Chapter 11

Ideally, she would never have to go through something as painfully embarrassing as the Tilley proposal again. The gall of the people. Perhaps they were the front runners, the ones too insensitive to believe it was no time too soon for such a suggestion—which indicated that more would come. In fact, anyone who wanted to add to their land, and hence power, would see a benefit in marriage to her.

This all made her feel trapped, as well as disgusted. Was she to endure more of this? And the fact that the Tilley's had seemed unwilling to take no for an answer had made it so much worse. It all made her feel queasy.

It did make it clear though, that the expectation was that something would give, that her land would be claimed one way or another.

Perhaps there was some way she could fight, could gain the influence she obviously needed—without having to tie herself to some family. She couldn't imagine having to marry someone as a business transaction. That was not what marriage was in her book, but these people saw things differently.

The ache to get away from the citadel sat like a cinder in her chest. What she wouldn't give to just head out on the road away from here to never look back, but she couldn't. She would lose everything. This game wouldn't stop if she refused to play.

Tabain wandered out of the bedroom where he had been playing, having grown bored and now sought diversion. "Hello, my little man," she said and squatted down to his level, looking into his lovely, clear eyes. "How are you feeling?"

"Sail," he said, holding up the little sailing boat.

"You want to go sail? Well, you will have to find your coat if you want to go down to the garden. Is that what you want?"

He nodded and headed off to the bedroom to search for a coat. Hermione smiled at his obvious determination, although he returned with his dressing gown.

"Well, we might have to go with something a little more rain proof. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a shower when we're down there."

Seeking the wardrobe, she pulled out a small coat and helped him put it on. The fires of the apartments kept their space warm, but the halls outside weren't much warmer than the outside air.

"You hold the boat tightly when we walk down the stairs," she said, taking his warm little hand. They walked along the corridor, knowing exactly where to go now. As per usual, she met no one on the way.

The garden was deserted as well, and Tabain walked over and launched the small wooden boat at the edge of the pond, where the wind carried it out along the large rectangular body of water. If the wind died, she would have to go out there and fetch it, but with the gusts rustling the branches over their heads, that was unlikely to happen. Still, she prayed it would never happen, particularly as here were fish in the pond, occasionally splashing their tails along the surface.

A movement appeared in the corner of her eye. Someone was with them, and that had never happened before. Immediately, her heart rate increased.

"Lady Nott," she heard and looked over to see Draco Malfoy appearing from behind a cypress across the other side of the pond.

"Lord Malfoy," she said, forming an abrupt curtsey, feeling her palms itch with nervousness. They had never really spoken before. He wore black robes, his pale skin in stark contrast. What did he want?

"I trust you are well," he said, his voice smooth and deep. His eyes pierced through her and she hated the intensity of his attention.

"Of course, just getting some outside air."

He didn't say anything further for a moment, then his eyes shifted to Tabain who was now pushing the little sailboat along the water with a stick. "Seems you are settling in well."

Was that an accusation? She couldn't read him as there was a blankness on his face that could hide anything.

"My son is fond of sailing it seems."

"Your lands are too far from the sea to capitalize on such a preference."

Again, discomfort worked its way up along her spine. "Just taking a round in the garden?"

His gray eyes returned to her again, slightly raised. No, she'd never seen him in the garden before, so she suspected he'd come specifically to speak to her. At least a proposal was out of the running. "I understand you wife has joined you. We were briefly introduced the other night." She had never been formally introduced to him, but they'd briefly ended up partners in a dance.

"Yes, she has," he said. There was no emotion on his face at the statement.

Hermione wondered what their marriage had achieved. It would have been a transaction of strength and benefit. One not involving love. Had he never loved anyone, and errand thought snuck into her mind.

There was no natural progression in this conversation, and this was the perfect point to say something meaningless before walking away, but he made no move to. She would have to do it. "By your leave," she finally said with a slight bow of her head.

He smiled, a grin more like, as if she was being foolish and stupid. Annoyance flashed through her. "I thought we should perhaps have a little conversation."

So he had specifically come down to see her, no doubt seeing her from his apartments above the garden. "Oh? What concerning?"

"You handing your lands over to me." He said is so casually, as if it was the most logical thing in the world.

In fact, she was astounded. "And why would I do that?"

"Well, now, I suspect you are a woman who would rather circumvent the whole nasty business that will ensue and go straight to the conclusion."

"Which is that you will acquire my lands?"

"Naturally."

She didn't actually know what to say. The gall of the man robbed her of words. Well, he certainly didn't hide what his intentions were. There were a million things that were rushing up her throat, but she had to check herself. Her gut reaction wasn't perhaps as ladylike as it should be. Was this some kind of test? He couldn't be serious.

Crossing her arms, she was still trying to decide how to proceed with this. The serene expression on her face suggested he was serious. "I'm not sure that's in the Nott family's best interests," she finally said.

"Best interest is a tricky things. Sometimes a small victory is better than a large loss."

"Assuming large loss."

He smiled. Perfect white teeth underneath those full lips. There was no denying he was beautiful, disturbingly so, but he also couldn't quite hide the blackness of the heart underneath. He was the consummate player of this game, and perhaps that was what he was trying to convey. "I don't think you understand how precarious your situation is." He tsked and took a few steps along the side of the pond. "In return for your land, I will pledge you my protection."

There was probably no point conveying her ignorance by questioning what she needed protection from. True, she might not know, but would it serve her to appear utterly ignorant?

"It is not an offer to scoff at, Lady Nott."

"A price I am unable to pay."

He considered her for a moment. "Your alternative means you will land in a much worse position. The only safety in these lands requires protection from someone powerful, and you are alone here, set to weather a storm that will tear your house down."

"You will never have my lands, Lord Malfoy."

He smiled as if she was a petulant child. "If you truly wish to ensure the safety of your son, you should consider my offer. I can be a generous protector—and I certainly have more power than you would gather in an alliance with someone like Tilley." The look he gave her was supposed to communicate she was gravely miscalculating—not that she for a moment would consider marrying someone like Tilley. More importantly, Malfoy know of the proposal, and she was fairly sure the Tilley's hadn't taken him into their confidence. "Be careful, because someone like Tilley would have his house torn down in the process if you choose your alliance wrong. I offer you protection, true protection. You will live well and will never want for anything."

As much as she hated it, the words were seductive. It was what she wanted, what she ached for, but the cost would be Tabain's future. It was the means out of this game she so desperately wished for. But that was the point of temptation, to make you harm yourself in exchange for your desire.

"Never," she said. Truth be told, she couldn't even allow herself to consider it for a moment. Her job was to protect Tabain, not to seek an easy way out. She smiled tightly.

"I suggest you reconsider. The option will only be on the table for a short time. Then you will be fair game. If I must wrench it from you, I will show you no mercy." With a last look, he stepped away, strolled down the path at a leisurely pace. The white gravel crunched under his feet until he disappeared.

"It's sailing," Tabain said with excitement. Hermione turned to see the boat moving at some speed down the length of the pond.

The tension sat even tighter in her shoulders now. Malfoy had been open with his intentions—to take her land any way he could. But she wasn't entirely powerless in this. She had power. Her marriage was the obvious one, and maybe Malfoy was right that if it wasn't strong enough, they would go down with her. Marriage couldn't be the only alliance that could be forged. Powerful families protected their interested and maybe there was a way to align interests—economic interests. At the heart, that's what drove this place, and she had to find some way of recruiting someone who Malfoy couldn't budge. She had to exhaust any other price for protection than her land or her hand in marriage. Now, she just had to work out a way.