Onto chapter 4 where we finally see more of Adele. Just a glimpse and more will be revealed soon. I'm surprised that I actually enjoy writing her. We also see Barty Crouch for the first time. Another person I enjoy writing but do not get the chance to do so.
A final point, the mention of Voldemort killing one of his greatest enemies on Halloween refers to him killing the Potters, including Harry. I imagine he did not give Lily a chance to live and just killed them so no protection was ever created.
"I now understand why Rodolphus irks you the way he does," Her Lord murmured, oddly thoughtful. They were in her Lord's study at his home, purely for professional reasons, to her dismay. However, she would never complain about being with her Lord, despite the reasons. They had been planning changes to the army recruitment process and, while she had been jotting down some points on the parchment at the desk, her Lord had moved to gaze at the window. "They think they own you merely because of a title and ring. They think they have some claim when they deserve none."
She was not prepared for the conversation to drift to this area or away from business at all, but she was not disappointed, on the contrary, she loved it. Putting her quill back into the holder, she focused her attention on him completely.
"It does seem to be the case. They are tolerable when they are just another person but when they are a husband or wife... Rodolphus is one thing but," she paused considering how to phrase her response or, more appropriately, how to refer to her. She settled on the basic even though it was not her preferred reference. "Adele. To think she has any rights is truly foolish. No one has any right to think you owe them anything. She is the one who should be grateful for the honour."
It was a blessing to speak this way to him: To criticise her to him, especially when he practically encouraged her to do so.
"Of course, she will learn that in time," he stated coolly still looking out the window, but the expression was more of a glare.
Standing up, she walked around the desk to stand beside him. He was a magnet: She always wanted to be as close to him as possible.
Her eyes followed his gaze to find him focusing on that girl. She was silently flipping through a magazine on a lawn chair near the lake. It would have bothered her, if it was not clear that his gaze was full of irritation.
"She is not at all worthy. It is disgraceful that she treats you any other way than as her master, despite her other title," she replied with convicting, staring straight at the side of her Lord's turned face.
He rotated his head to face her, the briefest ghost of a smile slithering onto his face. Raising his hands, he lightly caressed her cheek.
"You would have though, wouldn't you?"
"Of course!" she replied immediately. "I could never doubt that. You are my Master."
"My dear Bella."He chuckled a little and moved closer to her, whispering in her ear. "This is why, if the circumstances were different and it were only a simple decision, you would have been my preferred choice of a wife. Of course, assuming I had to marry someone and I-"
She cut him off. She normally never would have dreamed to do so. She would have expected to be punished for that but she never could think of that now. As he had spoken, her face had flushed with pleasure and her eyes had watered. Before she could stop herself, she launched herself forward, clasped her hands around his face and kissed him passionately on the mouth.
She could have stood there forever: Her heart swelling and moving her lips against his. However, it was not to be. Slowly he broke his lips from his and plied her fingers from his face.
"Come now, Bella," he scolded, though he did not seem too upset. "I said this meeting was for business and not pleasure."
Turning from her, he tutted slightly and stepped back into his seat, his back now to her. "Come sit down again."
It was rare that she disobeyed him, but the temptation was there again. She approached and, before she could help herself, she bent down so she was behind him and leaned over to whisper in his ear, "Master I am sorry but after that. I am not sure I am fully capable of carrying on a conversation about the army."
Her lips were on him again. This time running over his neck while her hands slid over and ran up and down his chest. It did not last long. His hand shot out, ceasing one of her wrists and pulling her down so she fell onto her hands and knees next to his chair.
"I said no," he snapped firmly any trace of good humour vanishing. "Now sit!"
With great reluctance and murmuring apologise under her breath she moved to sit back into the chair. She may have been scolded yet she was still smiling softly to herself.
Sometimes Bella feared she was turning into Narcissa, or worse, her mother. Certainly, she had no idea when she had started to enjoy events like this.
It was Halloween and, as was customary, her sister had seen fit to organise a Halloween Ball in celebration. Cissy had instated the custom of a Malfoy Ball since 1978. Others had tried to mimic or attempt to compete with the Malfoys, but all had failed.
Bella suspected her mother was ridiculously proud of her daughter. Narcissa, of course, certainly not her. Certainly, not the daughter who had actually made something of her life.
"Stupid woman," she muttered to herself, glaring at the older woman with tight blonde curls who standing beside her sister through her own mask. It was her sister's idea that they were all to be masked this year. Some had scoffed at the suggestion (including her), but almost all had complied with the request.
