The Way It's Supposed to Be
The Way It's Supposed to Be
Chapter 3
"Quite a lovely meal, as always, Ruth," James heard his mother say to the auburn haired lady.
He sighed quietly so as not to appear rude and picked at the last of his crème brulee and fruit pudding. He had a real dislike for this type of fruit when it was added to perfectly delightful dishes such as crème brulee.
"Don't you think so, James, darling?" his mother asked him pointedly.
"You've outdone yourself as always," James supposed it was at least half of the truth. He hadn't enjoyed any of this party so far, but the extravagant and lavish happenings must cause Mrs Prewett all kinds of problems.
"Thank you, Mrs Potter…" the other woman said, with a rather fake giggle.
James turned his head anxiously along the length of the table. He could see where Lily and her sister were sitting, silently eating. He gazed at the redhead, whose gaze was still on Gideon. He sighed deeply, resisting the urge to growl. He stopped and sat poker-straight in his seat. Why the hell was he so jealous of what Evans was doing? She had her own life and James had his. Why should he be in any way affected by the way she acted? He bit his lip gently, narrowing his eyes slightly as a reflexive action towards her.
He turned his head a few inches to gaze at Petunia. She was a pretty girl, but did not have Lily's obvious charm. James thought she was rather plain. Her dark hair was lifeless compared to Lily's flaming locks. But they both shared the same pair of sparkling emerald eyes. Eyes full of happiness, willingness and a love of life. It was then James realised where he'd seen the stranger's eyes before. On Lily Evans. Could that man be Lily's… father?!
"Coffee, Mr, Mrs Potter?" the butler offered.
"Yes please, we'd love some," Megan said.
"Sit up straight," she hissed to James out of the corner of her mouth.
"Sorry," he murmured.
He saw his father talking to the man he had now decided to be Lily's father (or at least a relative).
"I don't see the problem," Mr Evans was saying to Richard.
"No, you're quite right, David," his father replied.
The two men laughed and James frowned, feeling left out as he didn't understand the joke.
"Dad?" he asked. "What is it?"
"Nothing, son," Richard said and turned back to laughing with David Evans.
James watched them briefly. He didn't like this at all… not at all. He gave into the huge impulses to ruffle his hair. He could feel his mother's glare focusing on him almost immediately but he ignored it.
He heard three men's booming laughs and it appeared Hugo Prewett had joined Richard and David.
"Very well then, Richard, if you'd like to announce it…" Hugo nodded.
"Yes, I'd be happy too, if that's alright with you, David," Richard replied, gesturing at Lily's father.
"No, you can announce it. That's fine," David assured, giving him a strong smile.
James frowned once again. Something strange was happening that night and James wanted to know what it was. He was determined to find out.
And find out he would.
Mr Prewett stood at the head of the table. "Firstly I'd like to thank you all for attending this evening. My wife, Ruth and I have always held the belief for the great importance of parties. And our parties would not be possible without the guests attending."
His voice amplified over the dining room. "Secondly, I believe Mr Potter would like to make an announcement."
James raised an eyebrow lightly, wondering what his father could possibly have to tell all these people. Richard stood briskly, like the true business man he was. "I believe you are all aware of the business partnership that I have recently struck with Mr David Evans. But today for the first time I can bring forth the news that I haven't been able to share previously…"
James looked at him curiously for a second, but quickly decided that it was something to do with his father's business prospects. He tapped his feet impatiently in his shoes and looked up at the ceiling of the dining room. It was a chalky white.
"I feel this is going to benefit both of our businesses and also both of our families…"
James turned his head to look at the other children of his age. Fabian was watching James' father with an intent politeness on his face. Gideon was showing mild interest and James could tell Petunia was showing the polite interest of a girl who didn't really understand the matter being discussed. Lily, like James, looked bored out of her mind. James groaned softly, had her hair always been that rich paprika colour?
"So, without further ado, it gives me great please to announce that my great friend and business partner, Mr David Evans has done me the great honour of promising his oldest daughter to my only son...in marriage."
James replayed the words in his mind. They flashed like lightening and then repeated like the following thunder. His jaw dropped. Had his father just said? He stood suddenly in his seat.
"What?!" he exclaimed, in synch with the other person involved in this.
He looked at his fiancée? Betrothed? She looked just as shocked. His cheeks flushed at how they had reacted in the same way. She turned away from him and gave her parents an opposing look. David shook his head, as if to warn her not to make a fuss.
James stood, fuming. The rest of the party guests were now toasting the young couple and praising the business moves of David and Richard. James found it easy to escape from the celebrations. He felt sick right to the bottom of his stomach.
He couldn't believe his parents had arranged for him to be married to someone. It just wasn't fair. He was the one who would have to marry Evans. But he hadn't chosen that future.
It was such a completely selfish thing for them to do. James had had his own plans for the future and they had certainly not involved wedding Lily Evans. He didn't want to spend the rest of his life with the disagreeable redhead.
He moved around to one of the edges of the rose-garden and heard the sound of a woman crying. He poked his head around the corner of one of the rose-bushes, not meaning to pry but desperate to know who was crying during such an elaborate party.
He was shocked to find Lily crying the other side of the blooms. He had thought his reaction was bad, but it was nothing to how Lily was reacting. Did she really find the thought of him that repulsive?
He wanted someone to call them out of the gardens and tell them this was all some kind of melodramatic joke. But Lily's tears were not those of clowns and the cold anger in the pit of his belly was no enactment.
He padded slowly towards her; her face was buried into her hands as she cried. Salty tears dripped down her ivory fingers.
"Lily…" he whispered, feeling Evans was inappropriate at this point.
She looked up at him, shock at being discovered in her state of distraught obvious in her features. "James…"
He gave her a weak smile, "shocked?" he asked.
She nodded silently. "They never told me."
"Neither did my parents," James replied, kneeling at her feet. "I know you don't want this… I'm surprised too. But Lily, we don't have to decide now. They can't make us marry until eighteen, anyway."
"Sixteen…" Lily corrected him, her tone cold.
"What?" his head rose suddenly.
"Muggles can marry at sixteen with their parents' permission," she said softly.
"We aren't muggles," James replied quickly.
She nodded in agreement and no bad tempered comments were made, since both knew the other was thinking the same as the first.
"Thanks, James," Lily said, "you're right."
He looked at her solemnly, "go clean up. We'll tackle this another time. Night, Evans."
"Goodnight, Potter."
He waved sweetly at her.
Lily felt her blood bubble as she walked off. She would die if she had to share her future with that prat.
James glaring at her back, knew he felt exactly the same way.
