Worlds Apart
Chapter6
With a sigh, Charlotte Kutaway replaced the receiver and sat back in her chair. She liked her new job working for the queen. It was not in the diplomatic corps, per se, but she could already tell she would be getting a great deal of experience in that area as Her Majesty's personal aide. After being at the palace for only a week, she already knew it was going to work out well. She smiled, then jumped as someone spoke behind her.
"Problems? Or is talking on the phone wearing you out?" Shades asked, coming to lean against the side of her desk.
Charlotte straightened the papers on her desk before reaching for Her Majesty's appointment book, deliberately avoiding looking at him. "You, sir, have little room to criticize. I understand there is a running poker game going on in the Security Center. Surely, you have more to do with your time than play cards. Does Joseph approve?"
She'd met Mr. Coraza only once, but had been mightily impressed by his quiet authority. It felt odd to do so, but since everyone called him "Joseph" and there was not the slightest bit of disrespect in the familiarity, she did, too. He did not seem to mind, in the least.
Shades perched a hip on the corner of her desk and crossed his arms and considered her question as if it dealt with grave national issues. "Don't know. Never tried it while he's around." He leaned closer to her. "And how did you find about the game? Security activities are classified information…only those who need to know, know."
"Well, apparently the maids know everything and they like to talk," she answered brusquely. "You'd better hope Joseph doesn't come back early from his trip."
"He won't," Shades answered. "He's visiting someone he knows in France until Monday. Some special event, so he took a few days."
"From what I've heard and read, he's been busy enough since he got here- can't say he doesn't deserve a break." Charlotte took several folded papers from a file in her desk drawer. "Speaking of work, aren't you supposed to be doing something?"
"I am doing something."
"No, I mean worthwhile."
Shades grinned and continued to stare at her. "What I'm doing is worthwhile."
Charlotte blushed. She grabbed the appointment book and stood. "I have work, even if you don't. I need to see Her Majesty about her schedule," she said frostily.
"A change?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact."
He straightened his tie and followed her. "Then I'd best come, too."
"Oh, dear! I hope Prime Minister Motaz is not seriously ill."
"No, ma'am. His office said it was more of a precaution against his overworking until he was fully recovered from the flu."
"That's good- I'll give him a call this evening," Queen Clarisse said. "With the dinner canceled, that means Friday is now clear."
"Yes, ma'am." Charlotte held out three cards. "It is at the last minute to accept, but you do have these invitations."
"It is very late, but let me take a look." Clarisse glanced at them, pausing over the last card. She looked up and smiled. "The grand reopening of the Arts Theater in Paris sounds wonderful- I was regretting missing it. I know the director and I'm sure he will not mind if I accept this belatedly."
Charlotte smiled in agreement, certain that no one would object to a queen's last minute acceptance.
"Give me just a moment…" Clarisse reached for her phone.
After quickly conferring with her husband, Clarisse replaced the receiver. "It's settled. I will go to Paris while my husband takes advantage of the free evening to spend it with Philippe." Her pleased expression clouded a bit. "Perhaps he can convince Philippe to…" She trailed off, realizing her staff was present. "We must notify Henri and the Theater as soon as possible."
"I'll call at once," Charlotte offered.
"Yes, please do. Oh!" Clarisse turned to Shades, who stood off to the side. "Is this too short a notice for you to arrange for a trip to Paris? Is twenty-four hours enough?"
"Yes, ma'am. We can make the arrangements without difficulty. Will you be staying at your usual hotel, Your Majesty?" he asked.
"Yes, no other excursion, just the ballet that night. I can leave Saturday morning and be back in time to help my husband dedicate the new school," she replied, looking from Charlotte to Shades.
"Your Majesty," Shades began hesitantly, "as you know, Mr. Coraza is not here at the moment, and he left the country thinking you would not be traveling. Should I inform him of your change in schedule? He might wish to return."
"No, do not call him," Clarisse answered quickly. "It will only be overnight and there's no need. I would not like to interrupt his plans." The queen turned to her aide. "Charlotte, we have work to do to get ready!"
