Part 5
Joseph was remaining in the United States with Mia until her school was finished for the year. Clarisse, sitting on the plane heading back to Genovia, wasn't sure whether she was happy or upset that he wouldn't be with her for the next few weeks. Since their kiss the other night, she had been very embarrassed. Oh, she still did not want him to resign, but she felt incredibly uncomfortable when he was with her. She wanted to say something, but had no idea what to say. She wanted to have Joseph say something, but wasn't sure what she wanted to hear, either.
They had both had years of relatively happy marriages ... until the end. Then both had experienced a profound shock when their spouses had died as well as because of the WAY they had died. Out of their mutual pain and mutual agreement to keep what they knew a secret, they had become closer together. Both had been completely amazed when their long-time platonic affection had caught fire two nights ago. It wasn't as though they had been struck by a lightning bolt of love, it was not as strong as that ... but an ember, which had been glowing unnoticed probably for quite a while, had suddenly flared momentarily.
Shortly before their arrival in San Francisco, Clarisse had finally reached the stage where she could think of Rupert with some of the affection she had felt while they had been married. Neither Joseph nor Clarisse had ever had found anything out about the relationship between their spouses, or even if it had BEEN a relationship for long. After much discussion, the two had finally decided to take the compliment out of the note Rupert had sent to Nan ("I am truly as happy in my marriage as you are in yours ...") and forgive the rest, thereby being able to move on ...
Closing her eyes as she felt again the touch of Joseph's lips on hers, causing all sorts of feelings to riot through her body unimpeded, Clarisse wondered whether she should have even thought about moving on. Had she had any idea whatsoever what that might entail, she would have never allowed herself the luxury. Knowing that she had to struggle to keep the throne of Genovia for a minimum of five more years before Mia could take over meant that she had to put her own life on hold for that long. She was very much afraid that the one taste of Joseph's kiss would never be enough ... yet it had to be.
Suddenly she tensed. She had been the one to initiate their encounter! SHE was the one who had reached out to hug him ... SHE had been the one to touch her lips to his cheek in gratitude ... What if Joseph had felt that he had had no choice BUT to respond to her, and yet he hadn't enjoyed it as much as she had? What if he asked again, and more seriously this time, about the possibility of him resigning? If he really could not live with the fact that she so obviously cared for him THAT way ... then she would have to let him leave, allow him to go out of her life forever. Clarisse felt pain at the thought of losing Joseph crashing over her ...
"Your Majesty?"
Clarisse's eyes snapped open at Charlotte's timid voice. Thrusting her ridiculous fears deep inside, Clarisse deliberately relaxed her muscles before saying, "Yes, Charlotte?"
"The Prime Minister was wondering if it would be possible to have a word with you. I thought perhaps I could bring you both some tea ..."
"Thank you, Charlotte. Yes, that will be fine." Clarisse straightened up. Yes, she had to stop thinking about Joseph and focus her attention on Genovia. Too bad, too. She turned in the chair to look out the window, idly humming under her breath.
When he arrived for his meeting with the Queen, Sebastian Motaz was amused, as was Charlotte who had followed on his heels with the tea tray. The Queen was obviously missing her grand-daughter already, since she was humming, "I left my heart in San Francisco ..."
O o O o O o
"Viscount Mabrey, you have the floor."
Clarisse, sitting in the heavy ornate chair beside the Prime Minister, wondered what the Viscount was going to talk about THIS session! Ever since she had begun sitting in Parliament, the Viscount had brought one irritatingly trivial detail after another to the floor and had managed to impede the progress of any REAL work being done. Clarisse and Sebastian had discussed this very matter the other day on the plane when returning to Genovia. He had warned Clarisse that, since the Viscount had 'boycotted' the Independence Day Ball in San Francisco as a protest against moving the annual Genovian tradition to another country even for one year and in spite of the extenuating circumstances surrounding the change which had been previously agreed upon by Parliament the one session the Viscount had missed, there would no doubt be some repercussions at the next session. She was about to find out.
