Chapter two
Narcissa closed her eyes briefly, keeping her breathing calm. She must remain in control, in power. It was not like her to have broken down like that. She mustn't let it happen again. Her husband's return had taken her by surprise, but to look at Narcissa it was not possible to tell that just two hours ago she had been in complete disarray on the floor. Her face was porcelain, a long black evening gown on, her hair perfect once more. Guests were arriving, and Narcissa was greeting them as they came in the large front doors of the Manor.
Lucius stood by his wife, welcoming his guests. From time to time he glanced at Narcissa, as if wary of her behaviour, but she betrayed no hint of what had gone on between them earlier. Her face was a mask of perfection, and her manners impeccable. Lucius seemed satisfied, Narcissa noted, and allowed herself a small inward smile at her recovery.
The evening party was a select group. Narcissa had not been lying to her husband when she told him there were guests coming, but at the time she had only been counting on a small dinner party of eight. Lucius had upped the numbers on his return, inviting a number of 'colleagues from work' at the last minute. Lucius had not told his wife this, but her face did not flinch when more and more uninvited guests entered.
Narcissa estimated the numbers were now up to about twenty, and she turned to her husband to see if he would give any hint of how many more were expected. Lucius said nothing, and merely stared regally around at the milling guests. The doors were opened once more by the house elf Dosky, and three more men she did not know came into the room. Narcissa simply gave Dosky a nod, and he went off wordlessly to prepare more food. Narcissa turned to greet the newcomers. They were talking to Lucius. After a moment of talking in low tones, he said,
"And I don't believe you've met my wife, Narcissa?"
Narcissa gazed at them slightly haughtily, an expression often worn by her which gave others the impression that she was exceedingly proud or arrogant. Narcissa certainly had pride, but stronger was her Slytherin cunning, and her ways of dealing with people so as to achieve her own means. Normally, this was to keep people away from her, not to let people know her. A way of protecting herself. Lucius was staring at Narcissa expectantly, and she stepped forwards, offering her hand to the first of the three.
"Narcissa, this is Mr Rookwood, Mr Nott and Mr Avery."
The three men each inclined their heads.
"A pleasure to meet you all," said Narcissa, shaking their hands.
Avery narrowed his eyes at her. "You did not tell me your wife was so beautiful, Malfoy."
"What did you expect, surely you would not believe I'd marry any old dog?" Lucius sneered.
"No, of course not, Lucius," said Nott with a slight sneer. "She has all the Black good looks."
Narcissa said nothing, merely raised her eyebrows slightly, keeping her face blank from any anger she felt at being talked of in such a manner.
"Indeed," continued Avery, with a smirk. "Though she is more refined than her sister Bellatrix. What a fiery one that one is!"
Narcissa gazed coldly at Avery, disliking being talked about as if she were a specimen in a potions lab.
"And that other sister of hers..." Rookwood frowned, trying to remember.
Narcissa looked at Rookwood sharply, then glanced at her husband.
"Narcissa only has one sister."
Rookwood looked slightly confused, but Malfoy spoke again before he could ask any questions. "Shall we move into the dining room?"
Taking a deep breath, Narcissa turned and obediently took her husband's offered arm. Lucius too, knew how to act on these occasions. Narcissa was lost in thought, thinking about her unmentionable sister, Andromeda. Lucius forbade her name to be spoken by his wife, or by anyone in the Manor. She wondered how Lucius felt about the three men. Rookwood was unlikely to be in his favour at this point, having brought up the subject of the traitor Andromeda. All three had a look of cunning about them, Avery especially. Narcissa rarely knew which of Lucius' friends were actually Death Eaters, but she was sure Avery was. He and Lucius were so often in private conversation, sharing information.
Bringing herself back to the present, Narcissa straightened her back slightly, and walked among her guests, inviting them into the dining room to eat.
Narcissa was sitting next to her husband at dinner. It had been a long time since they'd last eaten together. She watched him for a moment, unaware of the conversations going on around her. There was no doubt that Lucius was attractive. Captivated by him at the age of seventeen Narcissa had thought marrying him would be an escape from her repressive home environment. As the last Black daughter remaining at home her parents had kept a tight hold on her. Bellatrix, forever wild, was out of their grasp, though in any case her parents were thoroughly supportive of what she was doing. Andromeda of course was an outcast, and their pretty little blonde Narcissa was all they had left. She had been encouraged to accept Lucius however. Such an advantageous match was the only thing that mattered to them it seemed. No matter that he didn't really love her, no matter that she didn't love him, he was a well respected pure blood. The Black blood would remain pure. Even for Narcissa the marriage had seemed perfect. Lucius was handsome, rich, and said he loved her. That feeling had only lasted until the wedding, and by then it was too late to go back. For the last three years Narcissa had felt the life in her drain away.
The lack of an heir was seen as a disaster for such pure blood families as the Blacks and Malfoys. Lucius felt it keenly, and constantly reminded his young wife of the shame she was causing him.
Confined to the Malfoy manner, (except on occasions when it suited her husband to take her with him), Narcissa was bored. When they had no guests there were only the elves for company. Narcissa's own friends bored her too. She had never had many friends, but the few she had made at Hogwarts were made simply because they, like Narcissa, were rich pure bloods with high ambitions. Lucius' friends were mostly from the ministry, or else were working secretly for Lord Voldemort. They had no interest in her, and their wives were generally icy cold like Narcissa herself, and impossible to talk to.
