Chapter 14

One week later….

"Ma'am?"

"Yes Charlotte?"

"This was delivered for you a few minutes ago by messenger." Charlotte handed her the plain white envelope.

"Thank you. Will you stay for tea?" She gestured to the service that had been delivered only a few moments before.

Charlotte gazed longingly at the tea. "I wish I could. Queen Mia has asked me to meet with her to continue the preparations for our first session in Parliament. I think she's a little nervous I'm going to screw it up."

Clarisse fought the urge to chuckle as she knew Charlotte was being very serious. Instead, she took her hand and pulled her closer. "My dear. Both Amelia and I know that you are going to do an amazing job. You just be the diplomat and strategist that I know you are from watching you handle all those male egos over the years. You'll be fantastic."

"I had a good teacher," Charlotte smiled at Clarisse.

"But?" Clarisse sensed there was more to the young woman's concern.

Charlotte sat down and clasped her hands in her lap. "The order is still out there. They've been quiet this past week, but I admit I'm a little scared what they might do when this historical session of Parliament is under way tomorrow."

Though she would never admit it, Clarisse was nervous too. Jacob had promised to take care of them, but she'd received no word of his success or failure. A knot formed in her stomach that they might have harmed or killed Jacob during his attempt.

Before she could answer, Charlotte continued. "And I know you said someone promised you they would take care of it, and I trust you," she caught Clarisse's gaze and held it. "I truly believe you, but I can't seem to get the bombing and what they did to you out of my head." As if to give her words weight, she reached up and gently touched the scar on Clarisse's arms where Jacob had created his diversion.

Clarisse stood and pulled Charlotte into a hug. "You go meet with Amelia and let me reach out to some contacts to see if I can learn anything. I'm certain Scott has had the area around Parliament guarded since the initial attack. They found the mole and he has been dealt with. We must trust those who have sworn to protect us as well. I know they are being extra vigilant."

The young woman exhaled slowly. "Yes, you're right. I'm just being paranoid. I'll keep my chin up and move forward."

"Atta girl." Clarisse smiled.

A moment later with her tea poured, Clarisse opened the envelope Charlotte had delivered. There was a clipping from the Genovian Gazette:

"Lord Oliver McHenry was found dead in his home from an apparent heart attack. No visible signs of forced entry or other defensive wounds. His death, at this time, has been ruled an accident."

There was also a handwritten note:

"C – I'm keeping my promise. Meet me at the cemetery where the roses bloom at 3 pm today. J"

She walked over to the fireplace and grabbed the lighter from the stand. Lighting Jacob's note, she tossed it in to mix with the other ashes. After ensuring it burned, she picked up her cell phone and called Joseph. "I know you're busy today, but I need you to accompany me on a trip at 2:30 today. Thank you."

Once he'd confirmed he would take her and, God bless him, hadn't asked any questions. Her guess was he'd be at the door as soon as he could get away to obtain all the information he couldn't while others were around. But he knew her well enough to know that if she asked in the way she did, it was of the utmost importance and there were reasons she hadn't shared any details at that time.

She checked her watch. One more hour. She tried not to think about the fact that Jacob's handling of the order might have meant he'd used his highly marketable skills to bring an end to the order once and for all.

Her eyes closed as she considered exactly how she should feel about that.

An hour later, she and Joseph were safely ensconced in the car and were alone for the first time since they'd got up that morning.

"What's going on, Clarisse?"

"Jacob wants to meet."

Joseph moved the car to the side of the road and stopped. "He what?"

She pulled the newspaper clipping from her purse and showed it to him. "He sent that to me by messenger this morning

"You think he was responsible?"

Clarisse shrugged. "I know he's capable, but I don't know if he would actually kill another person."

Joseph's mouth was set in a thin line. "I think he'd do anything for you."

"Joseph, please don't start. I thought we agreed…" Clarisse sighed.

He cupped her cheek and pulled her into a soul-searing kiss, trying to convey how much she meant to him. When they broke for air, he whispered. "We did agree that I would do everything I could to give him a chance, but that doesn't change the fact that he would do anything for you." He smiled. "I know I would."

