AUTHOR'S NOTE: LOOOOOOONG CHAPTER! AND BACK TO THE PAST! (and maybe ... maybe something you might hate me for)
Please read and review
DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING!
After college Charlotte kept her promise even though her ambitions and dreams said to do otherwise. She knew that her dream of becoming part of parliament couldn't happen since the members of parliament were rather old timely and women weren't accepted as members, the only women they were forced to accept as technical member was Queen Clarisse, a queen of her own right. Charlotte returned to Pyrus and was forced to work around her dream and the closest thing to her dream was being the assistant of Her Majesty which she luckily had found a job opening for and was accepted to be.
On her first day she was nervous … no anxious. She hadn't felt this way since she had walked into her high school 'Oh how can I compare today with that day … It was the best day of my life' she thought, suddenly sadden at the thought it reminded her of Pierre, he was still at college, 'When he comes back he probably had gotten over me a long time ago'.
Then soon that day she found herself in the King's study and he was asking her so many questions.
"Your Charlotte, the girl who was caught kissing my son years aren't you?"
"Yes, your Majesty, I am"
"I hope you didn't apply to be my wife's personal assistant to solicit my son"
"I wouldn't do such a thing, that would go against plenty of my morals"
"I hope it would but do not expect to see my son often"
"I won't, Your Majesty"
Then soon she found herself being asked similar questions with Her Majesty in her study.
"Charlotte, would you please come here?" She said from behind her desk, Charlotte walked shyly in front of desk with her hands behind her back
"Yes, Your Majesty"
"I must ask you some questions"
"Okay"
"Charlotte, you seem familiar. Have I seen you before?" Clarisse said tilting her head trying to work out if she had seen her before. Charlotte began to blush and looked down to her shoes and started playing with the end of her skirt
"You have, I … I'm the girl that was caught by the press kissing your son, Pierre"
"Oh, I remember now"
"Now, Your Majesty, I would never use my job to seduce your son. I intend to do my job properly" Charlotte said lifting her head. Clarisse looked at her for a moment and saw that she was telling the truth.
"Alright, I trust you Charlotte"
While Charlotte was in college Katherine's father had retired from his position in his business and had stepped down from his position in honour of Charlotte's father. Charlotte's parents had been the proud owners and head of Genovia's largest pear producers and though they were now known as Lord and Lady Kutaway Charlotte had declined the title or rather refused to be named with it.
As for Katherine, Charlotte had also made sure she kept in contact with Katherine. Katherine had gotten married and Charlotte had the honour to be a bride's maid for her and though Charlotte didn't know her husband very well she was happy that Katherine was happy. Katherine and her husband Gregory, had moved to Pyrus and had their family on the way, when Charlotte had gotten her job Katherine was already 3 months pregnant.
As time went on Charlotte frequently called to check on Katherine and as the date of when they expect their baby came closer the calls came in even more. Most of the time she would talk to Katherine's husband, Gregory since the only time she had time available to call was late in the night and Katherine had needed her sleep but Charlotte had made sure Katherine knew that her "little sister" supported her. Charlotte had gotten to know Gregory through all the calls and she was impressed and happy that Katherine had found a husband who was so devoted and in love with her,
"Wow Greg, you really love Kathy, don't you?" Charlotte blurted out, she didn't mean to but her tiredness was getting the better of her
"Yeah, I adore Katherine and I couldn't be happier without her"
"Sorry Greg, I shouldn't have said that. My tiredness is speaking for me … you must be tired too having to look after Kathy, it must be a burden answer the phone in the night" Charlotte apologized, rethinking every call she had called late in the night.
"Oh, Charlotte don't be silly. Both me and Katherine appreciate that you support and care us. Thank you"
After 6 months of working in the palace she had gotten to know the staff and she had gotten close to Her Majesty's former assistant, who was now His Majesty's assistant, Violet. Violet had been her support and mentor for being the queen's assistant.
"Oh, thank you Violet so much. I don't know what I've done without you, imagine if I didn't get it right … I think I could've lost my job!" Charlotte thanked over their dinner they shared dinner together late in the night.
"Oh, Charlotte. I know Her Majesty is rather passionate about her tea" the older woman teased.