It was these thoughts that filled Narcissa's mind during dinner. Nothing of her preoccupied mind showed on her face however. After years of Ministry parties and balls Narcissa was an expert at masking herself. She was able to make polite conversation, and do all the necessary things a hostess must, without even thinking about it. Her husband punished her severely for any lack of manners or inappropriate speech, and as a result, Narcissa closed herself up completely to the outside world. Anyone who talked to Narcissa was struck by her beauty, but always came away feeling cold. To some this gave the impression she was haughty and proud, and Narcissa let them think so.
Nobody could penetrate her mask. Only her husband, and this did not happen very often. That afternoon had been the first time she'd let it happen for a long time.
On cue as the last plate was taken by Dosky back to the kitchens, Narcissa stood up.
"Friends, I hope you have enjoyed your meal. My husband and I would now like to invite you into the ballroom."
Narcissa, playing the proper part of hostess, lead the two dozen or so guests out of the dining room and into the adjoining ballroom. The ballroom was huge, and at the far side there was no wall. One could simply walk down the ballroom, and then out into the grounds. Charms prevented cold air or rain entering the room, and this night, in midsummer, the grounds looked delightfully welcoming.
As the party entered, Narcissa waved her wand at the chandeliers, and the candles lit up, making light dance off the walls. Music started up softly, as though an invisible orchestra was surrounding them. Well aware that she and her husband were supposed to start the dancing, Narcissa cast around for Lucius. She spotted him talking darkly in a corner with Avery. She glided over to him, and waited a polite number of steps away. She could not hear what they were saying, and had a feeling they'd put an anti-eavesdropping spell around themselves.
Avery caught sight of her, and grinned. Waving his wand and muttering something (confirming Narcissa's suspicions about the anti-eavesdropping spell) he spoke to Lucius.
"Malfoy, it seems your delicious wife is waiting for you to dance with her."
He was talking to Lucius, but his dark eyes were taking in every inch of Narcissa's body. They lingered around her breasts for a moment, but snapped back to Lucius when he spoke.
"She can wait. This is more important, Avery."
"Oh, but Lucius, what a shame that would be. Don't let me be the cause of any impropriety at your dinner party." Avery bowed low, then backed away, giving Narcissa a smirk of a grin as he went. Narcissa walked up to her husband, who was hurriedly tucking some parchment into his robes. She could see he too was adjusting his face into a mask of composure.
"Very well, my dear, let us dance." he said. The couple walked out together to the middle of the dance floor, and their guests formed a circle around them. Lucius took one of his wife's hands, placed his other hand around her waist, and they began to dance. Both looked stunning, there was no denying it. Lucius could dance very well, but every man's eyes in the room were following Narcissa's body as it moved and swayed in time to the music.
Gradually more couples began to dance as well, and though it was only a small gathering - only twelve or so couples, Narcissa soon felt inconspicuous enough to ask her husband a question.
"Lucius, my darling, what were you talking about with Avery?"
Lucius' eyes were not looking at his wife, he was following the dancing of another woman, dancing with Nott, nearby.
"Nothing, Narcissa. It is no concern of yours. Why are you always so inquisitive?"
It was not a question. Narcissa said nothing, but kept her head high, refusing to look abashed.
"Look at all these other women, Narcissa.' Lucius continued. 'All these pretty women with their important husbands. Believe me, they do not ask questions. They are pretty, polite, and obedient. That is how a good wife should behave."
"I do try, Lucius," said Narcissa, in an airy voice, again, refusing to give into him and apologize or grovel.
"Then try harder." He growled.
The song ended and Lucius drew up his wife's hand to his lips, kissing it, sighing.
"You may be too inquisitive, Narcissa, and you may embarrass me sometimes, but you are still without a doubt the most beautiful woman I know."
He stepped closer to her and put his mouth to her ear.
"I am greatly looking forward to fucking you tonight."
Then he strode away without another glance. Narcissa, who had almost let her face go red, took a deep breath, congratulating herself on keeping up her mask. She had suspected as much of his plans for the evening, but this did nothing to stop her feeling of dread. Three, blissful months her husband had been away. Twelve wonderful weeks of no Lucius. There was nothing Narcissa dreaded more than sleeping with him. What she thought she used to desire was now torture.
Taking another deep breath and pulling herself together, she turned, and came face to face with Avery, who was leering hungrily at her.
'May I claim the next dance, Mrs Malfoy?' he asked.
Unwilling to comply, but aware that she must, or be considered rude, Narcissa nodded once to show her acceptance. The music started up again, and Avery stepped up to Narcissa, holding out a hand. She took it, and he lead her into position. As they began to dance he smirked down at her again. She could smell drink on his breath.
"Lucius is very lucky in his choice of wife - you are quite the most desirable woman I've ever set eyes on."
Narcissa gave no reply, she was trying to keep as far away from him as possible. She cast her eyes around for her husband, but he was nowhere to be seen.
"But you are so cold, Narcissa. Do you know the muggles in the village call you Ice woman?"
"It does not bother me, they are only muggles."
"True, true, but it bothers me you see. I want to see you... in a passion."
He slid his hands down to below her waist, and moved closer to her so that their bodies were touching. His face was inches from hers. She tried to pull away but his grip was too strong.
"I envy Lucius, tonight." he muttered, pressing himself closer to her still.
A hand clamped down on Avery's shoulder and he jumped. For once, Narcissa was glad to see her husband.
"Avery? I'd like a word, if you please." Avery stepped away from Narcissa, bowing slightly, before following Lucius out of the room. She did not see him again for many months.
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