As queen Clarisse began going through the morning's mail, Charlotte cast Shades a look that clearly said he had work, too. He wandered off to do it.
"Henri, it was a beautiful performance! Thank you for allowing me to come on such short notice."
"It is our pleasure, Queen Clarisse!" The Arts Theater director fairly glowed with pleasure. "May I introduce you to our dancers?"
She nodded. "Of course. I would be delighted to meet them." As he instructed his assistant to summon the principle dancers, Clarisse glanced around. The reception was being held in the theater's grand entrance hall and it's vaulted ceiling, marble stairs and columns, and gilded workings gave it an Old World splendor.
As a young girl, she had attended many performances here with her grandmother, and, for a time, had entertained thoughts of studying dance. When she discovered that classes would cut severely into her equestrian lessons, she abandoned the idea. Clarisse would like to have wandered about the rooms noting the various changes that had been made and the additions to the art collection. That, however, was impossible.
Noticing Shades staring at something, Clarisse followed his gaze. In the center of the room stood a dreadful sculpture of what appeared to be a woman made of spheres and rods tossing a flock of box-shaped ducks into the air. She bit back a laugh. Just as she was about to look away, she stopped. Beyond the statue, partially hidden, a man had his back to her and there was something very familiar about his broad shoulders.
Joseph.
Clarisse stared as the woman beside him, dressed in a form fitting, deep blue gown, spoke. He turned to her and smiled then slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. The woman laid her head against his shoulder for a moment, her face tilted up toward his. Joseph kissed her forehead then smiled again. It was a smile filled with love.
"Madam?" Henri asked.
"I am sorry. I was admiring that most interesting statue." Joseph still had his arm still around the woman and Clarisse felt uncomfortable at the sight.
"It is a lovely work- we were fortunate to obtain it. It is a Kea and is one of a kind."
"Thank goodness!"
"Madam?"
"Thank goodness I was able to come for your re-opening and see it." Clarisse could think fast when she needed to.
Henri flashed a grateful smile. "If you will notice, we have added other touches of modern inspiration. We thought a mix of old and new would be appropriate. For example, that exceptional piece over in the corner. It represents man's agony whilst in the midst of ecstasy…"
She murmured agreement as Henri gushed on, all the time watching Joseph while trying to appear not to.
Of course, he would have women friends. He was single and very handsome, so would be sought after. While she certainly did not engage in gossip, she nonetheless did hear, on rare occasions, news of social activities and engagements among the upper crust of Genovia. Joseph would undoubtedly rank among the more sought after bachelors. As far as she knew, he had dated no one in the time he'd been in the palace's employ.
Joseph kept his arm about the woman as they chatted with the others in their group. He was clearly at ease with her; they seemed very close.
She frowned.
"Your Majesty, may I present…"
Clarisse turned to face the group that was now before her and smiled when he introduced each of the dancers. With practiced ease, she complimented them individually, graciously accepting their thanks for attending their performance, and wished them much future success. They talked about the renovations and the upcoming season for a few minutes, then, at his nod, the group drifted away.
Once alone, Henri proudly offered to show her the theater's newest painting, a small work entitled Sunlight in Grays. "It is a charming work, Madam, full of life."
"Not right now, thank you." She wanted to turn around and see if Joseph was there, but that would be too obvious. Did her guards know he was here- had Shades been staring at Joseph?
"Perhaps later, then. Ah! There she is!" Henri craned his neck, looking over her shoulder. "Tonight is her debut- a charming girl, very talented. Would you mind?"
"Not at all. I would love to meet her," Clarisse replied politely.
Henri beamed. "She is just over this way."
They rounded the circular base of the bird lady, which looked no better up close, and approached a group of a half-dozen people. She saw him immediately. Joseph was facing her, but had not noticed their arrival and was listening intently to the woman- a very young woman, Clarisse noted. She was suddenly angry.
What in the world was Joseph doing with a woman barely older than a child?
There was a sudden silence as Henri introduced himself to the group, calling to the young woman to get her attention. Joseph looked up.
He stared.
