which glimmered in the light as it spiraled through the white petals.
“Like the Unity Stone,” I surmised. Audra nodded.
“They were discovered growing wild on King’s Keep, an island in the middle of Unity Lake.” She moved the tablecloth aside, showing a map of Aldayne imprinted on the table below. “All of the Quinn kings and queens are buried there. According to legend, you are under their protection whenever you are given this rose. They accompany us on every flight. They are also given at births and baptisms, coronations, weddings and funerals.” She sat a little straighter. “They grow best in the Tremwell region of Aldayne, which is home to Unity Lake. My family has provided the Royal families with these roses for centuries.”
“They are beautiful,” I said, thankful that she was sharing anything with me because I didn’t expect that after her rundown of rules. But it was clear she was proud of her heritage, as well she should be.
Fern, who wasn’t yet familiar with the rules, interjected. “Is that how you became a countess?”
Audra hesitated for a moment, as if deciding how much she should share. She kept it basic, something we could find in any history book if we wanted. “A Tremwell has served the court of the Royal House of Quinn since King Keane took the throne in 1323. His wife, Queen Riannon of Cochrann, had insisted her childhood friend and truest confident, Marion Tremwell, become her lady-in-waiting. Riannon was a notable Tremwell herself, stemming from a long line of Scots from her Mother Land, so she had a reputation of getting her way. From the time they were children, Marion followed her wherever she went. That didn’t change after Riannon became queen. Marion was her faithful right hand, even when it meant traveling to Scotland in 1348 when the Black Plague was sweeping across the UK. But word got to Queen Riannon her family there had become very ill, so the devil himself wouldn’t keep her away. She went. Marion followed.” Her smile was wistful as she touched the petal of the white rose. “When Queen Riannon fell to Black Death in 1349, it was Marion who stayed with her till the end, before succumbing to the illness herself. They died within hours of each other, found clasping each other’s hands. Because he shared our grief, King Keane made the Tremwells nobility, guardians of King’s Keep, to watch over our beloved ancestor, the only non-royal to be buried there, alongside her Queen. These roses now protect them both.”
“Wow,” Fern said.
“Tremwells have held titles ever since, and the friendship between our families have endured for centuries, both in service to the other. Therefore, we are proud to serve the royal court in whatever capacity is required as part of our faithful duty to Aldayne. Knights, earls, chancellors, even Keeper of Arms. My mother was Lady-in-Waiting for Princess Mariel, a dear friend whom she proudly served until she died. Now, I serve as secretary to the Duke.”
“How long have you been doing that?” Fern asked, mostly because she was unaware that she wasn’t supposed to.
The wistful smile on Audra’s face faded. As if she remembered that she wasn’t supposed to give interviews, she stopped short by saying, “Since he left Aldayne,” she stated shortly before placing the rose gently back into the arrangement. “If you’ll excuse me,” she said, removing herself from the table entirely.
Fern looked at me. “Riannon and Marion were totally a couple.”
I laughed. “Totally,” I agreed, shoveling a few more auberries in my mouth. I didn’t know if it was pregnancy related or not, but I just couldn’t get enough of the tangy tartness. It was the kind of sweetness that had a bite. I also love the way they popped when I bit into them. They were both fun and tasty.
We landed around noon, just as Fern and I were finishing up The Princess Diaries, just cause. Instead of arriving in New York, we landed instead in a private airport in New Jersey, away from the prying eyes of PING, where we were ushered straight from the plane to a waiting limo we shared with Audra. Sean rode up front with the driver.
Because of Audra’s presence, Fern and I managed not to freak out completely as the New York skyline came into view. We had only visited once when we were kids, and Mom and Dad renovated a farmhouse in Pennsylvania. But we had loved what little we had seen and dreamed about the