"Honourable members of Parliament, I'm sure that all of you gentlemen are in agreement with me when I say that ... oh, I DO beg your pardon, your Majesty ... all of you gentlemen and ... should I call you lady, which I am thinking you are not, or am I to address you as simply your Majesty?" The Viscount did not wait for an answer to his faintly sarcastic question, and ignored the 'ooohs!' that passed around the room at his thinly veiled insult of the Queen. "It is SO hard to know just what to say at times like this, when the sacrosanct atmosphere of the Parliament is ... not defiled, of course," and he bowed to the Queen with a thin smile which resembled nothing more than a grimace, "but certainly is not the same as in the days when good King Rupert, may he rest in peace," again the Viscount waited until everyone had repeated the proscribed saying, "was seated in the chair which his ... widow ... struggles so valiantly to adequately fill."
Clarisse leaned back and, bending her head and covering her mouth as though sneezing, contrived to speak to Sebastian in an undertone. "Tell me, Sebastian, have I just been insulted?"
"A number of times, your Majesty. Shall I ...?"
"No. Let him speak."
The Viscount was continuing, waving his hands theatrically as he spoke grandly. "You all most assuredly are aware of my great concerns when it comes to allowing women, even queens," again he bowed perfunctorily to Clarisse, "into these august, even venerable, sessions. As my late wife's revered ancestor, King Chevalier so aptly advised his son, 'A man of sense only trifles with women, plays with them, humours and flatters them, as he does with a sprightly and forward child; but he neither consults them about, nor trusts them with, serious matters.' And, with the recent escapade in the United States of America, that is so very obvious! Never before has the Genovian government had to resort to celebrating their national holiday in another country! It's absurd to have even countenanced such an outrage, in my opinion! Ah yes, but we DO have a princess, now. A pretty little fifteen-year-old child who is to be schooled by ... why, none other than our darling Queen Clarisse, a woman who so very recently has added her charm and grace to our chambers."
Clarisse's hands were clenched tightly enough that her fingernails were digging into the palms. How DARE the man belittle her or Mia ...! She made a slight movement as if to rise to the Viscount's baiting, but Sebastian lightly touched her arm in their signal. Torn between rising and icily demolishing Mabrey with some well-chosen words or listening to Sebastian tell her she must keep control of herself and thereby of Parliament, she finally conceded and leaned back nonchalantly.
"Wait, your Majesty. See what transpires."
Lord Crowley was on his feet in an instant. "Do you mean to say, Viscount, that the Queen is in any way a detriment to our discussions here?"
"Not at all," Viscount Mabrey replied smoothly. "She is a very decorative part of things, and always has been."
"I have always thought Queen Clarisse to be more intelligent than many of the Parliamentarians on these benches," observed Lord Harmony quietly.
"The Queen is not merely decorative!" blustered Lord Crowley. "Since she has been sitting with us, look at what we have accomplished! Why, we have ... er ... um ... there's the ... well, perhaps the ..." his voice trailed away, bewilderment showing on his face.
"I rest my case." the Viscount said smugly. "Yes, we have determined that the school year is to consist of no less than 180 days. Yes, we have also passed a law saying that the music in the public square must end by ten p.m. on weekdays. Very beneficial laws indeed, gentlemen, for children ... and music haters. I MUST register my protest for having given the little princess time to 'find herself' and decide that yes, she 'DOES' want to 'play at our house' before taking on the throne ..."
"It's only right that Princess Amelia come to live in Genovia to learn from Queen Clarisse!" Lord Fricker stood up, looking bewildered to find himself on his feet. "Isn't it?"
"Well, she IS only fifteen. She plans to come here to live, and to bring her mother along with her. The same mother who, as it happens, REFUSED to come to live in Genovia when her husband was recalled ... her husband, Prince Philippe, the Crown Prince! And now we are welcoming her? I find this unconscionable! I, for one, greatly object to allowing the woman to raise the child we hope to be our next queen! If the little princess requires her mother, it is MY opinion that she REMAIN with her mother, in the United States, until she is all grown up!" the Viscount thundered.
Clarisse held her breath. She had NEVER expected such a reaction ... even from the Viscount! Oooh, the man was lower than anything that crawled on its belly ... Only the Prime Minister's gentle touch of reassurance on her arm kept her in her seat.
