He had a dreadful feeling about the anonymous order left on his doorstep in the dead of night. "Ollie, you best get a bigger lock on the door. Just in case. Like one of those big steel rods to go across it. Don't want to die in my sleep."
Scrutinizing the last of the tussie-mussies, he dropped it into the basket and lifted a hand to scratch at his polished to a luster noggin. "Still, who doesn't like to get flowers, right' Sure. It's springtime. Darn things are everywhere. Sure. They won't come after me. Lynch mobs are a nasty thing."
Glimpsing at the quiet and tremulous Ollie, he scowled. "Well, you don't have to look all glum about it! A jobs a job."
Taking up the frilly basket, he started for the Inn as instructed, to leave the basket on the end of the bar. Each collection of tussie-mussies within the basket had been tagged for the beneficiary along with the meaning scripted on a slip of pale blue silk tied about each.
YELLOW CARNATION: Disdain, rejection, you have disappointed- for Erin CALENDULA: Grief, jealousy- for Sebastian SCABIOUS: Unfortunate love- one each for Everett and Gideon LAVENDER HEATHER: Admiration, solitude, beauty- one each for Lydia, Cassandra and Storm ORANGE-BLOSSOM: Eternal love, marriage - one each for Cor and Charlie OAK LEAVES: Bravery- For Stephen PETUNIA: Resentment, anger- For Jewell NASTURTIUM: Conquest, victory in battle- for Renna DRIED WHITE ROSE: Death is preferable to loss of virtue- one each for Hawk, Jon Henri and Redwick MONK'S-HOOD: Chivalry- for Ewan WHITE LILY: Purity and sweetness-one each for Piper, Kitty and Wyh CATTLEYA Matronly grace- one each for Shey and Icer MEZEREON: Desire to please- one each for Shea and Dusty OAT: I love your music- for Drakkar WHITE HEATHER: Protection-one each for the Ladies of Scathachian Sanctuary HOLLY: Foresight, defense- for Alain MEADOWSWEET: Uselessness- For Reap and Baker MARIGOLD Cruelty in love, inquietude, jealous lover- for PJ HERB ROBERT: Steadfast devotion- for Eve LADY'S THIMBLE: Grief- for Koy HOLLYHOCK: Ambition, fruitfulness- one each for Rena and Val HONEYSUCKLE: Bonds of love- one each for Des and Gav WITCH-HAZEL Inspiration, Mysticism, a spell is upon me - For Elly CHRYSANTHEMUM Loveliness and cheerfulness- for Taneth LEATHERLEAF FERN: Fascination- for Amber VARIEGATED POPPY: Flirtation, dreaminess- For Kairee RHODODENDRON: Beware; I am dangerous- one each for Alcar, Mary and Anne COBAEA Gossip- for Marc Franco
YELLOW CARNATION: Disdain, rejection, you have disappointed- for Erin CALENDULA: Grief, jealousy- for Sebastian SCABIOUS: Unfortunate love- one each for Everett and Gideon LAVENDER HEATHER: Admiration, solitude, beauty- one each for Lydia, Cassandra and Storm ORANGE-BLOSSOM: Eternal love, marriage - one each for Cor and Charlie OAK LEAVES: Bravery- For Stephen PETUNIA: Resentment, anger- For Jewell NASTURTIUM: Conquest, victory in battle- for Renna DRIED WHITE ROSE: Death is preferable to loss of virtue- one each for Hawk, Jon Henri and Redwick MONK'S-HOOD: Chivalry- for Ewan WHITE LILY: Purity and sweetness-one each for Piper, Kitty and Wyh CATTLEYA Matronly grace- one each for Shey and Icer MEZEREON: Desire to please- one each for Shea and Dusty OAT: I love your music- for Drakkar WHITE HEATHER: Protection-one each for the Ladies of Scathachian Sanctuary HOLLY: Foresight, defense- for Alain MEADOWSWEET: Uselessness- For Reap and Baker MARIGOLD Cruelty in love, inquietude, jealous lover- for PJ HERB ROBERT: Steadfast devotion- for Eve LADY'S THIMBLE: Grief- for Koy HOLLYHOCK: Ambition, fruitfulness- one each for Rena and Val HONEYSUCKLE: Bonds of love- one each for Des and Gav WITCH-HAZEL Inspiration, Mysticism, a spell is upon me - For Elly CHRYSANTHEMUM Loveliness and cheerfulness- for Taneth LEATHERLEAF FERN: Fascination- for Amber VARIEGATED POPPY: Flirtation, dreaminess- For Kairee RHODODENDRON: Beware; I am dangerous- one each for Alcar, Mary and Anne COBAEA Gossip- for Marc Franco