Disclaimer: Don't own, don't make any money from it... but we're working on that!

Author's Note:A funny moment in the heat of summer... everyone needs them!

Mixed Signals - Part 30

Clarisse lifted her face towards the glorious warmth of the sun, bathed in its gentle adulation and felt her body relax beneath its gaze. Sliding her sunglasses into place she reached across the table for her glass of spritzer, took a sip, let it slowly slide down her throat, and stretched her legs out in front of her.

Part of her wished she were sitting somewhere secluded and hidden away, away from prying eyes. Then she would lift that long summer dress just a little, above her knees, and let the sun caress her legs too. Unfortunately there were maids scurrying about and security guards watching her every move, she doubted they would revel in the idea of looking at their former monarchs legs.

"What are you smiling about?"

She dropped her head to the side and accepted Joseph's kiss on her cheek before he sat down across from her.

"Nothing much. Relaxing in the sunshine."

"Hmm…" He poured himself a glass of the cool looking liquid. "I was just thinking how good it is to be home, with nothing to do."

"And it's good to have you home, I'm looking forward to a long hot summer." She reached across the table and clinked her glass against his. "The wedding was just the beginning of, what was it you said we should have… more fun?"

Anna's wedding had taken place two days ago and since then Clarisse had seemed to carry with her an air of joy, though he wasn't entirely sure where it had originated he absolutely loved it.

He smiled watching her, she was utterly relaxed, in fact he doubted he'd ever seen her like that in public. Settled back in her chair, body stretched out, head back, that elegant long neck… he licked his lips, suddenly felt his throat tighten.

A maid approached the table and put a rather large tray down.

"Ahh, wonderful." Clarisse proclaimed sitting up.

"Would you like me to serve madam?" The rather demure girl asked.

"No that's fine, thank you, I think I'll do it myself."

"Very good ma'am." With a swift curtsy the maid backed away across the lawn.

Joseph folded his arms and leant on the table watching unfold her napkin. "And what may I ask is all this?"

"This is Clarisse indulging herself." She smiled.

"Ah, I see, and are there enough cream cakes here my dear?"

Now she laughed. "Perhaps, I am being rather extravagant. But well, I'm old enough now to get away with it." She picked up the serving knife. "So, would you like to try something darling?"

"Pick something for me." He smiled resting his chin on his hands as he watched her delicately turn the plates around searching for the perfect cake.

"You look very beautiful today."

She raised an eyebrow not looking at him. "Joseph really, I should look beautiful to you every day." She sighed.

"Oh you do, just today you look… different. There's a kind of glow around you."

This time she stopped and looked at him slipping her sunglasses off. "Then perhaps we should worry, pregnant women have a 'glow' about them."

He leaned closer. "Oh dear, is there something you want to tell me Mrs. Romerro. Have you been naughty with the gardeners?"

"Well, there is a rather dashing young man who I've noticed pruning my roses."

"As long as that's all he's doing."

She tapped his nose with her fingertip. "It's hardly likely dear, now hold up your plate."

"Hold up my plate?" He faked shock but did as instructed. "Well you never usually have to do this at palace garden parties."

"Ha! This is no garden party."

"Is it not?" He put his plate back down bearing a rather large looking French pastry just oozing with cream.

She sucked on her finger that had caught the cream. "Well perhaps a private garden party… a party for two."

"Sounds good to me."

"I'm sure it does." She mumbled choosing her own cake.

"You look so very serious." He smiled.

"It's a delicate operation."

"Selecting the perfect cake?"

"Exactly… from a tray of perfect cakes."

"Perhaps you'd like to try some of mine before you decide."

"Hmmm…" She lifted her head up precisely at the moment he reached across with a thick dollop of cream on the end of his finger, it headed straight for her nose and Joseph couldn't help but laugh as she came into contact with it.

Her brow furrowed as she wiggled her nose at the sensation.

"I'm sorry dear, you do look rather cute."

"Oh do I indeed." She snatched a napkin from the table and went to wipe the cream away but Joseph held her hand down.

"Oh but allow me to lick it off."

"No, we're too public."

"Otherwise you'd allow me to do it?"

"Perhaps if we were alone, in the privacy of our rooms." She pulled the napkin free from his grasp and lifted it discreetly to her nose. "Besides, I don't wish you to get carried away."

"Carried away. I wouldn't dream of it…" He smirked. "This would be getting carried away."

He leant across the small table and slid more cream directly down from the bridge of her nose to the tip.

