“That art tour you mentioned this morning, and a tour of the royal gardens this afternoon.”
Her jaw dropped. “I wanted to tour the royal gardens, but tickets have to be purchased months in advance. I didn’t even know I was taking this trip until two weeks ago.”
“Come with me. Anya, too, if she wants. Each ticket admits up to four adults.”
“I couldn’t. That’s much too generous.” Declining took all of her willpower. Dumb rules of propriety.
“Not really. The ticket’s already paid for and doesn’t cost any more or less if only I go or bring guests along.” He flashed a winsome smile. “The offer’s open.”
“What offer?” Anya asked, appearing at the table, bright and chipper with a daffodil yellow top and white pants.
“My boss booked me a tour of the royal gardens for this afternoon. The ticket admits up to four adults, so I invited Cece, but she thinks she can’t for some reason.” James winked her way.
Anya’s eyes widened. “I’ve planned my trip for ages, and I couldn’t even get those tickets. Either your boss has planned this for a year, or he has friends in high places.”
James laughed. “Could be both, but he does have connections throughout the world. You’re welcome to join me.”
“Unlike Cece, I have no problem accepting the invitation.” Anya looked at her. “Come on, Cece. You know you want to come with us.”
“Okay, okay. You promise there is no additional cost? I mean, you did tell me I should have used your card last night because it charged to Grant.”
“That was a joke. Kind of.” James grinned. “If you don’t want my company, you and Anya can go. The art tour is more to my interests.”
“Oh no. If I go, you go,” she insisted.
“Then it’s settled. All three of us will take the tour.”
Cece grimaced. “What time does it begin?”
“Three.”
“Good.” She breathed a sigh of relief. “The ruins tour ends at two, but if I’m not mistaken, the return location is only a block from the gardens.”
“If you give me the address, I’ll meet you there and we’ll walk to the gardens together. If that’s okay with you. I believe most of the tours begin and end within a few blocks of each other.”
“I’ll text you the information.” She looked at Anya. “What’s on your schedule this morning?”
“A massage and hydrotherapy at the castle spa. I thought the pampering would be helpful after a day of travel.”
“That was a smart idea.” Cece sipped the last of her coffee.
“I’m going for food,” James announced. “Would you mind snagging me a coffee and water if the beverage cart passes.”
“Not at all.”
“Same for me, please?” Anya asked.
“I’ve got you covered,” she told her.
“Thanks,” they both said before walking together toward the food.
The meal passed similar to last night’s dinner. Conversation flowed freely, and Cece laughed freely, even snorting orange juice from her nose in one embarrassing incident. After breakfast, they parted ways for the morning until their plans to meet for the garden tour.
Cece returned to her room, and grabbed her crossbody purse, inside which she had her passport, credit cards, Finlovian cash she’d exchanged for yesterday, a map of Finlovia, and her reservation confirmation for the ruins tour.
She made her way to the parking area and found the designated spot where the shuttle would take guests from Ellington Castle to the heritage foundation where the tour would begin. This shuttle was substantially smaller than the one which transported her from the airport to the castle and held a maximum of fifteen passengers.
Five people boarded after her. They appeared to be part of the same group, but they were friendly and greeted her in French.
