Ford had a point there, Tycho supposed. The other Greengrass brother might notice something off if Tycho suddenly changed the way he greeted Ford. Even if Noble ended up just assuming that they'd had a tiff, it would still raise questions.

"So no bending you over the banister at the next ball, got it," Tycho couldn't help but quip. "I think I might need to buy you a new arrangement. Some of these are crushed." He tried fixing a couple of the blossoms that had been victims to their embrace.