Clarisse was relieved that Joseph took off for his vacation that week. It had been two days since their argument. He'd assigned Shades to guard her during the day and he took the night shift so as to have little time around her. These short hours were uncomfortable and lonely. Charlotte on the other hand had stuck to her like honey to a beehive.
"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister is on the phone for you. Line 3."
"Thank you Charlotte."
"Hello Sebastian."
"My dear Clarisse how are you?"
"Busy as always. I can't complain."
"Good I was worried after the other night. Listen Shelia will be in Canada for Rosa's wedding. I was wondering, since you won't have Joe to escort you to the wedding, if you'd join me instead?"
"That's a lovely invitation but I am not going to be there."
"Really? Why? I thought you'd be there to support Joe at least."
"Joseph does fine on his own. I'm certain Rosa will see to that. Give them my best and maybe we can have tea next month. Give my love to Shelia. Goodbye."
She wouldn't let him argue with her. It was her decision and no one would change her mind. She spent the next week as busy as she could. She isolated herself from everyone in the palace. When she wasn't busy with her duties, she'd spend time in her garden or in the chapel praying. Clarisse wasn't the only one praying for miracles. Charlotte had committed her time to fix things.
"Why are you being so stubborn, Joe?" Charlotte said to him one morning. They usually had breakfast on Friday morning.
"Why are you defending her? If I recall it was you and I dancing that spurned her saddle in the first place."
"I forgave her. Why can't you?"
"This isn't about forgiveness, Lotta. This is about getting things done. I may have come from a poor family in Puerto Rico but it was big and we knew about love. My parents have been married for fifty-three years. You don't have to have all of this to be important."
"You think she is spoiled and materialistic."
"No I don't. But I think she has hidden behind the crown for so long that she has forgotten how to be a woman in love. I never gave up on her. She gave up on herself. She wanted me to be hers from a hundred feet away. It's fine when I guard her and I escort her to fancy balls and galas. I am a part of the world she hides in but not she won't step into mine."
"She loves you Joe. It can't be easy having to love one man because you are told to and love another when you aren't supposed to. You missed those fights between her and King Rupert. You were safe here in your cottage."
"What fights?"
"The ones where he accused her of infidelity. He knew she was in love with you. The worst part was he wasn't angry because she loved you. He was afraid that you meant more to her than her crown and you do."
Joseph could only stare at Charlotte.
"Well maybe then but back then it was wrong. When he died she slipped under the powers of that crown and our relationship got burned. You know that the other night is the first time she's been here to my cottage since he died. It's as if she is more ashamed now then she was then. How can I compete with her burdens?"
He kissed her hand, pulled off his button-downed shirt and headed for the pool. Charlotte grumbled and threw up her hands.