Andromeda. 200 words.
Druella's second pregnancy went no better than her first. Though she was at least used to the morning sickness, she still fretted over her inability to satisfy Cygnus as a wife should; over her loss of beauty; over the chance that she might be supplanted in her rightful place in his affections, if not on his arm when they went about in Society.
If her child had been a boy, she would have been able to accept it. After all, as the mother of Cygnus's son and heir, of the future Lord Black, she would have been invincible. But, yet again, it all came to naught. Yet again, she failed in her duty. Yet again, she brought forth a daughter, rather than the much needed heir.
Cygnus was disappointed this time. She could tell. Not only did it take him a moment too long to smile encouragingly at her and hold out his arms for their daughter, but the gift he summoned for her wasn't made of precious stones this time. It was a simple brooch of snapdragons. Snapdragons fixed to a pin of bronze and charmed to keep them fresh.
Snapdragons. Snapdragons for a virtuous lady. Snapdragons for Andromeda.
