Chapter 5
When Hermione got up later that afternoon for at late "breakfast" she was relieved to find Draco wasn't there. It appeared the Earl had already eaten a little bit before she herself got there and was more than happy to eat alone this morning. Picking up the discarded paper at the end of the table she immersed herself in it.
It was sometime later that she finished the paper that she realized her food and tea was virtually untouched. She didn't mind, the paper was so fascinatingly different from the one in her time now. The butler, Simmons, came into the breakfast room bowing, "A visitor for you, My Lady, she is awaiting your convenience in the drawing room."
Hermione rose from the table and left her breakfast fairly untouched. She wasn't really surprised to see the lady from the ball the evening before. It took her a moment to recall her name, Josephina.
Hermione curtsied the best she could to the Marchioness. She looked up to the woman's tittering. A brow raised in question.
"My dear, I am surprised you have not been so much spotted as the fake you are with that curtsy you have just portrayed." The Marchioness had a genuine smile on her face. Her blue eyes twinkled with promised secrets.
Hermione smiled back at the woman. She moved closer in the room, indicating a seat for the lady. She sat on the sofa across from her. "Thank you for visiting today, it is such a pleasure."
The Marchioness nodded. "It may not be so much a pleasure later. I am actually here you see to interrogate you. I know for fact that Lady Sophia is muggle born and bred. There is no way she could have magic ability now without someone knowing."
Hermione's smile wavered. "The tale I have to tell is most difficult to believe."
The Marchioness gave her a inquiring look. "Please try me, madam, I have heard scores of sordid tales."
"Okay, but don't say I did not warn you. It all started with a gold piece with etchings on it…" Hermione told the woman everything she could remember up to that point. She was rather impressed the woman didn't bat an eye. She nodded on occasion and her delicately arched blonde brow would raise, but she never stopped the story in its process at all.
"May I ask," The Marchioness asked curiously, "Why you just told me this whole tale without thought to the consequences?"
Hermione was startled. She had in fact told a complete stranger everything without thought of repercussions. "I suppose it's because I feel comfortable with you." She was surprised that this was also truth. Something about this woman made her feel like she could confess everything and it would all work out.
The Marchioness stood up to leave. "This has been a rather enlightening day, that is for sure. Please, let me take this tale to someone more influential and knowledgeable of such things. He'll be able to guide me on what I should do to help you. I need permission to take you to find wands and such that you'll need."
Hermione clutched her hands to her chest in excitement. "That would be absolutely wonderful if you could do that for us. There is no way we can get our way back home until we have the proper use of magic."
She smiled and reached for one of Hermione's giving it a squeeze. "It shall all work itself out with time. How much time, I do not know. I will aide you in any way that I can."
Hermione walked the Marchioness of Abernathy to the door and watched as she walked to her waiting carriage. She lifted a hand in goodbye and let the butler close the doors.
Draco had gotten up early; only sleep a few hours, to take himself on a much needed ride. Even though he lived at Malfory Manor he had still learned how to ride at a very early age. It was weird for a wizard to know how to do something so mugglish, but his father indulged him in this particular department.
He felt the black stead's muscles ripple underneath his thighs feeling the strength of his beast. They were in the park not too far the Earl's house. He didn't need to worry much about pedestrians because of how early it was. The Ton was still abed from their night entertainments.
He looked for an answer on how to get out of this hellish place. He couldn't stand to be under the same room as Hermione much longer. He felt his self-control starting to snap. His father would be disgusted at him now. But his father's opinion mattered to him little anymore. He had broken that boyish hold he'd had on him. He was his own man.
He was deep in thought so he didn't see the blur of green coming at him. It was not until the horse and rider were atop of him that he noticed her. Lady Victoria wore a green riding habit and hat that tilted jauntily at the side. Her red curls were coming loose from beneath the hat. Her smile was radiant as were her eyes.
Draco felt uneasiness slice through him at her calculating look she gave him. "Your Grace, fancy meeting you here in the park this early. I thought I was the only one who came this early."
Draco inclined his head to her. Her groom was slow to catch up to her. But he finally had and was a few paces behind her. "Lady Victoria, you look well this morning. I take it you have recovered nicely from the ball last night?"
