Thank you aserene, jimlucky13, Clarisse and Joe, RevSue, sue, Prettycrazy, and hollywoodgal for your feedback! I'm glad you enjoyed chapters 5 and 6. Hope you like this chapter too!

Chapter 7

Next morning: Clarisse's office 8:00 am

Joseph walked down the hallway towards Clarisse's office. He was still confused about her actions the previous day, but after a good nights sleep he decided to just put it behind him, hope that she was back to how she was yesterday morning, and focus on the job ahead. He knocked on the door and heard her call him in.

Clarisse had gotten up that morning feeling much better after talking to Rupert and had decided that she owed Joseph an apology, she certainly didn't want her rude and uncalled for behavior the previous day to cause Joseph to reconsider working here and leave. Despite how she hated the invasion into her privacy, she understood the need for the changes and knew that Joseph would be the best man for the challenge, as Rupert continuously told her.

When he entered her office she instinctively stood up and nodded when he bowed. "Good morning, Joseph. Please, sit." She said sitting back down herself.

"I have the proposal you wanted, Your Majesty." He said and handed her the thick folder. "Did you want to go over it now, or would you prefer a read through it first and discuss it later?"

She could tell by his tone that he was all business, but she didn't know if he was simply trying to be professional or if he was upset about yesterday afternoon. "Before we go over this, I would like to talk with you about yesterday afternoon."

He immediately went on guard, although he tried not to show it. In his experiences, whenever one of his employers brought up something like what happened yesterday, it meant that they blamed him for what happened.

Clarisse took a deep breath as Joseph braced himself for the accusation he thought she was about to make, "I wanted to apologize for my behavior," Joseph looked at her in shock but she was looking at her hands and continued speaking, "Something happened that took me by surprise and upset me quite a bit. Although it was not your fault, I took my anger and frustrations out on you and I apologize for that." She finally looked up at him again, "I hope that my behavior did not make you reconsider coming here and want to leave."

The shock that he felt soon gave way to concern and he stopped her from continuing, "Your Majesty, I would never consider leaving a position because someone had had a bad day and took it out on me. I would have never finished a job if that were the case." She smiled a little, "If I may inquire, although I understand if it is none of my business, as to what caused you to get so upset. If there is anything I can do..."

Clarisse held up her hand to stop him from continuing, "Let's just say that the palace staff is known to gossip amongst themselves, usually harmlessly, but unfortunately I overhead some rumors about me that I was not aware of." She saw his concern and question in his face, "It doesn't really matter now, and I would like this to stay between us. It wouldn't do anyone any good for you to try and interrogate my staff to find out what was said."

"Of course, Your Majesty." Joseph nodded in understanding. Better to leave it alone and hope it disappears like most gossip and rumors than to fan the flames by trying to stop them and giving it acknowledge and possible confirmation.

"Now that that is out of the way," She said smiling and opened the folder he had handed her earlier, "lets go over these ideas of yours."

2 weeks later…

After that discussion in her office Joseph had taken to paying very close attention to what was said by those around him, especially when they didn't know he was around. He had promised not to ask questions, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to keep an ear out to find out what upset her so much. He could see what James meant about her moods though, although he felt a naturally at ease around her, and he thought she felt the same way, it always seemed like there was still a part of her she was hiding and kept guarded whenever he was around. He wondered if she even knew she did it or whether it just came naturally after so many years in the public eye as 'The Queen'. Although she had never been that short with him again, he saw how she could go from a nice quiet tea discussing flowers and latest fashions with some of the Ladies, to arguing with Parliament members over political matters and the national budget in a split second.

He looked over at her and studied her face as they walked. Joseph and Clarisse were once again walking through the gardens, it had become a ritual for them to do so after breakfast in the morning and although they always started out discussing how the security updates was going, the conversation usually lead to other topics. Today was different, they still talked, but she didn't quite have the enthusiasm in her voice as she usually did.

"Is there something wrong, Your Majesty?" Joseph finally asked after they had been walking around for nearly a half hour.

She looked up at him sharply, "Why would you think something's wrong?"

"You don't seem to be enjoying the gardens as much as you usually do, Your Majesty."

She stopped walking and looked around the gardens to see if they were alone.

"There's no one around." He said and continued when she looked at him about to ask how he knew what she was doing, "I am a security guard after all, I make it my business to know if there's anyone around and if so how close and who they are."

She nodded, "Joseph," she started and then paused, "I just have a lot on my mind, that's all."

He could tell that that wasn't what she was originally going to say, but if she didn't want to tell him he couldn't argue with her. "Would you prefer to go inside then, Your Majesty, or keep walking?"
She sighed softly, "No, I'd much prefer to be out here right now."

They continued walking in silence for another half hour before she finally decided to go to her office, but even then he could tell that she was distracted, her eyes never really focusing on the papers in front of her. It wasn't until one of the guards entered the office that she looked up and seemed focused.

"Your Majesty?" The guard bowed.

"Yes?"

"His Majesty wished me to inform you that they have landed safely and are on their way back to the palace."

She nodded, "Thank you." He bowed again and then left.

"I had almost forgotten that His Majesty and Highness were returning today, you must be glad that they're back."

"Hmm?" She looked up at him and he could tell that she had been lost in her own thoughts, "Oh, yes, yes. I'm always happy when we're all together, although still not the whole family." She almost whispered the last part to herself.

"If you want, Your Majesty, I could contact Prince Pierre and…"

Clarisse interrupted him, "That's not necessary."

He was confused, something in the way she responded made him think that she wasn't thinking of Prince Pierre when she made the comment, but as far as he knew the closest family other than him was His Majesty's cousins, but certainly she couldn't think of them before Pierre. "As you wish." He said and nodded. "If you excuse me, I'd like to check on a few things before His Majesty gets here."

"You mean before James gets here and inspects what you've completed so far?" Clarisse asked innocently, not looking up at him.

He almost grinned, "That too."

She looked up at him and smiled, "Of course, I have some more paperwork to do before Rupert gets here anyway."

He bowed his head and left her office, wondering about what would happen now that His Majesty and Highness were back.

End Chapter 7

OK hope you all enjoyed it, I'm already working on Chapter 8, so I should have that chapter finished within the next week.