Chapter 7


After having his flight delayed for several hours, Joseph was more than happy to finally be back at the palace. He snickered to himself, at thinking that he lived in a palace. Joseph was thankful he traveled light, having to carry only a small bag and one hourglass as he trudged up the steps to the main entrance. Returning a rather quiet and short "good morning" to the guards, Joseph finally stepped into the cool foyer of the palace.

There at his feet were four black bags, and Joseph's heart sunk when he realized who they belonged to. He had saw those particular bags before, in Cairo, his initials imprinted in silver so clearly on each one. Realizing he was on his way out, Joseph concluded he had spent the night. Spent the night here, in this palace; when he was gone; in this palace; Clarisse's palace; alone once more with his Queen. Joseph took a deep breath, and he squeezed on the hourglass inside his front jacket pocket as he headed for the stairs.

Mentally noting to himself that he should take the long route to his room from now on, Joseph came across the sight he had been not only trying to suppress from his mind, but also trying to avoid altogether.

"Thank you for last night, Talmadge," she whispered in his ear as she hugged her friend good-bye for the second time in such a short while. Breaking it apart, she kissed his cheek, then his lips, showing him that he was still very important to her, even if their relationship would go no further.

"You are so very welcome. I hope I was of some help," Talmadge offered her, unknowing to him that Joseph heard his every word.

"Yes, oh yes you were. I'll never forget it, that much is for certain. Now, let me walk you out before I am bombarded with work." Clarisse took his arm, ready to walk him downstairs.

"Oh, Joseph, good morning," she smiled to him, for him this time, not knowing he had mistook the few words just spoken.

"Good morning, Your Majesty, Sir," Joseph replied, nodding to both very formally as he passed them, deciding it would be best to just head to his room instead of taking up conversation.


"I hope I was of some help," Joseph mocked the words as he fell backwards across his bed. "I'll never forget it," also slipped out of his mouth, remembering the kiss Clarisse had planted on that man. "I'll never forget it," he whispered, bringing the hourglass out of his pocket, and really looked at it for the first time. The sand was falling, but this time it was different, it was really falling. The top chamber was emptying fast, filling the bottom to it's peak. Then he remembered the old woman, the words she said as he was leaving, "I will be here not much longer Joseph. It belongs to you now. My time is running out with the sand," Joseph repeated. As his own sentence ended, so did the falling of the grains.

He laid there wishing he knew the truth, wanting to know if she had passed on. When in his heart he did. Something told him she had, and he chose to believe that she had told him the truth, for he had put his trust in her. Now would not be the time to disbelieve, as Joseph realized that the old seer had told him of his own life as well. Right now his own life confused him, so he wanted, needed, to hold onto something he knew to be honest and true.

Joseph pulled himself up, looking for someplace to set the hourglass, someplace where he would see it often and remember her. "There," he concluded, setting the item softly next to his own mother's picture. It was right to set it there; two women who had moulded his life, cared for him, and two who had found a special place in his heart.


Queen Clarisse Renaldi had yet to sign a document in the right place today, unless guided by Charlotte. She had yet to get past the first paragraph of a letter or document. After the first phone conversation, Charlotte had taken it upon herself to take messages only, just for today. It was quite obvious the Queen had other things on her mind.

Putting her pen down and resting her glasses on the desk, Clarisse gave up. She headed out to the garden, thinking maybe a little sunshine would light her way. Her heels clicked on the stone pathway, the only sound besides Maurice rummaging through her hedges again, no doubt after his ball.

Being Queen, Clarisse had little time for herself. Even now, here on the garden path, seeing no one, she knew she was not alone. Sighing to herself, she thought how it was the first time in quite awhile that she really had taken notice of his presence. She couldn't understand why, why it was that someone she cared so much for, she would always push away. She could understand the coldness about him lately. She had noticed that several times, along with the blank stares and obvious lack of concentration when it came to his job. He did have something else on his mind, Clarisse was beginning to piece together just what that was.

It was doing no good. She had walked the stone path twice now, and still he had not joined her. It had been a good hour, an hour of waiting, yearning, hoping, and overall nervousness. Clarisse needed him now, needed him to join her on one of her walks. She knew he had been watching. Today was the first time he had not joined her.


Her steps were smooth, and the swaying of her hips almost drove him mad. Joseph leaned against the window, hands resting on the smooth glass surface, almost ready to push out the glass just to get to her.

He watched her walk, running her hands and fingers over the flowers and leaves that were her pride and joy. The confusion in him bounded, even multiplied. How could he believe another was meant for him. His forehead rested on the glass too now. He had been too eager before, looking for the colors before it was time. "Colors," he repeated aloud, vowing himself to try and forget about them. If there was another woman for him, it would have to wait until he was over this one; the one strolling through the gardens below.

It took all the energy he possessed not to go to her, not to walk with her now. After all, she probably didn't want him there anyway, not that close. His job may be to watch her, but he could do that from here. It was relatively safer, he thought, for all concerned.

Joseph thought back to this morning, beating his forehead gently on the glass. Yes, this man had spent the night with her. Yes, she had wanted him to. Clarisse seemed to be happy. With this Joseph settled into a 'let it be' mode. He had no rights to her, after all he was just her bodyguard. This other man was much more well suited to court a Queen.

When she finally disappeared underneath his view, obviously coming inside, Joseph tore himself away from the window. He would keep his distance. In keeping that, he headed for the main control room.


"Joseph," Clarisse called to him as she opened the door to the empty room. She knew he watched her from here, the room being small and relatively empty except for a chair or two; it was used for security purposes only. The windows were large, and the view of the back gardens were expansive. Clarisse glanced around, sighing at finding it empty.

The sun shining in through the windows was magnificent. Curious as to the view he had seen, Clarisse found herself walking over to the windows. It was magnificent. She had hardly ever really noticed the gardens from a view like this. It was almost as good as being out in the midst of it.

Backing away, she noticed the slight smudges on the glass. Smiling to herself, yes, he had been here. Joseph was well-known for smudging the windows in the palace. He was the only one who would dare to cross the housekeepers.

Needing to find him, Clarisse left the room, unsure of where to go from there. Feeling the excitement in her body at the thought of him, she decided to use the Queen's influence. She would send some guards for him, immediately.


"Excuse me, Joseph," a young sharp-dressed palace guard interrupted his camera fiddling. "You are required to come with us, sir."

Joseph looked down from the top of the ladder where he had been replacing a camera lens. Two palace guards stood below, at attention, waiting for his descent. He looked to Shades, who had watched them approach and call for him. With a shrugging of his shoulders, Shades relayed a "I have no idea" message. Being quite nervous at having guards waiting for him, Joseph almost lost his footing, luckily catching himself on the way down.

"What is this all about," Joseph finally found the words to ask as he set foot on the floor.

"We are just doing our job, sir. Her Majesty ordered us to bring you to the throne room, immediately." The two guards stepped on either side of him, ushering him towards their Queen.


Queen Clarisse Renaldi sat on the throne of Genovia. She had opted to wear a tiara, quietly amusing herself with what his reaction would be. At least she hoped at what his reaction might be. Her hands squeezed the arms rests, uneasy at waiting.