It was a hard decision to make and she was leaning towards lying.

"My dear, I've just heard from Mr. Fawkner who heard from Ms. Watson who heard from Ms. Daily who heard from Mrs. Tilling, that Mia is onto us."

Clarisse's mouth dropped.

"Apparently she's been asking around. Trying to find out who the lucky man was."

"Oh dear. What did she find out?"

"Nothing, so I hear. The maids say that the only thing she's found out was that you and I spent a lot of time together."

"Then it's only a matter of time until she figures it out."

Joseph didn't quite know what to say, "I think we should tell her."

"What?"

"I think we should tell her."

"You know, you're right. Right as always. I…I…should explain to her in person, rather than have her find out from some saucy rumour, isn't that so?"

"I think it would be best."

Mia was seated at the kitchen table eating "iced cream" by the bucket load as she always did when she was upset.

Nicholas came up behind her and wrapped his hands around her neck, causing her to smile slightly, "I have some news."

Mia turned to face him.

"Your Grandmother and Joseph have asked me to tell you that you're to join them in their suite at nine o clock. It seems they want to tell you something."

"Are you kidding? Did they say what?"

"No, but it was implied."

"They're going to tell me right?"

He raised an eyebrow and smiled.

Mia dropped her spoon and ran straight for their suite.

"I see you got the memo," Clarisse started, "you're a little early."

"I hear you have something to tell me?"

Joseph spoke next, "Sit down, my dear. We have much to discuss."

She took a seat on the sofa with Clarisse while Joseph sat down in the armchair.

"Amelia. Mia. I've heard that you have been questioning the maids in order to find out who I was with in 1972. Joseph tells me that you're getting closer to finding out, so I thought it would be best if I told you myself, all in good time. I'm going to start from when we met, then eventually, when I've told you why we did what we did, I will tell you who his name."

"Why don't you just tell me now?"

"Because, then you won't pay attention to the rest of what I have to say. We met one day in 1967 when he came to work at the palace. It was love at first sight. He was tall, handsome, mysterious, witty…romantic. I was young, pretty, bored and feeling flirtatious."

"What did he do?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"His job. You said he came to work at the palace, so what were his duties?"

"He was a night watchman at the time. A splendid one at that. He used to walk the grounds as if he was on a mission. He took his job very seriously."

"Did you know him, Joe?"

"In a matter of speaking, yes."

Mia was getting suspicions; perhaps the rumours were true.

"Anyway. This man and I spent endless hours talking. He was my favourite companion, especially when Rupert and the boys were away. Over the years, we became closer and closer to each other. I asked Rupert if he would be willing to promote the man to my personal bodyguard. He agreed and I was so happy. We got to spend more time together than ever because we had an excuse to."

"You are one sneaky woman, Grandma."

She continued, "He would often tell me that he had feelings for me and I would tell him the same. We both knew we were in love and wanted to show each other exactly how much, the only problem was, we couldn't.

One summer, Rupert decided to take the boys on a fishing holiday and left me all alone in the big, empty palace. I decided that I should make good use of the time I had."

"So what did you do?"

"Naturally, I sent all the workers off the estate and out to dinner. Except for one in particular. He was to stay and keep me company. I think he already knew what I had in store for him, but he didn't say a word.

I led him to his room and motioned for him to go inside. He did, and I followed. We were lying down on his bed discussing whether or not we were about to make a huge mistake. He told me that if we did end up… he would not say a word to anybody about it. After lying there for a while, I decided that it probably wouldn't be a good idea, so I got up and walked to the door. He seemed to be okay with my decision but said something that made me stop and run back to him; 'The heart does things for reasons that reason cannot understand.'"

Mia glared at the smiling Joseph. That confirmed it. He had said that to her at her almost wedding. She was now convinced that the mystery man was indeed, the one who had been right under her nose. She felt shocked, yet bewildered at the same time.

"Grandma, you are going to skip the part where you and Joseph sleep together, aren't you?"

"I BEG your pardon?"

"Well, it's just…I don't want to hear all the raunchy details…"

"So you figured it out then? Well done!"

Clarisse was shocked, "JOSEPH!"

He laughed at her as she lightly smacked him on the arm.

"So what happened the day after? Was there weirdness between you two?"

"Not really. I was ashamed of myself for what I had done, yet I felt very much satisfied. I had disgraced my family and my country, but I had been given the best night of my life. I would often think to myself; 'as long as they don't find out, it's not a problem.'

That seemed to calm my nerves. I trusted Joseph and knew he wouldn't tell anybody. So I assumed they would never find out. I was quite happy with all the new emotions that I had dwelling inside of me. Little did I know that there was something else dwelling inside me too."