Chapter 2 – A Night of Torture, A Lifetime of Suffering
More from the past…
"No, no, no…" the woman wept, body sprawled out on the bathroom floor.
In her hand she held a pregnancy test showing positive. To any other married woman this would be delightful, but to this middle-aged woman it was complete torture.
She rolled onto her back, clouded eyes staring blankly at the intricate ceiling, tears streaming down her face forming a puddle underneath her head. Her arms were flopped out either side of her and her chest was heaving with each ragged breath she drew.
She lay there unmoving for hours. Lost. Numb from the truth. Not knowing what to do or think.
How did it come to this?
Present day at the Genovian Palace…Joseph ate his dinner so quickly that all present were surprised he didn't choke on his food. What they didn't realise was that the Queen had already eaten and that Joseph was hurrying to meet her outside at the back entrance of the palace.
Jogging from the kitchen, Joseph slowed as he approached the door to the outside of the back of the palace. Clarisse appeared to be speaking to someone.
Pushing the door open, Joseph found Clarisse with a look of confusion and disbelief written all over her face while her secretary, Charlotte, stood by nervously.
Clarisse looked up as Joseph approached, acknowledging his presence before turning to Charlotte and saying something quietly. Charlotte immediately turned and left, looking relieved as she passed Joseph without looking at him.
"What was all that about?" Joseph queried as he stopped before Clarisse.
Clarisse's face instantly changed, as she seemed to force the matter from her mind. Joseph could see through her mask, and what he saw didn't comfort him.
"It's nothing, Joseph" Clarisse waved her hand between them as if dismissing the problem.
"I thought Queen's never lied" Joseph teased.
"Can you see through me that well?" Clarisse asked in disbelief, her fingers nervously playing with the tassels of her silk scarf.
"Yes" Joseph stated proudly, "Just like I can tell it's making you nervous as you think about it" Joseph indicated her constantly moving fingers.
Clarisse instantly stilled her hands.
"Oh Joseph. I can't hide anything from you can I?" Clarisse admitted in defeat, sighing heavily as she dropped her hands to her sides.
"Here, walk with me and tell me all about it" Joseph offered his arm, turning to face the palace gardens before them.
Clarisse clenched her hands at her sides, fighting an inner battle before giving into defeat and wrapping her hands around his waiting arm.
Joseph smiled gently, leading her down the steps and walking into the lush garden maze.
"Now, what has you so worked up Clarisse?" Joseph asked gently.
"Oh it's just something Charlotte told me about her past that I found a little disturbing" Clarisse began.
"She told me that she was actually adopted from the hospital here in Genovia. Apparently, she was found by the doctors abandoned in one of the private hospital rooms; she was only a few hours old!" Clarisse exclaimed, gripping Joseph's arm tightly.
"The doctors did all they could to help her but she was getting quite sick. She said it was her adopted mother that saved her. Apparently the woman had had a miscarriage a day before; the third in a row! Her husband was speaking with the doctor when they noticed the woman had picked up the screaming sick Charlotte and rocked her to sleep in her arms. The woman told Charlotte years later that it was that moment she had fallen in love with the child" Clarisse wiped a single tear from her cheek.
Joseph stopped, helping Clarisse to sit on a garden seat away from prying eyes. He waited for her to continue.
"I just found the story so heart breaking. Charlotte was rather reluctant to tell me about it but I didn't push her. She seemed to want to know who her real mother was…" Clarisse drifted off, looking into the distance thoughtfully.
Joseph stroked her hand gently, which seemed to bring her back to the present.
Clarisse looked into his eyes.
"That is why she approached me, to see if I could help her in her search to find her real mother."
"And can you?" Joseph prompted.
"Well, I don't know. She has asked at the hospital but they don't seem to know any more than she does. I would have to find out her birth date and go from there. Perhaps look at some documents of who was pregnant around that time, you know, from different doctors and nurses…there's only so much I can do" Clarisse murmured, saying more to herself than Joseph.
"If you need any help…" Joseph began to offer but Clarisse cut him off.
"No, I said I would look into it personally. And besides, Charlotte can help me herself for she is definitely capable" Clarisse said hurriedly.
"Well if that's what you want then I can't disobey," Joseph said teasingly.
Clarisse smiled warmly, leaning back onto him as he wrapped his arms around her waist. She placed her arms upon his as she gazed at the stars, intertwining her fingers with his.
"Thank you Joseph" she whispered.
"Anything for my queen" he whispered back, glad to have her in his arms and happy to know she was willing to share her troubles with him.
They sat there for some time until Clarisse began to drift off to sleep in his arms.
"I think it is time Her Majesty retired for the night" Joseph murmured in her ear, gently waking her.
"I'm fine here" she murmured back.
Joseph chuckled quietly. Standing slowly he pulled her up with him, placing her on her own feet.
"Come now Clarisse, you must have plenty of sleep so you can start your investigations early tomorrow morning," Joseph said, rubbing her upper arms.
"Oh fine!" Clarisse grumbled, stepping out of his embrace and stretching gracefully.
"Now, now, no need for the nasty attitude, Your Majesty" Joseph chuckled again, amused to see his Queen like this.
Clarisse just playfully glared at him.
"Well goodnight then, Joseph, I shall see you in the morning" she said curtly before turning on her heel and marching off towards the palace.
"Oh no you don't!" Joseph muttered, jogging to catch up with her.
Grabbing her by the hand, Joseph spun her towards him before pressing his lips softly to hers.
"You don't go anywhere without my goodnight kiss" he whispered passionately.
Clarisse just smiled warmly before placing another soft kiss upon his lips, then, spinning away from him, she walked briskly into the palace.
"Goodnight my love" was all Joseph heard as Clarisse disappeared into the palace.
Smiling broadly as if pleased with himself, Joseph headed off to his own room.
The sooner he went to sleep, the sooner he would see her smiling face, was the last thought floating through his mind.
Little did he know that the days ahead would only get rougher…
A.N – well there goes the second chapter. What do you all think so far? Looking forward to reading more? Or am I boring you?