Again Lord Crowley stood up. "Are you saying the Princess should not even VISIT Genovia, the land of her father's birth?" Others in Parliament murmured approvingly.
"Oh, she may VISIT, of course! Even with her mother! But I would expect that ..."
The Viscount Mabrey stopped abruptly when Lord Palimore, the senior Member of Parliament and former Prime Minister came to his feet and banged his cane for attention. The elderly man looked keenly around the room, then said slowly and succinctly, "The Parliament of Genovia has already made its decision with regard to the Princess Amelia being the heir to the throne. She will be given a choice with regards to her place of residence for the next five years. In that time, it is to be expected that Queen Clarisse will have taught the princess enough that she will be ready to rule. At that time, when Princess Amelia is twenty-one, we will make our decision about whether or not we will accept her Queen Amelia of Genovia. We do NOT want to show a divided government to the country as that only allows upstarts like the von Trokens to have hope that eventually they will be able to gain enough support and power in Genovia to take over the throne. Why, the Baron is not even a Member of Parliament! Did you know," and he turned to the man beside him to speak conversationally, a signal for many of the others to whisper to their neighbours, "did you know that he keeps applying to become a member, as did his father and his grandfather before him? In all these years, none of their bids were ever successful, and quite frankly, I cannot see that ..."
Sebastian Motaz leaned forward and banged the gavel on the desk. "Gentlemen! Gentlemen, please!"
Clarisse felt a tension headache creep over her, and wished vainly for Joseph to relieve the stress. She could tell already that it was going to be a very, very, very long five years.
O o O o O o
It was one of the very rare moments these days that Clarisse had a scrap of free time and had escaped early to the gazebo for a pre-arranged meeting with Joseph. She arrived to hear him singing softly as he strummed his guitar. Hanging back when she realized he hadn't noticed her presence, she listened to the words of his song.
My dear Clarisse,
You are terribly blessed.
But it's your heart of gold
I love the best.
And that will be your crowning glory,
Your whole life through.
It'll always be your crowning glory,
The most glorious part of you.
I'm one who's right.
Your faithful knight.
I'll be honest and true.
Will believe in you, too.
And prize your heart of gold the way all do.
I know that will be your crowning glory,
Your whole life through.
My love will see that it's your crowning glory,
The most glorious part of you!
That will be your crowning glory,
Darling, when they tell our story,
They'll call your heart of gold your crowning glory,
The most glorious part of you.
Clarisse's heart began to beat very quickly. How could she not understand what he was saying through his song, even though they had never repeated nor spoken of the kiss they had shared two years previously? "Joseph," she said softly, coming up to stand before him. He quickly moved to put the guitar down, but she put out her hand. "No, please, Joseph. Play it again for me. I want to hear it again. You wrote it, didn't you?"
"Yes," Joseph admitted gruffly, not looking at her. "It's the first time I've written a song since Nan's ..." and he stopped.
"It's lovely ... Please, play and sing it again?"
After some hesitation, he nodded, then began to sing. When he finished the sound of the guitar died away. After a moment, he looked up at Clarisse. Tears had formed in her eyes.
"Thank you," she whispered huskily. "Thank you, Joseph. I ... I don't really know what to say ..."
He took a deep breath. "Clarisse, I had no illusions that I could fall in love again at my age. I mean, with Nan, until the end that is, I really felt as if I had as much happiness and love as I had a right to expect. And now, well, I'm frankly amazed at this late-in-life love. I thought myself too old for anything like this. It has surpassed my wildest dreams."
Clarisse caught her breath. "Joseph ..."
Not finished and not wanting to be interrupted, Joseph continued speaking, his eyes on hers. "There is something about the rejuvenating and miraculous power of love. New love doesn't feel any different in your sixties than before, does it? I still feel sixteen at times, and had never thought I would ever feel this way again. There is something life-affirming about the leap of faith and trust it takes to fall in love at any age, but when the package includes grey, thinning or even LOST hair, creaky joints, a lifetime of experience that includes tragedy, loss and heartbreak and a potentially short time together as illness and age take their toll, that leap is all the more inspiring. I now believe that older couples, as compared to younger ones, have a deep sense of understanding for the richness of life, with all of its joys and sorrows, and we embrace it. The power of love is still calling us to take a risk."
