Chapter Text
Chapter One: The Beach House
Friday Morning – Early October
A Queen was never late, everyone else was simply early.
Joseph allowed himself a small smile as he remembered Clarisse uttering those words, her delicate lips turned up in the smallest of smiles, as she reminded Charlotte or him on more than one occasion of this very important rule.
Though it was one of her favorite sayings, it wasn’t like Clarisse to be late.
Today, though, his Queen was late…very late. It wasn’t her lateness that bothered him rather the reason WHY she was late. He knew he would find his beautiful queen in her suite, completely withdrawn from the world. Today marked the three year anniversary of the death of her beloved son, Philippe.
He had given her all the time and privacy he could manage. He needed to check on her—needed to make sure she was alright—needed to be with her.
**
The gaping hole in her heart, though not as large as it used to be, held her motionless in front of the window. Staring at everything and nothing at the same time. The call of duty lingered on the edge of her mind, calling to her through the shadows. But today… Today she couldn’t answer as her own needs and the pain one can only feel when you lose a child wrenched the very core of her being, suffocating her from the inside out. Perhaps if she didn’t move, it would hurt less.
A quiet knock on her door echoed through the stillness in her mind, jarring her from thoughts of her son and the man—the King—he would have become. Everyone in the palace knew what today was. Everyone would leave her alone, even though she never asked. Everyone…but Joseph. Her dear, dear Joseph. He was the only one who would brave the wrath of the Queen to tend to the needs of the woman hidden so carefully beneath the controlled exterior. “Come in.” The words spoken with only the slightest movement of her mouth, the rest of her body remained immobile, lost in the past.
Joseph stepped quietly inside, pushing the door closed and made his way to her. “Clarisse?” He positioned his body close enough to allow her to lean back for support should she so desire, but not too close. He understood her emotional state was fragile during this time. She held everything together for everyone else three hundred sixty days a year. The remaining five she indulged herself in the very human emotion of grief as she mourned the loss of her family members gone before her: King Rupert, may he rest in peace, Philippe, her mother and father and a younger brother whose life was claimed by illness when he was only five.
Her hand reached out, seeking his and he moved close to accept the precious gift. His other hand ran along her shoulder causing her to turn in his embrace as the tears silently escaped from the sapphire depths of her pain.
His heart shared in her grief, so much loss for one woman to endure. Her body shook as he pulled her tighter within his comforting embrace. An idea had come to him last night as he lay in the darkness, trying to sleep—knowing today was going to be difficult for her and wanting to somehow ease the difficulty. “Let me take you away to the beach house for a couple of days, just the two of us, no other guards. What do you say?”
Her watery eyes found his as her hand cupped his cheek warming him deep within his soul. “You always know exactly what I need. You’ve always known.”
His free hand slid to return the gesture, wiping the errant tears from her damp cheeks. “I want to be the one to ease your pain, to help you through these dark days.”
Clarisse rested her forehead against his, grateful for the human touch. For too long, she’d isolated herself from others – wanting to be strong, needing to be in control. Her soul had paid a price. But Joseph had found a way in, burrowing deep within the chambers of her heart. His words, gestures and the way he intuitively knew how to handle her was always exactly what she needed. “You’ve been the only one, Joseph. It’s always been you.”
Joseph kissed her on the forehead. “I’ll send Olivia up to help you pack while I get with Charlotte to make all the necessary arrangements.”
His words were cut off by the gentle press of soft lips against his. He stopped talking, stopped moving to focus solely on their connection. Little by little, she was opening herself up to a more intimate relationship with him. He was enjoying every moment of the journey and looked forward to the day when he could make love to her as she deserved…unlocking the passionate woman behind layer after layer of control. He knew without a doubt it would be the most beautiful sight his aging eyes had ever seen.
For now, though, the soft pressure of her lips against his reminded him of rose petals in spring. They had plenty of time to explore such things…all the time in the world.
^^C&J^^
Arriving at the beach house a little before noon, Clarisse stepped out of the car, allowing the last bit of warmth from the fall sun to soak into her pores as her lungs expanded, inhaling the salty air.
"I always loved bringing the boys here." She turned to smile at Joseph, her heart already feeling a little lighter with the change of scenery.
"I remember. If I recall correctly, they loved it as much as you, my dear." He carried their bags into the house.
