The tea party, against every chaotic prediction Eleanore had privately made over the past weeks, had actually come together rather beautifully. Sage tablecloths, delicate china, a light afternoon breeze drifting through the garden where Adena had insisted on setting everything up. It was, admittedly, lovely, and Eleanore found herself almost enjoying the quiet ordinariness of it as she took her seat.
That ease didn't last long.
"So," Adena said, halfway through pouring a second round of tea, entirely too casual in a way that immediately raised Eleanore's guard, "did you see the paper this morning? About the poisoning event?"
Eleanore's hand stilled briefly around her cup, along with others.
"I did!" Said Flora.
