"I must say I was surprised that you invited us to breakfast with you. After the regrettable scene I subjected you to…" Clarisse couldn't disguise her look of astonishment at Pamela's words. "Please don't look at me like that. I'm not the monster you think, Clarisse."
"Please, mother. Humility does not suit you. I know, in fact I am sure, that your visit to the Palace has a purpose. And it certainly won't be one I like."
"Clarisse, the only thing I ask of you is that you listen to what your mother has to say. The three of us are the only family we have left. Apart from your son, of course."
"And my granddaughter!"
"Yes, I forgot. Forgive me."
"I didn't say I wasn't willing to listen to her, did I? If it were not so, you would certainly not be here."
Pamela put down her teacup and looked down.
"My life with your father was not a bed of roses. He cheated on me with several women. Two days before our second wedding anniversary, I went out to buy him a present for our anniversary. When I arrived, he was in the living room arguing with a woman. It was your mother. And with her were two babies. I didn't want to believe what I was hearing or what I was seeing. She wanted your father to divorce me and marry her. Or else she wanted an astronomical amount of money for her to look after the baby's. Of course, your father did not give in to her blackmail." Clarisse looked at her silently, unsure if she could trust her words. Pamela seemed to be reliving the moment. At least the closed expression and absent look made Clarisse believe that MAYBE she was telling the truth. "I couldn't have two children who constantly reminded me of the betrayals of the man I had chosen to share my life with. So he decided he'd keep one of the twins…" Clarisse sighed. The image of Catherine came vividly to her. It could be her, yes… "and the other one would go to an orphanage. And that woman left our home, never to return. She never even asked about the daughters. I know I was never a good mother to you, Clarisse. But for the most part, it was your father's fault. He always liked you more than Frederica and that hurt me atrociously. This is what happened. I don't expect you to forgive me because I know that there are things that have no excuse but I would just like to ask you not to remove me from your life. When you told me that I have a great-granddaughter, it was like something inside me shook. And I can't stop thinking about her. I believe it's not too late for us, Clarisse. We can still understand each other. We can still get back to being a family."
Frederica reached out and squeezed her mother's hands. Pamela looked at her and smiled. Then she reached out and touched Clarisse's hand.
"I'm not the monster you think, Clarisse. Let me be part of your life. Let me meet my great granddaughter. I ask you."
Clarisse was still silent and not looking at either of them. How could she ignore a lifetime? How could she pretend that nothing had happened? That everything was fine? However, she also didn't want to deal with the scandal that would fill pages and pages of newspapers if Pamela decided to go public with her version of the story...
"Clarisse, give her a chance. Our mother, because for me and her, she will always be OUR mother, is much more than this harsh image. This is just a cover she built to defend herself. I told her about Joseph and our mother supports me unconditionally."
Clarisse felt a knot in her stomach. Frederica was really interested in him… what a nightmare.
"Think about what I told you, dear daughter. We're not going to take you any longer. I know that you are a fair person and, by your silence, I am sure that you will at least consider my words. We're going to stay at the Palace for a while longer, as your sister wants to speak with Joseph, but we're heading home later today. Think about it, please."
Clarisse got up and so did Pamela and Frederica.
"I will."
C/J
"Do you think she remembers me?"
Her voice made him open his eyes again… He was almost, almost falling asleep…
"I don't think. I am sure. It's impossible not to remember you. You are the same!"
"We are, aren't we? Life gives us every surprise… Yesterday, while I was searching the internet…"
Robert let out a laugh and turned on the bedside table lamp, turning to her.
"My wife is a stalker!"
"Don't play with these things. I like her. I felt there was an immediate connection between the two of us. It's normal that I like to see what's going on with her, since I can't call the Palace and ask to speak to the Queen… 'Hello Your Majesty … I'm the doctor who looks just like you and I'm calling because, for some reason I can't explain, I miss you."
Robert lay on his back laughing and Catherine was angry with him.
"You miss her? You only spoke to her for half an hour. You are really funny, Catherine."
"You don't need to humiliate me, Robert. Have a good night!"
Robert stopped laughing and turned to her.
"Catherine, I didn't mean…"
"I want to sleep, Robert."
"Wait please. I didn't mean to humiliate you. And I'm sorry if I made you feel that way. I just think that's just a way that you have to think about things that aren't really part of your everyday life. It 's been four months and almost every day we talk about her. Maybe it's a way of not thinking you've retired..."
