Disclaimer: We don't own Lily Evans, or any other characters belonging to J K Rowling you will meet as the story progresses. We do own the plot, which we want to keep, so please, don't steal it. R/R!

A/N If you haven't already guessed from the summary, this is an AU Lily/James fic, taking place during 1905 and the following years. Plot details will soon become clear, but leave any questions/criticism in reviews. Not everything is entirely accurate to the books - the time in which they live is one obvious inaccuracy - but those details will become apparent as the story develops… we can't, after all, reveal everything in the first chapter, can we? If anybody sees anything inaccurate in our portrayal of the times, please tell us, either in a review or an email… we are trying to keep this as true to society at the time as it can be. I (Stef) wrote this chapter, with editing done by Kate. She'll write the next chapter, and I'll edit… etc etc. Enjoy!

Appearances

Lily Evans took a deep calming breath, steeling herself to open the door. Then she took another. She could do this. She had to do this; she had promised her parents that she would do this. A maid looked at her strangely, before quickly training her features into the proper uncurious mask she usually had in place.

"I'll announce you now, Miss, if you please," the maid said.

"Please do," Lily replied coolly. The maid opened the door to the formal parlour.

"Miss Lily is here," she said, and then stepped forward into the shadows of the room, ready to be called on. Lily took another breath and swept in.

"Lily!" Elizabeth Evans said happily. "Lord Richard Marks arrived only moments ago! Do come in and meet him!"

"Of course, Mother," then she saw Lord Richard Marks, a friend of her father's. He didn't look as old as she had been told he was, she thought nervously. He was apparently in his late thirties, but he didn't look much older than thirty-two. "Good day, my Lord," she said demurely.

Richard Marks had risen from his seat, and he now looked at her with genuine pleasure. He took her hand and, smiling openly, kissed it. "It is a real pleasure to meet you, Miss Lily," he said warmly.

"And you, Lord Richard," she replied. She probably ought to curtsey, she reflected, but he was still holding her hand. Her parents would not be pleased if she fell over in front of him. He gently pulled her to the sofa he was sitting on, and they sat down together. Then he let go of her hand, to Lily's relief.

"Lord Richard was just saying that he is hosting a house party at his country manor in a few months, Lily," Curtis Evans told his daughter.

"Yes," Lord Marks said, turning to Lily. "I would be delighted if you would come, Miss Lily. It will be quite a small affair, no more than twenty guests. I believe you are already acquainted with a number of guests… a close friend of yours will also be coming, I believe, the recently married Lady Delia Delacorte?"

Delia was most emphatically not a friend, but Lily said, "Thank you, Lord Richard. I would indeed love to come. I have heard you are rather skilled at hunting, my lord. I am afraid I know little of the sport…"

"My skills are perhaps exaggerated, Miss Lily. I do enjoy hunting, fox hunting certainly, but I have not the fame your father has…" Lily smiled and nodded in all the right places, keeping the conversation going and giving the image of a well-mannered potential bride. It was, of course, second nature – seven summers worth of finishing school had ensured that she was just as faultless in her capacity as hostess as she would soon be as a houseguest in Lord Richard Marks' house party.

Lily's parents, meanwhile, could not have been happier. They participated in the conversation only a little, content to let their daughter impress Lord Richard. At the rate things were going, Lily would be married within the year, bringing their money and Marks' nobility into a union that would be profitable for both parties concerned. Lily's mother wondered whether a white or a pale cream wedding dress would look better with her daughter's pale features and fiery red hair, and she determined to have her maid send for catalogues from Harrods immediately after Lord Richard had left. When her daughter got married British society would be astounded, of that much Elizabeth Evans was certain.

The afternoon wore on. Lily was privately bored out of her mind; her future husband was now speaking of the book he was writing, and Lily continued to smile, nod, and feign interest. Richard Marks seemed completely enthralled by Lily – the maid had done her work well this morning, and Lily's beauty was remarkable even by her normal standards. Richard certainly seemed to be appreciating it.

As the time approached six o'clock, Lily's father invited Lord Richard to join them for dinner. Internally, Lily groaned. Outwardly, she said, "Please stay, Lord Richard! Your conversation is fascinating! You would disappoint me dreadfully if you do not join us."

"I could never disappoint you, Miss Lily," he said solemnly. "I would be delighted to stay for dinner."

"Excellent!" Curtis Evans said warmly. "Perhaps we should adjourn to the study then, Lord Richard, while my wife and daughter prepare for this evening."

"With pleasure, Sir Curtis," Richard replied warmly, and he kissed Lily's hand once more, bid both ladies farewell for the moment, and followed Curtis into his study. Lily let out an audible sigh of relief for which her mother frowned reprovingly.

"What do you think of him, dear?" Elizabeth asked pointedly.

"He is a delightful man, Mother."

"He is indeed. Well, I shall notify the butler as to our dinner companion. I will send up the housemaid to help you dress. Find a gown suitable for dinner tonight – you must look perfect for our guest."

"Of course, Mother." Lily left the room, intent on doing as she was bid. She would have just enough time to magically alter an appropriate gown into something stunning before her maid arrived to help her dress.

As it turned out, Lily already had a gown that would suit her purposes almost perfectly. She changed the vibrant green to a pale one, more suitable for wearing in the summer evening. The dress needed a little lengthening – Lily had grown in her last year at Hogwarts – and she made the hem at the bottom flare a little, in keeping with the very latest French fashion. Deeming her dress suitable, Lily turned to jewellery. When the housemaid assigned to wait on Lily knocked on the door two minutes later, Lily had just finished choosing her jewellery for the evening; she had decided to go with simple and elegant jewellery to complement the simply cut but elaborately embroidered dress.

