A/N: Mia learns the answer to her question.
"Your Majesty?" Sebastian stood up in surprise, both at her sudden presence and at her language.
"Don't." Mia held up her hand. "I will not apologize for my language. Of course it isn't proper for a queen to speak such words, but at this point, this queen does not care." She railed at them. "Why is my grandmother's tiara here when she is not?"
"She left it here." Sebastian said quietly.
"And just why did she leave it? What did you do? Decide to send her to prison after all?" The tone of her voice made the hair on the back of Sebastian's neck stand on end.
"No, your Majesty." Again, a very quiet reply.
Mia shook her head. "I don't understand. She isn't the queen anymore. Why wait until now instead of stopping them before they said I do?"
"She was still queen when she and Joseph married. We waited because of the press our country was already receiving over the Lord Nicholas episode and your non wedding to the Duke. Then there was the coronation. We just wanted to make sure the media's interest had died down before we acted." Lord Crawly explained diplomatically, or so he thought.
"Oh for the love of," Mia stopped to take a deep breath.
Charlotte, pale and shaking, stood behind Mia. Stepping a little closer, she leaned toward Mia, putting a hand lightly on her arm. "Please, your Majesty. Clarisse wouldn't want you to do anything rash."
Mia took another deep breath and squeezed Charlotte's hand. Walking purposefully over to where Lord Palimore was seated, she stopped. "Hasn't my grandmother given more than enough to this country? Hasn't this country tortured her more than any one person deserves?"
Murmurs filled the room as everyone watched the exchange between their queen and the lord.
"I beg your pardon, your Majesty? I do not know what you are talking about."
Mia knew by the look on his face that he knew exactly what she was talking about. Out of all the members of Parliament, Lord Palimore had been there the longest. "Do not plead ignorance with me, Lord Palimore. I may be young, but I am not stupid. I know what my grandmother went through at the hands of my grandfather and the rituals of this country. You became a member of Parliament just a few weeks before my grandmother married my grandfather, so I know that you know of what I speak."
"I'm afraid you are wrong, your Majesty."
Sebastian could see that his queen was getting ready to explode and quickly banged his gavel. "This meeting is adjourned for one hour."
Mia turned blazing eyes toward Sebastian, but once again Charlotte stopped her.
"Please, your Majesty. Just take the hour and talk with Clarisse." Charlotte wasn't above begging at this point. This day was turning out just as she had suspected it would…very badly.
"Alright, Charlotte." Mia nodded to her aide, then, without a backward glance at the men that had angered her, she left to go and find her grandmother.
CnJ
"Can't I go with you, your Majesty?" Olivia's voice wavered as her trembling hands carefully folded Clarisse's clothes to go into her suitcase.
"It's just Clarisse now, Olivia, and I can't take anything but mine and Joseph's clothes." Clarisse bit her lip to keep from crying as she looked at the picture sitting beside her bed.
The younger woman's voice was quiet. "I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize, Olivia. And don't worry about your job. Amelia won't let you go."
"I'm not worried, your," Olivia shook her head and frowned as she wiped at the tear that slipped from her eye. "I'm so sorry," she sobbed, her control finally breaking. This wasn't fair. Her grandmother had worked in the palace for years when Clarisse had first come to live here and knew all of the horrible things King Rupert and his mother did to her. "I just," she tried again, but turned away and concentrated on finishing the packing she had started.
"Oh sweet Olivia." Clarisse put her hand on the young woman's shoulder. "I'm sorry too. I will miss you, but I need you to stay here and look after Amelia. She knows the truth, and will learn even more before this is over. She is going to need someone to talk to that will understand. Your grandmother is the only one still living that knows everything. I would like for you to take Amelia to meet her. Could you do that for me?"
Olivia turned to look at the woman she'd grown to love as a friend. "I can do that. Gran'na would love to meet Queen Mia. Gran'na always loved it when you would come visit her. But," she cocked her head to the side. "How did you know Gran'na knew everything?"
Clarisse smiled. "Because, her eyes were always kind when I would see her. She was the only other person beside King Edmund and Joseph, that tried to protect me. And, I heard her being punished for letting me see Pierre."
Olivia started to reply, but the loud opening of the door to Clarisse's suite, stopped her. Turning to see a very upset Mia standing just outside the bedroom door, she felt a knot forming in her stomach. "I think I should leave," she whispered as she looked over at her former queen.
Clarisse nodded and gave Olivia a small smile. "Give us an hour."
Olivia nodded and hurried from the room. "Your Majesty," she greeted Mia with a slight bow before shutting the door behind her.
"What are you doing?" Mia asked with a nod toward the suitcases and trunks strewn about the room.
"I'm packing Joseph's clothes, and Olivia was packing mine until you showed up." Clarisse told Mia quietly.
"Why? And why did you leave this?" Mia held out the tiara Clarisse had left behind.
"Amelia, sit down." Clarisse sat on the side of the bed and patted the place next to her.
Mia frowned. She didn't like this. The packing, along with the murmuring she'd heard from the staff on the way here, it gave her a sick feeling. "You're scaring me, Grandma."
"I'm sorry, Darling. I don't mean to frighten you." Clarisse took one of Mia's hands in hers, a tear rolling down her cheek when she felt the hand she held trembling. "I must tell you first, that I had Charlotte detain you and make you late. Don't be mad at her."
"I won't be mad at her, Grandma. Just tell me what happened?" Mia's voice shook. She had never felt more afraid in her life.
"I thought about it all night Saturday, and all day yesterday, and went to see the Arch Bishop after making up my mind." Clarisse pulled the paper from her pocket and handed it to Mia. "I gave up my title, Mia, and everything that goes with it."