"Robert, I want to sleep. Goodnight!"
C/J
" Your Majesty , the Prime Minister wishes an audience with you now. Parliament continues to insist that Princess Amelia come and live in Genovia ."
Clarisse put down the document she was reading and took off her glasses. What insufferable men!
" Very Well , Charlotte. Let him in."
Charlotte left and minutes later Sebastian entered.
" Your Majesty , thank you for receiving me."
"It's always a pleasure to have you here, Sebastian. How are you? And Sheila?" Clarisse held out her hand and Sebastian kissed it.
"My wife is much better, Your Majesty . The doctor said that she is completely cured of the pneumonia."
"Good! So what's going on in Parliament now?"
"Same as always, Your Majesty . The problem is, this afternoon, during the coffee break, Viscount Mabrey suggested that there might not be an heiress to the throne. Implied that Princess Amelia could be an invention of Yours Majesty so that there would be no challenge to your reign."
"And obviously there were those who agreed with him…"
"Unfortunately we both know what Mabrey's allies are like..."
"I've been delaying my trip to San Francisco for as long as possible, Sebastian. Despite the fact that six months have passed, Philippe's death is very recent."
"I understand perfectly."
"But Parliament obviously does not understand." Clarisse took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a few seconds. "I'll have Charlotte handle everything. I will come to San Francisco as soon as possible. I will not give Mabrey the pleasure of dragging this matter into a session of Parliament. Please Sebastian, inform them that I will be going to America later this month."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. And, if I may suggest, why not do the Genovia Independence Day Ball at the San Francisco Consulate? Was it perhaps a way of introducing the young princess?"
"Excellent idea, Sebastian."
"I will inform Parliament. Have a nice day, Your Majesty ."
Sebastian left and Clarisse picked up the phone.
"Charlotte, organize my schedule… I want to be in San Francisco two weeks before the Independence Ball. And then ask Joseph to come to my office. We have to start preparing everything!"
"I will do it now, Your Majesty ."
Fear! Clarisse had postponed going to San Francisco, out of fear! Fear of see reflected in her granddaughter, her beloved Philippe. Fear of being rejected by Amelia. Fear that Amelia would renounce the throne. Fear of failing the Genovians . The vibrating of her cell phone pulled her out of her thoughts. A message… From Frederica. Clarisse sighed. At first she thought about ignoring the message but ended up reading it.
'Good morning, Clarisse.
I have a very unusual request to make to you… I don't know if you know but in the last six months, my relationship with Joseph has not progressed as I would like. We go out two or three times a month, we have dinner, we cuddle, we kiss... But we didn't go beyond that. He is always working, he is never more than two hours with me! I'm in love with him! I want more. And I want to invite him to spend a few days with me. And here is the request I want to make to you… Give him a few days off. Tell him you want to reward him for his work. That way, when I invite him, he will no longer feel like I'm interfering with his work. Please think about it and help me.
Love ,
Frederica.'
Clarisse felt panic rush through her entire body. And then she felt angry. Joseph had declared his love for her about six months ago. He had kissed her with a passion Clarisse had never felt. And he was dating her sister? She thought that because they had assumed the feelings they had for each other, they had silently assumed a relationship... Of course, since that day, there had been nothing more between them. Not for lack of opportunity but simply because Clarisse couldn't have a relationship with an employee. And she couldn't get Joseph's hopes up, knowing it would be next to impossible to keep it a secret. If anyone knew, it would be a tremendous scandal. A scandal that would shake the Monarchy and call into question the continuity of the Renaldi on the throne of Genovia . However she loves him! Oh, of that Clarisse has not the slightest doubt. If she wanted Joseph's kisses, caresses, cuddles, hugs? Of course. Like she never wanted in her life. Rupert had been her best friend and together, they made the perfect team but intimately, there was nothing between them. Nor had Clarisse ever felt physical desire. But with Joseph… With Joseph everything was different. It was an overwhelming passion, an immense carnal desire, a desire to feel him, to kiss him... A love like she never thought existed.
