Page 36 of Jonathon, After All

“Here?” Jonathon asked, scrambling upright and looking over the top bunk’s rail, dreading and delighting at the thought of seeing Leo again.

Milo spun around in his seat at the desk, his headphones around his neck. “He’s here?”

Luna pressed her hands to her cheeks, nodding. “He’s heeere!” she whispered dramatically.

“Not here, in 8B,” Riley said and pointed at the floor. “He’s here to see your Aunt Muriel. I heard it from Carl who heard it from your aunt’s housekeeper, Tilly.”

“Tilly told Carl?” Jonathon parroted, surprised. “She never tells Carl anything. She said he missed his calling and should have been a hairdresser, he spends so much time gossiping like he’s at a beauty parlor.”

That resulted in a round of chuckles and snickers of agreement, until Milo waved excitedly. “Unless! Tilly knows you’re hiding in the building and she’s trying to get a message to you,” he said and Jonathon gasped.

“She’s the one who told me about the hidden stairwells and hallways that went nowhere. She must have figured out that I’ve been sneaking around the building.”

“Wait!” Riley and Milo shouted at the same time.

“There are hidden stairwells?” Riley asked, sounding delighted while Luna squealed and hopped and Milo shook his head.

“I know what you two are thinking but my claustrophobia,” Milo said pointedly and mouthed several nopes.

“They’re not that bad,” Jonathon told him. “Just the closed-off, boarded up bits between units, from all the renovations over the years. And Tilly made me swear to be careful and always have my phone with me and charged if I went exploring.”

“We can talk about a tour or a map later,” Riley said with a wink at Jonathon.

Milo gave Jonathon a shocked look. “That sounds excessively dangerous, even with a phone.”

“I’m always careful and I know this building like the back of my hand,” Jonathon reassured them, then slid Riley a sheepish look. “Did Tilly tell Carl anything else?”

Riley nodded quickly, his eyes huge. “The Margrave sent your aunt a huge bouquet of lilies and a written apology. He swears he thought that you were the one who dumped him and he’s fired Celine.”

“Me?” Jonathon’s head pulled back and he frowned. “Why would he think…? And who is Celine?” he asked, earning a confused shrug.

“I have no clue. Carl heard that the Margrave sent the flowers and a letter begging your aunt to forgive him and to grant him an opportunity to explain. Apparently, one of his assistants, this Celine, had something to do with it and he fired her after the gala.”

“Sabine?” Jonathon’s hand slapped over his mouth. “Leo fired Sabine!” He hurried over the side of the rail and down the ladder, slipping and missing the bottom step, he was shaking so badly. But he needed to be on solid ground and he needed to pace. “I can’t believe he fired Sabine. She’s his… Leo needs her.”

“Apparently not,” Riley replied, his shoulders bouncing. “Could she have had a part in this?” he asked and a shocked laugh burst from Jonathon.

“She had a part in this from almost the beginning! I can’t believe she would…” His voice faded because Jonathon absolutely could believe Sabine would sabotage their relationship. And not only that, she would have done it so neatly and so easily that no one would suspect she had anything to do with it. “That snake!” he cried as he realized how simple it would have been for her to do it. “I can’t believe I trusted her.”

But who else did Jonathon have? And who else could have sent the roses?

They first appeared in his room the morning after their private ball and a fresh bouquet was on the bedside table every time Jonathon opened his eyes.

Stunned and slightly alarmed by the third morning, Jonathon had asked a few of the maids and footmen where they had come from. No one had a clue until Jonathon mustered the nerve to ask the housekeeper, Frau Fischer. She informed him that it had been Sabine’s idea to send roses and lilies to Jonathon’s and Muriel’s rooms to thank them for being such kind and supportive guests while the Margrave recuperated and prepared for his assumption ceremony.

Jonathon had found that as believable as Santa Claus leaving them, but had played it cool until he could talk to Leo privately.

“Why do you keep sending me flowers? Someone’s going to say something!” he scolded Leo, when they met in the study after breakfast.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Kiss me,” he said, craning his neck over his paper and pursing his lips.

Jonathon looked around quickly before lowering and cradling his cheek. “Thank you,” he whispered as he pecked. “They’re beautiful but you can’t?—”

“I didn’t,” Leo corrected, his thumb pressing firmly against Jonathon’s lips. “Perhaps, it is magic. Or perhaps, you are magic and deserve to wake up to something beautiful every morning,” he stated with a severe look, warning that he would accept no other explanation and that the matter was settled. “You should go. Sabine will be along at any moment. I sent her off to fetch some Paracetamol. She’s already given me a headache,” he said with a teasing wink. “I’ll find you as soon as I can slip away.”

“Very well, sir,” Jonathon had replied in a sultry whisper before taking himself off to the conservatory to paint some lilies for Muriel.

Later, he returned to the study to see just how much Leo’s priceless factotum knew and what she thought about their relationship. Leo had taken advantage of the mild, sunny day and was off hiking with a guide and his German Shepherd—a local celebrity. Jonathon had passed because he was only interested in painting nature, not experiencing it.

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