Lucy stretched sleepily in the darkness of her draped bed and wondered when Naria would be waking her. She blinked and clung to her pillow when she recalled that the dryad was long since passed and she Lucy was in England - not Narnia. She mourned her loss, but the knowledge of what the day held - magic in England- would not let her make herself miserable for long. She stretched in the comfort of the warm dark bed. She could see only the pale green inner drapings, the earthen and cream woolen drapings kept out any ambient light and trapped in her body warmth. With a sigh she pushed aside the thick drapings and slipped her feet into the slippers beside her bed. She crossed to the draped window and drew aside the dark brown owner curtain - the upper was made of thin green fabric and tinted the entering light a frosty green. From her window she could see people bustling about a cobblestone street in pointed hats and cloaks of all possible colors. A light dusting of snow perfected the picture. With smile Lucy dropped the curtain back in place and washed her hands and face, dressed in the single gown available to her, her boots and indoor cloak the color of rich cream. After fixing her auburn hair she glided into the sitting room - neither of her brothers was. With a smirk she decided to wake them with the scent of breakfast and tapped the center of the table.
"Breakfast" Nothing happened. She frowned and tried again. She fetched a slip of parchment and wrote a note before leaving the room, making sure she had the small silver key that Peter had used to enter the room the night before. She entered the dinning room, which was bright and cheery in the morning light. She beamed at the sleepy eyed teen who had offered to carry their bags the evening before. "Good morn to you Tom, your name is Tom right?" He nodded. "I'm Lucy - Peter's sister."
"M' Pleasur, Lady. " He gave a sketchy bow to the smiling girl, "kin I 'elp ye wit somat?" She nodded.
"Oh yes. I was hoping to have breakfast sent to our rooms, please." He nodded.
"O'course - full english breakfast?"
"Oh no. Tea, eggs, bacon, toast - with berry jam on the side, fruit and orange juice please." She tilted her head to the side, "I really cannot stand bangers and mash." She shuddered, "So much grease." She shook herself, "Can you do that?" He nodded.
"Aye, Lady - t'next time ye can jest send yer list trough the floo." She frowned.
"Do what?"
""Jest use a pinch of the powder in the pot on yer mantle and toss the list into the flames - it'll go straight to the order section." She blinked.
"Oh, well I'll keep that in mind. I've never been to a magical inn before, you see." He nodded.
"Breakfast will take a few minutes - jest call it up in about ten, alright Lady?" She nodded.
"And I call it by tapping the middle of the table correct?" He nodded.
"Aye, ye need to call it because we've no way of bein certain the table's clear."
"That is intelligent. I'll see you later Tom." She made her way back towards the hall.
"Later Lady" She led in a laugh at his bemused face by pursing her lips, he obviously liked her.
"You can call me Lucy Tom." She glided away. Not knowing that Will cuffed his nephew on the side of the head and told him to get back to work not stare after the Lady.
Back in the room Lucy cracked open both of her brothers rooms then called up the breakfast. It wouldn't get cold - Peter had told her last night that warming and freshening charms were placed on the serving dishes. A few moments later she heard rushed sounds in both rooms and giggled. Five minutes later, both of her brothers were out. They had damp hair from their quick wash but they were mostly alert and fully dressed.
"Excellent reactions - but not a record." She laughed outright at her brothers faces - confused and slightly bleary neither one sure of weather to take offense or not. They settled for seating themselves and letting Lucy serve them tea. "Honestly, we have a big day today - so much to do and see and so little time. In order to make the most efficient use of our time, I believe the tailor's ought to be first, then to Gringotts. We certainly do not wish to bore our guide by cloths shopping, and we can have them delivered to our suite here while we learn more of this magical world from our guide. I do not know Eustace or Jill's sizes - and we will have to invite them to visit during the summer holidays. I will have to send their measurements in later. And don't you think that we should look to make arrangements for tutors in magical studies? Even if we have no power of our own we should learn about what those who do have power can do." Lucy continued on, her brothers listened to her ideas while eating.
"Excellent ideas Lu. We will of course need to learn more before we can develop specific plans, but I see no reason not to get involved - this world has much more to offer that the Normal world." Edmund, the more alert of the brothers, added to the nearly one-sided conversation. Peter nodded and finished his tea.
"Now that we are more awake we should decide a few things. I have been deemed to be a 'Lord'. I think it is because of my money pouch." Lucy nodded.
"Tom called me Lady when I ordered breakfast." Edmund nodded decidedly.
"We are Lords of Narnia, a hidden magical land whose human nobility are of English origin. For unmentioned reasons we are sojourning in England - the home of our origins. We can have the goblins support this statement." Peter shook his head with a chuckle.
"Right on there Ed. The exact truth - but no one would ever guess the whole truth from it. If pressed - the reason we left is that we abdicated the thrones in favor of Caspian." Lucy giggled and clapped her hands.
"And it's all the exact truth- Oh how wonderful!"
"Of curse Lu - we would never ask you to lie." Peter said seriously. "And on that note - let us fetch our cloaks and be off."
Madam Malkin did not get a great deal of custom during the winter holidays, in fact she got the most just before Hogwarts started. The day was particularly slow in the mornings and she had her assistants sorting fabric when the door chime rang. She bustled forward smiling broadly; there in the entryway of her shop was Lord Peter. He had come in in muggle cloths in late September and again in November to order the cloths that the other two with him were wearing. On his arm was a petite auburn haired girl in the loam and cream gown and matching cloak, and beside him was a slender, wiry boy with dark hair and eyes dressed in the handsome tunic and trews set with that matched the girl's dress with a cream shirt and matching cloak. Lord Peter himself was wearing the navy set, cream shirt and matching cloak that she had made in September. Both of his companions appeared to be Hogwarts age.