Standing at the edge of the water, she stared out into the deep blue abyss while Joseph’s gaze burned her skin even warmer. She could feel the intensity of his stare even from the porch. The breeze ruffled her hair as the water lapped gently at her bare feet. This was as close to heaven as she came here on earth, her favorite place in the world.
Actually, her favorite place was here with Joseph. No longer wanting to stand alone, she turned and found him leaning against the banister smiling. "Are you coming down?"
He returned her smile and nodded before joining her on the beach. They stood in companionable silence as Clarisse's back rested firmly against Joseph's chest, his arms circling her body to hold her hands. Tilting her head to look at him, she smiled. "Thank you for bringing me here."
Her eyes closed as he placed a kiss on her forehead. "Anything for you dear. Would you fancy a walk?"
"I'd love one." She pressed her lips to his cheek while lacing her fingers with his.
The breeze from the ocean cooled her skin and intensified the smell of leather mixed with aftershave as Joseph draped his jacket around her shoulders. Mostly they were silent, occasionally reminiscing about the good times they’d shared here with Philippe and Pierre when they were boys. As was tradition, she wanted to add to the vase of shells she collected each time she was able to get away for a visit here. Her eyes darted from the sand, to the ocean, to Joseph’s smiling face. When she happened to see a beautiful shell, she would stop to pick it up.
“Are you getting hungry?” Joseph asked as they turned to walk back toward the house.
“Mmm, perhaps a little, the fresh air always increases my appetite. And,” She looked toward the heavens. “The sky is darkening. I think Mother Nature has decided our walk should end as well.”
He winked as he slipped his arm around to pull her close. “Well, you’re in luck since I packed some meat, cheese and crackers to tide us over until we decide where you’d like to go for dinner.”
Clarisse stopped and turned toward him, circling her arms around his waist, ignoring the raindrops, holding him tightly. “I was thinking we might order in? I’m not much for company, besides you, and…” Her dark blue eyes locked onto his, drowning in the depths of emotion and feelings she could see there. Neither of them had verbalized those secrets…yet, but she hoped someday soon they would both find the courage to do so. “I was looking forward to an evening alone with you in front of the fire.”
Her lips found his in a gentle kiss…a kiss that held the promise of more. Whether tonight, a month from now or years from now, she didn’t know. His hands threaded through her hair, down to her lower back, holding her body close to his. The hardness of his body a stark contrast to her soft curves, yet a perfect complement initiating tingles of sensation throughout her body. Those sensations were getting harder and harder to ignore and reaffirmed a more intimate relationship with Joseph would definitely be something she wanted to explore.
Breaking away from the kiss, he whispered. “Eating in it is.”
Clarisse was no longer cold. The possessive way Joseph held her body against his put her entire body on notice…this self-imposed isolation was nearing an end. Very soon she would find a way to tell him how she felt – that she’d like a long term relationship with him – and, how much pleasure she felt each time he touched her…even if, up to this point, most of it had been in the course of his job. Moments like the ones they’d just shared were increasing in frequency and tonight she could see them moving forward even a little further.
**
Seeing the rain droplets on her face, he took her hand as they hastened back to the beach house. Neither spoke. He suspected, even hoped, they were both lost in their own thoughts and hopes of what the evening might bring – might mean to their relationship. As they neared the steps, Joseph’s senses went on high alert. Though the door was shut, it was obvious something had been used to pry it open. Joseph motioned for her to stand back. Reaching into the pocket of his coat, still draped over Clarisse’s shoulders, he pulled out his gun. He also grabbed a loose board propped against the bench on the porch – a bench obviously in need of repair.
Edging quietly into the house, he willed his eyes to adjust to the darkness. Just as he thought he saw a moving shadow, the sound of shells hitting the porch diverted his attention for a split second – but that was all it took. His eyes took in the nightmarish sight of Clarisse being held at gun point, the gleaming instrument of death pressed against her forehead – the fear registering in the blue depths. Before he could say or do anything, he heard the click of a gun being cocked right behind him. “Drop your weapons or the Queen gets a bullet.”
In a moment of perfect clarity, he realized without a doubt… He had failed.
There wasn’t much time to contemplate his failure as he saw the white cloth covering the beautiful lips he’d kissed only fifteen minutes before. Moments later, he smelled the sickly sweet fragrance of chloroform and then there was darkness.
^^C/J^^