Putting her hand on his gently, Clarisse nodded. "Yes, Joseph, we ARE still being called to take a risk. But Joseph ... we ... we cannot take it yet. I'm ... I'm really so very sorry ..."
He looked away, then bent to put his guitar back in its case. "Well, that's that, then. I suppose you want my resigna ..."
"JOSEPH!" Startled, his eyes snapped back to hers. Hers were flashing with anger as she stood up. "Please stop talking about resignation, once and for all! You know very well that is NOT what I would EVER want!"
"Your Majesty ..."
Catching sight of a gardener, Clarisse became very formal. "Thank you, Joseph. I trust you will heed my instructions. And ..." her voice softened, "And I DO thank you, once again. Please, may I have a copy?"
"It shall be on your desk as soon as possible," he said.
"Thank you." She started down the steps, then turned suddenly. "Joseph! Remember I was asked to sing at Mia's eighteenth birthday party next month? Do you ... do you think you could change the words so that I could sing THAT song for her? And will you teach it to me?"
"I'd be honoured, your Majesty."
"Really?" she sounded a little skeptical. "Then why can't you look at me when you say that?"
He laughed at last, and, rising, turned and swept her an elaborate bow. "I should be most honoured to write the song for you to sing at the Princess' birthday party, and more than delighted to teach it to you."
O o O o O o
"Grandma? Thanks again for singing at my party. That was a really beautiful song!" Mia hugged her grandmother fiercely.
Clarisse hugged her back, feeling much more comfortable with the gesture than she had two years previously. "I thought it was beautiful, too. Joseph wrote it."
"Joe? OUR Joe? REALLY?"
"Yes. 'Our' Joe," Clarisse smiled, loving the sound of the word 'our', although NOT the name. She STILL preferred to call him Joseph!
"Hey, Grandma, I know it's none of my business, but is Joe your boyfriend?"
Clarisse looked horrified. "Certainly not! Women of my age, and in my position, do not have ... boyfriends!"
"What do you have, then? Beaux? Admirers? LOVERS?" Mia teased her.
"MIA!"
"Just kidding, Grandma. Where'd you say you were going today?"
"I have a meeting with the Mayor of San Francisco."
"Is he going to ask you how many members you've added to the Order of the Rose lately?" Mia grinned.
Laughing, Clarisse shook her head. "Hardly. Oh, that WAS a fun day, wasn't it, Mia?"
"It sure was. Well, see you tonight for supper. I can't believe you're going home tomorrow already! Coming, Shades?"
Clarisse watched her grand-daughter saunter out of the Genovian Embassy, Albert at her heels. Joseph had decided that he would remain Clarisse's driver and Head of Security during their stay in San Francisco, so had had Albert come over from Genovia to be Princess Mia's driver for the duration of their stay. Mia had taken one look at the other man and promptly nicknamed him 'Shades'. Shaking her head, Clarisse turned to see Joseph smiling at her.
"Ready, your Majesty?"
"As I'll ever be," she sighed.
"I understand there is a quaint café on the ground floor of the government office building. We can stop there for a beverage. I believe you would be interested in their hot cider."
Clarisse raised her eyebrows. "Hot cider?"
"Mmhmm. But I won't give it away. You'll see when we get there."
Traffic in the San Francisco streets was snarled that afternoon, however, so by the time Joseph had parked the limousine, it was almost time for Clarisse's appointment with the mayor. Hustling her into the building through the closest door, Joseph told her that he didn't want her to even see the NAME of the café until they were ready to go in.
"I would have thought there would be more people around inside considering how many cars were out on the streets!" Clarisse commented as they got into an empty elevator and Joseph pushed the ninth floor button.
"The mayor would have arranged for your visit at as convenient time as possible, I'm sure." Joseph said.
