Chapter 14

Joseph Coraza pressed the button marked 'seventeen' and leaned against the elevator's wall as the lift rose smoothly toward the top floor of the small, exclusive London hotel. Queen Clarisse had remained in her suite that morning to go over the papers dealing with the trade agreements and policy statements sure to come up with her meeting at Buckingham palace the next day. Free for a few hours, he had met his long-time friend Chesterson for breakfast and had toured the palace's new security center. It was an impressive complex and had brought to mind the disorder he'd found in Genovia upon his arrival six years earlier.

Six years- nearly seven. Had it really been that long since his retirement and employment with the royal family? Since he had first seen Clarisse in that sunlit anteroom of the palace and lost his heart? Joseph shook his head. It seemed like only yesterday he had made the decision to stay in Genovia.

A soft chime brought his attention back to the present. Silently, the doors slid apart to reveal agent Pearson at his post in the small lobby.

"Everything quiet?" Joseph asked, pausing beside the desk.

Nodding, Pearson glanced at the doors leading to the queen's suite. "Yes, sir. Nothing of note except a change of luncheon plans."

"An alteration of plans?" Joseph frowned. "What changes? Is the queen still here?"

"She's here. Been working all morning." Pearson saw his boss's expression and quickly continued. "Nothing big- just lunch at the home of friends. Should be a simple job."

"Details?" On occasion, Queen Clarisse did change her plans, but rarely on this short notice. Joseph wondered what could be so urgent or important.

"Private estate about twenty-one kilometers from here. The drive is an easy one and clear according to Shades." Coraza still did not look pleased and Pearson added, "Her Majesty plans to spend a couple of hours there then return to prepare for the reception tonight. She's to leave in thirty minutes."

"I see." He didn't like last minute changes, but at least this was not a public appearance and Shades had checked it out. Private homes posed little security risk. "Thank you. Please ask Shades to meet me in my room in five minutes. By the way, who is she visiting?"

Pearson searched the sheets in front of him. "It's right here….the Duke of…Creshwell- one Everette Howe, but I think it's the duchess Her Majesty is friends with." He handed a copy of the itinerary to Joseph. "What kind of coverage do you want, sir?" Pearson laughed. "Do we need a full contingent?"

Joseph said nothing, but stared at the paper in his hands.

"Sir?" Pearson repeated.

Joseph took a deep breath. The Duke and Duchess of Creshwell. He could send another, but it would be shirking his duty…and cowardly. "No, I'm sure Her Majesty would like to keep the visit low-key. I'll take it."

"Yes, sir. Should I alert Anton to drive?"

"That won't be necessary." He looked up. "Thank you. Have the car brought around."

His years of experience taking over, Joseph moved automatically, confirming security details with Shades and giving directions to be taken in preparation for the evening and following day's activities. Forefront, however, was the realization that he was going to the home of his father's sister, his aunt. He understood that acknowledgement of his presence, if the duke and duchess even did so- and most people ignored security personnel- it would be as an employee of the queen. Still…

Was there a possibility? Did his aunt know of his existence? Would she care?

Reaching for his jacket on the dresser, Joseph saw his reflection in the mirror and froze. He ran a hand along his jaw and chin. Who did he look like? Was there a resemblance between himself and Morely Addington? He tried to recall the face he'd worked so hard to banish from his memories. They shared the same height and brown eyes, perhaps the same general build, even though the duke was stout now. Would his aunt see a likeness?

His hand stilled. Should the truth come out, what would Clarisse say? Emotions of fear and hope, shame and desire overwhelmed Joseph.

He had loved Clarisse since that first day, however out of necessity had kept his feelings to himself. Her husband had been gone now for four years, yet she seemed content in her single position. There was a time when he had feared King Gustav was paying court to Clarisse and she would return the king's sentiment. That had not happened, but there were others who did not hide their wish for the queen's attention. Surely, she noticed them.

Statesmen, diplomats, men of position and wealth…Queen Clarisse had many admirers who were becoming more bold in their advances. Illegitimate and without affluence, how could he stand shoulder to shoulder with them? Why would Clarisse notice him? He was no one and had no right to even hope for her heart?

His hands tightened into a fist around the black leather, imagining her reaction to his parentage. They were of two separate worlds, he and his queen.

There was a sharp knock on the door and Joseph abruptly turned from the mirror.

"Sir," Shades said, opening the door just far enough to lean inside. "It's time."

"Thank you." Joseph shrugged the jacket over his shoulders and straightened his tie. "I'm ready. Have Pearson call the elevator."

"Done." Shades hesitated a moment, watching his boss. "Are you OK?"

