large ornate clock sat on the mantle over one of the largest fireplaces I’d seen yet. It ticked away the seconds painfully. I shook as I sat next to Auggie. He put an arm around me to calm me down. (It didn’t work.)
No one spoke as we waited. Dash might have been tempted, but he glanced around the room to seek the guidance of the adults. They kept their mouths shut, so he did likewise.
Just when I thought I might not survive another minute, heavy footsteps in the hall heralded the Queen’s approach. We were all on our feet when they entered the room, six officers spilling to either side before Her Majesty entered the room.
I had been expecting someone old and frail, but Maeve Whitley Huntington Quinn was sure on her feet as she entered, wearing a smart two-piece dress in the deepest shade of purple. Her hair was mostly silver, though one little strip of auburn streaked down the right side of her face. She was small but spry, standing at about 5’2, with her shoes maybe 5’4. She wore a unity stone in her broach with a purple and black tartan scarf.
Upon her head rested a sparkling diamond tiara. I gulped as she approached.
She smiled at us all before she started at the end of the line, with Dash. He bowed dutifully, offering his hand.
“Whom do I have the pleasure of receiving?” she said, though I was pretty sure she knew.
“Dashiell McPhee, Your Majesty,” he said. He had come prepared. She smiled wider at him for doing so.
She made her way up the line. I was next to last. Her glittering green eyes met mine. “Whom do I have the pleasure of receiving?”
“Peaches McPhee,” I managed to choke. “Your Majesty,” I added with another curtsey, just to be sure.
She turned to Auggie. “Augustine,” she greeted.
He leaned forward to kiss both cheeks. “Hello, Grandmother.”
“Let us sit,” she instructed.
As we all sat, the serving staff arrived with afternoon tea, with cookies and finger sandwiches.
“I am so pleased you will be able to join us for the Jubilee,” Queen Maeve said.
“Thank you for inviting us,” Mom said.
The Queen chuckled. “I didn’t invite as much as I was told,” she said. “Nonetheless, I am thrilled to make your acquaintance, given that we will all soon become family. At least, that’s what the newspapers tell me,” she added, sliding a glare towards Auggie.
In my peripheral vision, I could see his jaw clench a little.
She waited until we were served before turning her attention back to us. “So, McPhee family. Tell me about yourself.”
Mom started, because she would. Everyone followed suit. The Queen listened politely to every story, asking questions and engaging with my family as one does if one has good manners. She appeared charmed by Dash even despite herself. I felt my hackles rise when she asked about his tutu, but he shamelessly told her that Auggie and I had taken it around the world for good luck.
“It would seem to be working,” she smiled.
Finally, she turned to me. “And you, dear. What do you do?”
I cleared my throat. “I’m a writer.”
“Oh, really? What do you write about?”
I glanced to Auggie who gave a very faint nod. “I worked for a media outlet in Los Angeles called Headliner Pulse. We covered mostly entertainment.”
“How droll,” she said. I assumed it was a compliment. She turned her attention towards other people joining us in the room. One was a taller redhead; the other was shorter with silver hair. Both were the Queen’s age. Auggie stood, so we did also.
“May I present Princess Mariel and Princess Fiona. My sisters-in-law and Auggie’s aunts.”
We repeated the same process, except when Mariel got to me and Auggie, she gave us big hugs.
The Queen announced yet another arrival, her daughter, Princess Giselle, who brought sunshine with her when she entered the room, wearing an ivory pantsuit and her very own tiara, as well as the biggest smile I had ever seen.
Princess Giselle may have been born with chromosomal abnormalities, but nothing had stopped her from doing her part as a Quinn to serve her community. She was well-regarded and beloved, and fiercely protected by the Aldaynean people. Giselle was the only one who bowed back to each of us. When she reached Auggie, she gave him a big hug.
The Queen stood. “I will let you all get better acquainted. I would like to speak to Augustine and Peaches privately for a moment.”