"What a wonderful movie! And poor Jack. Wasn't it wonderful how she went back for him even as the boat was nearly submerged?"

"I want to find a love like that. It was so beautiful!" Charlotte responded in tears.

They were both recapping scenes from the film when Clarisse came to a dead stop. Across the street at the Fountain Rock Restaurant, looking like a happily married man with his bride; sat Joseph and Rosa. The looked so comfortable together as they laughed together hysterically.

As if he sensed her there, he turned to look out the window but he didn't see anyone but a bunch of townspeople. He was certain Clarisse wouldn't be in Philligran, yet something continued to burn in him the rest of the night.

Charlotte and Clarisse road back in silence. They were just entering the gates of the palace when Clarisse spoke.

"Charlotte, I know you're friends with Joseph but I need you to promise not to tell him we saw him tonight."

"I promise your majesty. Thank you for a wonderful evening."

"And you as well."

Clarisse stood outside gazing at the moon dancing on the duck pond. She hadn't been there long when she heard his motorcycle pull up. The hair on the back of her neck seemed to be stimulated by the site of him. He took in the site of her sitting in the moonlight.

"Your majesty? What are you doing out here all alone?"

"I just wanted to take a walk by myself."

"I see, well I'll leave you alone then."

"Before you go, I'd like to know what your intentions are toward Rosa."

"She's a sweet lady and I enjoy her company. She loves to dance and ride motorcycles and I'm fond of her. I feel like I've known her for a long time."

"Yes but do you really know her? It's barely been a couple of days."

"What difference does time make? You and I have known each other for nearly twenty-five years. And I can't say time's been a friend to our friendship."

"So are you planning to marry her?"

"A little soon to tell. What difference does it make to you anyway? It's not like you're going to drop the wall and let me love you proper. So again what does it matter?"

"It matters because as head of security you report to me."

"Yeah well when I leave you'll be the first to know."

She stood up angry at his confident arrogance.

"I'm still the Queen here and I suggest you remember that. You hold no power and you're not very convincing at making me think you care either."

"Hmm I like a challenge."

He got so close to her so fast that she nearly fell in the pond. He put his hand on the back of her neck and got within breathing distance. Daringly he traced her bottom lip with his tongue. Involuntarily she let out a quiet moan. He went in for the kill, forming his lips around hers. Clarisse in her head was screaming to stop him. Clarisse in her heart and body was screaming for more and more. Finally he pulled back.

"If I wanted to I could take you down there to my cottage and have you squirming beneath me, sweating and crying out for more than my touch within five minutes. Your mouth says one thing but your body says quite another. And that's the power I have over you." He whispered still an inch from her face.

Her loins screamed out to make him prove his words but her pride swelled inside her. With a mighty force of her will she sent him sprawling into the duck pond. She stormed off and he laughed, all wet from the middle of that pond.

Clarisse walked into her suite mixed with so many emotions that she could keep a shrink busy for a year. She hated his cocky attitude that he'd suddenly found over the last few weeks. She felt proud at having packed a punch that sent him in the pond. The worst of these three however was a powerful burning inside her. And he'd been completely right. She felt the effect on her body when he was near her and she sometimes sat alone in her bathtub and thought about what it would be like to be made love to by him. But more and more she was feeling the effects of losing him and that was bothering her immensely.

Joseph checked his tie one more time from the mirror in the parlor. Typically Clarisse would straighten his tie and he'd often leave it crooked just to feel her touch.

"Hiya handsome." A familiar voice said from the top of the stairs.

"You look divine." He said kissing her hand.

"You're a sweet one. What happened to your lip?"

"Her Majesty packs a whollop."

"Clarisse hit you?"

"Indeed. But I've heard that great kisses can knock you out. I just didn't know it meant literally."

Rosa laughed and gave him a quick friendly kiss in apology. He escorted her down the hallway and explained the duck pond incident.

"Well how long do you think it will take for her to give in?"

"Probably years but I can wait. I'm just tired of her throwing me a bone and hitting me, literally, for taking it."

"Perhaps you're major break through will happen tonight. What is your plan?"

"She's going to ask Lee LaTierri to escort her tonight. He's the Duke of Monroe and a rather handsome guy from what Charlotte said. She'll try to make me jealous, I'll make a big scene and then I'll sweep her away and we'll make up. It's a flawless plan. What about you?"

"After Sebastian gets to the party and you have your fight with Clarisse, I will break up with you and breakdown crying. My Franco will then rescue me and we'll tell Sebastian that we're getting married. It's flawless, no?"

"Flawless. Oh what we don't for love."

And the Regal Ball began.