She blushed at his compliment but said nothing more on that particular topic. While a part of her was flattered, another part worried about what lengths either Jacob or Joseph would go to in her name. She grasped his hand. "Perhaps it's best if we get to the meeting and learn the details without wondering?"

Joseph's smile faded and he nodded. "Yes, let's get this over with."

A short drive later, they were at the cemetery. They walked hand in hand through the well-kept and beautifully tended gravestones that marked the final resting place of many beloved Genovians. Once at the rose garden, they stepped behind a rather large monument which obscured them from view.

Jacob was waiting. His face lit up when his gaze fell upon Clarisse. "You look much better than the last time I saw you."

The heat and color rose in her cheeks again as she nodded, "Yes, I'm feeling much better. Thank you again for all you did to facilitate my escape. I trust it didn't land you in too much trouble with the Order?" Her curiosity about the fallout of his actions that day and caused many sleepless hours.

He waved it off. "I convinced them that retreat in this instance was the better part of valor. They were all so busy fighting off the royal guard and worrying about their old, privileged asses that they didn't even ask details about how my brother managed to get you out unscathed."

Joseph stepped closer to Clarisse and put his hand on her lower back. His gaze darted to the scar still evident on her arm though, as much as he hated to admit it, Jacob's care in both creating and treating the wound helped ensure nothing would be permanent. "Not entirely unscathed."

Jacob smiled at the possessiveness and protectiveness his brother showed over his wife. He wasn't even mad about it. He'd be the same way if Clarisse were his wife. "Not entirely, but I'm confident she has the best physician in the country treating her and he'll make sure it's not permanent."

"You better hope that's the case." Joseph snarled.

"Boys, please. Let's not start." She turned her attention to Jacob. "You have details about the Order? There's a great deal of trepidation in the palace right now over the session of Parliament scheduled for tomorrow. Knowing they will not pose a threat would go a long way to ease the concern."

"Well you saw the clipping I sent, right?"

Clarisse nodded. "Did you?"

Jacob grinned, "Kill him?" and then he sighed. "No, not directly."

"What the hell does that mean?" Joseph's temper was beginning to show again.

Jacob shrugged. "It means I presented the supreme head honcho with all of the evidence I'd gathered against him and other leaders of the Order and told him that I was going public. My evidence included footage of him assaulting the Dowager Queen." His face turned solemn. "He crossed a line that even I could not condone. I made my threat clear. He opted to take his own life."

Joseph turned to Clarisse. "He assaulted you?" Then he turned on Jacob, "And you allowed that? I should knock you down a notch or two with my fist."

"Assaulted is a strong word. He slapped me."

"Twice," Jacob interjected, "While she was tied to the bed."

Clarisse sighed. She'd left that detail out of her debrief with Joseph for fear he would go after the Order all by himself if he knew. "Can we please stick to the subject at hand?"

Joseph glared at her and sent an undeniable signal that they would speak about this again later. "For now."

She nodded and returned her attention to Jacob. "And as for the rest of the order?"

"They were a little easier. I showed them what I had that linked them to their various crimes and told them what their esteemed leader had chosen to do when faced with the consequences of his life choices."

"What did they say or do?" Clarisse understood the principal of cutting off the head of the snake. She'd used it in her dealings with Parliament over the years when a situation required her to effectively deal with the leader of opposition to a proposal she had. Though no one had ever killed themselves as a result.

Jacob grinned as he produced a manilla envelope. "Oh they said they would cease all illicit and illegal activities and pay me handsomely for keeping their secret."

"You sonofa…" Joseph started but ceased the moment Clarisse put her hand on his arm.

"And in response, you?"

He laughed. "Took their money and am now giving the former head of security all the evidence I gathered so they can be prosecuted or whatever it is you do for justice here in Genovia."

Joseph took and opened the envelope. With an astute eye, he looked at each section of papers that contained proof of decades of deception and destruction against the citizens of Genovia and their rulers. "How did you obtain all of this?"