"But if he felt the same way, would he date another woman?" murmured Clarisse, feeling sadness replace anger. "Of course!" Frederica could give him what Clarisse could not, at least for the next few years. After Amelia took the throne, Clarisse could publicly assume a relationship with Joseph. Did she have any right to feel betrayed? To wait for him to remain in the shadows until it was safe for Clarisse to abdicate and Amelia to become Queen? Clarisse knew better, but deep down she hoped that Joseph would love her enough to wait... But apparently, Joseph wasn't willing to wait. " Damn you , Joseph. You awakened in me feelings that I was unaware of and that, if I had never known, I would be happy without them!" Two soft taps on the door made her put on her Queen mask.
"May I come in, Your Majesty ?"
This was humiliating. Just his voice made her legs tremble and her heart beat faster. Enough, Clarisse. What goes on between them is none of your business!
"Joseph, please come in. We have a lot of work ahead of us. I want to leave for San Francisco as soon as possible! Sit down, please."
"I think a week to prepare everything is too short, Clarisse. Staff, security, drivers, itineraries, possible escape routes, journalists…"
"It's the time we have, Joseph. So it's better to start now."
Joseph was confused. Normally, when they were alone, the conversations were between Joseph and Clarisse but today, the one sitting across from him was clearly the Queen.
"Is something wrong, Clarisse?"
"Nothing unusual or that I don't know how to deal with."
"You are different…"
"I'm fine, Joseph. Maybe it's the stress of meeting my granddaughter after so many years."
"Perhaps…"
"When you have everything organized, I want to know."
"And have I ever organized a trip without discussing all the details with you? Clarisse, I insist again… Is everything all right with you? Has something happened to Parliament?"
"Joseph, don't worry about me. And you know how exasperating those men can be."
" Of course , Your Majesty ."
Joseph got up, kissed the back of Clarisse's hand and left.
Two days later, Frederica returned to the Palace. She was in love with Joseph and absolutely determined to make him fall in love with her. However, Frederica suspected that Joseph's feelings for Clarisse went far beyond friendship and that Clarisse could have the same feelings for him. And that she could not allow. Joseph knew immediately that Frederica was at the Palace. She made a point of texting him whenever she arrived. The vast majority, if not all, of the Palace employees suspected that something was going on between the two of them. Frederica call him 'darling' in front of anyone. She always greeted him with a hug and two kisses, she never tired of praising him, they almost always had lunch together... And Joseph had to admit that he was enjoying the attention he received from a beautiful woman. Frederica was almost everything Joseph wanted Clarisse to be. Clarisse… In six months she hadn't had a single affection that was with him. Of course, they continued to talk, to spend many moments alone, but… There was no intimacy between them. Joseph felt like an old fool, waiting for the crumbs of affection that the Queen would drop and yet, he had a woman willing to give him everything... Frederica! Joseph's only problem is that his love belonged to Clarisse and he couldn't do anything about that.
C/J
Clarisse put down her teacup and looked at her sister in disbelief.
"Are you really thinking about getting married? You, the woman who always said that marriage was the worst thing in the world?"
"That's truth. Joseph is special. He made me change the way I see life, he made me want to spend the rest of my days with him. I never thought I was so in love. But I ask you, please, never tell him anything about these conversations. He doesn't want you to know. He thinks you're in love with him and he's afraid you'll fire him out of revenge." It took Clarisse all her years as a Queen to hide what she felt at that moment. With a calm that she most certainly did not feel, Clarisse picked up her cup again. "He thinks I'm in love with him? Apparently, he doesn't know me as well as he thinks." She said bringing the cup to her lips.
Frederica looked intensely at her sister's face, trying to understand if her words were true or not. Surely Clarisse couldn't be so calm after hearing such a thing. Frederica got up and pulled her shirt down, revealing more of her chest than she should have.
"Clarisse, I'll let you finish your work. I'm having lunch with Joseph. I want to arrange a weekend together with him. What do you think if the three of us have dinner?" Never. Clarisse neither wanted nor would witness a dinner that would certainly be awkward and disconcerting for her.
"This week is absolutely impossible…"
Frederica didn't even wait for Clarisse to finish explaining.
"Well then, I'll be on my way. I don't want to make him wait. See you later, Clarisse!"
The Queen sat watching her leave the office. Loneliness. That was the feeling that plagued her at that moment. And at night, when she retired to her suite, she noticed that whenever Frederica was in the Palace, Joseph was not at the office door, waiting to accompany her...
