Part Four
In spite of Clarisse's impatience to get the matters of both Nicholas and Charlotte resolved, she had to accept that some things just couldn't be rushed. The Viscount's family was an old one, and a very powerful one in Genovia. When the old Viscount had wanted to hush things up, they had stayed state secrets, and even now that he had been gone for eighteen years, the present Viscount had maintained his father's attitudes. It was almost impossible for an outsider to find out what had gone on in the Mabrey family in the past.
Clarisse and Joseph had their month in France, and came back mid-November to find that Genovia had survived their absence quite well. Joseph laughed at Clarisse for feeling a little downhearted that she had been replaced and, in some ways, outshone by her own grand-daughter. Charlotte had, naturally, acquitted herself well in Parliament, in spite of sitting next to the grumpy Viscount Mabrey who had returned to his seat the previous week after finding out that Parliament was proceeding quite well without him in spite of women 'infiltrating' the system. Upon her return, Clarisse was especially happy to see that Charlotte seemed to be becoming very close to Genovia's Head of Security, and she sincerely hoped that the two were as serious about each other as they appeared.
When Clarisse carefully broached the subject with her aide the next day, however, Charlotte merely smiled and shook her head. "We are extremely good friends, Clarisse. YOU should know what it's like to be friends, and nothing more."
Sighing, Clarisse said, "I guess I had hoped that, with time ..."
"Shades is very sweet. ALMOST as wonderful as Philippe was. Sometimes I wonder if there's something wrong with me, because ... well, I just can't find it in me to really love anyone," Charlotte said softly. "If I COULD, with Shades' persistence, I'm sure I could answer the way you so obviously would like to hear ..."
"He's persistent, is he?" Clarisse raised an eyebrow teasingly. "Sounds, well, rather promising, actually ..."
Charlotte chuckled. "You know, your Majesty ..." she stressed the formal address with a grin, "SOME people believe that a love life, or lack thereof, should be private, not public!"
"I haven't said a word to ANYONE! Not even Joseph! How's THAT for private?" demanded Clarisse with a smile.
"I'm very impressed. Not even Joseph? You haven't talked about me at all with him?" Suddenly Charlotte turned serious.
Clarisse followed suit, taking Charlotte's hands and saying earnestly, "I said I wouldn't tell anyone, and I haven't. But Charlotte, I really WOULD like Joseph to know, because there's a very good chance he can help us. He knows so many people and has a lot of influence ..."
Charlotte chewed her lip as she thought about what Clarisse was saying. "I know you're right about Joe, but ... oh, all right. I guess you can tell him. I just ... I just don't want too many people knowing. I've only ever told Philippe and you."
"It's your business, Charlotte, and you are the one who should tell just who you want to know. I don't think many people NEED to know about it -- unless they can be of some help!"
"But you will tell Joe, won't you? I ... well, I'm a little embarrassed. I was so silly back then ..."
"Not silly. NEVER silly. Young, yes. In love, yes. Overwhelmed by circumstances, yes. But not silly, Charlotte. Yes, I'll speak with Joseph if that's what you wish. Now, tell me, while I was gone, was there any more scandal with Mia and Nicholas?"
Charlotte laughed. "No. They've both been too busy. Sebastian Motaz has seen to that! Thanks to Joseph's intervention, Nicholas' driver's licence came through the day after you two left, but he hasn't been seen driving anywhere. He's working with the Minister of Health and Welfare, revamping the entire restaurant inspection code. He tries out all of his ideas in the palace kitchen, and so far none of our chefs have resigned. I suppose they're afraid he'll just step into their jobs quite happily."
Clarisse smiled. "I'm glad things are working out for him. He still hasn't spoken with his uncle?"
"No, I'm afraid not. The Viscount discourages anyone from speaking with him, especially Nicholas."
"So, no scandal. Any signs of Mia and Nicholas furthering their romance and deciding to marry?"
"Clarisse, I must say that since your marriage to Joe, you seem to have a one-track mind!" Charlotte couldn't resist teasing the former queen. "All you think about is romance and pairing everyone off!"
"Well, not everyone," Clarisse accepted the teasing complacently. "Just those I care about. I still think you and Scott would make a lovely couple."
"Yes, we would," Charlotte admitted quietly. "But it's hard to fall in love with someone when you love someone else."
"Still?" Clarisse's eyes were compassionate.
Charlotte nodded, her eyes distant as she mused, "Even after all these years of not having seen him, I keep wondering if it would be different if I met him again ... if I would fall OUT of love ... or if it would be just as strong as before. I was very young, as was he ... or so my parents told me. I desperately tried to fall in love with Shades, but it hasn't happened. If Philippe had been in love with me, I might have felt more for him than I did ... but both remained on the friend side and never crossed the line to lover, and to be very honest, I'm not sure why. That's just the way it is with me now, I guess."
After a moment, Clarisse offered hesitantly, "If you gave us a name, we could try to trace him ..."
"No!" Charlotte was vehement about that. "No, but thank you. If he was interested, he would have come looking for me ..."
"Oh, Charlotte! Maybe something prevented that ... an accident or ..."
"Believe me, I've thought about all possible scenarios, Clarisse, but I just can't bear to know for sure that he doesn't want me. I can't take the risk. No, I will concentrate on finding our son. He's the only one who matters now. I'll be fine. Really. I'm very happy with what I am doing and the people around me and for the most part, I can bury my longings for my family ..."
"You shouldn't have to, Charlotte," Clarisse shook her head. "But it is your life, as you say."
