Chapter 4: The Flowers Came Back

The flowers came back before Maerielle had finished breakfast.

Thessa put the returned bouquet beside the table.

A stem reached across Maerielle's plate and collected butter.

"From Belsienne," the companion said.

Maerielle moved the stem away from her bread.

"Was there a message?"

Thessa held out a small card.

It asked that no replacement bouquet be sent.

Maerielle looked at the list of possible replacements beside her cup.

She turned it face down.

Thessa waited until she put it in the fire basket herself.

It was a small surrender, and nobody had forced her fingers.

She found Belsienne in the small music room later that morning.

The musician was packing her instrument, not waiting to be discovered at practice.

Maerielle stopped at the doorway.

"I'd like to correct what I did," she said.

Belsienne shut the case.

"You can begin by letting me finish leaving."

Maerielle stepped aside.

The musician walked past her, then stopped in the hall.

She looked surprised to find the passage still clear.

Maerielle felt ashamed of being praised by such small expectations.

"I shouldn't have canceled your performance," she said.

"You canceled it after I arrived."

"Yes," Maerielle said.

"And demanded the fee back."

Maerielle looked at the instrument case.

She had called the cancellation a change of taste.

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