#earthrunes

"My liege? I thought it had something to do with the outpouring from the library" A nervous look at Zara

Proud little flora they do not stay down for long.

"Apparently not."

"The library is very well. It does seem a curious thing... mayhaps, oh, some kind of new sprite?"

Charity ponders "I don't know. It's definiely a giddy kind of flora"

"I suppose. Well...I suppose the hunt continues!" Coradel says with an eager smile.

"....Could it be one of the boggans? They are homey flowers. Warm."

"Ahem" Charity says. She IS one of the boggans and right here. Then she ponders "it does seem rather boggany"

"I mean no offense. But they are most sunny and cheerful."

"True" Charity says then ponders "I wonder if the Steward saw anything? Oh, but she's been away a lot in the eve"

"They seems...aggressively cheerful, yes."

Then a blink. "Oh? Has she?"

"Where has she been off to?"

"Why, let's see, supply shopping one night, and , of course, she went with you the other night for wine tasting"

An eyebrow.

While Coradel does not doubt Charity believes what she says... she did NOT go wine tasting this week

"With...me? I don't think so."

"It is a good season..."

Charity looks surprised "Well maybe I missheard" COnfusion on her face

"Where might Delores be?"

"Charity, where is Delores right now?"

An amused glance at Zara.

A little smile back.

"Why out yet again" she says "Though she maybe back soon"

"Baroness, what think you of a nice cup of tea in that lovely nook in the kitchen?"

"Madame Librarian, I think that is a wonderful notion."

And off they go to lie in wait.

And if it is an excuse to use one of the Fancy teas? All the better!

Devious are the ways of sluagh , and fiona sidhe are ruthless...

Oh, of course the Fancy Tea.

"I have been away far too long," Coradel says quietly. "To have missed several scandals in my own house!"

"Ah, but sometimes there can be great fun in discovering a shanda in full... pardon.. flower."

and so, it comes that within the hour, while other boggans fetch drinks and food and head out and in. One steward returns. When the staff isn't looking, she allows a dopey smile on her face

but of course, Zara and Coradel aren't staff. And Delores doesn't expect either to be there

A pained look at Zara at the joke, but then Delores appears and smiles....and Coradel clears her throat.

A little satisfied nod.

A very intentional clearing of the throat.

"Well, hello, Steward Delores!"

The little boggan (Aren't they all?) jumps in place startled. And ye gads, there are tiny red and yellow flowers where her feet were "Oh, Baroness! Miss Zara! "

"Miss Delores." Polite!

"Have.. have the staff neglected either of you? I ..I just arrived but ah.." She seems disjointed, like she has not had time to put her senses back in her head

A blink of surprise. "It's you! You're doing it yourself!" Not loud, but certainly nonplussed.

"Do.. do?" A look around "Do what? I am just returning from ah..." She looks about eyes locking on the wall, "An antique store seeking a new clock. Nothing there quite fit you know? So I'll try again other night for the ..." A glance back at the clock on the wall as if verifying yes that was it, "A clock"

Delores is normally MUCH better than this, much more adept at social evasion when she wants to be. Zara recognizes it perhaps? She too has had a touch of heartfluff get up into her skull of late

"I see. And were you also at a greenhouse?"

"Certainly, you dearly deserve flowers..."

She looks at her feet "oh my how.. how did those get... I'll have those picked up right away.. just pulled right out" A blush "Must be a pooka prank"

oh she's blushing brighter and brighter

"Like the library, aye?"

"Now, Delores..." Coradel gives her a mock stern look. "Come and sit with us and share your blooming secret."