Three Peach Roses

Roses

Chapter 7

Magnolia and Sir Thomas were becoming increasingly close. They walked together in the grounds every morning, they ate together at midday and Sir Thomas sometimes gave her horse riding lessons in the afternoon. Sir Thomas, who was known around the Palace as a womaniser, was quite taken with Magnolia. He admired her personality as well as her looks and he enjoyed having long conversations with her about literature, language, politics and music. Magnolia was even teaching him Italian.

"My French is really very good. I have been studying it ever since I was a boy!" Sir Thomas boasted, as they wandered around the Rose garden. It was still quite early and soft mist hung in the air. Magnolia stifled a giggle, she had heard Thomas speaking French and it was not very good.

"I'm sure it's better than yours! You grew up speaking it but I learnt grammar and vocabulary!" Sir Thomas said, his ego dented by Magnolia's laugh.

"I'm sure that's correct, Sir Thomas. I think we should test you." Magnolia said, playfully. Sir Thomas puffed out his chest.

"Yes that is a splendid idea!" Magnolia bent down and picked a single rose.

"This is my favourite rose." She told Thomas, lifting it so he could admire the smile beauty.

"I would have thought you'd prefer a white rose. They represent purity and innocence, you know." Sir Thomas said, hoping to impress her with his romantic knowledge of flowers.

"Yes, I know. But my favourite is the peach rose. In one of our childhood homes, a beautiful castle high up in the hills of Magdaleja, my failure grew these roses. My Father had three growing in the garden outside his study. Three single peach roses in a sea of white ones and he said they were like his three daughters. He said 'Pink makes them graceful and elegant but the orange gives them more fire, more passion. Exquisite, they are both soft and vibrant, just like my three girls.' Sir Thomas, I will give you an easy question. Pray tell me, what is the French word for a peach rose?" Magnolia said. Sir Thomas had been so lost in Magnolia's story he had forgotten how to think.

"Erm..." He said, unsure. Magnolia smiled, handed him the rose and said,

"Une rose pêche. I advise you to study your French a bit closer, my questions will only get harder." With that she turned and walked gracefully back to the Palace.

"Yes," Sir Thomas muttered to himself, looking down at the rose in his hand with up to admire Magnolia's willowy frame. "Just like a peach rose."

Magnolia joined her sisters in the corner of a small chamber they had found. The Violet River Palace was so vast it had rooms some of the servants had only just discovered. The room had a large window which the girls sat around. It had began to rain and Marianne watched the raindrops trickle down the window pane.

"He is falling in love with me. I can feel it." Magnolia said proudly.

"That's no use to us unless you get near the King." Mahogany answered, the thought of Alexei and her future daughter raw in her mind. She didn't want love to be disregarded but she knew she had no choice in this matter and the same must be for Magnolia and Marianne.

"I will ask to eat with him at dinner; I will try and join him in the King's room after dinner." Magnolia said desperately, wanting Mahogany's approval.

"Do you love him?" Marianne asked, keeping her eyes on the window.

"No. He is irritating to me. He thinks himself above everyone." Magnolia said as firmly as she could. Mahogany rose.

"Come on sisters. There is much work to do."