Poppy couldn’t even be scandalized when Atticus stood and made a great scene of coming over to comfort her in the middle of the Ivy Leaf. All she wanted in that moment was to wrap her arms around her cousin and bawl like a child into his lapels. Obviously she couldn’t quite do that here, so she settled for letting him wrap his arms awkwardly around her and leaning into him while she tried not to sniff too loudly. His voice was both soothing and triggering, making Poppy bite her lip, hard. She didn’t deserve his sweet sentiments and tears continued to flow silently. She tried to nod as Atticus praised her and told her that Basil was just fine. It took a good moment but eventually, dabbing her cheeks again with her napkin, the girl managed to stop the torrential downpouring of tears. She sucked in a deep breath and let it out again shakily. Well, that had certainly been a disgrace. Just one more to add to her list of recent failings. Poppy tried to cover up her despair with a laugh, but the usually tinkling little ring came out sounding feeble and fake. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I didn’t… I didn’t mean to make a scene.”
Picking up her teacup and taking a sip, more for something to do than out of actual desire, Poppy closed her eyes for a moment. She lingered on the scent of rose that permeated her senses and the warm burning sensation of hot water on her tongue. It was grounding in its subtle way; there wasn’t anything in this world a good cup of hot tea couldn’t fix. She set the cup down gently and looked back towards her cousin. “I know he won’t say much to me on the matter, but does he really seem alright?” She asked, quietly. “He wasn’t accepting visitors at the infirmary but the nurse mentioned he’d actually bled out of one ear!” Poppy wrung her hands together miserably. “I feel so guilty that it was all by my own fault.”
© Fox