"HATCHU!"
Verona sat at the head of the long table, a fountain pen in her hand and a ledger open before her. The silence of the room was suddenly shattered by her sneeze.
"Bless you, sister," Isella said, not looking up from a guest list she was aggressively cross-referencing. "Though, if you're catching a cold, Elric will likely have my head for keeping you in this drafty room."
Verona reached for a silk handkerchief, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "I'm fine, Isella. It's just a tickle."
"Don't force yourself, My Lady," Elias added softly. He was sitting across from her, his spectacles perched on the end of his nose as he examined a lace trim. "You have been working without pause for three days. The boutique is a grand undertaking, but it shouldn't come at the cost of your health."
Verona leaned back, letting out a long breath. In truth, she felt far more energized than she had in the weeks leading up to the tea party.
