Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Chapter 6

Rupert stalked down the hall, anger radiating from him. Every guard he passed observed his behaviour and wisely remained silent. Rupert finally reached Joseph's suite. He released some of his pent up anger by pounding loudly and forcibly on the oak door.

When Joseph answered the door, he did not have any time to speak before Rupert pushed his way into his suite.

"She expected me to beat her! Beat her!" yelled Rupert. "She had willow branches gathered to substitute for leathers. Leathers! She actually thought I would use leathers on her!" shouted Rupert. He stalked around the room, alternately yelling and muttering to himself as Joseph watched.

"And did you?" asked a soft voice from the doorway.

Rupert turned to look at Joseph's wife. "Did I what?" he asked.

"Did you beat her?" asked Charlotte. The shattering of the occasional table along with Rupert's shout of "NO!" caused Charlotte to jump in surprise.

Rupert growled, "Do I look like the type of man who would beat his wife? Do I?" he asked through clenched teeth.

"Rupert…," Joseph warned the tone of his voice cutting through Rupert's ire.

Rupert suddenly realized how close he was to Charlotte. How pale but determined her face was. He stepped back.

"I apologize," Rupert said, offering a formal bow to Charlotte before moving away to stand and stare out the windows of their suite.

Joseph looked into Charlotte's face. "Are you alright?" he asked softly.

"I am fine, husband, but I think Her Highness may need a friendly face," Charlotte said to Joseph. "Perhaps it would be best if I dressed and went to offer my support to her while you…," Charlotte looked over at Rupert meaningfully. Joseph nodded, immediately understanding his wife's unspoken message. Charlotte placed a soft kiss to Joseph's cheek before turning around, re-entering their bedroom and dressing quickly. Dressed, she kissed Joseph once more, before moving to the door. Joseph held open the door for his wife, called for Alexander, one of Felix's brothers who stood guard at the end of the hall.

"Alexander, please escort my wife to Her Highness's apartments," Joseph ordered. Joseph did not have to add he was to wait for Lady Charlotte and escort back to their suite once she had concluded her visit. Alexander was well aware of what Lord Joseph expected when it came to his wife.

"Yes sir," answered Alexander.

"Thank you," said Joseph. Turning to Charlotte, Joseph placed a soft kiss to her lips, his hand resting on her abdomen. "Te amo, mi amor," he whispered against her lips.

"And I you, husband," replied Charlotte.

Charlotte took Alexander's arm and allowed him to escort her to the Royal Apartments. Joseph watched until they turned the corner before re-entering the suite to deal with Rupert.

Charlotte waited as Mathieu knocked gently on the door. A soft 'Enter' and Charlotte stepped into the Royal Apartment, smiling her thanks at Mathieu and Alexander, before Mathieu closed the door. Charlotte looked around the darkened apartment, her gaze finally coming to rest on Lady Clarisse as she stood looking out the window.

"Your Highness," greeted Lady Charlotte, curtseying in respect.

Clarisse did not turn around. "It seems I have made a mistake," she said continuing to gaze out the window.

"A mistake, Your Highness," asked Lady Charlotte as she moved to stand next to Her Highness.

Clarisse turned to Charlotte. "Yes, a mistake," she said, taking Charlotte's arm and tucking into hers. "It seems I made an error in judgement in dealing with my husband and now I am not sure if he will be able to forgive me for my mistake," she said as she led the way over to the settee. "Did he send you to me?" asked Clarisse, sitting down, Charlotte sitting next to her.

"No, I came of my own accord. His Highness is in my suite speaking, if you can call it that, to my husband, and I thought perhaps you could use a friendly face," said Charlotte.

Clarisse squeezed Charlotte's hand in response. "Is he angry?" asked Clarisse.

"Yes," answered Charlotte, not bothering to lie. Charlotte watched various emotions pass across Her Highness' face, resignation being the final emotion before her expression composed itself once again.

"Oh well, there is little I can do about his anger now," said Clarisse. The defeat in her voice surprised Charlotte. "Your Highness…Clarisse…why?" asked Charlotte.