"I'm fine. See to those arrangements," Joseph replied brusquely, entering the hallway just as Queen Clarisse left her suite.

"Nervous, my dear?"

"I don't know how I'm going to get through this," Margaret Howe replied. This time, she would not have a floppy hat and sunglasses to hide behind or a bank of potted palms between her and her nephew.

Everette frowned. "It is possible, you know, that Joseph will not be with her." His wife's expression immediately fell and he quickly added, "Although, I must admit that would be disappointing."

"Part of me wants him to come, yet another part is afraid he will do just that," Margaret sighed.

"I know- I feel the same," her husband admitted. He paused in re-doing his tie. "I wonder what he's like."

"Oh, he's charming and handsome," Margaret answered decisively with a smile.

Everette looked at her curiously. "How do you know that, my dear?"

Caught, her eyes widened and she looked away, studiously avoiding her husband's gaze. "Well, ah…he would be, of course." Pleased with her quick thinking, she smiled broadly. "You know good looks and pleasant character run in the Addington family."

He stared at her. "Yes, you brother Morely is a prime example of that, isn't he?"

Margaret pretended she had not heard her husband and busied herself with the flowers on her dresser, scattering petals all over the floor in the process, and assumed the most innocent air she could muster.

"Margaret," he said quietly, "what have you done?"

More petals fell. "Oh, nothing, really…." she answered nonchalantly, waving away his distress with her hand, "well, that is I only…"

Everette closed his eyes. "Did you connive a way to meet Joseph?"

"He never saw me!" she retorted defensively. "Well, he did," she amended. She could stretch the truth till it was unrecognizable if need be, but outright lying was still one of her weak points. She was working on it, though. "Anyway, he had no idea who I was."

"What? You met Joseph anyway, after we decided it would not be for the best?" he demanded. "Maggie, you know what your brother is capable of and you deliberately risked hurting-"

"I didn't deliberately do anything of the sort!" she snapped. "It was an accident that the flying thing landed in his date's salad- that nice young headmistress from the girls' school, by the way- and he kindly returned it to me. I was, of course, in disguise," she added haughtily, "so he would not recognize me."

Really, she thought, men could be so dense at times.

Everette shook his head and quickly dropped the subject of his wife's escapades. For his blood pressure's sake and from experience, he knew he was better off not knowing.

Pleased that her schedule was allowing her this visit, Clarisse settled into the soft leather seats of the luxury sedan and smiled as Joseph steered the car out into traffic. Bettina Addington had been a dear friend until her death at far too young an age during a miserable marriage to Morely Addington. For years Clarisse had wanted to honor her friend somehow and the perfect opportunity had presented itself. She had personally donated the funds for a new area of indigenous flowers in the Genovian Botanical Garden and had decided to dedicate it to Bettina. Bettina had loved flowers and gardening.

Her smile faded as she thought of the unhappiness her friend had suffered as the wife of the duke. Her girls, Cassandra and Lucinda, were the joy of Bettina's too short life. Last she had heard, the girls were doing well and their design business was growing. Perhaps she would commission a dress for an upcoming ball.

Although she had met Margaret Howe through Bettina and was not very close to her, Clarisse considered Margaret a treasured friend. Everette Howe's youngest brother had been Rupert's roommate for two years in college, so the families knew one another. It would be good to see Margaret again.

Out of courtesy, Clarisse wanted to inform Margaret before inviting the girls to the dedication. The duke had a terrible temper, as she knew only too well, but there was no reason for him to object. Even if he did, it would make no difference; the dedication had nothing to do with him. Morely Addington could not spoil this as he had the evening for her and Joseph at the Vienna Opera House Ball a year ago.

The duke had rarely been heard from since that night other than to refuse to answer the outcry of five countries over his environmentally unsound practices and his dubious financial transactions. The nations, including Genovia, were in the process of determining how to deal with Morely Addington.

It might take a while, but they were resolute in their goal of stopping him. The man had no son, thankfully, and the only heir, Margaret and Everette's son Kent, did not need it; he would inherit his father's title. If the Duke of Thornfield's title was lost in the process and his legacy and fortune were ruined, so much the better.

The car surged forward and putting the duke out of her mind, Clarisse looked to Joseph as he deftly maneuvered the car through traffic. For a moment, the small earring in his ear flashed in the sunlight. She had often wondered about it- when and why he'd begun wearing it.

It made him look like a dashing pirate. She bit back a giggle. What would her somber Head of Security think of that?

