Chapter 27
Once they showered and dressed Lucius told Nichol about their dinner guests for that night. 'The elves have everything under control, so all you need to do is ensure that you look stunning.'
'But who are they?' Nichol asked.
'I will introduce them to you when they get here; there is no need to worry about it.' He replied somewhat evasively.
Nichol gave up asking and tried to choose her outfit for that night instead; when this failed she took a walk down to the beach to read for a while and tried to keep herself busy. It felt weird throwing a dinner party and not being busy all day preparing and cooking the food.
She took a long time bathing and going through her wardrobes choosing the perfect dress and in the end she felt she had found it. Lucius asked what she would be wearing and she just told him it would be a dress and laughed. In the end he just said 'what colour?' and she replied 'scarlet…'
Just before 7.30 that evening the elves had dinner ready. Nichol was just about ready and Lucius had gone downstairs ready to greet their guests as they arrived. Nichol had barely been able to take her eyes from Lucius as he had left their bedroom, he wore his customary black suit and shirt, and the lining to the long jacket was scarlet silk. Nichol had been wearing her robe still as Lucius had left the room so he had not yet seen her dress. But the sight of him with his long hair laying over his shoulders and the usual impeccable cut of his suit took her breath away, she wanted to call off dinner right then and just keep him in the bedroom so that she could worship his body.
Pulling herself together she called for the little female elf to assist her in getting ready. Lucius had told her to help herself to jewellery from the family vault earlier that day, which was strangely now here in her house; she had chosen a matching necklace, bracelet and earrings covered with diamonds and bright red rubies, just as she was about to leave she spotted a brooch that would match these perfectly and took this with her also. When the little elf arrived to assist Nichol had already applied her makeup, with smoky eyes, her long lashes emphasised by mascara, her lips a rich scarlet red, she asked the elf to assist with her hair. Quickly explaining what she wanted the elf clicked her fingers, when Nichol looked in the mirror she was very happy with the result. Her long black hair was as straight as a sheet of silk hanging down her back, the front was caught up and brought to the back, held in place using the ruby brooch, this left two strands loose at the front, these fell forward framing her face.
Once the dress was on and her perfume Nichol found the right shoes for the outfit. Her dress fit perfectly, with broad gathered shoulders it draped over her body, clinging to her breasts and waist, skimming over her hips and falling like a silk waterfall down to the floor. Both the back and front of the dress plunged low, the back was so low you could tell she wore no underwear and the front stopped just about her navel. Even though the cut was so daring I showed nothing that would make it inappropriate. Her shoes were also red, with a small kitten heel and dangerously pointed toe the entire shoe was covered in what appeared to be tiny rubies. Nichol could not resist clicking her heels together and giggled saying 'there's no place like home…'
Standing at the top of the stairs Nichol heard voices in the hallway below. Quickly checking her reflection and seeing everything was in place, she took a deep breath and slowly walked down the stairs, head held high.
In the hallway Lucius had greeted their guests as they were handing over their cloaks to an elf. As she took another step a floorboard on the stairs creaked and Lucius and their two guests looked up. From her vantage point on the stairs Nichol could see their visitors were a couple, she had expected more people, but figured that it would be better to get to know a few people at a time, rather than trying to get to grips with an entire room full of people.
Slowly and assuredly she drifted down the stairs, giving an air that she was floating. Lucius could not take his eyes from her, the scarlet fabric against her porcelain white flesh offset by the dark silk-like sheen of her hair, and her lips, the bright red lipstick made her lips look fuller and more wanton. Realising he had guests he pulled himself together as Nichol reached the bottom step. As she walked over to them Lucius introduced their guests 'Nichol, I would like you to meet a very old friend of mine' Nichol thought that a strange look passed between Lucius and the other man, but it was so brief she was not sure that it had actually happened 'this is Tom Riddle…' he continued 'and this …' he turned to the woman 'is Narcissa' he paused 'Narcissa Malfoy.'
Tom took her hand and shook it warmly 'pleased to meet you' The woman with platinum hair just like Lucius' sneered and gave a cold look before saying 'oh yes, charmed…' before she turned to Lucius 'Draco sends word that he needs a new broomstick, something to do with this one being faster and better for Quidditch.' Lucius rolled his eyes 'Narcissa, if your … our son requires money, again, then I suggest he actually comes to see his father and asks for this himself!'
Narcissa flushed and turned angrily to Lucius 'how can you except Draco to come to you whilst you are living with that muggle whore!'
Lucius looked furious and was about to speak when Tom stepped forward and put his hand on her arm 'Cissa …' Immediately Narcissa looked chastened and stepped back beside Tom.
The chilly atmosphere in the hallway was broken when an elf arrived to tell the party that aperitifs were now being served in the lounge, the elf was carrying a try laden with glasses of wine which the poor creature almost dropped when it caught sight of its former mistress in the hallway.
Lucius took two drinks, handing one to each Tom and Narcissa before taking the other two and handing one to Nichol. Showing their guests into the lounge; conversation at first was stilted, it was clear that there was a lot of animosity still between Lucius and Narcissa, so most of the conversation seemed to flow between Nichol and Tom. Lucius could not help but look between Nichol and Narcissa; both women were strikingly beautiful in their own way, where Narcissa was an icy cold beauty Nichol had a warmth and inner glow. Narcissa was very thin and willowy whereas Nichol had fuller breasts, curvaceous hips that emphasised her tiny waist – in truth Nichol's womanly figure made Narcissa look like a young boy, actually, he mused, cut her hair and she is Draco.