The doors closed, and they began to rise. Just past the seventh floor, Clarisse was jolted violently. She staggered back against Joseph who grunted as he lost his own balance when the entire elevator trembled, shook harder, then screeched to a stop as the lights went out. Terrifyingly enough, the shaking didn't stop even when the upward motion ceased.
"Wh – What's ..." Clarisse tried to speak, but the shaking was too severe. She turned in Joseph's arms and clung to him. If she was going to die, she wanted it to be in Joseph's arms!
After what seemed an eternity of loud noises and thundering crashes with the elevator box pitching them back and forth across the expanse of the small box, there was a moment of absolute and utter stillness. Then the silence was broken by the wail of sirens both near and far, and faint shouts reached Clarisse's ears.
"Are you all right, Clarisse?" Joseph asked urgently, his hands moving over her in an effort to ascertain her position.
"An earthquake?" she almost squeaked, and just then another shock sent them to the floor, the elevator almost undulating as if riding up and down some very large waves. Clarisse clutched Joseph closer, pressing her face into his shoulder.
Joseph took the brunt of the fall, and tried to protect Clarisse as the elevator shifted again, ending up tilted on a slight angle. This time when the shaking stopped, the noise never did. Mercifully, at that moment faint lights appeared around the panel of buttons on the wall by the elevator door and along the sides of the elevator. "Emergency generator appears to have kicked in," he said, "but it's not very likely the elevator will be working any time soon."
"You mean, we're trapped in here?"
"For now. We're just lucky the elevator didn't ..."
More aftershocks came and Joseph broke off when Clarisse whimpered and tried to creep even closer to him. "Every time the elevator shakes, I feel very, very dizzy!" she whispered.
"But otherwise you are not hurt?" Joseph asked again.
"N-no," she said, trembling almost as much as the elevator appeared to be. "What about you? I fell on YOU, didn't I?"
"I'd gladly sport more than a few bruises to keep you safe, Clarisse. You know you mean more to me than anything else in the world!"
Suddenly, very suddenly, the atmosphere in the confined elevator changed from terror to a charged anticipation. No longer was Clarisse aware of the shaking caused by the earthquake. She was more attuned to the earth-shaking reality of Joseph's kiss when he captured her lips with his. Once again, Joseph was saving her. Every nuance of pressure from his lips, every breath he breathed into her mouth made her feel that much more alive. This was how it should have been, this wanting, this needing, this compulsion to press even closer to him.
She found herself murmuring to him, wanting him to know more of her than anyone else had ever known, wanting to share something of herself that she had never spoken of. "Rupert treated me, for the most part, as a china doll. I was someone to dress up and have on his arm at the appropriate social functions ... someone to be kept in a glass display case. He would never believe that I was just like everyone else. I have the same needs, same fears ..." she took a deep breath and continued, "I want someone to really touch ME ... because I'm me, just Clarisse ... not me, the supposedly beautiful-for-her-age Queen of Genovia." She watched the expression on his face, dreading a response that would make her feel like a thing instead of the person she was. She didn't want to be told how perfectly her body was shaped, or that he had never seen anyone more beautiful. She wanted someone to tell her that he loved her for HER ... for her caring, her quick intelligence, her personality ...
"Actually, I would not particularly want to kiss the Queen of Genovia, however lovely she might be and is! No, I want to kiss Clarisse ... the woman I have grown to adore more than I ever thought possible again."
Clarisse chuckled, but it sounded strained. "Oh, Joseph!"
He could feel her tension and knew that tears were just below the surface. His kisses intensified. Clarisse wrapped her arms around Joseph's neck, and as the elevator continued shaking with the aftershocks of the earthquake, they rode the wild storm the way they would from now on for the rest of their lives ... together.
"I never imagined finding being trapped inside an elevator during an earthquake to be so ... so beautiful," she said at last, drawing away reluctantly.
"Love makes it beautiful," Joseph murmured.
"Then I am glad that I could know this moment with you."
Joseph held her tightly again when the elevator renewed its shaking, and she clung to him as though she feared to let go. "I will keep you safe," he reminded her.
"I know." She fought to hold back the tears that were threatening. She didn't want to think of their uncertain future. "Joseph, I have only ever loved you. Because of you, I know love's joys and pleasures ..."