Clarisse wiggled a bit deeper in the seat, getting comfortable. More than just good-looking and extremely intelligent, Joseph was amusing when he chose to be and she enjoyed their talks immensely. He was excellent at his work and very capable in any situation. He was unquestionably worthy of the confidences he was privy to and his loyalty was beyond doubt. She could think of no one else she trusted more or wished at her side.

The day was overcast, but he had on his darkest sunglasses. He was also wearing that black leather jacket. A smile played about her lips as one eyebrow rose slightly. Joseph looked incredibly good in black. Dark tie, black shirt and pants… the graying goatee. She took a deep breath.

Really, Clarisse!

But it's true, she argued. There was no denying that Joseph was a very handsome man and surely there was no harm in acknowledging it. What was the word Mia and her friends were always using? Hunk- that was it Was Joseph a hunk?

With no thought to her hair, Clarisse leaned back against the headrest. Nice shoulders, muscular build - she'd lingered as long as possible by the window upon seeing him after one of his early morning run with his agents. His muscles were quite evident with the black, sweaty fabric of his t-shirt clinging to his chest and abdomen. Her breathing quickened at the memory.

And he always had that mysterious air of tight control about him…as if there was something just below the surface waiting to be unleashed. Yes, Joseph was unquestionably a hunk. She placed a calming cool hand on her cheek. Furthermore, he was-

"Your Majesty, we will arrive in five minutes."

- her employee.

Clarisse quickly sat up, smoothing the hair on the nape of her neck self-consciously. "Thank you, Joseph," she replied unsteadily.

Blushing, she turned away to the window.

Clarisse immediately forgot her discomfort when they stopped before the Howe's grand home and she saw her friends waiting for her. Waving away custom, she hugged Margaret and greeted Everette warmly, insisting they call her by name. She stepped back, puzzled.

Margaret was staring at Joseph and Everette had slipped an arm around his wife's shoulders. Clarisse turned to see Joseph standing by the car, his hands clasped in front of him, looking straight ahead and away from them. Her friends' reactions were to the just-visible gun tucked into the holster at his side, she decided; they were not used to guests bringing a personal bodyguard.

"This is Joseph, my Head of Security," she hurriedly explained, hoping to allay any worries they might have. While she was used to the security precautions around her, others were not and it could be unsettling to them. Clarisse did not introduce the Howes to Joseph; it would not have been proper.

For a long moment, neither of her friends spoke and Everette's arm tightened about his wife before he finally answered. "Good afternoon, Joseph."

Joseph turned toward them and inclined his head a fraction. "Good afternoon," he said softly without moving. His eyes remained hidden behind the dark lenses. Clarisse glanced from Joseph to her friends and there was an awkward pause.

"Well," Everette spoke suddenly, "Let's go in, shall we?"

"Yes, let's do. Clarisse, dear," Margaret agreed, her voice a growing stronger with each word as she recalled her duties as hostess. She stepped forward to take her Clarisse's arm, "it has been far too long since we've had the chance to visit. You must tell me all about your lovely granddaughter."

As the women entered the house, Everette hung back and approached Joseph. "I realize you need to stay close in order to look after Queen Clarisse." He gestured to the open door. "Please, come in and make your- that is, feel free to move about our home."

"Thank you. I'd like to take a look around back, if I may." Joseph replied.

"Of course," Everette agreed. The men fell in step beside each other.

Drinking in every detail, Joseph moved slowly into the area adjoining the sunroom where Clarisse and the Howes were dining. It, as did the adjoining rooms across the back of the house, opened onto a porch. Beyond the porch were a small, walled garden and an old stone stable now used as a garage. There was no security risk, as expected, and Joseph tried to relax. This would likely be the only visit he would ever have in the home of his family.

He glanced toward Clarisse then quietly walked across the room to where a side table was crowded with framed photos. His gaze skimmed over them.

There had been no sign that his aunt knew him. Other than to offer him tea, which he declined, she had not spoken to him. Disappointment was mixed with relief; she did not know of him. But then, why would she?

His father had seen to it that he was kept well away from family and acquaintances, and had in no way acknowledged his existence. Very few people, if any, would have known he was Morely Addington's son. His mother and grandmother were dead and he had no other relations on that side of his family. Neither the solicitors and bank officers who long ago had handled the transfer of funds for his schooling nor the school's headmasters would have no care one way or the other, even if they were still alive. After nearly sixty years, Joseph was nearly certain no one knew the Duke's secret.

It was an odd feeling being in his aunt's home, almost as if it were a dream. To be so close to family- his breath caught. In an ornately carved frame was a picture of two young girls in pigtails and behind it another of the girls in evening dresses. His sisters. He felt his throat tighten and he swallowed. They were beautiful and he ached to be able to meet them, to tell them how much he cared.

