Chapter 3

Charlotte waited for Rupert and Clarisse to leave their room for the noon meal before she set the stage, so to speak. She knew Lady Saunders would send someone, perhaps a young maid to retrieve the bedding from the Royal Chambers. She knew she would place the bedding on 'display' for all to see. It was an old custom that Charlotte abhorred, one that often caused untold problems for newly married couples.

Not all women bled enough to leave stains on the bedding, she herself had left no stains on her marriage bedding. Of course, that might be because her first time making love to Joseph occurred on a wool blanket spread over hay, and not in a bed. Joseph was her first lover but second husband.

Charlotte's first husband had married her by proxy, more for her dowry than for any liking of her. He was then kind enough to get himself killed in a tavern fight over a doxy he had been bedding. This left Charlotte not only widowed but rich. A state she remained in for over three years. Three years of running her deceased husband's businesses and estates with a firm but fair hand.

She had intended to remain a widow for the rest of her life, but fate had another plan for her. Her fateful meeting with one Joseph Alejandro Calvera Romero had changed her life and her status. Their marriage took place just two short weeks after their first introduction. And three years later she still thanked Providence for the storm and the argument that cemented their relationship.

Charlotte finished the final touches to the bedding, making sure to add some touches to one of the under quilts. The light smear of blood and lotion resembling intimate fluids would fool even the most ardent disbeliever. Satisfied with the results, Charlotte placed the lotion container in the pocket of her kirtle before leaving the Royal chambers as quietly as she had entered.

Walking down the staircase, Charlotte spied her husband, His Highness and Lady Clarisse. Moving to where they stood she kissed her husband in greeting, then bestowed a traditional Genovian kiss of greeting to Lady Clarisse.

"It is done," she whispered.

Charlotte smiled at Clarisse and Rupert's slight nods.

The announcement of the noon meal was heard and all those present entered the dining room to eat. Escorting his new wife to her place Rupert took his seat next to her, and after the benediction the noon meal began. The meal passed with little problems. There was one or two risqué comments made, but all in all the meal was pleasant.

As was custom the ladies retired to the garden, or the salons while the men went about their afternoon business. The quiet of the afternoon was soon shattered by loud sobs and cries which brought most of the men running. The sight that greeted them as they spilled onto the patio forced them to stop in stupefaction. Rupert was the first to shake off his amazement and enter the fray.

He grabbed the willow branch his wife was wielding, and tossed it down to the ground.

"What are you doing?" he demanded, his voice clipped and angry. "Why are you beating your sister? What has she done to you to warrant such behaviour on your part?" he asked, reaching for Lady Catherine's hand to assist her to her feet.

Turning to his new sister-in-law he asked in gentle tones, "Are you alright, my lady?"

Catherine broke out in soft sobs and fell dramatically, but gracefully into her new brother's arms. She hid her face against his doublet, sobbing prettily. Clarisse yelled in frustration, and reached to pull her sister from the comforting arms of her husband.

Rupert grabbed her arm. "Touch her and I will beat you," he warned, shifting to shield Catherine from Clarisse's temper.

Clarisse stood there in shock. Her husband, her new husband was threatening to beat her if she touched her sister. To beat her because she took a willow branch to her ungrateful wretch of a sister, after Catherine informed her she was refusing suit to the very man, that up until a month ago was the man her sister swore she could not live without.

The little tart gleefully informed Clarisse that since she was now married there was no reason for her to marry at the moment. It mattered little to Catherine that Clarisse's marriage was the result of her younger sister's and aunt's schemes. No, they cared little for how her entire life was thrown into chaos. Of how she was married to a man who cared nothing for her, and only married her because his father and their father arranged and ordered them to marry.

Did Rupert even know that her father, the man she thought loved her unconditionally, at the urging of her aunt, had threatened to disinherit her, and toss her out of the only home she knew if she refused to marry him?

Clarisse could feel the tears welling up inside her but ruthlessly stamped them down. She realized Rupert was saying something.

"I knew you were a shrew. I have seen evidence and bore the brunt of your temper myself. But to have you attack not only your sister but a guest of the Palace is unforgivable," said Rupert. "Your behaviour is reprehensible. Apologize to your sister and our guests, and return to our chambers. I will deal with you there," he ordered.

Clarisse stood in front of the assembled guests, no sound escaping her.

Rupert assisted Lady Catherine to sit on one of the stone benches before walking over to Clarisse. He grabbed her arm tightly, "Apologize."

Clarisse stared up at him mutely.

"Either apologize or I will punish you here and now," he said, his grip on her arm tightening.

Still Clarisse said nothing.

Rupert jerked her against him, pulling her with him as he moved to sit at one of the benches. He gave her one last chance to apologize. She said nothing. Rupert knew it was well within his rights to beat her for as long as he cared to, but he had never beaten a woman in his life. For a brief moment, he wondered what to do, he had hoped the threat of a beating would be enough to force Clarisse to apologize.

Unfortunately, it wasn't.

He decided since his wife was acting childishly he would punish her as he would an errant child. He hauled her across his lap, secured her struggling form with an arm across her back, lifted her voluminous skirts to expose her shift and proceeded to spank her.

Clarisse struggled against her husband knowing almost instinctively what his intentions were. The first hard slap across her buttocks shocked her, the second brought tears to her eyes, and the third brought laughter from their guests. No sound escaped her as she lay across her husband's lap being spanked. Clarisse lost count of how many slaps Rupert administered, and when he finally released her and set her on her feet she simply stood there, her posture straight, her eyes dry.

Rupert looked at his wife. He regretted his actions almost immediately.

He shouldn't have punished her in front of witnesses.

He shouldn't have punished her at all.

He should have discovered why Clarisse was punishing her sister, but instead he allowed his temper to get the better of him. Rupert glanced over at his parents, the disappointment on their faces easily seen. He needed to apologize to Clarisse immediately.

But any apology was forestalled by the sound of trumpets, and the hanging of the marriage bedding from one of the second floor Palace balconies. A loud hue, and cry went up at the sight of the stained bedding, and the men present grabbed Rupert, lifted him to their shoulders, and carried him into the Palace leaving Clarisse, the women, Joseph, Charlotte and Their Majesties in the garden.

The women twittered and laughed, both at Clarisse's punishment, and the sight of the marriage bedding. Before either Charlotte or Joseph could make their way over to Clarisse, Clarisse turned to face Their Majesties, curtsied then walked into the Palace alone.

Charlotte watched as Clarisse walked into the Palace. She rounded on Lady Catherine and in a cold voice said, "Go tend to your sister."

At Catherine's expression, Charlotte grabbed the young girl by the arm, jerked her to her feet and said, "Go tend to her, or so help me the beating Lady Clarisse gave you will pale in comparison to the one I will give you. Now go!" She pushed Lady Catherine toward the Palace.

Charlotte then turned to stare at the still snickering ladies. The look she gave each one was enough to stop their snickering. Charlotte continued to glare at the women as they slinked out of her sight. Charlotte didn't bother to look at her husband as she watched the women enter the Palace.

"Keep that man away from me, husband or so help me Their Majesties will need another heir," she said as she took her leave of Their Majesties and walked away, her steps taking her further into the garden and away from the Palace.

Joseph watched his wife walk away. Her anger at Rupert and his actions mirrored his. Taking his leave of Their Majesties he entered the Palace instead of following his wife.

It was time he had a nice long talk with his friend.