"Muttering like that I would suspect Bellatrix Lestrange is under there." A very familiar masculine voice spoke behind her and, automatically, she turned tilting her head up and smirking slightly. The fair haired Barty Crouch stood before her, he had grown since she had first met him, but she always had difficulty not seeing him as the pale freckled boy who had seemed like such a child when she had first met him. He leant against the table and, unlike her, he held his gold mask by the handle, pointing it to the floor.
"Are you sure about that?" she replied, eloquently raising an eyebrow, though she did not suppose he could see it under the black and jewelled mask she wore.
"Positive," he answered swiftly, bouncing up so he was now beside her
Leaning up, he reached up to grasp at her mask, but she slapped his hand away.
"Don't," she snapped. Barty retreated a little though he did not seem at all upset at being scolded.
"So, how have you been?" he questioned, his eyes focusing on her as he took a sip of what she assumed was firewhisky. "Have you talked to the Dark Lord this evening? Assuming, you know which one he is?"
She ignored the first question never being someone for small talk. She assumed Barty did not mind and, if he did, he was not the person she thought he was: Namely someone who she actually enjoyed talking to.
"Of course, I know who he is, even if is in a mask." Her voice hitched up a little in pitch and she sounded almost a little scandalised. "His height for one not even including his voice, the fact that I could see most of his face and-"
"Could be Rowle," Barty interrupted grinning slyly. "Thorfinn is his height. Maybe taller now I think about it..."
Rolling her eyes at the man she took a sip of wine. "You are a fool Barty." Shaking her head she tutted a little. "Why the question anyway? I assume it was not completely pointless."
"Come now, Bella. Have you ever known me to ask pointless questions?" His tone was almost innocent. It did not fool her for a moment, probably as she had trained him to be the exact opposite since he was nineteen.
"When you are drunk."
"Oh, well..." Trailing off slightly he continued after a moment's pause. "I'm not drunk now."
"Then you would have a point to your question."
"I just assumed you had to have for a while...or something because she won't stop looking at you, the Dark Lady." His eyes instantly flicked to the pair at the other side of the Ballroom near the double doors to outside.
She did not turn straightaway. First she had to stop the snarl that had formed on her lips at the title Barty used and then to conceal the slight smirk that followed. Who knew the stupid bint had some sense to be cautious of her?
Once she was mostly composed, her eyes took a small peak at where Barty was indicating. The Dark Lord stood to one side of a circle talking to Rodolphus, both in similar plain black masks that only really covered the area around their eyes. Wrenching her eyes from the figure of the Dark Lord, she turned to her. Her blonde hair was up in an elegant bun while she wore a sapphire blue mask with a series of elegant blue feathers on the side that reminded Bella of the peacocks her sister and brother in law doted on (sometimes she thought as much as Draco).
She was slightly away from the Dark Lord, though, as if she sensed Bella's eyes on her she turned to face her. Bella did not turn away, but she glared back fiercely. She refused to stare away. Nor did the other woman. Her icy blue eyes stared back. It was not an obvious furious glare like Bella, but there was an arrogant angry gleam billowing below the surface.
"Bella," she heard Barty say to her side as he leaned over to grasp her shoulder.
"What?" she snapped. She was not sure if she was irritated at the other woman or Barty. It hardly mattered.
"See my point," he murmured cockily not at all bothered by her obvious frustration. She suspected he had adapted to her behaviour after twelve years. "So, have you talked to our Lord?"
"Only briefly," she conceded. It was only brief though she hoped to change that soon, preferably after the ball. He was in a rather good mood tonight. He normally was on Halloween since it was the anniversary of the death of one of the biggest thorns in his side.
"Then I wonder what her problem is," he commented thoughtfully, taking a sip of his drink. She was only partially listening. She was back to looking at the Dark Lord and Adele. The other woman seemed to have a similar idea. Her eyes flicked back to Bella and then to the Dark Lord, smirking slightly before she moved to stand beside him, close enough so she was almost rubbing against him.
Anger erupted inside her. Logically she should not feel that way. Clearly it was only standing close to him, but that smile and that look was enough to incense her. She took it as a challenge.
Without even asking, she grabbed Barty by the shoulder and tugged him in the direction of the Dark Lord. She released him after a few steps when she was confident he was following though she did not ease her pace until she was standing on the other side of the Dark Lord to Adele.
"My Lord," she said eloquently, bowing as low to him as she could in the tight black dress that she wore, all the while her eyes did not leave his pale face.
She had no idea if he had been in the middle of a conversation before she interrupted, but the anger in her made her not at all concerned. Barty was by her side and Rodolphus was still in the circle, though she did not even turn to him. Her eyes were entirely focused on the Dark Lord and she refused to look anywhere else.
