Chapter Three
Through the fall months, Charlotte settled more thoroughly into life in the palace in Genovia. Still being more shy and reserved than many others who worked there, it wasn't long before she had the reputation of being 'choosy'. Talk still circulated from time to time linking her romantically with Joseph, since he no longer was seen in the sole company of anyone else other than Charlotte and the queen. Charlotte kept her own counsel about that, satisfied that at least Queen Clarisse and Joseph knew the truth. Her job, which she was discovering to be more and more fascinating every day, kept her much too busy to lament her lack of love life or, indeed, her lack of family. The more she delved into Genovian life when dealing with the queen's business affairs, the more she wondered about her heritage, but she really didn't have a lot of time to devote to her search. Knowing that Joseph would help should she ever decide to try to locate her mother's family seemed to be enough at this point.
One autumn afternoon, Charlotte arrived early at the library where she was to meet with Queen Clarisse to attend to some charity organizational matters. Having a few moments at her disposal, Charlotte began to look around more. She discovered that a full-length curtain on one side hid a small alcove with some quite interesting-looking books. She was crouched on the floor examining them, holding the curtain back for extra light, when she heard voices at the door and the knob turning. Panicking, convinced she was not supposed to be where she was, Charlotte dropped the curtain into place and remained hidden, peering out through the crack between the material and the wall to see who was coming in. It was Joseph and the queen.
They looked around, and a puzzled Queen Clarisse said, "Charlotte is supposed to meet me here. I do hope she hasn't forgotten."
"I doubt it. You know how she loves this job."
"Does she really? You know, Joseph, I don't tell her often enough, but she is the sweetest girl! I just love her. I only wish I could help her find her family."
"If she doesn't want to find them, there's no reason for you to help. It IS her call."
"Yes, but ..."
"Clarisse, my dear, we're alone right now. Could we possibly take a few moments for ourselves?"
Charlotte's eyes widened. She could almost feel the intensity charging the air between the two.
The queen touched his cheek gently. "A few moments, Joseph, is really all I can spare. I'm so sorry..."
Their kiss was sweet, unrestrained. Charlotte blinked, knowing she should not be watching, knowing she should let them know she was here, knowing she would never dream of letting either of them know she had discovered their secret.
Joseph smoothed a thumb across Queen Clarisse's bottom lip, the action rawly sensual in Charlotte's view. "Here we go again," he said.
'Again?' thought Charlotte, her heart pounding.
"Umm," the queen sighed deeply, her eyes closed.
"Should I apologize for being so familiar with her Majesty?" his mouth now found the queen's ear, but even though he whispered, Charlotte could hear him clearly.
"No," the queen murmured, arching her neck for him to kiss her throat.
"Is it all right if we try again, then?"
She didn't answer, but this time leaned in and kissed him. With a hand at the back of her neck, he deepened the kiss, the only sounds in the room the quickening of their breaths.
Charlotte scrunched her eyes closed and bit her lip hard, clenching her hand on the bookshelf to help balance herself. Her legs were becoming very cramped in the crouched position, but she was too scared to move for fear of revealing her presence. She had no idea how either Joseph or the queen would react to her finding them in such intimate circumstances!
Then footsteps could be heard, and a brisk knock came on the door. The queen sprang back from Joseph, smoothing her hands across her skirt. "Yes?" she called out in a surprisingly steady voice.
"Your Majesty? I'm very sorry to bother you, but the new security guard just arrived, and we were wondering if you knew where Joseph might be." The housekeeper, Mrs. Cowt, only opened the door a crack. "He and Charlotte were last seen out in the garden about half an hour ago, but now the garden is empty."
Joseph moved soundlessly to the French doors and let himself out onto the balcony, nodding to Clarisse who waited only a second before stepping towards the door and fully opening it to confront Mrs. Cowt face-to-face. "I was supposed to meet Charlotte here in a few minutes to go over some papers. Perhaps she might have some idea where Joseph can be found," she suggested. "As Charlotte isn't here yet, however, she could still be in the office. I'll come along with you there."
The two left, and Charlotte sagged against the bookcase for a moment before straightening up and slowly working the cramps out of her legs then stepping out of the alcove. So it was true! She had been right to suspect that Joseph and the queen were more than mere friends. A smile spread across her face. How wonderful! She planned to help them all she could to keep this relationship a secret, if that was what they wished.
O o O o O o O o O o
At the winter castle over the Christmas period, Charlotte was not quite as busy as she had been while still in Pyrus. After refusing countless invitations in the city, she finally agreed to spending more time with the new security guard, who went by the nickname of Shades. He was Genovian by birth, but had spent most of his growing-up years in Los Angeles, California, so he and Charlotte had much in common, being from the same state if not the same city. His father was a movie director, and until deciding he wanted to learn more about the security business from Joseph, who he had met in San Francisco, Shades had dabbled in acting and directing himself. He kept trying to tell Charlotte that she was a natural and should try acting as well, making Charlotte laugh until she cried at the thought.
