Please note that there is a little bit of Spanish in this chapter. The translations of the Spanish phrases are provided in parentheses and italics at the end of the paragraph.

Epilogue

The second day after their wedding, Clarisse and Joseph were up and dressed for breakfast with Mia. The next few days would be very busy with preparations for the coronation ceremony and Clarisse had warned Joseph that he might feel neglected as a bridegroom for the next few days while she readied her granddaughter for the crown. He bore this news cheerfully. It was not really news to him; in fact, he had expected it and planned accordingly. He had no intention of pulling Clarisse away from Mia, but he would make sure neither of the two women dismissed vitally important things like meals and time to wind down at night. Charlotte was good at her job, but could hardly be expected to hold her own in the face of opposition from both Clarisse and Mia. Joseph suspected that his interference would benefit Charlotte as well. She was scarcely less apprehensive about the upcoming events than Mia.

"I hope you two lovebirds plan to take a honeymoon," Mia said, taking a sip of coffee.

"We do, Princess," Joseph replied.

"About a month from now, so you'll have a little time to settle in before we leave," Clarisse assured her.

"Thank you, Grandma." She looked from one to the other. "So? Where are you going?"

Husband and wife shared a rueful smile. "That's the trouble," he told her. "We can't seem to decide on a destination."

"What about Paris?" Mia suggested. "Isn't it supposed to be the most romantic city in the world?"

"So they say," Clarisse replied. "But I've been there a great many times and it wasn't the least bit romantic."

"Too much work," Joseph explained.

Clarisse looked at her husband and covered his hand with hers. "Besides, I'm sure wherever we choose will be quite romantic enough as long as we're there together." Joseph kissed her hand.

Mia was pleased to see them so happy and in love. She was even a little envious, though she had faith that her own time for flirting at the breakfast table would come soon enough. "Is there somewhere you haven't been that you'd like to see? Or somewhere you've been that you wanted to see more than you had time for?"

"Well, yes, but that list is as long as my arm," the Queen answered.

"Oh, well, something will come to you."

"Yes, I'm sure it will sort itself out," Joseph agreed.

"What are our plans for today, Grandma?"

"We start with-"

"Oh no you don't," Joseph interrupted. "Your day starts when you meet Charlotte in your office after breakfast. Not before. No business talk allowed at the table."

Mia laughed. "Congratulations on marrying the only man willing to give the Queen orders, Grandma."

The man in question shook his head. "Any man would, if he loved her."

Clarisse smiled. "No, not any man." He smiled back and for a few moments it was as though they were alone in the room.

Mia rolled her eyes, smiling. She hoped breakfast every day wouldn't involve them making eyes at each other. It was charming, in a way, that they were so obviously in love, but it was a little… well, boring. She tried to turn the conversation by saying something that would shock her grandmother. "So what did you two get up to yesterday, besides the obvious?" she asked.

Clarisse nearly choked on her tea. "I beg your pardon?"

Mia continued as though blithely unaware of her grandmother's embarrassment. "Olivia and Priscilla assured me that you did not, in fact, spend the entire day in bed, but I didn't see either of you all day."

Joseph was amused by the Princess's little verbal attack, but he came to his wife's rescue. "Oh, this and that," he commented. "We watched a movie last night."

"What movie?"

"Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown," the Queen answered.

"Oh, that's a great movie!"

"You've seen it, Mia?" Clarisse wanted to know.

"Of course. Joe made me watch it years ago."

Joseph chuckled. "The Princess wasn't quite as stubborn as the Queen."

Mia looked back and forth between them. "What's there to be stubborn about, Grandma? It's just a movie."

Clarisse shrugged. "I don't know."

"What did you think of it?" the young woman wanted to know.

"I liked it, actually."

"Hey, what about Spain?" Mia suddenly asked.

"What about it?" Joseph wondered.

"You should take your honeymoon there. I'm sure Joe knows all the romantic spots."

He warmed to the idea. "That's not a bad idea, Princess. I also know where we can go for relative privacy."

"There you go!" Mia approved.

"Shades's security detail will be trailing us, no doubt, but there are some places where no one else will recognize us."

"You have my attention now," Clarisse remarked. "That sounds divine. It's a shame your sister doesn't live in Spain anymore. I'd love to meet her."

"You have a sister, Joe?"

He nodded. "She and her family moved to New York years ago. But the last time we talked, she hinted that she wouldn't mind a holiday in Genovia."

"You should invite her here, then, after we get back," Clarisse recommended. "You've got a new wife now, after all. Surely she'll want to know that."

He chuckled. "I'll call her this afternoon. I'm sure she's heard the news by now and I suspect I've shocked her. She gave up on me long ago and pronounced me a bachelor for life at least five years ago."

Mia smiled. "Now she'll know you were simply holding out for the best," she stated softly.

Clarisse and Joseph shared another meaningful look and this time the younger woman did not begrudge them their moment. They had been through a lot to get to the point they had now reached and they deserved to be happy. Even if it meant flirtation and intimate gazes at the breakfast table.

