Chapter ten

After his sunrise departure, Clarisse had shifted one too many times in her bed, unable to lay there any longer. Her thoughts had drifted to clouds of anxiety, and she knew that would do her no good. With one swift movement, she threw off the covers and got up.

Her morning agenda was clear. That did not happen too often, and Clarisse found herself to be sorry it was. With Joseph gone she felt all alone. This was the first time she had been without him since the crash. That thought kept her confirming to herself that she was, indeed, still on the ground. She was at home, safe and sound in her precious Genovian palace. It was filled with the mass of employees, yet she felt all alone. If not for Charlotte, she not only would have been speaking to herself, but answering her own questions as well.

There was always plenty to be done. As she sat at her desk, Clarisse resigned to do something different. She needed to keep her mind occupied. Anything different than her usual routine would do.

"Charlotte, I'll do these later," she stated as she handed back the handful of letters she must reply to. Instead she picked up a random pile from Charlotte's 'to file' stack and shifted through them.

"Those are all ready to file, ma'am."

"I just like to see what's been approved of in my absence. Sometimes they pass motions just to get them off the docket, without even thinking of the real outcome of matter," Clarisse explained, using her ever business-like voice.

Charlotte nodded, leaving the revised schedule on Her Majesty's desk as she left.

'Let's see', she thought, fiddling through the papers; scanning the subject lines for any unusual details. After a few strange requests, Clarisse finally came across an unexpected one. She sat erect in her chair, lifting her glasses for a better view. She read the first paragraph, her mouth slightly aghast.

"Joseph." She smiled. It had to have been. No one else would have had that done, and few even knew they existed. Besides, she noticed the signatures on the bottom of the request, only Joseph could have pulled this off without her knowing it. Only he would have known how to do that, especially since she was on the committee appointed to oversee the reserve.

Noticing the date it was approved, Clarisse wondered how far along the project had gotten. 'So this is what he has in mind', she thought to herself, her smile becoming even larger. She tapped the desk with her nails, a steady rhythm she figured would somehow help her to think of how to handle her 'discovery'.

"He's here," Joseph whispered to his Prime Minister, the man he was assigned to today. Though his assignment was not to guard the man, per say, but to stand firmly behind him and be his backbone.

"Alone?" Sebastian enquired.

"Yes. I believe so. It will make this that much easier."

"We'll definitely be home by tonight then," Sebastian added. "Joseph," he began, "Clarisse..."

"Soon. I'm almost sure of it. She still has to work this out herself, but as long as she is not alone, she can fly." Joseph took the liberty of informing him before he had asked. He kept his voice low, and his eyes scanned the area as he spoke. "She'll pull through eventually, though I cannot say when. It may be tomorrow, or another year. I wish I knew."

"And the springs?"

"I haven't informed her of what's been done, but the construction of the buildings are complete, and a few of my men are inspecting it..." he stopped to check the time, "...as we speak."

"She really enjoyed those?" Sebastian lifted a brow.

"Um. Indeed. I just hope they are enough of a lure."

Sebastian grinned at Joseph's statement, then added, "I'm sure you can lure her there. Now, I believe they are getting ready to start. Come, let's take our seats."

The two men blended in the mass that squeezed in the open double doors, then disappeared in the confusion within.

She kept the single sheet for herself, reading it over and over. The rest she slid back to the edge of her desk, just as Charlotte had left them, ready to file. She could hardly contain her excitement. He must have went to a lot of trouble to obtain the permit, and even more to have anything built inside that reserve. She remembered how dense parts of it had been, and the larger than life boulders that surrounded the springs themselves. Then she remembered her plane. She had been told of how it was practically nonexistent anymore. The wonders of modern construction, and destruction for that matter, were beyond her imagination. So was the mind of her Joseph.

She must think of something. He had went to all this trouble for her. It made her feel warm all over. What could she do for him? She must do something, after all, this was just one more example of him going beyond any job description she had ever given him. This was an example of his love for her. How could she match that?

His being in London today had turned out for the good, after all. Although the whole palace seemed different at his absence. Security was more relaxed, yet at the same time they seemed to be walking on egg shells. Joseph had put that fear deep within each one of them, showing up when he was suppose to be gone, and at the least likely of moments. Clarisse smiled and slightly shook her head. "What he does for the monarchy".

She stared at the paragraph once more. From that came a multitude of questions. Just what was being built? How elaborate was he going to make it? Though he knew Joseph would keep it simple, more for the sake of the reserve. Yet at the same time he would make sure she would be more than comfortable there. So someplace in her mind she created a medium. She wondered how far along it had come, but then remembered his 'short flight' he was so apt to take on Monday, if not before. Maybe it was finished. Maybe?

"Oh Charlotte, I'd like to speak with Shades, please," she stopped her assistant from leaving once again.

"I'm sorry but Shades has not returned," she spoke.

"Returned? From where?" Clarisse was curious when any of her security were out without her knowledge.

"I'm not sure, ma'am. I was just informed that he left Ian in charge until he returned, which should be in about half an hour. Should I enquire?"

"Ah, no. Just have him see me when he returns Charlotte. That will be all." Clarisse leaned back in her chair, another question running through her mind. Just how much did Joseph have going without her knowledge? There was only one way to find out the truth. However, Shades had always been loyal to Joseph. Should she break that?

A/N: Never assume you know what I'm thinking, my mind is a dangerous and twisted place.