It took a full hour for Lily's maid to get her out of the dress she was wearing, lace her up in the new dress, apply her makeup, and put her hair up to Lily's satisfaction. At last, Lily decided that she looked as good as she could possibly look without magic – a thought which made her realise a few spells couldn't go amiss. She dismissed the maid and, alone in her room once again, contemplated her knowledge of spells that would be useful. A couple of charms to ensure that her hair stayed in place and her makeup would not rub off later and she was ready for dinner.

She was just in time, too, because no sooner had she put her wand away than her mother knocked and entered Lily's room, looking very pretty herself.

"You look lovely!" Elizabeth Evans told her daughter, smiling proudly. "Lord Richard will not be able to resist you."

"Thank you, Mother," Lily said, pleased that her efforts had not gone completely unnoticed. "Shall we go downstairs, then?"

They went together down to the dining, trailing skirts in their wake. Elizabeth's timing, as ever, was impeccable; they reached the doors to the dining room as the butler hit the gong to announce that dinner would soon be served. Elizabeth smiled at Lily, and they both mentally counted to ten. Sure enough, Curtis and Lord Richard appeared by the doors. As custom dictated, Curtis took Lily's arm and Lord Richard offered his arm to Elizabeth with a murmured, "You look lovely, Lady Elizabeth." His eyes, however, were on Lily.

"You are too kind, Lord Richard."

They were seated at the dining table in the smaller of the two dining rooms, Lily facing Lord Richard, Curtis Evans facing Elizabeth. The five-course meal that followed was a culinary masterpiece, obviously surpassing Lord Richard's expectations. The evening was a complete success in Elizabeth's eyes; their guest seemed completely besotted with Lily, enjoyed the food immensely, and had already invited Lily to a Monday to Saturday party in his country estates!

Conversation over the two-hour-long meal was livelier than it had been in the parlour. Elizabeth quickly steered the mealtime conversation in the direction of Lily's accomplishments with the piano, to which Lord Richard immediately responded by asking if she would play for him. The dessert ended with Lord Richard positively beaming, after which they all adjourned to the drawing room to hear Lily play the piano.

She chose a soft melodic piece that she could, of course, play perfectly, and she proceeded to do so, surprising Lord Richard once more. Elizabeth was beaming.

"You play excellently, Miss Lily! Where did you learn to play so well?" Lord Richard asked in admiration.

"I first learnt the piano at home with my tutor, Lord Richard," Lily replied pleasantly, "but I perfected the technique in France, while I was at school there."

"Your playing is superb," he said warmly. "And now, I am afraid I must leave. I hope I have not outstayed my welcome…"

"Of course not!" Elizabeth replied.

"I enjoyed this evening," Lily said politely. It did not even occur to her that she was lying to him. "I'm looking forward to seeing you again, Lord Richard."

"And I look forward to seeing you, Miss Lily. Perhaps you would care to accompany me for a short walk in your gardens whilst the footmen ready my carriage?"

"I would love to, my lord! If you do not object, father."

"Not at all," Curtis told her affably. "Enjoy yourselves."

"Thank you, father." The four of them stood. Curtis led the way to the door as Elizabeth excused herself to go to bed. Lord Richard thanked her and kissed her hand, and then, at the doors, thanked Curtis for the evening as well. With a short bow and a rather shy smile at Lily, he offered her his arm, which she accepted. A few words to the footmen, and then Richard was steering Lily into one of the flower gardens in their expansive gardens.

The couple walked in silence for a while, enjoying the night air. Lily realised, for the first time all evening, that she was actually enjoying Richard's company. The night was cool, and there were no clouds to obscure the stars. As they approached a bench, Richard gestured for Lily to sit, and then he, too, sat next to her.

"I enjoyed this evening, Miss Lily, more than I have in a long time," he said earnestly.

"I too enjoyed the evening, Lord Richard, and your company."

"Then I leave this evening content, lady," he said cheerfully. "It is, I believe, time for me to depart. I shall see you soon, I hope?"

"I hope so, my Lord."

They walked back to the front door once more, where Richard bid Lily a good night, and, again, kissed her hand, lingering longer than was perhaps strictly necessary. Lily smiled demurely and went inside as Richard stepped into his carriage and drove off. Her parents were waiting for her inside.

"I think he likes me, Mother, Father," she told them. "I believe he will approach you on the matter of my courtship soon."

Curtis smiled with satisfaction. "He has already done so – he asked me for permission to court you this afternoon while you were preparing for dinner. Do you like him, Lily? Would you be content to marry him, as was our agreement?"

"Yes, Father." Lily told him, lying again. Marrying Richard wouldn't be too bad, she told herself sternly. She had no choice, anyway; she had already made the agreement with her parents. She had made the agreement as a ten year old upon receiving her Hogwarts letter: marrying Richard was a condition for going to the school, one that she could not refuse.

"Good. I think we will see more of your suitor soon. Good night, Lily."

"Good night Father, Mother," she said in reply, and went up the stairs to her room. Her maid silently detached herself from the shadows and followed her mistress up the stairs to help her ready herself for bed.

It wasn't until much later, in the darkness of her room, that Lily allowed herself to cry for the future that she could not have.

A/N Hope you liked this… please R/R! The information on Edwardian society (so we stay as accurate as possible with the times) came mostly from these two internet sites:


- (our personal favourite)




Stef and Kate ~ Distant cousins of Eris