"I just cleaned that." She bit down on her lip to suppress a smile.

"I know." He leant back in his chair.

"Somebody needs to teach you a lesson."

"Perhaps, but you are too prim to have fun in public with your husband."

She imitated his poise and leant back in her chair, tapping her nails on the tabletop watching him, contemplating her next move.

Joseph was unprepared for the swift movement as Clarisse lifted the top from the pastry closest to her and threw it across the table squarely at his chest. For a second he stared down at himself dumbly before removing the cake from his lap and dropping it to his plate.

Clarisse watched him carefully, gauging his response.

"Now that was not very nice." He said solemnly.

"You deserved it." She smiled slightly.

"I did." He eyed the chocolate éclair on the tray.

"Oh don't even consider it." She warned moving her chair back and moving to stand hastily wiping the cream from her face with her hand.

"I haven't considered it at all, I'm being impulsive."

And with that another cake flew across the table at slid down the former Queen's dress.

She looked down at herself, then back up again at his grinning face.

A splash from the other side of the garden reminded her just where they were and she glanced around for any maids or gardeners, if they were watching the pair acting like children they certainly we're being overly intrusive as Clarisse could see nobody staring back at her.

She glanced at the pool, at Mia splashing about on her back as she did her lengths. She wasn't at all sure a Queen could afford to take the afternoon off "just because it's too hot to work." as Mia had argued, after all she was Queen now and must remember that. Then again Clarisse was dowager Queen standing there with cream sliding down her dress.

"Oh to hell with it." She suddenly proclaimed lifting the entire tray of cakes and pouring them into Joseph's lap.

He jumped to his feet and she giggled uncontrollably as she moved away from him. How good it felt to have pure unplanned, unmeasured childish fun together, emancipating.

"Right then, you are asking for pay back."

"Oh but all the cakes are gone." She said attempting to smother her laughter by covering her mouth. She stepped backwards and turned slightly glancing at the spray of water coming from the hose and sprinkling the grass.

"Clarisse, come back I wish to share some of this mess with you." Joseph said teasingly.

"You need cleaning off Sir." She responded skilfully lifting the hose from its holder and turning the spray head towards Joseph. He let out an odd sound as the ice-cold water hit his face before quickly running out of the water's reach.

"Oh now you've asked for it madam." He proclaimed standing firmly, hands on hips, measuring up his next move.

"Hmm, and what do you propose my dear husband?"

"Grandma!" A shriek came across the lawn, "what are you doing?"

Clarisse turned towards Mia's voice; she was standing at the side of the pool preparing to jump in. Recalling she was still covered in cream, she glanced down at herself, how did she explain this?

There was no time to form an explanation as she felt her body being hoisted into Joseph's strong arms. Mia shrieked again as Joseph stalked across the lawn towards the pool with a half giggling, half complaining Clarisse in his arms.

"Put me down…" She squirmed in his arms. "Joseph, this isn't playing fair…" Her shoes fell off as she kicked her legs. "Put me down."

"Oh I intend to."

He couldn't help but laugh himself at Clarisse's uncontrollable giggling. As he got closer to the pool he stopped and held her over the edge. Only now did her giggles subside.

"Oh no, no Joseph that isn't fair… you'll ruin my dress."

"You have ruined my shirt, and that's not enough of an excuse."

"Alright, you win, I'm sorry, put me down."

"I win?"

"Yes, you win."

"Good." Gently he placed her feet to the floor and she audibly sighed her relief.

"Thank you, that would have been unforgivable."

"Really?"

"Absolutely."

"Well, I do like to test theories."

He pushed gently on her waist and she toppled backwards, but she caught his arm and he followed her into the pool.

When they emerged the only sound was of Mia's laughter.

Clarisse rubbed the hair back from her face and looked up as several security members ran across the lawn towards the pool.

"Oh Joseph, in front of all the staff." She sighed heavily.

Joseph dropped backwards onto the oversized bed and dabbed his face once again with the towel. Try as he might he couldn't stop chuckling, his chest still shook with laughter, and had done ever since his and Clarisse's little escapade in the garden.

He knew she was embarrassed by their behavior, he understood her reasons for being, but he couldn't be serious about it. It was such a complete turnaround to witness Clarisse lose control and be spontaneous, to be privy to her moments of total joy and abandonment, to share in and be an integral part of that happiness.

