On his way to his apartment Joseph was joined by Teballi, his second-in-command. The latter reasoned that his boss would expect him to provide an update of the security situation. He merely got nods and throatily sounds in reply for his effort. On arriving at the apartment, Teballi only needed a few lines to complete his report. He then dared to inquire after his boss's holiday.

´It was a nice party,´ Joseph curtly said as he unlocked.

Teballi's reply was cut short by the door falling close behind the Head of Security.

OoOoOoO

Joseph dropped his bags and sank into a chair. After some twenty minutes of brooding he cursed himself into action. He stripped and checked his body for things such as hickeys. There were none. In a flash it came to him that the young woman had been a passive lover. He blocked every thought on the past night and he scrubbed himself clean under a hot shower.

OoOoOoO

Before walking into the Queen's office Joseph went to see Charlotte. She had heard of his arrival but she had not yet told Her Majesty, thinking that Joe would want to surprise their liege. Though Joseph couldn't avoid talking about his brother's feast, he proved not to be mistaken in thinking that chatting with Charlotte made the world appear to be normal.

The moment he knocked on the door to the Queen's office his anxiety returned but not for long: Clarisse's delighted expression at seeing him seemed to grant him absolution.

OoOoOoO

Joseph eagerly rediscovered the things that had made him fall in love with his Queen. From the smile she bestowed on her subjects despite having a headache to her expression when she saw sunlight pour through a tree: he loved her. She was elegant, she was wise, she was witty, she was kind. No woman could hold a candle to her. His guilty conscience repeatedly made him fear that she knew: at a moment when he would least expect it, she would react to his adultery. She didn't however. Their private time was limited to minutes per day, but she was always loving and charming when they were together. He was still the only person that could make her drop her regal shields. No woman could hold a candle to her.

OoOoOoO

Pilar sent her brother-in-law pictures made at the celebration. One showed him with Malou and Emilio. Emilio smiled at the young woman and he himself looked aside. Joseph deleted the innocent photo straight away. On the one good picture that showed Carlos and Raquel, Malou, old Rosita and David were chatting in the background. Joseph now reasoned that there was nothing to hide and the picture made it to the printer. When it became the next photo for Clarisse to watch Joseph, after identifying Raquel, mentioned that David was going to be a father.

´That's wonderful!´ Clarisse exclaimed. Joseph handed her a 'state-picture' made on the church stairs.

´You have such a lovely family Joseph!´ Clarisse fondly said.

A wave of guilt washed over Joseph. In reply to Clarisse's comment that Luis and Pilar must be thrilled at the prospect of being grandparents, Joseph nodded and said: ´Have I told you that Raquel made a drawing of me?´

´Oh? No you haven't,´ Clarisse replied.

´I might have put it in this folder. To keep it undamaged.´

Clarisse's eyes twinkled.

Joseph showed her Raquel's work and she was impressed by the artist's skill. The way she looked at the drawing made Joseph offer it to her. In a flash he pictured her to tore the sheet of paper and tell him that she knew all about Malou. Clarisse's happy smile left him breathless though and when she volunteered to kiss him in exchange for the drawing, his future looked bright again. His beloved paid him more than he could handle.

´Please,´ he said in a gruff voice. ´Don't drive me wild.´

´I'd like to see you go wild,´ Clarisse huskily said.

Joseph groaned.

´I want you!´ he said, grapping her wrists and placing them on his chest.

Clarisse stared at his darkened eyes. ´When we're here, in Genovia, we can't ...´ she whispered, leaving her line unfinished. The slightest movement of her arms made him let go of her. She cupped his face. ´Thank you for waiting Joseph.´

He swallowed hard.

´You're worth it,´ he managed.

OoOoOoO

Eight days later on the Prime Minister was brought to hospital with an appendicitis. Joseph was not a man to gloat on someone's misfortune but it pleased him that Mr Motaz had been running negotiations in Spain and that the most capable person to replace him was Her Majesty.

The Queen's schedule was changed and she travelled to Madrid. In her office aboard Genovia One Joseph informed his Queen that there was only one other room on the same floor of her hotel suite. The Queen continued to sign documents Charlotte was handing her and she replied: ´So Anna can stay there.´

´She might, if you so wish, but than security would have to stay on another floor...´

Charlotte, not knowing that she was audience to a play that had been rehearsed at the castle, gave Joe a what can you do about it look.

´It will be convenient to have Anna near,´ the Queen said.

´If you insist to have your maid nearby ma'am...´ Joseph said reluctantly.

The Queen briefly eyed her Head of Security and shrugged as a true Thespian.

´Safety first Joseph. Make such arrangements as you see fit.´