He hated to say it, but he had to. "Rupert?"
"I grew very fond of him after a time, and I believe he grew fond of me, too. But no ... neither of us ... truly loved." Then she sighed. "At least, I didn't truly love ... until you."
He could do nothing less than kiss her again for that remark. Joseph wanted to stay secluded in the elevator car with Clarisse forever, keeping her in his arms and loving her. But there was her reputation to consider – the reputation of the royal family of Genovia at stake. No one must ever suspect that anything romantic was between the Queen and her Head of Security. Then, along with the almost constant small tremors, they heard a sudden thump, then a whirring sound, the elevator straightened and began to move slowly again.
Joseph glanced at his watch. Only twenty minutes... but it had been twenty of heaven that had felt like an eternity in two minutes. He chuckled at his mixed thoughts. Seeing Clarisse's glance at him, he said softly, "I can't decide if we just shared a fantastic eternity, or an incredible two minutes. I love you, Clarisse, make no mistake about that."
"Joseph, I love you, too ... you MUST know that. But ..." she bit her lip.
His hand covered hers. "Some day we will be able to love each other openly. I know that day is not yet."
Then the doors were opening and they were freed.
O o O o O o
After refusing to meet with reporters until later, Joseph managed to get Clarisse back to the Genovian Embassy, which was in an area not as badly hit by the earthquake. A frantic Charlotte met them with the good news that Princess Mia and her mother were both fine and that the Princess wanted Queen Clarisse to phone as soon as she came in.
Clarisse made her phone calls, talking to Mia, then the mayor who was obsequiously trying to apologize as well as set up an appointment for the following day to complete his business, then Sebastian Motaz in Genovia who had heard news of the earthquake. She tidied up, and went down for supper ... still feeling a little dizzy and rather nervous every time the ground trembled. But she tried not to let herself even think of how she had spent the time while trapped in the elevator.
That night after supper, she agreed to meet with reporters, and fielded their questions. "How did it feel to be trapped?" "Were you scared?" "What were you thinking about?" and by far the worst question, "How did you pass your time?" Finally escaping them, Clarisse, rather bewildered, turned on her heel and made her way back to her suite. Everyone had complimented her on her appearance this evening, some rather slyly. What was different about her? Had fright turned her hair white, or something? She had to find out. In her room, staring into the mirror with critical eyes, Clarisse was shocked. She DID look different! Although her hair had not gone white, her blue eyes were sparkling, her colour was high, and her skin was positively glowing! There was an air of sensuality about her when she reached up to brush a strand of hair over her ear in an almost unconscious gesture.
As realization sank in, Clarisse stared at her reflection in awe. It actually SHOWED! She was a woman in love ... deeply in love with Joseph. He was unlike any other man she had ever known, and she felt like a complete fool for ever doubting that this kind of deep, all-consuming love existed. It was physically visible that she was in love ... but thank God no one knew, indeed must ever know, WHO she loved. As long as she was the ruling Queen of Genovia, no one could suspect that she loved and was loved. Their love MUST remain in the shadows.
O o O o O o O o
By the next evening, the tabloids had articles and pictures. One of them, the San Francisco Buzz, showed three pictures of Joseph and Clarisse ... one inside the café, and two as they stood just outside. Under the headline GENOVIAN QUEEN ENDANGERED AGAIN? and the smaller subtitle Queen Rescued After Being Trapped in Elevator by Earthquake! What Next? the article read:
Before heading to the airport on her flight home, Queen Clarisse of Genovia was seen at the Golden Pear Café, sharing a final moment with her Head of Security, who was also trapped for a couple of hours by yesterday's earthquake which shook parts of the city and caused widespread power outages. It is to be hoped that the Queen will not hold our fair city responsible for the terrifying time she must have experienced before being rescued from the inoperable elevator. Speculation has also arisen as to why the Queen was in the vicinity a second time. The office building which houses the Gold Pear Café ALSO houses the Marriage Bureau. Could it be that the very attractive royal widow has lost her heart and is contemplating ... (Story to be continued on Page Five ...)
THE END!
