“Fabulous.”
Cece was convinced for a second that Anya would say something embarrassing, but Cece didn’t give her enough credit.
“Where do we go for admittance?” Anya asked, giving no indication she knew Cece and James spent the morning together.
James pointed to a two-foot stone wall. “See that line forming? That’s where we need to be.”
“Wow. They’re lining up early. Let’s move that way before the line grows much longer.” Cece tugged Anya’s sleeve. “Walk with me and give me details of the spa day. I’m torn if I want to take the time.”
She had no intentions of a spa day, not when she could do that at home in Virginia. What she did want was a small break from James. By no fault of his, she was overwhelmed by his presence. They’d had a moment at the castle ruins while Kate took their picture. She didn’t know what to make of it, and truthfully, she’d rather forget it had happened.
Was it too much to ask to enjoy each other’s company without speculation from those around them?
She sensed James felt the same. He’d been quiet since they’d left the shuttlebus, and she was fine with that. Not every moment needed to be filled with words and activity.
At two-thirty, the line began to move. Cece marveled at the efficiency. By three o’clock exactly, the entire line had been admitted to the gardens, and the tour began right on time.
Wendall McAvey, their tour guide, began the introduction. “Welcome to the gardens at Fendingham Palace, the official home of His Royal Highness, King Marcus, and his wife, Her Royal Highness Queen Sophia. Today, you’ll see a portion of the twenty acres of garden, complete with five hundred trees, over two-hundred species of plants, and a bird sanctuary that’s home to the native Finlovian Wren.
“Before we begin, there are several ground rules. Do not touch any of the plants. Do not damage any of the plans. Do not remove any of the plants. Do not approach any wildlife. Do not feed any wildlife, and do not venture off our path. Now that we have those negatives out of the way, the most important rule is to have fun and enjoy the tour. Please ask any questions you have along the way.”
“What wildlife do you think we’ll see?” Cece asked Anya.
“Squirrels mainly, but I read that ten years ago, a wild boar found his way into the gardens and wreaked havoc.”
“A boar?” she squeaked. “Aren’t they dangerous?”
“Only if approached, but I wouldn’t worry. That was an anomaly.”
“Or a fox,” James said, entering the conversation after being quiet. He pointed in the distance to the left. “See him ever there.”
Cece cupped a hand over her eyes and peered out. “I see him. He’s beautiful.”
Wendall drew the group’s attention to the fox. “That is Forester, our resident fox. In person sightings of him are extremely scarce, but he is often caught on our cameras at night. You can’t see it from here, but Forester has a genetic anomaly in that only one of his ears is black tipped. His other ear is the same beautiful rust color that covers the upper half of his body.”
“I wish my phone would zoom that far,” Cece mused.
“Me too. He is stunning.” Anya continued to watch him.
Cece kept her eyes on the majestic creature as well until an unknown distraction caused him to sprint out of sight. The tour continued, and while the bright blooms of spring weren’tin season, the royal garden maintained an elegant beauty with autumnal hues and a scattering of leaves fallen to the ground.
When the tour came to an end, the group was invited to browse the gift shop, where all profits benefited the Royal Conservation Group.
“Look at this plush of Forester.” Picking up the soft stuffed animal, Cece debated purchasing him. “But what would I do with him?”
“I’m going to buy one for my niece. She loves stuffed animals and has tea parties with them all the time,” Anya said.
“That’s adorable. If I had a niece or nephew, I’d purchase one for them as well.” She returned the plush to its cubby display. As adorable as the stuffed animal was, it wasn’t a practical souvenir.
“Don’t let me buy too much, or I’ll have to ship all of it home in a separate box,” Anya instructed, picking up a second fox. “This one is for my godchild.”
“Are you getting any mementos for yourself?’ James asked.
“Buying for others is more fun.” Anya grinned. “I’m sure I’ll end up with my own before long though. This is only my first stop.”
Cece laughed. “I plan on taking a day to peruse all the small shops in Finlovia. Rachel, my work bestie, was instrumental in me being here, and I’d like to find her the perfect gift.”
“If you ladies will excuse me, I spot stationery across the way. One of my sisters is famous for sending out handwritten letters, and I’d like to see if they have a set she would like.” James strode away. His confident gait and broad shoulders made him stand out among the crowd.
