Part Five

The day after Queen Amelia's marriage to Lord Nicholas Deveraux was announced, the Viscount Mabrey was found dead in his study. It was believed that he died of apoplexy upon hearing the news that his nephew was going to marry the queen. Although everyone had assumed that Lord Nicholas was next in line to inherit the title and his uncle's estate, it had been revealed that Nicholas had an older cousin living in America. The title and estate reverted to him, as his father, Charles, had been the brother just two years younger than Arthur Mabrey and a year older than Nicholas' father. Unfortunately, Charles and his wife had died in a car accident a few years ago, but their son was more than ready to return to Genovia to claim his rightful inheritance.

"Has he ever lived here?" Mia asked Joseph as she and Nicholas lounged in the older couple's rooms a week after Arthur Mabrey's death. "Nick's cousin, I mean. I KNOW his uncle did."

"I believe he did, until he was a teenager," Joseph replied. "I'm still trying to get the story straight. I think the best thing would be for you to wait until he comes, then ask him yourself."

"I think he's coming in a couple of days," Nicholas said. "When I talked to him this morning, he sounded eager to come back, especially now that Grandfather Nicholas and Uncle Arthur are both gone. But, Mia," he turned to his fiancée, "What if this cousin turns out to be like my uncle?"

"Then we'll have to ditch him somewhere." Mia grinned.

"Mia!" Clarisse remonstrated, rather feebly. Then she looked at Nicholas, "Now that your uncle is gone, have you had a chance to look through some of the papers to see if you can find your birth certificate?"

"No, not yet. I guess I should do that. But the papers really belong to my cousin, and I'd just as soon let him go through everything. I'm sure he'll let me know if he finds it. He sounds like a decent sort over the phone. He's a lawyer, you know, so he won't likely be breaking any laws."

"I should hope not!" Clarisse said.

"I just wish I had known of his existence before this. I can't believe no one told me I had a cousin! I had thought my father and Uncle Arthur were the only children in the family!"

"Does your cousin have a family?" asked Joseph. "He must be in his late thirties or early forties, isn't he?"

"Yes, I think so. And no, he said no children and he's no longer married."

"No LONGER married?" Mia looked puzzled. "What does that mean? He's divorced? Widowed?"

"I didn't ask," Nicholas shrugged. "I suppose we'll find out when he comes."

"What's his name?" Clarisse asked. "We can't keep calling him 'he' and 'him' forever!"

"Well, he'll be the Viscount Mabrey, I assume!" Mia grinned.

Clarisse frowned at her reprovingly, but Mia only giggled.

"Adrian. Adrian Whidden." Nicholas said. "Sorry, I forgot you didn't know that."

"It has been rather difficult finding ANY information on your family, Nicholas," Joseph said.

"You've been trying?" Nicholas asked. "Why? I've got my driver's licence now."

"Oh, not for you. No, just another personal matter ..." Joseph carefully didn't look at Clarisse. She had informed him in confidence just the other day of Charlotte's quest, and, intrigued, he had begun his search. He was almost as fond of Charlotte as Clarisse was, and wanted to help her find whatever joy he could in her life. He had shaken his head, however, at Clarisse's insistence that Charlotte and Shades would be a perfect couple, having seen more clearly than his wife that Charlotte's affection for Shades was not enough basis for a truly happy marriage.

Almost as if she had picked up Joseph's thoughts, Mia suddenly turned to Clarisse and said, "Grandma, what's Charlotte's secret?"

"I BEG your pardon?" Clarisse raised her eyebrows and assumed a slightly puzzled look, knowing that her skills as an actress were supreme. "May I ask why you think that Charlotte has anything to hide?"

"You two have been close ever since I met you ... and it has something to do with Charlotte's supposedly non-existent love-life. Like I really believed that. I mean, I have eyes. I can see Shades is really, really smitten! That's who you were talking about with her in the summer, isn't it? When she kept insisting he was just a friend? So, shoot, Grandma. What's the scoop?"

Nicholas stared at the two women. "Charlotte ... and SHADES? Whoa! I'd never have suspected that!"

Mia glared at him. "And why not? Charlotte's really sweet ... and Shades is a bit of a hunk!" Nicholas just grimaced at that.

"The 'why not' that I see, my dear Mia," Joseph said smoothly, "is that Charlotte treats Shades like an older brother, and he treats her like a kid sister. They make better siblings than lovers!"

Sniffing, Mia said, "Well, I'VE never noticed that, but ... well, okay, so it's not Shades she's secretly in love with. WHO was Charlotte saying is just a friend, then, Grandma?"

"Shades," Clarisse pretended to admit rather reluctantly. "Like you, Mia, I thought maybe there was something between them, but I'm afraid we were wrong. We certainly have to believe Charlotte, anyway. She has never been very good at lying!"

"True enough. Oh, all right. I'll buy your story this time. But I'll keep watching! I KNOW you and Charlotte aren't telling me everything!"

"Mia, darling," Nicholas said, "Why don't you concentrate on me instead of Charlotte?"

Mia rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Well, I'm heading for bed. Good night, Grandma, Joe. See you in the morning. Walk me 'home', Nicky?" She kissed Clarisse and Joseph and left, followed by Nicholas.

"She suspects something," Joseph said to his wife, "and she won't let it rest until she uncovers the secret. I hope when this Adrian Whidden arrives, he can shed some light on at least ONE of the mysteries we are trying to solve!"

