The flowers showed up the next morning, which was, in itself, deeply suspicious.
Eleanore stared at the bouquet sitting on her desk when she walked into the study. White peonies, arranged with more care than someone like Caelestis should logically know how to put into anything that wasn't a business proposal. There was no card. There didn't need to be. She already knew.
She found him in the hallway, walking back to his study along with Victor. When Victor saw her, her greeted her before leaving for the study himself, alone.
"What," she said, arms crossed, "was that."
"What was what?"
"The peonies. On my desk."
"Ah." Caelestis didn't even have the decency to look sheepish. If anything, he looked faintly pleased with himself. "You noticed."
"They're the size of a small shrub, Caelestis. Of course I noticed."
"I thought they'd brighten your study."
"My study is beautiful enough."