That night, Clarisse, Joseph, Mia, Nick, and Charlotte were invited to dine at the Motaz residence. Charlotte had tried to demur, but Sheila had insisted that she be present, as one of the new Members of Parliament. After a delicious meal, they moved into the sitting room, and Charlotte wandered over to look at a collage of pictures hanging on one of the walls. Clarisse and Mia followed her, and smiled at the baby pictures of both Sheila and Sebastian as well as Marissa. Then Clarisse pointed out another couple with a baby, and asked Sheila who they were.
"That's Sebastian's sister and her husband and Lionel. The picture was taken the day they brought Lionel home from the hospital. Such a happy occasion! Eloise had been told she could never have children, and they had never thought the day would come when they would be bringing a son into their home!" Sheila said.
"A nice spring morning, too, I see," Clarisse commented, "with the pear trees in blossom."
"Yes. In 1984, we had a late spring, actually. Lionel was born May 30th ..."
Charlotte started, and her face went white. Clarisse's eyes widened, then she began to talk rapidly and changed the subject to cover for her aide. "I see you have all Marissa's school pictures as well, Sheila! She's growing up to be a lovely young lady."
"Yes, she is. And she's pestering to get in Parliament and maybe even be your aide, Mia. She thinks the world of you, Charlotte. I'm sure she's planning to model her life after yours."
The colour was gradually coming back into Charlotte's face, and she tried to smile at Sheila as she murmured, "I hope she has a far BETTER life, but I - I'm flattered that she wants to emulate me."
Mia had been watching the exchange with narrowed eyes as she looked from Charlotte to her grandmother and back again. Something definitely was up with the two of them, and she was determined to get to the bottom of it! In the meantime, however, she and Nicholas had something to announce.
"Could I have everyone's attention?" Mia asked. They all looked at her, and Nicholas grinned, coming to stand beside her.
"You're going to tell them, are you?" he said.
"Unless YOU want to," Mia returned.
"We can tell them together." Nicholas suggested.
"Or we could probably guess," Sheila Motaz clapped her hands. "You two are going to get married!"
"That's right," Mia beamed. She submitted to being hugged and kissed by everyone, and Nicholas stood by her side grinning happily. "Now, we aren't going to get married for a while. I want to enjoy my engagement this time." She made a face as she thought of the short, hectic engagement she had endured with Andrew. "But I think it would be nice to have an engagement ball. I love having the balls, and Grandma, you and Joe dance so elegantly at them. Even though Joe tried to teach me, I'm not nearly as graceful. But if we have enough balls, surely Nicholas and I will gain a reputation as great dancers too, do you think?"
Joseph and Sebastian roared with laughter, and the women chuckled. Then Clarisse said, "I suppose anything is possible, Mia. So, when did you want to announce the engagement publicly?"
"Well, tomorrow, I guess. And do the balcony wave thing then. It'll soon be Christmas, and we have a ball for that anyway, so I guess we can just combine Christmas and the engagement and have a real bash. Would that be all right? That'll give us a month to prepare."
"Now that the Winter Castle is free again, do you want to have the ball there as usual instead of here in Pyrus?" Charlotte asked, rummaging for her ever-present clipboard and pen to take notes.
"Actually, I had thought we could get married at the Winter Castle -- just because it won't remind anyone of that other wedding I walked out on." Mia said.
"You want to get married this Christmas?" Clarisse was staggered. "I thought you said you wanted a long engagement!
Mia and Nicholas laughed, then Nicholas said, "Mia wanted a long engagement, I don't. So I convinced her that if we got married between Christmas and New Year's, the engagement was still almost twice as long as her last one."
"I don't suppose there's much reason to wait," Clarisse mused, "if you are both very sure this is what you want."
"We're sure. Besides, YOU only waited a couple of days before you married Joe!" Mia said cheekily.
"Yes, but we were older and wiser," Joseph reminded her.
"Older yes, but sometimes I'm not sure about the wiser," sighed Clarisse. "Sebastian? Sheila? What do YOU think?"
"Oh, I'm SURE you're wiser as well as older, your Majesty," Sebastian grinned.
Clarisse swatted him at the same time as Sheila did. Then Sheila said, "Mia, I think you will make a beautiful bride, and really, it has been obvious to just about everyone that you've cared for Nicholas almost since you met! I think it's a wonderful idea to get married in the mountains at Christmas time. It is definitely a change from the cathedral here!"
"Do you think Uncle Pierre would do the service, or does the Archbishop have to since I'm the queen?" Mia asked.
"I'm sure Pierre would be delighted to assist in the service, the way he did for Joseph and I," Clarisse replied. "But yes, because you are the queen, the Archbishop SHOULD be involved."
"I thought so," Mia sighed. Then she perked up. "But because it's going to be during the Christmas holidays, it'll mean Mom and Patrick and Trevor can come back again. She was so excited when I told her that Nick and I were going to be married."
"I think this occasion calls for a toast!" Sebastian ordered champagne to be brought, and Mia and Nicholas were congratulated and wished all the best for their future.
Charlotte had remained quiet throughout most of the evening, and when the limousine arrived back at the palace, Clarisse detained her for a moment in the foyer while the others hurried off. "Charlotte? Tell me, please. Your son was born May 30th too, wasn't he?"
"Yes," Charlotte whispered. "Imagine. He's the same age EXACTLY as Lionel! I suppose I could have looked in Lionel's file, but it never occurred to me ... It was, well, it was a bit of a shock." She paused, then took a deep breath, "Well, thank you for covering for me this evening. Good night, Clarisse."
"Good night, Charlotte. Sleep well." Clarisse watched with troubled eyes as Charlotte walked swiftly away.
To Be Continued ...