He had gratefully accepted the towel from Olivia after he'd helped Clarisse from the pool, had watched as she'd slipped a robe on to cover her now clinging see-through summer dress, and noted that she still had a spot of cream in her hair. She had regained that stoic façade almost immediately, had brushed her damp hair back from her face and headed directly indoors… Joseph followed a little slower, winking at Mia over his shoulder as he did so.

Chuckling again he sat up long enough to remove his damp shirt and drop it to the floor. Moving up the bed he laid back on the plump pillows, leant over to his left and opened the top drawer of the bedside cabinet that was now his, taking out a large bar of the finest, plain chocolate.

Closing his eyes he broke off a square and laid it on his tongue allowing it to dissolve slowly. He sighed and rested further back into the pillows, completely relaxed,

"Joseph!" Clarisse barked as she entered their bedroom.

He sat up abruptly. "What?"

"What? What? You say what to me! You're soaking the bed, your trousers are wet, and… and goodness Joseph your shirt is soaking the carpet…" she jabbered on picking his crumpled shirt up from the floor and retreating into the bathroom with it.

Returning a second later she was still chattering on. "I can't believe you are lying there wet through, just where do you expect us to sleep tonight, and what will people think, honestly the staff already think I've lost my marbles… perhaps I have." She sat down heavily at her dressing table. "Lost my head as well as my heart." She shook her head slowly. "Behaving like that, I know better."

He swallowed the chocolate; suddenly their activities didn't seem so amusing anymore. Placing the chocolate down on the bed he moved to the edge reaching out for her hand. She was oddly silent now.

"My dear Clarisse," he kissed her fingers. "Nobody thinks badly of you, nobody thinks you've lost your marbles." He smiled and noted the way her shoulders relaxed a little. "And my darling I'm so very grateful you lost your heart… so incredibly grateful."

"Oh but what must they…"

"Shhh, no more, we are all aware of how well-behaved you are Clarisse, of the dull dignitaries you've had to entertain over the years with a smile and a warm handshake. Of the countless hours you've spent working tirelessly for your country, and I more than anyone know of the sacrifices you have made in your life for this country. That doesn't mean now, hell every now and then you shouldn't just let yourself go a little. The look in your eye when you were spraying me with the hose, I would have stood there all day freezing beneath that hose just to see that."

"To see what?" She lifted her face to his.

"To see this woman, to see you relaxing, having fun… just having fun Clarisse. You have a wonderful sense of humour and when we're away from here you let yourself go, kissing in the streets of Vienna, midnight dancing on the rooftop of Schönbrunn Castle."

He moved his face closer to hers, so close he could feel her warm breath touch his skin. "Making love with the city of Rome for a backdrop, those balcony doors wide open so we could feel the summer breeze on our bodies."

"Joseph." She smiled coyly nudging his arm.

"What? Am I not supposed to mention that here for fear of breaking that image of the Queen who never bends the rules, who never enjoys herself too much."

"Oh Joseph I do enjoy myself, every now and then, Christmas and family birthdays." She smiled warmly. "I just enjoy myself more it seems whenever you're around." She touched his face. "I'm sorry I know I shouldn't but I can't help… I can't help but feel the teeniest bit guilty about behaving like that, throwing myself in the pool for goodness sake."

"But they are private grounds, private facilities in that area, not even guests are permitted without your say-so."

"Mia's now."

"Yours! Always yours. So if it's privacy then you may do whatever you wish there, swim naked in the pool at midnight if you so feel."

She laughed outwardly now. "I would never."

"Maybe not now but I'm working on it."

"You're terrible to me."

"I know." He kissed her nose. "Relax Clarisse, it's the summer, our first summer as husband and wife. Life is good, enjoy it."

He kissed her forehead before moving and lying back on the bed.

She mused on his words for a second, the blush that had invaded her pale cheeks out in the garden now finally seemed to be fading. She watched him lounging on the expensive antique bed.

"You're still all wet." She quipped leisurely standing. "On my bed."

He glanced up at her.

"Sorry… our bed."

Dropping her robe she took her time removing her dress and then her underwear, Joseph never took his eyes from her and she was well aware of him watching her. She wrapped a towel around herself and leant on the bedpost.

"Are you going to share that chocolate?"

"Perhaps."

She raised an eyebrow pretending to scowl at him. "I do hope you're not getting crumbs on the silk sheets, along with wet patches. Now…" She moved around and began to crawl up the bed towards him. "Throw me that chocolate."

Laughing Joseph did as the lady requested.

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