Clarisse looked at Charlotte, debating on how much of the circumstances surrounding her marriage she should reveal. Seeing only concern and surprisingly understanding in Charlotte's gaze Clarisse asked.

"How much of the circumstances surrounding my marriage to Rupert are you aware of?"

"Just that your marriage was arranged by your fathers and that neither of you were thrilled with the idea," Charlotte said diplomatically.

"Not thrilled is an understatement. For you to understand why I was not happy about Rupert, in fact about marrying anyone you first need to understand how my sister and aunt play a part in this debacle," said Clarisse.

"Three years ago I met His Majesty when he came to visit my father's estates. His Majesty was kind, is kind and I enjoyed the time I spent talking with him. My father and His Majesty spent most days hunting, leaving me to handle the day-to-day running of the estate. My sister spent most of her days enjoying the attentions of one suitor or another, playing the silly men against each other and generally being a bother. My aunt, our aunt was often her chaperone, leaving me alone to handle the day-to-day running of the estate, which I enjoyed as I find no pleasure in needlepoint, or sewing or any of the other womanly tasks that men seem to think we should practice. I much prefer balancing the books, riding the estate, checking up on our tenants and dealing with the various traders and merchants who arrive at the estate."

Charlotte nodded in understanding. She herself preferred male business rather than female pursuits.

"All that changed when Prince Rupert arrived. His Majesty had mentioned he was looking to arrange a marriage for his son and my aunt saw Rupert as a means to an end. If she could arrange a marriage between myself and Rupert then it would leave her free to pursue my father and my sister free to marry a man of her choice, regardless if the man was good husband material or not. So, my aunt with the help of my sister convinced my father that I was amiable to marriage to Rupert. They did not care that I did not like him or he me, or that neither of us would be happy. All they cared about was their own goals. By the time His Majesty left, he and my father had agreed on the terms of the marriage contract, and signatures were affixed binding Rupert and I.

When he informed me, I was livid. I did not want to marry anyone much less a prince of the realm and especially not Rupert. He and I did not deal well together and my aunt knew this. She witnessed our encounters, and knew we had no finer feelings for each other. Again, she cared little for my feelings or even Rupert's, caring only for her plans. When I protested the arrangement my loving father…," Clarisse said scathingly. "My loving father informed me that if I did not agree to marry Rupert I would be disinherited and tossed out of my home. My aunt even suggested that I be given to the Church, placed in a convent to live my days out as a servant if I did not do as my father ordered. As I have only a small inheritance from my mother that does not come under my control until I am twenty-five, I had no choice but to do as my father ordered."

At Charlotte's hiss of indrawn breath Clarisse continued. "I married Rupert, condemning us both to a marriage neither of us wanted. And now it seems my error in judgement has simply made an intolerable situation even more so," Clarisse said, closing her eyes and leaning back against the settee. Silence filled the suite for a brief time until Charlotte spoke.

"What would you have done if he had beaten you?" asked Charlotte.

"Endured the beating, I suppose," answered Clarisse, her eyes still closed. "In the eyes of the Church and under the law I am his to do with as he sees fit. He can beat me when he pleases me, use my body for his pleasure. I can do little about it. But…," Clarisse trailed off.

"But?" asked Charlotte. She was sure Clarisse would not have simply accepted Rupert beating her.

"But while he could use me as he saw fit there would be no children. No heirs to the throne, of that I would make sure," Clarisse said with determination. "Have I shocked you?" Clarisse asked.

"No," answered Charlotte. "No, you haven't." If her first husband had lived and she had never met or married Joseph, she would have made the same decision. She would have used her skills with herbs to ensure no children would have resulted from her first marriage. It did not shock or surprise her that Clarisse was aware of the same herbs and their varied uses.

"And now? What will you do now?" asked Charlotte. Charlotte watched as Clarisse stood abruptly and began to pace around the suite.

"I don't know," said Clarisse, the tears that had been threatening now falling. Charlotte stood, walked over to Clarisse and gathered her into her arms, rubbing her back softly as she cried.