Gently, he touched the frame's edge. If only….

"Colonel Coraza?"

Joseph jerked his hand away, knocking over the picture. He caught before it slid into the others and carefully set it upright, gritting his teeth at his clumsiness.

"Yes?" he replied, hoping his inquisitiveness had not observed. By the door stood a man who so much favored Everette Howe he could only be the son.

The man smiled broadly and strode across the room, hand outstretched.

"I'm Kent Howe- Major Kent Howe of Her Majesty's Army." He gripped Joseph's hand firmly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. I believe we have a common acquaintance in General P. T. Olson. He has advised our staff on several occasions."

"I'm pleased to meet you," Joseph managed. Kent Howe had eyes identical to his own.

"Would you join me for coffee," Kent quickly continued, as a servant set a tray on a low table, "unless, of course, it would keep you from your duties?" He nodded toward the other room and dropped onto the sofa, chuckling. "I think they will be chatting for quite a while yet. Mother does tend to run on with old friends and it's quite impossible to stop her once she gets started."

"Thank you. Coffee would be nice." Keeping those at the table in view, Joseph sat on a chair opposite the younger man. With every word spoken etched in his memory, he spent the next hour talking with his cousin.

Only too soon, it seemed to Joseph, he was dutifully assisting Queen Clarisse into the car then leaving his family's home. On the way past the immaculate hedges and lawn bordering the drive, he kept his eyes focused directly ahead, away from the rearview mirror, denying himself a last look back. Had he, Joseph would have seen his aunt bury her face in her husband's chest and weep.

Putting off completing the arrangements for the garden dedication scheduled for the next day for a few minutes, Charlotte Kutaway examined the newspaper article on the front page of the Genovian Times about the previous day's museum opening. The accompanying photograph was of the queen hiding her smile behind a gloved hand. What particularly interested Charlotte was the fact that Joseph, also trying to conceal his amusement, was at her side and the two were engrossed in conversation. The caption stated the queen was consulting her Head of Security about her schedule. However, Charlotte, who had been standing behind them, knew that in fact Queen Clarisse had asked if he had ever seen a more dreadful work of art in his life. Joseph had said no.

Decided, she carefully cut out the photograph and slipped an album from the bottom drawer of her desk. The newspapers were full of such pictures with Joseph always at the queen's side, attentive and protective. Some of them showed the two leaning close to speak; nearly all featured Clarisse smiling at him. One of Joseph smiling in return was rare and Charlotte was pleased to add it to her collection. She cleared a space and set the leather bound book on the desk. The album was getting too full; she would have to start yet another very soon.

Since seeing Joseph and the queen dancing twice in San Francisco, Charlotte had taken more careful note of the relationship. Joseph, she was convinced, was in love. The queen, however, was harder to read.

With any other woman, Charlotte would have said Joseph's feelings were returned, but Clarisse Renaldi was no ordinary woman. The queen's entire life and being was dedicated to her country and people to the exclusion of even her own personal needs. Too, the queen was very aware of public opinion and had commented more than once that she could not afford to appear to be shirking her duties for frivolous pursuits of any sort including personal ones.

Did the queen think love frivolous?

She flipped the album pages slowly, noting the various pictures of the couple, her grin of amusement growing larger and larger. There were shots of Joseph opening a door for the queen, holding an umbrella over the two of them with his other arm resting on her back to guide her, translating for her at a reception for foreign representatives, and, more often than not, Joseph simply standing closer than was necessary. In many of them they were touching and they looked extremely comfortable with each other.

A turn of the page showed her favorite picture and she paused. As if alone, and without two hundred people surrounding them, the queen and Joseph were gazing at one another, slightly smiling, with her hand resting on his arm. Their expressions were warm and tender.

It made Charlotte smile. She had little doubt that Clarisse Renaldi cared deeply for Joseph…but did the queen know it?

Charlotte slipped the newest picture into a protective sleeve and closed the album with a soft thud.

Joseph glanced in the rearview mirror and the corner of his mouth turned up. The young ladies in the back seat were lovely, lively, and absolutely splendid. The fact that they were his sisters might have been a factor in his feeling so, but he would have denied it; Lucinda and Cassandra were all those things and more.

Four months ago he would have found the situation difficult to handle, but in the time since the queen's visit to his aunt's house, Joseph had come to terms with himself. He would look upon the situation with a positive attitude and be grateful and pleased for what he had.

As they chatted, he drank in their voices, enjoying the women's talk of Lucinda's husband and young daughter- his niece- and their plans for the summer. He knew their business was thriving and they had opened a second shop in London. He could not help but be proud of them. There was a rattling of paper and a gold and green striped bag was thrust toward him.

