Chapter 10: A Bouquet Is Still a Gift

Maerielle reduced the gift to one potted flowering plant.

Thessa approved until she saw the instructions tied around it.

The pot could no longer stand upright beneath the ribbons.

"It needs sun," Maerielle explained.

"You've written that it mustn't be left in a window," her companion said.

"Not the drafty window."

"You haven't visited the duke's windows."

Maerielle took the ribbon back.

The plant tipped toward her sleeve.

She caught it before soil reached her cuff.

She'd chosen something modest enough to make no demand.

She could see herself making demands on it instead.

There were instructions about watering, placement, and the note accompanying her gift.

There were also flowers trying to survive between the instructions.

Thessa untied the narrowest ribbon and let the instructions unroll across the table.

The paper covered the saucer, crossed the edge and touched the floor.

She lifted its end to read the last line.

"Not to be moved once placed," she said.

Maerielle looked at the pot she intended to carry to the courtyard.

Her companion rolled the paper back up and put it in a drawer.

"That one can stay where you put it," Thessa told her.

Thessa removed the largest ribbon and set the pot on a plain saucer.

It stood perfectly well without Maerielle helping it.

She disliked noticing that.

Tavrian received her in the small courtyard after the morning audience.

Maerielle had brought the plant herself because sending it seemed too formal.

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