Tom asked Nichol about her past being brought up as a muggle, he said that things now must appear so alien to her.
'Not really' Nichol giggled, as far as most muggles I know, I was always rather eccentric.
Over dinner they continued the conversation:
'I don't know how much Lucius has told you about me Nichol?' Tom queried 'but I run … an organization I think is the best way to describe it – I have witches and wizards working for me who are living in the muggle world – and they do tend to stand out' he smiled 'it would benefit us greatly if you would come on board and join us, you could assist us enormously I feel…'
'I could help - how exactly?' Nichol was interested in how she could help experienced wizards and witches with anything, she was so new to her powers, what use could she be with anything?'
'Well, you could help us by teaching, like you do at Hogwarts, but you would teach adults, teach them how things work in the muggle world, teach them how to dress without looking ridiculous – because frankly most wizards out in the muggle world do – you would help them to blend in.' Tom explained.
'Could you have not done this before?' Nichol asked.
'We tried, but in order to do this we needed to use a muggle to do the teaching – and many people from the magical community are nervous and suspicious of muggles – you my dear are in the unique position of having lived as a muggle for the most of your life, and yet have the benefit of actually being one of us. You are a pureblood witch with a long family history, this will earn you respect. In return many of our members have things they can teach you, and you will gain the protection of my … organisation should you ever need it.
Nichol was intrigued by Tom and his proposal. He was an old friend of Lucius' and he would not lead her wrong would he?
After dinner Lucius and Tom went into the study to talk about business and Nichol agreed to show Narcissa around the house, even though showing the icy Narcissa the front door was a considerably more appealing option. The look on Narcissa's face though was worth it as she eyed all of the antiques and expensive pieces of furniture 'So this house is yours?' she asked coldly 'and all of the contents?'
'Yes, everything…' Nichol smiled.
When they reached the first floor Nichol wondered how Narcissa would react to her and Lucius sharing a room.
Back downstairs Lucius and Tom were talking 'I like her, and this could work!' Tom exclaimed.
'I am glad you are please my Lord' Lucius smiled weakly.
'Lucius, now that your marriage to Narcissa is dissolved, I feel it is time you re-married.'
'Whaaat!' Lucius exclaimed 'I have no plans to remarry!'
Tom looked firmly at Lucius 'This would benefit us greatly Lucius, if she married you, we could guarantee she joined us, and if she did that it would benefit you greatly … do you understand?'
Lucius nodded 'yes my Lord, I understand.'
'Be prepared Lucius, as soon as the opportunity should occur you shall make this happen!' his tone made sure that Lucius know there was no room for negotiation on this matter 'now, let us go and find the ladies, I am sure that Nichol has now had quite enough of Narcissa's company…'
Upstairs Nichol and Narcissa had reached the door to the master suite 'and this' Nichol faltered 'is our room.'
'Our?' repeated Narcissa as she swept into the room, spotting a few items that were obviously Lucius', she turned and looked at the huge four-poster bed with all its sumptuous drapes and pillows 'you and Lucius … share this room!' she hissed. Right from when she had conceived Draco she and Lucius had separate rooms. 'Why would you even want to share a room with that man?' Narcissa looked bewildered 'and why would he want to share with you? A damn muggle…'
'Narcissa' Nichol tried to sound calm 'firstly I am not a muggle – I am a witch! And secondly, Lucius and I share a room because we want to, we like each other's company, I can understand why he would not wish to sleep with you as you are so cold and prickly, but Lucius is a very handsome man and he also happens to be excellent in bed!' Narcissa looked shocked at this outburst and this pleased Nichol, 'that'll give her something to think about!' she thought to herself.
'Why thank you Nichol!' a voice from behind her spoke.
When she turned Lucius was actually grinning – little did she know this was partly from seeing Narcissa put in her place, but also because he had never known anyone willingly defend him in such a way.
Nichol smiled at him and blushed. Lucius felt a hand on his shoulder and when he glanced behind him Tom was smiling and nodding at him.
Lucius wondered what he had got himself into as he nodded back.
'Narcissa, it just so happens that unlike you, Nichol is a warm and giving woman' he stood next to Nichol and kissed her deeply 'we also have a passion for each other that I have never before felt!' Lucius dropped smoothly onto one knee, closing his eyes he took a deep breath and silently cursed the man standing behind him. Reaching into his cloak he took out a small box that he had removed from the vault whilst downstairs, flipping this open he declared 'Nichol, would you please do me the honour of agreeing to be my wife?' right there on bended knee he hoped she would say no as he could not be blamed for that surely?
Nichol looked down at Lucius, mistaking his hopefully expression, behind him Tom was smiling and nodding, and Narcissa looked like she was about to have an aneurism, before she even knew what she was saying she replied … 'Oh Lucius I would love to be your wife!'
As Lucius slipped the huge diamond onto her finger he knew his fate was now sealed.
Back downstairs they called for champagne and before Nichol realised what was happening she had become engaged to Lucius Malfoy and agreed to a huge ball to celebrate this. To save her the stress and hassle of arranging this, Tom had graciously suggested that he would make all of the necessary arrangements.
Before he and Narcissa left that night Tom mentioned Hogwarts and asked whether Nichol intended to go back to teaching there this year. Nichol said that she was, and Tom asked if she had received her letter of confirmation from Dumbledore … Nichol realised she had not and made a note to contact the Headmaster in the next few days.
As they left Tom looked jubilant and kissed Nichol on both cheeks 'welcome to the family!' Narcissa had barely spoken since Lucius' proposal and left the Manor looking even icier than when she had arrived.