She gave a tinkling laugh and fluttered her lashes at him. "That I have, Your Grace, it was rather breath taking and overwhelming."
"I hear that it gets easier as time goes on. I am glad to hear you enjoyed yourself." Draco was about to say his farewells and turn his stead elsewhere when she reached out a bold hand and touched his wrist.
She gave him a shy look beneath her lashes. "I daresay meeting you was the highlight of my night last eve."
He started to curse his luck in his head. How to get rid of the silly chit? Last thing he needed was this one at his heels every time he turned a corner.
Again he inclined his head and said graciously, "The honor was mine, My Lady."
She blushed to her roots and directed her eyes down demurely. When she looked up he saw the calculating look in her eyes yet again. He felt a chill sweep over him.
"I hope to be seeing you quite frequently, Your Grace, I so do like being in your presence." She fairly purred the words out.
He was taken aback by her forwardness. "I am sure we will run into each other again sometime this season. If you will excuse me I must be off."
He turned his horse and fled before she could so much as blink. He almost felt physically ill at the looks she had given him. If he didn't watch it he'd be in the parson's trap before the end of the month.
Hermione and Draco continued to play the parts that were assigned to the best of their knowledge. They attended all the balls and routes of the Season that the Earl took them to. Lady Victoria seemed to plague Draco; even more to his consternation Canton was forever at Hermione's side.
He wanted to get rid of the nuisance but didn't know how to go about it in this time period. He was wandless and at the mercy of some unknown Marchioness he'd yet met. All he could do was trust Hermione that she knew what she was doing. It took more will power than he was willing to admit not to touch her again.
While she seemed swept up in the dancing and social calls Draco was impatient to get back. Every day he had the real Duke's solicitor in the estate room of the Earl's home to direct him in matters he wasn't sure about. He frequently asked the man his opinion, startling him.
He knew where his talents lay and crop rotation and horse breeding was not one of them. He would never admit it to anyone, however.
It was a week before the Marchioness came back to visit Hermione. This time Draco was in the drawing room taking tea with her when she appeared for a call. She strode in behind the butler and bestowed a dazzling smile on Hermione.
"My dear I have some answers to your problems." Her eyes strayed to Draco and stopped. "You must be His Grace."
Draco bowed to the Lady. "That I am, My Lady."
He had stood up as soon as she was in the room. Decorum waited she be seated before he resumed his himself. When she finally got to sitting and fluffing her yellow skirts about her Draco lounged back in his chair.
"My husband has informed me that we may take you to Diagon Alley for some wands and whatever else it is you may need." She beamed a brilliant smile at them.
"Diagon Alley!" Hermione exclaimed and laughed. "Why that only makes sense; why didn't we think of that ourselves?"
Draco wondered the same. He should have known that Diagon Alley would be around, but he was caught up in a time period that demanded more of his time than he was accustomed to.
The Marchioness patted her hand and continued. "My dear husband and I shall accompany you both there tomorrow. He is busy with parliament duties as the House is in session today. Dreadful stuff he must suffer through." She turned to Draco, "Why aren't you doing the same?"
Draco lifted his brows in surprise. "I was not aware that I was supposed to be active in parliament."
"Well of course you are. You have a seat, what else would a Duke do?" she questioned.
The look that passed Draco's face made Hermione stifle a laugh. He looked none too pleased about this new turn of events. She already knew he was struggling with estate business, though he'd never admit such "trifling matters" as being overwhelming.
"But have no worries, Your Grace, for my dear husband shall lead the way for you. He will guide you in all that you do not know. Also tomorrow starts the end of the week so you have two days of reprieve." She turned back to Hermione and kept going on.
They were speaking of shopping for new clothes of all things they really needed. Who cared about clothes? He saw what was in her bureau and dressing room; there was no need for such frivolities. He got up and excused himself from the ladies. He needed to try and do some research on his findings.
He was becoming alarmed at how well Hermione was adapting and how little attention she paid to finding a way home. He was going to get them home even if it were the last thing that he did.
Sorry it has taken me several days to upload this next chapter. I've been suffering from some bad insomnia and it doesn't mix well with writing. Enjoy this next chapter!