A./N.: And here is Clarisse's and Megan's reaction to the newspaper article … it only took me forever to actually continue this story. I'M so sorry. I lost touch with my muse for a while, but now I'm back. Enjoy and please, pretty please leave a review.
21. Refuge under Siege
The next morning saw Megan waking up in a beautiful, if somewhat old-fashioned, four-poster bed. She stretched leisurely, in no hurry to start her day. Surely her father and Clarisse would still be in bed – it being their honeymoon. Grinning broadly, Megan rather thought that her Da was going at it backwards. Usually people married when they were still in the prime of their life, then they would have children, and then much later they would someday retire in order to spoil their grandchildren rotten. Not so her Da … and she had to admit that it filled her with pride. Joe had, without knowing it for many years, his child first, then helped the grandchild of the woman he loved to find her way (maybe spoiling her just a little bit), then retired and last but not least married Clarisse. It was quite amusing from where she was standing.
Slowly she got up and crossed her room to the huge French door, opening up to a beautiful little balcony. Château Bellevue really was a beautiful, enchanted place to be, with kind and friendly people. Especially Mme Clementseau was nice. No wonder Clarisse was friends with her.
Then she heard a tentative knock at her door. Slightly confused she went to the door and opened it to reveal a young maid. The woman was not much older than her … and rather reminded her of Mia's maids. She had black hair, which was tied back in a braided bun under a white cap. Her uniform was typical cliché, Megan thought, the personified French maid. Black dress and white pinafore. She had to bite her tongue to keep from grinning, but she managed.
"Bon matin, mademoiselle," the maid said with a smile. "I was instructed to wake you and ask if you wanted to join your parents in the kitchen for breakfast." She spoke with a heavy French accent.
Megan immediately warmed to the older woman and smiled in turn. "I'll get ready and meet them downstairs. Is there a way to let them know?" she asked, not comfortable to have someone wait on her. She had always taken care of herself and mastered her life alone so far. That was before her father had appeared in her life. Now she had someone to rely on and take care of her. It was a truly nice feeling.
"I will go down and inform them, mademoiselle," the young maid reassured. "Do you need help getting dressed?"
Megan was aghast by the very idea. She mutely shook her head, but that was all that was needed. The maid smiled and turned to leave, but Megan called after her. "Thank you … Oh, I don't know your name."
"Isabella, mademoiselle."
The two girls smiled at each other again and then Isabella left the room.
oOoOoOo
Bathed and dressed Megan wandered rather aimlessly through the castle. Barely out of her room, she had suddenly realised that she didn't know the way to the kitchen. She was lost within a few minutes after exiting her room. On a big staircase a friendly face appeared before Megan and the girl felt immediate relief wash over her.
"Oh, Madame Clementseau, am I glad to see you!" Megan exclaimed, beaming at the elderly lady.
Madame Clementseau chuckled and winked at her friend's step-daughter. The girl seemed to be more at ease after the other day. "How may I help you?" she asked kindly, trying her best to reassure the girl and make her feel welcome. Clarisse had shared a tiny bit of the girl's story with her over a cup of tea yesterday evening and what she had revealed had greatly angered the kind-hearted housekeeper.
"I seem to be lost," Megan admitted sheepishly, looking down at her shoes, her bangs once again falling into her face and hiding her. "Dunno where the kitchen is …" It was barely above a whisper and Madame Clementseau had to chuckle softly.
"That is no problem, child," she answered still chuckling. "Follow me. I have to go there anyway since the morning post arrived and I'm sure Clarisse is anxious to know what has happened in the outside world." She winked at the young girl, sharing a joke with her.
Megan was grateful and quickly followed along after the housekeeper, who was rather fast on her feet despite her apparent age. She could understand why Clarisse was fond of the other woman. Apparently she was quite nice and kind and she didn't seem to judge anyone. Not one question about her family's history had been asked or why no one had known about her before. Megan felt respect for Madame Clementseau swell in her.
"I could take the post in for Dad and Clarisse," she offered. "You must have a lot to do."
"I dare say," she older woman laughed softly. "With the mistress of the house in, we are all on our toes, preparing fancy dinners and looking shipshape." She was rather cheeky, a merry twinkle in her eyes and dimples appearing on her cheeks. Megan couldn't help herself and laughed along with her. "Here we are, dear." Madame Clementseau stopped in front of a white door with brown and golden flowers painted on it and a brass door handle. She handed Megan the small pile of post and smiled warmly and encouragingly at her. "Go on in and say good morning to your parents from me."
Then the formidable woman turned on her heels again and headed in the other direction. Megan felt a lot better this morning. Everyone seemed to be very nice to her – of course, she was under no illusions and could easily guess that it was all because of the respect her father commanded. Still, the people she had met were genuine in their friendliness and really wanted to get to know her. Besides even the Queen and the Dowager had accepted her and welcomed her into their small family with open arms after the initial shock had worn off. Megan smiled again and couldn't quite believe how lucky she was. She had a real family for the first time in her life.
Looking down to savour the moment and because the was overcome by emotion, her gaze fell onto the front page of the newspaper and she gasped loudly. "Oh God!" And the bubble of happiness burst.
oOoOoOo
Megan came into the kitchen with the morning post and deposited it unceremoniously on the table. Her eyes were fixated on the front page of today's paper. Her own face smiled back at her, right under the headline of 'Lewd affair at Palace now legal'. Scanning the article, Megan quickly found out that 'due to sources who wished to remain anonymous' the press could now inform the country of 'their former Queen's lustful behaviour' which had obviously 'resulted in an unwanted bastard', and that the press was furthermore 'wondering about the present Queen's legitimation to the Throne'.
"Megan?" At first her father's voice didn't reach her. "Megan!" Joseph was becoming worried about his daughter's behaviour. Clarisse turned from the brewing tea on the counter and regarded the young girl curiously. Megan was extremely pale and looked as if she would faint any second.
"Megan?" Now her own worried voice joined Joseph's and they both surged forward at the same time. Megan simply shook her head and held up the newspaper. Watching her father's face turn purple with anger and Clarisse's drain of all colour was too much for Megan. She had known all along that her appearance out of nowhere would ruin her father's life ... and now that of his wife and her granddaughter as well. Without a word and tears blinding her vision, she turned and stormed out of the room. Joseph stared after her, even took a step in her direction, fully intending to follow her, when he caught sight of Clarisse swaying softly on the spot, her hand going out to brace herself against the table. He was torn between his wife and his daughter ... an odd premonition coming over him that this would dominate his life from now on. But before he could wrap his arm around his wife, Clarisse took a steadying breath and turned towards him.
"Go after her," she said softly, "I need to get in touch with Mia." Then she added, more to herself than to him, "Why didn't she tell me about that?" Again her eyes were drawn to the newspaper's front page and the vicious article printed there. She felt her insides clench together and bile rising in her throat. For once she had grabbed happiness and now she was being condemned for it. Why couldn't they be happy for her? She had sacrificed her life and her happiness to Genovia, never once asking for anything in return. She had given the country heirs to the Throne and a young, ambitious, modern Queen. Wasn't she allowed some happiness after spending all her life in service to others? Trembling from head to toe she reached for the telephone and automatically dialled the number of her own office – or rather the office that had once been hers.