Mia looked at the paper in her hands. "I don't understand. You and Joe have been married all these years?"
"Yes, Mia, we have. We were married in secret while living in Spain, waiting for the birth of our baby. Joseph didn't want the baby to be illegitimate, and asked me to marry him. I was afraid, but he promised me that no one would know but the two of us, the priest, and God. Until today, that promise was kept. I had to tell Parliament about the marriage for them to accept my request."
"But why do you have to leave Genovia? And you can live here in the palace if I say so." Mia frowned.
Clarisse, tears falling unbidden down her cheeks, hung her head. "I'm sorry, my darling, but that can't be. Once I proved that Joseph and I had a legal marriage that couldn't be dissolved, Parliament accepted my giving up the title and privileges that go with it, but they also exiled me from Genovia. Upon my departure, they will release Joseph, who will join me in exile."
"No." Mia shook her head and pulled away from Clarisse. "No. They can not do that. They will not do this. This is your home, your country." She continued to shake her head as she paced back and forth in front of the windows.
Clarisse swallowed back a sob as she got up and grabbed Mia, stopping her pacing. "I have to, Amelia. It's the only way to save Joseph. It's dangerous for him in prison, Mia. There are people that he is responsible for them being there. Just being there Saturday and yesterday," she stopped.
Mia's eyes grew wide and she grabbed Clarisse's arms. "Oh Grandma. I…I never thought of that. You don't think,"
"I pray not."
"Please let me try, Grandma." Mia begged.
Clarisse cupped Mia's face in her hands. "My darling, darling girl. If there were any other way, I would let you try, but there isn't. I asked them why they hadn't sent me to prison along with Joseph, I didn't get a straight answer. There is something more behind all of this, but at this moment, I don't know what it could be, nor do I have the time to try and find out."
Mia closed her eyes as tears stained her cheeks. Moving into Clarisse's arms, she rested her head against her shoulder. "I hate this. I hate them. I hate that I have so little power. I hate this country," she cried.
Clarisse held Mia's trembling body tighter. "No, my darling. You mustn't let hate fill you. Hate is why Rupert was the way he was. You must rule this country as I've taught you."
"I'll try," she whispered. "When do you have to leave?"
"I have until nightfall."
"But, Grandma!" Mia's head jerked up. "That isn't long enough."
"Yes, Darling, it is. I can't take anything but clothes. With Olivia's help, I'll be packed in plenty of time. I want to spend as much time with you as I can before I leave."
"I have to go back to Parliament. Sebastian called for an hour recess."
"Then stay with me until then." Clarisse pulled her back to the bed and the two snuggled together on the soft down comforter.
"Grandma?"
"Yes, Darling?" Clarisse stroked Mia's hair.
"When," she paused debating if she should continue with her question. It wasn't like any of this was her business, she just was curious.
"Go on, Darling. You know that you can ask me anything." Clarisse smiled. She was pretty sure she knew what Mia wanted to ask, and she really couldn't blame the young woman. She knew that Mia had heard the gossip about the supposed affair between she and Joseph.
"When you and Joe were married, did you," she stopped again. Was this really something she wanted to ask her grandmother?
Clarisse smiled, she was right. "Yes, Mia, we did, but only while we were in Spain. He was very gentle and loving with me. I cried that first time." Her voice grew wistful.
"Why? It wasn't like it was really the first time for the two of you."
"No, it wasn't technically our first time together, but I don't really remember much of our first time. You have to remember that I was in a terrible amount of pain that night, and that I was an emotional wreck. I only knew that Joseph and I had been together because I woke up in his arms, with nothing on." She smiled at Mia's cheeky grin.
"That would give the game away."
Clarisse chuckled, "Yes, Darling. It did give the game away. After I became completely aware of my surroundings, bits and pieces of the day and night before, came back to me, but," she hesitated. "But I don't remember actually being with Joseph."
"Still. Why did you cry when you were with him later?"
Clarisse closed her eyes, remembering that first night as Joseph's wife so many years ago. "I cried because there was no pain or embarrassment. Because there was only worshipful, tender caresses and kisses. I cried because Joseph took the time to love me. And because I had never dreamed that I could knowingly and willingly be with a man after what had happened to me."
"He loves you so very much, Grandma." Mia whispered as she snuggled closer to Clarisse.
"And I love him, very much. I've loved him for as long as I can remember, it seems. I fell in love with him when I only knew him as my angel." Kissing Mia's head, Clarisse combed her fingers threw her hair. "I hope that the love you have for Nicholas is as wonderful as the love Joseph and I share, and I pray that he returns that love with as much passion and care."
"Oh Grandma. I want that too. So very much."
Clarisse heard a soft knock on the bedroom door. "I think it's time for you to leave, Darling. Go and fix your makeup and hair. And promise me that you will hold your temper and remember how I taught you to act."
"I will, Grandma. I promise." Mia sat up and kissed Clarisse's cheek. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
"I'll be here." Clarisse watched the young woman rush to the bathroom. Slipping off the bed, she slid her shoes back on and walked to the door. "Come in, Olivia. We still have a lot to do."
"Yes, Clarisse." Olivia handed Clarisse a handkerchief. "Charlotte is waiting for Queen Mia."
Clarisse, with a smile at Olivia for her thoughtfulness, wiped the tears that had escaped her earlier attempts to wipe them away. "Amelia will be out in a moment. She's just tiding her makeup."
"I'll tell Charlotte."
"Thank you, Olivia." Clarisse smiled then turned back to her packing. She had so much to do before leaving. What was she going to take? And what was she going to leave behind to be sent later? So many decisions, and not nearly enough time.