"I wonder if there is any way that Nicholas IS Charlotte's baby? I understand they've always celebrated his birthday in October, though, and her son was born in May. That's a big time lapse, especially with children!"

As he got ready for bed, Joseph shook his head. "Doesn't really seem logical. It'd be almost easier to believe that LIONEL is her son! Too bad we know that's not possible. It's also a shame that we can't ask Sebastian's sister if there were any other babies born that day in the hospital that she can remember. I don't suppose Sebastian would know, would he?"

"It's hardly a SHAME that Eloise and her husband are away at the moment!" Clarisse said. "They deserve a good, long holiday now that they've retired and Lionel is at school! And I doubt Sebastian would have noticed. Sheila might have, but they weren't married then, were they?"

"I don't think so. You could always ask, though. Discreetly, of course."

"Of course." Clarisse smiled. "I'm ALWAYS discreet." She got into bed and snuggled up to Joseph. "The only time I was EVER discovered in a compromising situation was that morning when Charlotte walked in on you and I before we were married. And no one has ever mentioned it."

"That only shows that CHARLOTTE is discreet, my dear, not you!" Joseph kissed the tip of her nose. "YOU, as I recall, were shamefully, blatantly, delightfully wanton, at least to me." As his lips covered hers, his hands began to rove, and soon both were absorbed in each other to the exclusion of everything else.

O o O o O o

Adrian Whidden arrived in Genovia the following Monday evening. Nicholas met him at the airport, drove him to the estate, and helped him settle in somewhat. When Nicholas arrived back at the palace, Mia, Clarisse and Joseph were waiting eagerly to hear what his impressions were of the new Viscount.

"He's as nice in person as he sounded," Nicholas reported.

"How old is he?" Mia asked.

Nicholas looked blank. "I didn't ask. Didn't Joe say he was around forty?"

"What does he look like?" was Mia's next question.

Shrugging, Nicholas said, "He has black hair, blue eyes ... I don't know what you mean by what he looks like!"

"Does he look like you or your uncle?" Clarisse asked the next question.

"Or is he awesomely handsome?" Mia grinned teasingly at her fiancé.

"He's just a guy," Nicholas shrugged again. "You can see him tomorrow for yourselves. He said he wanted to jump right in to things, so asked if he could attend the Parliament session. Naturally I said he could -- he'll be taking Uncle's place."

"When will we get to meet him? Before or after the session?" Clarisse asked. "Wait ... let me watch Parliament from that secret passage so I can see what he looks like and how he handles himself in a public situation, then introduce me afterwards."

Mia sounded shocked when she said, "Grandma! Are you asking that I actually CONDONE your spying on state matters dealt with in the privacy of the chamber of Parliament? I can't believe you said that!"

For a moment Clarisse looked almost shamefaced, then she caught sight of the twinkle in Mia's eyes as her grand-daughter looked at Nicholas. "Oh, you!"

Accordingly, the following day, Clarisse and Joseph were watching from the secret passageway as the members of Parliament gathered. Sebastian Motaz and Mia were conversing in an undertone at the front, casting frequent anticipatory glances toward the doors. Lord Palimore was settling into his chair and smothering a yawn. Lord Crawley was arguing with Lord Harmony ... well, Clarisse corrected herself, TRYING to argue. Lord Harmony kept nodding in agreement while looking elsewhere. Charlotte was laughing and talking with the woman next to her as she walked up to her place beside the Viscount's empty chair. Just as Charlotte was sitting down, her face went white and she dropped into her seat as if she had been shot, her eyes wide with shock.

"What happened?" Clarisse whispered agitatedly to Joseph.

"What do you mean, what happened?" he whispered back.

"Look at Charlotte!"

Just then, Nicholas stepped into view with a tall man by his side. "Your Majesty, Prime Minister, I would like to introduce my cousin, Adrian Whidden, the new Viscount."

"Oh MY!" Clarisse whispered again when everyone clapped and Adrian bowed. "Do you think ... is it possible? Is this Adrian, by any chance, the boy Charlotte married?"

"That's a bit of a stretch even for YOU, my dear Clarisse," Joseph said quietly. "Don't you think you're jumping to conclusions?"

"But LOOK at her! She's stunned to see him!"

"Maybe she knew him when they were children? Just wait ... and watch!"

Adrian spoke to Mia and Sebastian, then addressed the rest of Parliament and thanked them for the welcome. Nicholas showed him to his seat, saying, "You're sitting between Lord Crawley and Charlotte ..." Adrian had stopped dead the moment his gaze had rested on Charlotte, who by now had looked down, shadowing her face behind the fall of the long curls of the white wig all the Parliamentarians were wearing. Nicholas stared at his cousin. "What's the matter?"

"Oh, nothing. Sorry." Adrian took his place, avoiding looking to his right and instead smiling at the man to his left, then up at the Prime Minister and queen who were waiting to begin the session.

Up in the secret passageway, Clarisse was gripping Joseph's arm. "See?" she hissed. "He knows her too! I'll bet he IS her husband! Oh, I can't WAIT to see how this plays out! I wonder if they'll fall in love again and get married again? Wouldn't that be ...?"

"Clarisse!" Joseph shut the little door and propelled his wife out of the room, down the stairs and back into the little alcove chapel. "Until you know anything for sure, preferably from Charlotte herself, or even from Adrian, PLEASE try to control your flights of fancy!" Then he relented as he saw her crestfallen expression and hugged her. "Still, I must confess, I HOPE you are right!"

"Oh, Joseph!" Clarisse threw her arms around him and kissed him deeply.

To Be Continued ...