Page 49 of Turbulent Fires

There are two uniformed security guards lingering behind the woman, very polite, but clearly on alert to people moving about the room. A lot of eyes are on us, wondering what’s going on. They’re all hoping for some drama to occur, so they can share it on social media.

“Well, great to see you. We’ll be on our way,” Audrey tells the woman, who throws her head back and laughs.

“Oh no, it’s not going to be that way at all. Your uncle and cousins are here, and they’re going to send out the royal guard if you don’t come with me right now.”

My gaze widens. “What is happening here?” I ask Audrey.

Her false smile fades away. ”I knew better than to come on a tour here. You just had to visit the palace,” she says.

“It’s London and visiting the royal palace is essential,” I tell her. This makes the woman, Lady Catherine, throw back her head in laughter. I look at her.

“Of course she hasn’t told you,” she says. She leans a little closer to me. “She acts like it’s a dirty little secret. This isn’t the 1500s, there’s no more incest.”

“What in the world?” I ask, totally lost.

Audrey lets out a sigh. “Okay, okay, well, you see, my mother, before she met my father, might’ve been related to a few people in the royal family.”

I’m shocked as I think back to meeting with Audrey’s parents. My mind plays back my conversation with her mother, and I guess there was a slight accent, but it was so minor I hadn’t really placed it. She’s clearly been in the US for a very long time.

Lady Catherine laughs again. “What she’s trying to say is that her mother’s a princess.”

Audrey glares at Lady Catherine, who isn’t offended at all.

“Shewasa princess,” Audrey corrects.

“Once a royal, always a royal, darling,” Lady Catherine says.

“Soooo... does that make you a pri—”

“No!” Audrey says a bit too loudly before lowering her voice. “Absolutely not! I have zero desire to be scrutinized under a microscope and have no say in my life. Sure, a lot of little girls dream of being a princess, but the reality isn’t nearly as glamorous as Hollywood makes it out to be. You have to be perfect at all times. That’s not me. It wasn’t my mother either. I respect the royals, admire them even, but I want nothing to do with it.”

“Yes,” Catherine interjects. “Sheisa princess, but just as stubborn as her mother. It doesn’t matter, though. She’s always welcome and missed, even if she won’t take a crown.”

“I have no need for a crown,” she mutters. “I do want a cheeseburger, though.”

“That can be arranged,” Catherine says.

“You could’ve warned me before we arrived in London,” I tell her. The shock is wearing off, but this one might have to go in the books. I’ve never had a royal fantasy, but I’ve got to admit, it’s sort of hot that I’ve been getting to do all sorts of naughty things with a royal.

“I came for the fish and chips,” Audrey says, looking defiant.

“We’d better get going or the guard really will be here any minute.”

Audrey gives up. Clearly, a person can’t defy a summons. We’re led outside and ushered into a sleek black car, then taken through a gate entrance most tourists never get to see. The castle — not a house or mansion, but a real castle — looms in the distance.

When we finally stop and get out, I look at the sprawling historic wonderland and whistle. “I knew your family was well-off, but I had no clue you were historic.” I laugh. Audrey’s not as amused as I am at the situation.

We get inside, and things become even more surreal as I’m introduced to family members with titles, a few of whom look me up and down in a clearly less than impressed way as I stand before them in worn jeans and an aviator jacket.

I smile at the crowd. “Who wants to show me the dungeon?” I ask with a wink. This makes several people chuckle and a few purse their lips. I look at Audrey, who giggles.

Her opinion is the only one that I care about. The rest of these people are interesting, but they really don’t matter. This is simply one more puzzle piece in who Audrey is. She’s unique, but I’ve known this about her from the moment we met. I’m falling a little harder. I have no idea when I’ll land, and don’t care. I’m on the trip of a lifetime, and it can go on for an eternity.

Chapter Eighteen

Wolf

I didn’t grow up dreaming about horseback riding in the English countryside. Planes? Yes. Sports cars? Yes! Speedboats? Hell, yes. But horses? Not so much. There seems to be something unnatural about climbing on the back of an animal. Yet, strangely enough, the animals allow it, and humans seem to enjoy it.

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