Ok, I've decided that this chapter will be just recapping the next few months up until the completion of the security update that Joseph was originally hired to do. The next chapter will be Clarisse finding out that Joseph will then be staying on as her personal bodyguard and next in line for the Head of Security position.
Just an added note, I've tried 3 times over the past 4 days to add this chapter and every time was going slow as anything and always timed out, so it's not all my fault that this wasn't up earlier (just in case anyone was waiting).
Chapter 8
Joseph had been correct, after King Rupert and Prince Phillip had returned things had changed. He and Clarisse no longer had their walks through the gardens every morning, although they tried to fit it in at least once every week. He was now working more with James going through resumes and then training the new security detail, while still fighting a battle with Parliament over the funding needed to hire all of the new guards and buy new equipment for the now much larger security department.
After that day he still couldn't figure out who she had been talking about, but one thing he did find out a few weeks later was what she had overheard that one day that had made her so upset. He had confided to James about what he had heard, not revealing that he had spoken to Clarisse about it since he had promised her not to.
"I'm not surprised, Joe." James said leaning back in his chair, "You've worked close enough to her to see how much work she does and how much His Majesty listens and depends on her, but in the public eye, she's the ruler's wife. Most of Parliament, her friends and anyone in the Royal circle in Europe know the truth, but the regular people, including much of the palace staff doesn't know. They love her, but they think of her as beautiful, delicate and compassionate but also not one to be knowledgeable in politics or anything like that. I warned you, this country can be really stuck in the past with certain things, and stereotyping the Queen as arm candy for the King, and nothing more, is one of them."
Joe just shook his head, not believing how he could tell in a few hours what people who had been around her for years could not see.
Surprisingly Prince Phillip, although usually at his father's side for many sessions of Parliament and social appearances, Joseph noticed that much of his time was spent with his mother, in the library, or by the lake. During one of his pauses at the lake, Joseph approached the prince.
"Your Highness forgive me, but you should inform security when you come out this far on the grounds. It's not safe."
Phillip stood up from the bench, "Joseph, correct?" Joe nodded, "While I understand that you're here to help with security, there are times when even royalty needs a few moments alone in a place of solitude. My father has his office, my mother her gardens, mine just happens to be a little farther away from the palace than that."
Joseph nodded, "I understand, Your Highness, but even a place of solitude is not always safe. At least inform us so we can check the perimeter."
Phillip stared at the water for a minute and Joseph was about to turn around when he spoke again, "What do you and my mother talk about when you walk in the gardens?"
Joe was surprised at the question but recovered quickly, "About the security measures, the gardens and then the topics sometimes vary."
Phillip now turned back to Joseph, trying to size him up. Although he hadn't spent much time around Joseph he had heard only wonderful things from his parents, James and much of the other staff. "You two seemed to have become close in the short time my father and I were away."
"My job is to protect Her Majesty, so we did spend quite a lot of time together while you were gone. She also was the person whom I needed to discuss the security measures with." Joseph said quickly, not sure where Phillip was headed.
"Mother doesn't get close to too many people, they tend not to be as trustworthy or honest as they try to appear." He paused for a moment and looked Joseph strait in the eyes, "You were hired to update the security system, not protect my mother. I know what my father's plans are for you after the update is complete, but I wonder how mother will react when she finds out you've known the whole time that you would become her bodyguard after the update. She seems happier because she feels she can talk to you and trust you, I'd hate to see her disappointed again." Phillip walked passed Joseph, walking back towards the palace.
Joseph continued to stand there, trying to digest what Phillip had told him. He was right, they had become close since he had arrived, not in an inappropriate way, just closer than a bodyguard should be to the person their guarding. It wouldn't do anyone any good for him to have any stronger feelings for her than he already did. Even what he felt for her now, which Joseph really couldn't even describe except as a comfortable friendship, was almost crossing the line away from what he should feel as a professional and into dangerous territory when being a bodyguard.
Joseph shook his head. He didn't have time to stand around and think, he had work to do. Although Joseph still spent only a little time with Clarisse, the thoughts would continually pop up over the next few weeks about what he was really feeling for her and what was he going to do about it.
A few weeks after Joseph and Phillip talked, King Rupert asked for a meeting between him, Clarisse, Joseph and James, in order to be fully briefed on how the project was going and how much longer it would take.
"So it's almost done?"
"The camera's are in place and operational, working well with the new system, we have almost all of the men trained and assigned to their duties, and the rest will only need another week of training. We have the equipment, the funds, should we encounter any unforeseen problems over the next year, and the extra security plans have been drawn up, reviewed and could be in place for any public appearances or special events that could take place at the palace or grounds within 2 days notice."
Rupert smiled and leaned back in his chair, "Well…I never thought I'd say it, but I barely notice when more guards are around."
"You wanted to keep your privacy, but it's much safer that before." Joseph said, also smiling.
"Well than, I guess we should start discussing your permanent position then, shouldn't we?" Rupert said nodding to James.
"Permanent position?" Clarisse asked. "I thought the update was complete, surely it doesn't need to be updated constantly?"
James and Joseph continued to look at Rupert, who had all of a sudden found his pen very interesting.
"Perhaps we should discuss it tomorrow, it is rather late." Rupert said looking at James.
"Yes Your Majesty." James said quickly and signaled for Joseph to follow him out.
"Your Majesties." Joseph bowed his head to Rupert and Clarisse before following James out.
Clarisse looked at the retreating figures and the glared at Rupert once the door was closed. She spoke quietly, but firmly, "What position, Rupert?"
End Chapter 8
Ok, so it's not the best chapter I've ever written. I felt like it was in a bit of a rut so I tried to fast forward it a bit, plus I wanted to add a little bit of interaction between Phillip and Joseph. The next chapter will be better, I promise!