"These pear drops are just as delicious as I remember them from when I was a child here to visit Queen Clarisse with Mother! Please have one, Joseph," Lucinda offered.

"Thank you, but no," he said, as he slowed the car for a sharp turn in the road. They were nearly to the outer edge of the royal estate.

"Mmm. They are good! Thank you for stopping by the candy shop," Cassandra said with a giggle. "You're a good man, Joseph."

"Because I took you to a candy store?" he asked, amused.

"Because you didn't laugh when we asked you to," she replied, digging into her own bag.

"My job." He checked the mirror again.

"Your job is ferrying visitors to the candy shop?" she teased.

"No, not laughing at those in the back seat," he answered, straight-faced.

The girls both giggled and he could not help but grin.

Lucinda's eyes met his in the mirror. "Is that your job, Joseph? Are you Queen Clarisse's chauffeur?"

He tilted his head to the side, as if considering. "Often."

"But not always?" she persisted.

"No. I have other duties, too." The gates to the palace grounds were ahead and he eased off the gas.

"Well, if you aren't the official chauffeur or the official Genovian Pear Sweets activist, then what do you do?"

"I am in charge of Her Majesty's security," he explained.

The girls oohed in unison, impressed.

"Then why aren't you looking after the queen?" Lucinda asked, then quickly added, "Not that we don't appreciate your attention, of course."

He gave them his most charming smile. "Special guests deserve special treatment."

"Joseph," Cassandra said slowly, "are you married?"

"No, I'm not," he answered, nodding to the guard at the entrance as they approached. The gates slid soundlessly apart.

"What? Are the women here blind?" she asked incredulously. "What's wrong with them?"

"I'm afraid I cannot say-"

"Cassie, leave the poor man alone," Lucinda admonished. "Joseph, please forgive my sister. She can be a hopeless busybody."

"I am not a busybody and I know just the woman!" Cassie turned to her sister. "Luci, we must get Queen Clarisse to come visit Aunt Maggie so she'll bring Joseph and we can introduce him to-"

"Really, Cassie! You can't!"

"What?" her sister asked innocently.

Luci sighed. "You can't just go around trying to fix up everyone you meet."

"Why not? It worked for you." Cassie gave her sister a satisfied smile. "Anyway, they would be perfect for each other." She leaned forward again. "Joseph, do you like Greek food?"

"Well, I-"

"Cassie! Who do you know that's Greek?"

"She's not Greek, she's Swedish. You know, our headmistress-"

"Oh, you're right!" Luci agreed. The two girls turned as one and stared at him again with huge grins. "They would make a lovely couple."

Joseph had the feeling that what was left of his life had just been planned for him. "Ladies?"

"Yes?"

"We have arrived," he hastily replied, killing the engine.

The four days of his sisters' visit had been wonderful ones. He'd personally driven them when possible and, while being careful not to overstep the bounds of his position, had found several opportunities to talk with them on general topics, but never anything of a personal nature.

Joseph could not help but find the situation heartbreaking, but the ache was thankfully not as sharp as before. Their lives were happy ones and to suddenly subject them to the reality that their father had an illegitimate son and the social stigma that went with it would not be fair to them. He could only stay silent and enjoy his family from afar. It was for the best.

True to her calling as a matchmaker, Cassandra had left no promising stones unturned. The second day at the palace, while waiting for the cars to be brought around to take them to the dedication, she had asked Shades if he was engaged or otherwise spoken for. To Joseph's surprise, the normally taciturn and somber young man had reddened and stammered unintelligibly. Several feet away, Miss Kutaway had turned the same shade.

Across the carpeted waiting area, he saw Anton smile at Cassandra…and his sister return the smile.

Once Cassandra met Anton, however, her attention to arranging affairs of the heart for others cooled noticeably. Joseph had no objection to their interest in each other; Anton was an exceptional man. He did wonder, however, if the interest would continue with a continent's distance between them.

The airline representative indicated that the young women needed to board and Joseph stepped forward.

"I'd like to give you something to remember…Genovia by," he said, offering each a small gold and green striped box of candies.

The girls laughed and their eyes, a shade lighter than his own, danced with delight over his thoughtfulness.

"Joseph, you are simply a darling!" Cassandra said, giving him a quick hug. Emotions welling up at the gesture, he could say nothing.

"Thank you for making this visit lovely, Joseph," Lucinda added, taking his hand in hers. He nodded then stepped away quickly, not trusting himself to speak as his sisters disappeared into the jetway.

I appreciate all your comments and reviews! The next chapter is almost ready, so won't be long in coming.