Joseph watched Rupert stalk around the suite. He was like a caged bear, growling and snarling. Joseph poured himself another goblet of wine and sat down to wait. He knew eventually Rupert would calm down enough to speak calmly, until he did Joseph would simply wait.

Rupert threw himself into one of the chairs and reached for a goblet that sat on the table. Drinking the wine down in one gulp Rupert refilled his goblet before sitting back in the chair.

"She expected me to beat her," he said. "To beat her. What type of man does she think I am?" he asked.

"You did spank her in front of everyone earlier," said Joseph. Joseph's expression remained neutral when Rupert flinched at the reminder of his actions earlier. He knew Rupert regretted his loss of control earlier today, and Joseph was determined Rupert would not repeat his actions.

"Only because she was going to beat her sister. Lady Catherine didn't deserve such harsh treatment from her shrew of a sister," said Rupert.

Joseph bark of laughter startled Rupert. "Why do you laugh?" asked Rupert.

"If anyone deserves a beating it is Lady Catherine," said Joseph.

Rupert glared at his friend. "How can you say that? Lady Catherine is everything a woman should be. Amiable, cordial, kind, soft-spoken…," began Rupert.

"Devious, deceitful, scheming, selfish…," added Joseph.

Rupert stood abruptly, fists clenched at his sides. "How dare you?" he growled.

Joseph looked at his friend, standing to face him. "I dare because I see her for what she truly is. You see nothing but her beauty. It blinds you to her true nature. She is devious, selfish, and deceitful. She uses her beauty and mannerisms to dupe men into believing she is sweet and amiable when in fact she is even more of a shrew than her sister, Lady Clarisse could ever be," said Joseph. "Open your eyes and see what is in front of you. Lady Catherine cares for nothing and no one but herself. She treats the servants with contempt and those of lesser social status with disdain. She is nothing more than an empty headed, spoiled child who could do with a few beatings. She and her aunt care little for your wife, going so far as to speak of her in a contemptuous manner. You should be happy that you weren't saddled with Lady Catherine as your wife," growled Joseph.

"And you think being saddled with Clarisse, her shrew of her sister a better option?" snarled Rupert.

"Her Highness is a true lady," said Joseph. "She treats everyone, from the lowliest servant to Their Majesties with respect and in turn each and every member of the Royal household finds her to be kind, amiable and fair."

Rupert snorted.

"I won't deny she has a temper but if you had to spend every single day of your life dealing with her father, sister and aunt and their petty jealousies I would guarantee you would be just as temperamental. Do you know your wife is the one who handled the day-to-day running of her father's estate? Her business acumen has increased his coffers. Do you know your wife, the shrew is one of the few people in Europe to have successfully negotiated a trade agreement with Kensington?" asked Joseph. Seeing Rupert's shocked expression, Joseph continued.

"Yes, Kensington. The man who controls the majority of the shipping out of Southern England. She negotiated a trade agreement with him for the Genovian lace the artisans of her late mother's estate create. Lace that rivals even Belgian lace in its quality. Of course, she will only ever see a small portion of the monies that the agreement has brought to her since her father controls the majority of her late mother's estate. Clarisse won't have full control for another five years. Which by that time, her father will be one of the richest men in Genovia."

Rupert sat down shocked. "How do you know this?" he asked.

"From Kensington himself," answered Joseph. "Prior to my returning to Genovia from England for your wedding, Kensington visited me in London. He offered his congratulations on your marriage and asked me to convey his apologies to Lady Clarisse for not being able to attend the wedding. When I asked how he knew Lady Clarisse, he told me of their meeting and subsequent agreement. He also informed me of his surprise at hearing whom she was to marry. His exact words were 'he hoped you would be aware of the treasure you were being given'."

"Treasure? More like a curse," scoffed Rupert.

"Kensington seems to view Lady Clarisse as a treasure," said Joseph. "Perhaps you can give him your opinion of your wife when he arrives in three weeks," added Joseph.

Joseph hid his smile at Rupert's growl. Evidently Rupert, even angry as he was at Clarisse's actions did not welcome the idea of another man finding his wife appealing.

TBC