"There is no way I will ever get up in front of a movie camera!" she declared finally, one afternoon when they were sitting on a loveseat in the hallway of the winter castle, partially hidden by large arrangements of poinsettias. "I'm much too shy for that! Who would ever want to see ME in a movie? My life isn't at all interesting to anyone but me!"
"Ah, but the whole point of acting is that you're NOT 'you' on film -- you're someone else entirely! But Charlotte, you've got good bone structure, and you're pretty ... you'd film well! Trust me."
"Hmmm. I've heard about movie directors and casting couches, and I don't think I'm interested. And as for trusting you, hardly!" she scoffed. "You treat me like your kid sister!"
"So? Can't I act big-brotherly towards you?"
"I guess so."
"Hey, Charlotte, what do you know about Joseph and her Majesty? I've heard all the stories about YOU and Joseph, and I don't buy them for a minute. I know you, I think, better than everyone else around here, it seems. So tell me ... have they got something really hot going?"
"Why would I tell you?" Charlotte asked demurely. "You're a security guard. You're privy to lots of information about Joseph that I don't know. Aren't you supposed to be sneaky and spy on everyone?"
Shades rolled his eyes. "Give me a break! If you don't want to say anything, just tell me!"
"I don't want to say anything."
"Why not?" Now he began wheedling, sliding his arm around Charlotte's shoulders. "Come on, you can tell ME, can't you? I won't breathe a word. Promise. Scout's honour, and all that. I'll even get Dad to put you in his next picture ..."
"Shades, I am NOT going to say anything! I love this job, and if Queen Clarisse ever heard that I spent my time gossiping about her love life ..."
"Ah!" Shades pounced on her words. "So even though she's a widow, she HAS a love life?"
Charlotte was about to answer when the queen's voice was heard, and Joseph's deep voice answering. In a moment, the two appeared around the corner not far from the loveseat, but they didn't notice Shades and Charlotte as they were too busy arguing about something.
Joseph stopped the queen and swung her to face him, brushing his hands down the queen's shoulders, and along her arms. "What has happened to us these past few months, Clarisse?"
The queen shook her head. Joseph's mouth tightened, and Charlotte realized he was frustrated by the queen's silence. Queen Clarisse obviously noticed his reaction, too, because she began to speak passionately. "Joseph, can't we be ... friends ... without all these details? The past is really not something I enjoy talking about. You know I must think instead of the future."
"I'm interested in the future, too, but is friendship really all you want from our relationship, Clarisse? Personally, I think the potential is there for something a whole lot more." His hands slid down to her hips, pulling her closer as his mouth covered hers.
"Whoa!" Shades breathed into Charlotte's ear as they froze on the loveseat. "If we're caught here, we're dead! BOTH of us!"
Stealthily, the two slid off the loveseat and eased in behind the poinsettias, trying not to make a sound, even though the others were preoccupied, to say the least.
As Joseph deepened the kiss, his hands moved to the queen's breasts, and Charlotte saw her draw back slightly and capture his hands in hers as she whispered, brokenly, "Joseph, oh, Joseph, I knew this was going to happen. But, well, everything is just so complicated already, without us getting too involved. Joseph, as much as I like you ... I ... I think it would be better if we don't ... just until the ... situation ... with Mia is resolved, and see how we feel then."
"Right," Joseph managed to say. "You're right, of course."
Charlotte winced inwardly at the pain in his voice. She once more fervently wished she had not been around to witness this. Shades gripped her hand, and she flashed a look at him, seeing the regret in his eyes, too.
"Joseph," now Queen Clarisse's voice was soft. "Joseph, you must know that no man has ever made me feel the way you just did -- as if I were the most cherished woman in the world. I don't know quite how you did it, but you did. I ... I can't bear to think of ever losing you."
"Your Majesty," he spoke formally, even as he brushed a light hand down her cheek, "you can never lose me. You are mine to cherish always."
The queen bent her head for a moment in acquiescence, then the two proceeded down the hallway, never noticing Shades and Charlotte behind the poinsettias.
When they were gone, Charlotte drew in a deep breath, then turned to Shades. "If I hear any one say ONE WORD about this, I'm going to hold you responsible!"
Still looking rather shaken, Shades nodded. "I won't say anything. I already promised, remember? Besides ... it sounds like nothing much is going to happen until Princess Mia is queen ..."
Charlotte got to her feet and dusted off her skirt. "Well, I suppose I had better get back to work. See you later, Shades."
"See you, Charlotte," and the two friends separated.
To Be Continued