"Rich people have many flaws." He smiled at Clarisse. "You being the exception my Queen. I've given a great deal of thought to it and can find no such human frailty in your essence."

"Stick to the point," Joseph growled.

"Come now, big brother. I missed out on so many moments over the years to give you the grief that siblings apparently give one another, I'm just playing catch up."

Clarisse couldn't help but chuckle as Joseph rolled his eyes in response. "You were saying? Rich people…flaws?"

"Oh yes, back to my point. One flaw is that they treat those beneath them as if they cannot see, hear, or have any measure of intelligence." He looked to his brother who had been a servant most of his life. "While you may have not experienced that at the hand of the Queen, I'm certain there have been Lords and Viscounts over the years that treated you with that same disregard. Right?"

Joseph nodded. "Go on."

"And their second major flaw is they like to keep record of their perceived victories through documented accounts. From the handwritten descriptions of escapades in the early days to taped conversations with their hires for various and sundry dirty deeds..."

"To them video recording the captivity and torture of the Dowager Queen."

This time Jacob nodded. "Exactly. It didn't take me long to learn not only of these records but where they were kept. Old men sleep heavy so it wasn't hard to sneak in and obtain insurance should things go sideways."

The cold marble of the monument provided support for Clarisse who was working valiantly to suppress a wave of nausea. She felt the color drain from her face as her eyes closed at the truth about some of her citizens finally came to light. In an instant she felt warmth on either side of her.

"Are you alright, my love?"

"I'm so sorry, Clarisse. My words were meant to console you, not upset you."

If she hadn't thought it would break the magic of the moment that the two brothers weren't fighting, she would smile. Instead, she opened her eyes and slid her hand into Joseph's arm and took Jacob's hand. "Yes, I'm fine. Just fully absorbing the level of treason that was running rampant in my kingdom for so many years."

Jacob shook his head. "They operated in the shadows. Until they hired someone to make a very public statement on their behalf, and even then they stayed hidden in the darkness like cowards." He released her hand and stepped back with a shrug. "I've been a coward for most of my life, fighting my way through to channel all of the pain I felt from my childhood." He turned and faced her. "Thank you for helping me see something different in the mirror when I looked at my reflection. I'm only sorry I couldn't come to that realization sooner and protected you from ever being in those situations in the first place. Though I don't regret that they brought me to you, and I know I'm a better man because of it."

Jacob turned his attention on Joseph. "I'm sorry for all the pain I caused you. I had so much misplaced anger. I appreciate your not following through on your promise to kill me the next time you laid eyes on me. Your wife aptly pointed out to me that there were far better ways I could have learned about you and your life."

Clarisse felt her heart swell as Joseph lifted her hand and kissed it before smiling in Jacob's direction. "She has that effect on people. I know she's made me a better man because of her presence in my life."

Jacob fought back the small accumulation of moisture gathering in the corner of his eyes. Grown men don't cry! "Yes, she does. Well, I suppose you have everything you need from me. I'll be on my way. Make those bastards pay, Joe."

"I swear it to you that I will." He hesitated for only a moment more. "Thank you."

Jacob shrugged, "It's what you would have done in the same circumstance."

With that admission, Jacob turned and started to walk away leaving Joseph pondering his words. A nudge from Clarisse brought him out of his musings. She inclined her head in Jacob's direction. "He's your brother," she whispered.

Joseph sighed and then called out, "Hey Jacob."

"Yes?"

"Why don't you stop by the palace tomorrow evening. We'll watch the evening eggs with Elisie as she covers the arrest of the remaining men in the order, celebrate the historic day in parliament, and share stories from our youth. What do you say?"

"You forgive me?"

Another sigh escaped. "Honestly?"

"Honestly."

Joseph shook his head. "Not yet, but I'm working on it."

Jacob smiled as did Clarisse. "I'll take that. What time should I show up and what's the dress code? But, before you answer that, you should know I only wear black."