"Uncle Joseph, thank you so much for coming tonight!" Julia Warren said, her eyes bright and her cheeks flushed with excitement. "It wouldn't have been nearly so special without you!"
Joseph gazed at his beautiful goddaughter then reached for her, gently pulling her to him. She laid her head on his shoulder. "I would not have missed this for anything, little Julia."
"Just think…if you had never taught me to dance, I might not be here!"
"You mean, if you hadn't begged unceasingly every time I visited," he replied, giving her a quick kiss on her forehead. She laughed.
"I suppose I was rather a bother about it."
"Bother?" her uncle, Marcus Helmar snorted. "You hounded the man!"
Her parents and Marcus' wife laughed, recalling the small girl trailing after Joseph wherever he went.
"Poor Joseph had to return chasing drug dealers and revolutionaries just to get some rest after visiting us," Maria Helmar Warren added.
"You were never a bother, my dear," Joseph said, giving her a gentle squeeze. "I enjoyed every moment, including that afternoon we did the Hokey-pokey for two hours straight."
She giggled and Joseph smiled at her. She and her cousins were as close as he would ever come to having children, and he'd delighted in spoiling them as much as he could. He could not love them more had they been his own.
He knew that he could not have married unless it had been for love. Still, there were times, late in the evening when he'd returned to his apartment and sat quietly on his balcony alone, watching the inky water of the White River rush by, when he wondered if he'd made the right decisions in his life. There had been women and opportunities- he could have pursued them and married. Perhaps he would have come to love.
He thought of Lauren Quinn. It had been a year since she'd left. If she had not refused, what would his life be like? Would he be happier having never met Clarisse Gerard Renaldi, the woman who held his heart, but whose heart he could never have?
A few weeks ago, he'd met Ginny Monts. At first, their encounter had been somewhat awkward for him, but then he'd relaxed and enjoyed the time they had together that night. He hoped to see her again. Since then, he'd committed himself to seeing more women and had.
His decision to turn his attention away from Queen Clarisse was for the best, he knew. She must never know of his feelings. Never.
Julia put her hand on his chest. "Uncle Joseph, I don't think I'll be able to sleep a wink tonight- please, let's go dancing."
He laughed and kissed her again. "More dancing?"
"This time, I'll teach you some new moves." she teased. Her eyes widened. "Or, you can help me work on my salsa dancing- it is so much fun!"
"Salsa?" Joseph shook his head. "I don't think I have the energy for-"
He stopped as his friends quieted, andthen looked up…
Clarisse.
What the hell was she doing here?
Tensing, his eyes automatically flicked past her, searching for her security, shocked at her standing not three meters from him in the crowded hall. Shades stood to her left, two paces away, Bates just beyond, to her right. He caught Shades' eye. The younger man nodded.
"Your Majesty," Henri said grandly, "I am pleased to present Miss Julia Warren, our newest member of the ensemble. Julia, Her Majesty Queen Clarisse of Genovia."
Joseph let his right arm fall away from around Julia's waist and as soon as it was by his side, she took hold of it.
"Good evening, Your Majesty," Julia said, her voice sounding shaky. "I'd like to introduce my parents, Dr. and Mrs. Warren, my uncle and aunt, Count and Mrs. Helmar, and Mr. Joseph Coraza."
Her grip on his arm tightened. "Did I do that right?" she asked softly, just loud enough for him to hear while the others greeted the queen.
"Yes," he said, patting her arm. "Perfect." She sighed with relief.
Queen Clarisse was watching him.
"Good evening, Your Majesty," he said, giving her a small bow.
"Mr. Coraza." She did not sound pleased, he thought. Had there been problems this evening? Clarisse continued stiffly. "An unexpected turn of events, is it not?"
"Yes, it is." he replied. Was the king with her?
"Ah! Champagne!" Henri flagged a passing waiter and proceeded to hand out flutes to everyone. "To beautiful and charming ladies!" he said, lifting his glass.
