Fic: Mrs Hudson Interprets: G

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Title: Mrs Hudson Interprets
Form/Wordcount: 200
Characters/Pairings: Mrs Hudson, Bessie
Rating: G
Warnings/Content: There is a language of flowers, sometimes it requires a particular interpretation.

“Oh, how lovely, Mrs Hudson,” Bessie said.  “Someone’s left you a potted plant.”

“Hmm, a purple hyacinth,” Mrs Hudson replied.  “‘Please forgive me.’  So what’s he done this time?”

***

“These are pretty blue flowers, Mrs Hudson, what are they?  Are they delphiniums?”

“No, dear, Mr Holmes does not go in for flights of fancy.  These are aconites, also known as wolfsbane.  We’ll stay downstairs, since I do not wish to discover what I’m supposed to beware of.”

***

“How appropriate to receive a pretty Christmas rose from Mr Holmes.”

“Relieve my anxiety, indeed!  The rent goes up in the new year, flower or no flower.”

***

“Oh, a beautiful cyclamen.  Surely Mr Holmes cannot be intending to leave us?”

“No, I rather fear we have said farewell to another set of curtains.”

“And there’s a bunch of marigolds on the stairs.”

“If he’s despairing, that’s more than just the curtains he’s set fire to.  I sense an upcoming additional rent rise.”

***

“That’s an interesting plant you’re carrying upstairs, Mrs Hudson.  It’s a red hot poker, isn’t it?  I’m afraid I don’t remember what they mean.”

“I think Mr Holmes will find the meaning quite clear, without needing to consult his flower almanack.”