"Lord Peter," she curtsied. "And how are you today." He smiled at her
"I am well Madam. May I present to you my sister, Lucy and brother Edmund. Siblings, this is Madam Malkin and her assistants, Jasmine, Kati and Hally." The Madam turned and there were her assistants behind her. She heaved an internal sigh - they had talked of Lord Peter for days the last time he visited. Externally she curtsied.
"It is my honor, Lords and Lady. How can I assist you today?" The girl let go of her brother's arm with a smirk.
"I am afraid Madam that we are disinclined to extended clothing shopping. I have created a list of what we will require. Perhaps your assistants could start by measuring my brothers while I go through what we will be ordering with you?" The Madam smiled, it sounded like there would be a large order.
"Of course. Jasmine, Kati - please measure the gentlemen. Now what were you wanting?" The girl smiled a removed her cloak revealing a leather satchel from which she removed six rolls of parchment. She handed the first over to Madam Malkin who unrolled it to reveal detailed drawings of numerous items. "Amazing! These drawings are very easy to follow - did you draw them?" The girl nodded.
"I did. Peter mentioned that he had the hardest time explaining what he wanted for my dress - I thought you might find the drawings a useful reference. That is for you to keep - if we must order something it will be from those or I will include a sketch. Each of these," she indicated the other four parchments, "is a list of what each of the four of us will require." She handed the other parchments to Madam Malkin who opened them. There were lists of gowns, shifts, trews, cloaks and other items from the drawing parchment with lists of colors and fabrics. "Of course I will be wanting to select the fabrics myself - these are just general guidelines - I brought a quill to edit the list with the exact fabrics. Do you have any questions?" Madam Malkin blinked; this was the most prepared customer she had ever had.
"Not at the moment Lady. By your leave - I'll read through these while you get yourself measured." Lucy nodded.
"Of course Madam. Perhaps one of your assistants could keep my brothers occupied by showing them your leather selections - they will want to select their own leathers."
"Of course Lady. Hally, take Lady Lucy to be measured and have Jasmine show the Lords to the leather section. Oh and have Kati return to me. Thank you dear." Hally curtsied.
"Yes ma'am. This way if you please Lady." Madam Malkin returned to studying the parchments. When Kati reappeared she set her to making draft outfits out of simple material - so that they could be tested to make sure that they had the patterns correct. By the time Hally returned with Lucy Madam Malkin had samples of each item on the list.
"Ah, Lady - I made drafts of each item on your list - to verify that the pattern I developed is correct." Lucy smirked.
"Send for the boys - they hate this part. I think they forgot that with a new tailor they would have to try on one of everything." Madam Malkin laughed and sent Hally off to fetch Jasmine and the two Lords.
"If you'll try yours on Lady." With much grumbling on the part of the young Lords and some giggling on the parts of the girls - including Lady Lucy, the fittings were complete and the Lords retreated to the leather section once again while Lucy reviewed the fabrics. Madam Malkin had never been asked so many questions about her fabrics - tear strength, thread count, origin of the materials, and more. Then the Lady knew nothing of clothing charms and she had to detail each for her. Once she heard of the fitting charms - which could go up or down 3 sizes, she immediately added complete wardrobes for her sister, Susan, cousin, Eustace and his friend Lady Jill. She was delighted with the climate charms and with the color changing charms. The stain proofing and tear resistant charms were deemed a necessity. It was the largest single order she had ever taken.
"Thank you so much Madam, we shall contact you if ought else is needed. Peter, we are finished." The Lady's voice was soft but is carried and the two Lords reappeared. They had been consulted briefly when discussing the leathers then had vanished again. Now Lord Peter was enquiring as to her fee. She totaled the cost and he frowned.
"I know it is a great deal but the fabric and amount of -"
"Oh no Madam, there is nothing wrong with the amount, we have a large amount of purchases on order. It is rather I worry about your safety with such a large amount of gold in your store. Perhaps I ought to arrange for a direct transfer with Gringotts." Madam Malkin blinked, surprised that his concern was for her safety with such a large amount of galleons in her store, rather than parting with so many galleons.
"Well, I have never done so before. I didn't know they did direct transfers."
"Hm, Gripshok mentioned them when we spoke. What is the account number?"
"52627." She watched him intrigued as he placed his signet ring on the seal of his bag and made the strangest sounds - grumbles, squeaks, rumbles and barks. All harsh and grating. He barked one last word and reached into the money pouch removing a slip of paper.
"Here is the Gringotts receipt of the transfer." She accepted the slip of parchment which listed that 1500 Galleons, 240 sickles and 5 knuts had been transferred from Vault TD1795 to Vault CDE52627.
"Ah, it is all in order sir. Where shall I deliver them?"
"Deliver them to the Leaky Cauldron in Peter's name please." Lucy answered, "And thank you so much for agreeing to get the set done so quickly."
"It is not a problem Lady. I understand not wanting wear the same gown days in a row. We'll have your first set out by this evening."
"Good Day Madam." Peter offered his arm to Lucy who accepted it graciously and Madam Malkin curtsied, as did her assistants as the nobles left the shop.