The men nodded and took a sip, the wine barely touching Joseph's lips. How long had she been away from Genovia? Were her security arrangements adequate? He glanced to Clarisse's escorts again. Neither looked bothered or as if there was anything out of the ordinary with the evening…other than his sipping expensive champagne and making small talk with his employer and sovereign on an autumn Paris night.
Clarisse turned her attention to Julia and smiled. "I found your performance to be most engaging, Miss Warren. You are rather young for such an accomplishment, are you not?"
"Thank you, Ma'am. I've been studying ballet since I was four- for sixteen years." Through his jacket, Julia's nails were digging into his arm.
"I see." There was an awkward pause. Clarisse's eyebrow rose and she glanced at Joseph, her look definitely cool, and then back to Julia. "I wish you much success in the future, Miss Warren."
"Thank you, Ma'am."
His arm, he thought, was going to go numb if Julia didn't loosen her grasp.
Clarisse nodded goodnight to the group and Joseph inclined his head. Julia sighed again.
"Oh, I was so nervous!" Her fingers tightened even more.
"Queen Clarisse is beautiful, Joseph!" Maria said, looking at him curiously.
"Yes, she is." He pried Julia's fingers from her death grip on his arm. "You did fine, my dear," he assured her, flexing his hand and wrist. His gaze followed his queen. "If you all will excuse me for a moment, I'm going to speak with my staff."
Clarisse said her farewell to Henri rather abruptly then quickly strode away.
Really! What was Joseph thinking?
He was old enough to be the child's father- nearly old enough to be her grandfather! Thank goodness this had not occurred in Genovia or the scandal would be all over the country within a day! The awful thought occurred to her- would he be bringing her to Genovia? Please, no!
Behind her, she could hear Shades speaking to Joseph, apprising him of their plans and schedule and assuring him they had everything covered. She heard Joseph compliment Shade's work. Clarisse turned abruptly, ignoring Joseph and informed Shades she was ready to leave.
Were all men so shallow? The girl was barely out of her teens!
Joseph looked pleased. Of course, he would be- what man wouldn't be elated to have a young, gorgeous woman on one arm- clinging to him!- with a glass of Dom Perignon in hand and the envy of hundreds of other men?
She gave Joseph another chilly look.
It was uncalled for behavior from a man his age!
Before she could consider the wisdom of it, she spoke. "Miss Warren is enchanting….though terribly young for this sort of thing, don't you think?"
Joseph nodded. "She's a lovely girl, but not too young. She's quite accomplished, already, Ma'am."
"Apparently! You've known her long?" Couldn't be too long, Clarisse thought- the girl was barely out of the nursery!
"Since she was born, Your Majesty," he answered mildly.
"And her parents?" she asked. She could not understand why they did not object to her seeing such an older man. And, how could he be so casual about this?
"I've been acquainted with her mother and uncle since we were in school together, Ma'am."
Clarisse could not help herself. "Her parents do not mind?"
Joseph looked puzzled. "No, not at all."
"And you see nothing wrong? Do you think this is wise?" She stared. Had she and Rupert made a huge error in placing Joseph as their Head of Security? Was his judgment that poor?
He shrugged and laughed. "Dancing is what she desires. I'm afraid she has her godfather wrapped around her little finger- she always has- so, whatever Julia wants, Julia-"
"Please!" She did not want to hear any more. Clarisse let her breath out in a rush. This was best left for some other time, not in the middle of a crowded-
Godfather?
"You mean she is your godchild?" Her voice suddenly sounded very small, almost squeaky. She cleared her throat.
"Yes." He looked at her oddly, as if wondering just what she had been thinking. Suddenly, he dropped his gaze, embarrassed at discussing personal matters with her. "Thank you for speaking to her, Your Majesty. I know it meant a great deal to Julia," he said formally. He bowed slightly. "If there is nothing else? Good evening, Ma'am."
"Good evening," she managed, wishing the thick Persian carpeting under her feet would open up and swallow her.
It was all so obvious now- he was a friend of the girl's family; he was here to see her debut. Her face burned as she watched him walk away. How could she have made such a mistake and thought such a thing of Joseph?
Clarisse quickly made for the door, telling herself she had most certainly not been jealous.