#####

The sun was high in the sky as Clarisse and Joseph made their lazy way back toward the hotel after watching the sunrise on the beach. She wandered in and out of the surf, enjoying the feeling of the sand and sea on her bare feet. He watched her, occasionally picking up a shell and then tossing it back in the water. When they reached the familiar pier belonging to their hotel, they turned away from the shore, hand-in-hand. They could almost forget that they were being watched by a discreet security detail. Clarisse was no longer Queen of Genovia, so things were a little quieter, but she would be under someone's watchful eyes for the rest of her life.

"I don't know about you, Joseph, but I think I'm going to need a nap when we get back to our room."

"When was the last time you walked on the beach for hours, without a care in the world?"

"Not since I was a child," she replied. "Thank you for buying me this lovely hat yesterday."

"It has the double advantage of hiding your identity and keeping you from getting a terrible sunburn."

"I am wearing sunscreen like you told me I should," she pointed out. "You smeared it on me yourself."

"That I did, but it's July and without a hat you would need to reapply quite frequently. Without my hat my poor bald head would burn, too."

"You're so practical, my dear."

"As charming as your freckles are, I'd hate for something silly like a sunburn to ruin our honeymoon," he explained.

"And you're absolutely right," she agreed.

"And you're absolutely beautiful."

"Oh, Joseph," she sighed happily.

"I have another question for you, Clarisse."

"Go ahead."

"When did it happen for you? When did you fall in love, I mean?"

"Ah, now that is the question I've been expecting since the day we were married," she remarked.

"And have you prepared an answer?"

"It's easy to answer without preparation. It was in San Francisco, at the consulate, in that lovely ballroom."

"A great deal happened at the consulate," he commented.

"Especially the afternoon you assisted me by teaching Mia to dance."

He smiled knowingly. "Indeed. You needed no instruction to carry it off beautifully."

"Nor did you. You've always been an exquisite dancer, Joseph."

"So you fell in love with me when we danced?" he asked.

"Just about."

He raised an eyebrow. "Just about?"

"It really happened when we stopped dancing and you almost kissed me. And I almost kissed you."

"I do remember that," he confirmed. "Very well."

"Poor Charlotte," she laughed. "She had the most wretched timing."

"Still does, occasionally."

"Now, Joseph, I'm not sure she's always entirely to blame."

"What do you mean?"

"She isn't accustomed to working for a couple of newlyweds yet."

"I don't think I'm accustomed to being a newlywed, come to that."

Clarisse smiled. "I think I know just what you mean."

They passed into the cool marble and glass lobby and the concierge spoke to Clarisse. "There's a telegram for you, Señora Romero. See the desk clerk, please."

"Gracias, Señor." She collected her telegram and preceded Joseph into an elevator, which they boarded alone. ("Thank you, sir.")

"¿Estabas esperando este mensaje, Señora Romero?" he whispered in her ear. ("Were you expecting this message, Mrs. Romero?")

She shivered, but replied calmly. "No, I wasn't expecting this or any other message, but I think I like being Señora Romero."

"Eres anónima así, ¿no?" he guessed. ("You're anonymous that way, right?")

"Almost."

"¿Casi?" ("Almost?")

She waved the telegram at him. "Well, Señor Romero, clearly someone knows we're here."

When they stepped out of the elevator, it was easy to find the right room. Theirs was the only door guarded by a bored-looking Genovian.

Once they were in their room, Clarisse laid her sunglasses on the table, found a letter opener, and removed the telegram from its envelope. "From Mia," she murmured. "Oh, Joseph, she's engaged! Nicholas proposed!"

Joseph took the paper from her hand. "'Dear Grandma, Nicholas proposed and I said yes. I hope I don't see you or Joe for at least two more weeks. Love, Mia.' Hmph. He didn't waste any time."

"Did you think he would?"

"I was hoping he would have the decency to beg for my forgiveness first," Joseph clarified.

Clarisse laughed. "That would have been ideal, but I believe he's asked forgiveness of the one who matters most."

"I hope you understand how hard this is for me, my dear."

"Of course I do," she assured him, removing her hat and laying it aside. "I feel the same way, really. I think he's redeemed himself, but that doesn't make it easy to forget how things started between them."

"Good. Then I think I'll be angry with him for a little while longer."

Clarisse nodded and reached out to caress his cheek. "What about that nap, my darling? I think I'd like a shower and lunch first." She took off his hat and dropped it in a chair.

"That sounds excellent," he told her. "It was a long walk."

"Yes, it was." She stood on her toes and softly kissed his lips. "I love you, you know."

He pulled her close. "I do know. Y te amo, querida mía." ("And I love you, my dear.")

She slid her arms over his shoulders and touched her forehead to his. "Para siempre." ("Forever.")

"The lady does speak Spanish, after all!"

Clarisse smiled. "Not as well as you."

"Maybe not. But almost."

"Joseph."

"¿Sí?" ("Yes?")

"¿Cuándo vas a besarme?" she whispered against his lips. ("When are you going to kiss me?")

"Ahora mismo, mi reina." And he kissed her soundly. ("Right now, my Queen.")

After a few minutes in this amorous embrace, they slid between the cool, white sheets together, shower and lunch forgotten for the moment. And just as Queen Amelia wished, she didn't see them again for several weeks.

The end.

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