Percy understood the mechanics of courting, of course. One ought to write a lady sonnets, send her flowers, and purchase the odd trinket or two. But the only flowers aboard the Custard were the potted sunflowers to help cleanse the aether of malignant humours They ought not to be cut and presented to doctors. Besides, Percy had never understood the notion of gifting the dead sexual organs of a plant to females. It seemed oddly threatening.
