AN: Another long wait I am soo sorry. I have been doing exams as well as being loaded up to my ears in coursework…I'm on my summer holidays now and should have an update sooner. LuciousLadyLucius
Chapter 32 - The Mistrustful Mind
Narcissa threw of her cloak and ran up the stairs, her robes billowing around her as she flew up the marble stair case and along the gallery. She ran into one of the rooms and threw open the door.
Draco and Susan Shard were sitting in the school room; Narcissa had 'created.' Several children's words were written on the small blackboard with chalk, a few pieces of parchment and books lay across the table. Draco was scribbling on a piece of parchment with the new quill Narcissa had bought him.
The two figures in the room looked up as Narcissa burst in
"Hello Mummy" Draco grinned. Susan stood up and walked over to Narcissa
"I am dreadfully sorry that I'm late" Narcissa sighed "I completely lost track of time"
"That's alright" Susan smiled "After the lessons I sat with him while he drew pictures"
"I do hope I have not spoiled your plans by this lateness"
"No not at all. I haven't got anything planned until this evening"
"Mummy look I drew you and Daddy" Draco smiled and ran over to her giving up a rather childish drawing of two blonde people, one with wavy hair and a long blue dress, the other with straight hair and black and green robes.
"Its lovely darling" Narcissa smiled leaning down and kissing Draco on the head. She turned back to Susan "Would you like to sort pay out downstairs…I don't believe my husband is home yet. He keeps most of the accounts down in his office…Draco stay here" Narcissa added to her son.
--
Narcissa pulled out of Lucius' desk, his account book and, dipping her quill in the ink, wrote down a few figures. She then turned to the safe and unlocked it, and pulled out the tutor's pay.
"Thank you" said Susan, taking the small bag of gold and silver. She put it in her hand bag.
Narcissa looked the girl up and down, from her loose plain brown hair to her plain black sensible shoes. Would Lucius really ever have an affair with a girl like this?
"May I ask you a question" Narcissa said suddenly. Susan raised her head interestedly "I was wondering if my husband dropped by here any time today"
Susan frowned thoughtfully and shook her head
"No, I don't think so. He did not come into the school room and if he came in the house, I didn't hear him"
"You haven't seen him at all today?" Narcissa questioned further
"No, he left before I arrived" she shrugged "Was he meant to have come to the house?"
"No…I was just curious" however, the warning Francesca had given Narcissa was still ringing in her ears. For all Narcissa knew, this girl could be lying. "So…how was Draco today" she changed the subject
"Oh he did very well…he's very bright" the woman smiled "He won't struggle if he works hard"
"Did you leave him homework?"
"Just a few spellings and reading" Susan grinned
"I'm sure I can help him with that…when do you want it by?"
"Oh…I think…he'd better try it on his own…from my experience, children grasp things better when they try them on their own. He can ask me for any thing he does not understand next lesson" Susan said knowledgably
Narcissa gaped at her. The idea that this woman would drive Draco and her apart was steadily being proven. How dare she think she knew best?
Narcissa gave a simpering smile
"Of course…I'll show you out" she said bluntly
--
That evening, dinner was rather formal. Lucius' mind was completely elsewhere, and Narcissa was too suspicious of his behaviour to make light conversation. Draco sometimes said a few things about his class, but knew better than to talk to excess during meal times.
Suddenly Narcissa asked
"How was work today Lucius?"
Lucius sat in silence for a few seconds before speaking
"It was an average day Narcissa"
"I see"
The conversation turned to silence once again
--
Narcissa brushed her hair carefully her blue eyes fixed on the mirror; Lucius sorted through a collection of business letters while sitting on the bed. He flicked through them and read another carefully before stacking them together and into a brief case and handed it to a house elf to take down to his study.
When the elf left, Narcissa looked at her husband through her mirror
"So, honestly…how was work today" she said placing down her gilt hair brush
Lucius looked at her curiously before bending down to untie his shoes
"I told you already…it was as it usually is"
"Were you in the office all day" Narcissa said casually rubbing a face cream around her eyes.
"Yes" Lucius said removing his waist coat and cravat
"You didn't leave for lunch or…to collect something?" Narcissa asked "Or to meet someone?"
"No Narcissa…I have people to do that for me…and as for lunch I went for a luncheon with the minister of magic."
"In Diagon Alley?" Narcissa asked suddenly
"What? No, in his house in Kent actually, Cissa why are you asking me all these questions?" Lucius asked walking towards her and placing his hands on her shoulders. She stiffened
"No reason…I was just curious to know how your day was" she stood up pushing his hands off of her. He raised an eyebrow
"And what about you…how was your day?"
"Pleasant enough" she raised her eyebrows "I saw my friends, we ate, we talked I came home"
Lucius nodded, he walked into the bedroom's private bathroom to wash and change.
Narcissa changed out of her robes and into her cotton white night dress, buttoning it austerely to the top. She began to braid her blonde hair back out of her face to keep it from getting mussed during the night. Funnily enough though, Narcissa never usually did this.
Lucius stepped out of the bathroom, a pair of black silk pyjama trousers on and a long dark silk dressing gown over his bare chest.
"I prefer your hair loose when you sleep my dear" he said forebodingly
"Oh what a shame" she muttered, she stiffened as she felt his strong arms slink around her waist pulling her towards him. She felt his warm breath on her neck. She shivered slightly as his lips touched the sensitive area on her skin, but she suddenly frowned and pulled his arms out of the way.
"What's the matter with you tonight!" Lucius said angrily turning her around to face him. She glared into his cold grey eyes and felt a surge of fear run down her spine.
"Nothing's the matter Lucius" she raised an eyebrow and pushed him away
"You're acting so coldly" he said stroking his hand along her waist
Narcissa closed her eyes
"I am not in the mood Lucius"
"Why?"
"I'm just not!" she said angrily, she whipped around and crawled into bed, as far away from his side as possible, she then switched off the light and buried her head in her pillow.
She heard Lucius leave the room angrily slamming the door behind him.
--
"You refused to sleep with him" Francesca repeated mockingly, Myra laughed shrilly and Alexia giggled. Narcissa for the first time in a while gave a small smile and a laugh; she raised her cup to her lips to take a sip of tea but her hand shook and she spilt much of the hot liquid on her saucer. Her friends grabbed her hands and took the cup
"You're still scared of him aren't you Narcissa dearest" said Alexia. Narcissa felt a tear come to her eye
"No of course not" she blinked "I-I"
"You have good reason to be" Myra comforted "I would be too"
"And I" said Alexia who turned and looked at Francesca. Francesca sighed
"I would have never got involved with him in the first place if you ask me" she said haughtily
"It was an arranged marriage" said Narcissa shocked "You know that Frankie"
"Oh like your family would have disowned you if you'd ask for someone else"
"I was eleven years old Frankie, I knew nothing of marriage" Narcissa sighed "Besides, since he stopped hitting me…I've began to…you know…actually love him" Francesca did not look at Narcissa but raised her eyebrows "I know its absurd…but I can't help but love him…and if he's having an affair…I…I…I don't know what I'll do"