"I hope you are having an enjoyable night, Master," she murmured silkily, taking a sip of slow sip of her drink and looking up at him through her lashes. "I will have to ensure my sister hosts better parties if you are not."
"Narcissa need not fear, Bella. Her hosting skills are entirely adequate. I am indeed having an enjoyable evening." His voice was soft and cold as always, but there was a trace of good spirits in his voice that made her almost as happy as the fact that his concentration was focused entirely on her.
"My sister is indeed skilful at such things. Unfortunately I did not inherit such skills, though..."Her lips curled and her tone became more flirtatious, despite the fact she had no idea if the others were listening to their conversation. "I do have other skills."
"Indeed you do." Unlike her, the Dark Lord's tone remained as cool and as impassive as always, yet hearing the words made her cheerful all the same.
She paused pondering what to say but was interrupted by another voice. "Could I have a word, Mrs Lestrange?" Soft and strangely melodic, Bella and the Dark Lord automatically turned to the other woman, though her Lord's gaze was neutral while hers was still full of fury. The words were spoken in French, and, since she had not been paying attention, she had not had time to understand what was said. Though, she did not care. She assumed she was talking to the Dark Lord and attempting to draw interest from her.
However, it seemed to not have worked when the Dark Lord turned back to Bella. She smiled back at him eager to continue their previous conversation. "Thank you, Master. I am glad you think so. I must say it is always quite an honour to be acknowledged by you."
"Of course," he replied but his tone was not quite curt and his eyebrows were narrowed. Her heart fell, even if she had no idea what had caused the change. "However, I believe Adele asked you something."
She halted confusion setting in. If it was someone else, she would have questioned him, but since it was him she did not even dare consider it. Her eyebrows only knitted in confusion and she was forced to turn to the French girl. She stared back; her previous calm composure had been replaced by a look of irritation. Unsure, she turned back to the Dark Lord. She had no idea what she had missed.
"She asked to talk to you," he finally said slightly irritated as he raised one elegant eyebrow at her.
"Oh," she murmured. She could not help but blush slightly as she looked to him, but she tried to push that down when she turned to the other woman. "Fine we can talk."
She tilted her head at her in confusion and Bella was forced to conclude her English was even worse than her French. Her mother had taught her and her sisters French at a young age, but, as she had grown older, she had used it less and less so her skill was minimal and far from fluent (unlike her sister).
Scrunching up the bits and pieces she remembered she replied, "We can talk. Outside."
Gesturing to the double door outside, she bowed low to the Dark Lord and strode to the doors. She only gazed behind her once to watch as Adele murmured something to the Dark Lord before she followed Bella outside.
She did not even wait until she was outside before she turned on her heel and glared at the other woman.
"What do you want?" she snapped in French not bothering to hide her impatience. She knew others had started to show the other woman some respect though she swore she would show her none.
If the French girl was taken aback by her directness or anger she did not show it. "What are you doing with my husband?" Her voice was soft, but the previous meekness Bella had only ever heard from the other woman had disappeared.
Bella blinked staring at her strangely. Had she really heard what she thought she had? That woman would really not bother asking such a question, would she?
"What did you say?"
"I said what are you doing with my husband?" she repeated, her tone icier than before. "Is your French really so bad you cannot understand what I said?"
"This is said by the girl who cannot even speak English," Bellatrix replied attempting to focus how flustered she was into anger. She could not believe that stupid bint had asked her that. It did not matter that she was justified, but in Bella's mind that was equal to questioning the Dark Lord which was always completely forbidden.
She had almost expected the other girl to blush or to cower away, yet she did the opposite. She stood straighter and stared her down which was harder when she was more than half a foot shorter than Bella.
"Stop attempting to deflect and answer the question?" she asked again.
Bella was very tempted just to turn on her heels and walk back inside and leave this woman to herself, but she was not a coward and she was too proud to back down from anyone least of all her.
"I have known the Dark Lord since before you were born. I suggest you keep your questions to yourself. You will learn that you should never question the Dark Lord." Bella knew it was not a direct answer, but she would be damned if she gave the stupid bint one. Glaring at her one last time, she started to walk back inside.
"You did not even answer my question!" Adele yelled back, almost losing her concentration for the first time. A part of her was tempted to tell her the truth: Reveal all the dirty details about what she and the Dark Lord did. However, despite it all, she restrained herself.
She continued walking and stood beside the Dark Lord again. Adele returned in time as well, but she refused to meet her eye for the rest of the night.