"Tea?! Not only did you get me tea to give to Her Majesty, I thought I lost that pile of paperwork"
"That's alright, though I've never been in a situation like that we've all made mistakes" Violet said standing up from her seat after they both finished their dinner. She held her arms wide open and Charlotte hugged her with a big smile.
"Thanks again, Violet. You're like my second mother … the palace is hard to get around, I'm so glad you're here for me"
"Well as along as His Majesty sits on the throne, I will be here for you. Making sure you do your job to Her Majesty's expectation" She said pulling away from the hug. They walked downstairs talking, down to their suites.
In Charlotte's suite she moved to the phone and dialled in Katherine's number. After two rings the phone was picked up
"Hello, this Charlotte" Charlotte said politely, it was a week away from when the baby was due
"Oh hello, Charlotte. This is Grace Junive, Katherine's mother" Katherine's mother said, Charlotte could hear the tiredness in her voice.
"Hello, Mrs Junive. Is Katherine or Gregory there?"
"No, dear. Katherine is in labour at the moment"
"Oh!" Charlotte said surprised "how long has she been in labour?"
"A few hours, she had asked me and her father to house sit for a bit"
"Okay, well. I'm sorry if I bothered you tonight"
"It's fine, dear. Gregory told me that you would call to check on them"
"Well I should probably leave you, if you don't mind but can you call my parents about any news, they will hopefully write it down for me and call me"
"Alright, Charlotte. Goodnight, it's sweet of you to check on my daughter"
"Goodnight, Mrs Junive. Your daughter is my best friend; I will always be there for her and I would do anything for her" Charlotte said before hanging up the phone.
The next morning Charlotte woke up to the sound of her personal phone was calling, it was early in the morning half an hour before she was to wake up. "Hello, this is Charlotte" she whispered barely awake.
"Hello darling, it's your mother" Her mother greeted sounding very grim and serious.
"Mother, what is it?" Charlotte sat up her voice scared her, she never spoke like this unless something had happened
"Well, darling Katherine" Her mother tried to sound calm but Charlotte could hear that her mother was going to choke up.
"Katherine! Has something happened to her or the baby, what happened?!" She was even more scared and she began to speak faster and breathing faster.
"Charlotte, Katherine … Kath" She began to choke up but she knew Charlotte was on the edge of her seat listening impatiently "There was a difficulty with her C section when the baby came" Charlotte gasped 'NO! NO! NO! this … this can't happen not Kathy' she thought, tears beginning to fall. "Love, Kathy has … has passed away", Charlotte cried out in pain at the word, tears streaming like a waterfall. "Love? Also her husband is refusing to talk to anyone … except you"
"Why me?" She hiccupped
"I don't know but he hasn't left the hospital, he probably will be there quite often. Charlotte, you told Mrs Junive yesterday that you would do anything for Katherine and now's your time to do something for her" Her mother said softly. There was no reply, "You can do it in your own time, dear. The funeral is going to be held in one week, their parents hope you can make it and have a speech ready" There was still no reply but she could her small cries from Charlotte, she knew Charlotte was listening but couldn't stand to hear more. "Well, I should leave you now. I love you Charlotte."
Charlotte dropped the phone on her bedside table and cried even more. Over time she lifted her head and looked at the clock and saw that she had to get ready, she was already forced to miss breakfast.
"Ah, Charlotte there you are, you're late, I checked the kitchen and …" Clarisse said as Charlotte entered, she had noticed that Charlotte entered from the corner of her eye but when she looked up to see the younger woman it had been obvious that had been crying. "Charlotte? Is everything alright?" Clarisse said softly, Charlotte looked up at Clarisse, notably grief-stricken
"Your Majesty, I've just learnt that my best friend has died in giving birth" Charlotte said almost choking up
"Oh, I see. Charlotte you can take the day off"
"Your Majesty? Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am. You definitely cannot work so grief-stricken; I can get another person to fill in for now"
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Also her funeral is in a week and …"
"You can have the day off then too. But I will be needing you before and after that"
"Yes, of course. Thank you again your Majesty" Charlotte curtseyed and left the room. She instantly got into her car and raced to the hospital.