"Your duties, Narcissa, will not be terribly trying, nor will they be too expansive, especially not while I am still the Lady of the Manor. You will over see the elves; tell them what should be done. For example, if the furniture in the guest wing needs to be dusted, or the windows in the studies need to be washed, you will tell them that. When the sheets need to be changed, you will let the elves know. You will plan the menus one week in advance; you will need to plan at least one major social event each season. I've taken the liberty of ordering subscriptions to certain magazines that will help give you an idea of what you should be wearing in public- but you are not to spend extravagantly, for that would be crude, and you must not leave the Manor unchaperoned. Of course, you will not feel the full weight of these responsibilities until I am gone. Your main concern, right now, is to conceive an heir as soon as possible- which reminds me, was the marriage consummated last night?"
Narcissa, who had been slightly dizzied by all the tasks that would befall her, blinked and flushed a deep crimson. Mrs. Malfoy's expression showed no shame in asking.
"Yes. It-it was."
"Good. It's best you conceive as soon as possible- I had two daughters before Lucius, so you can't count on having just one child, later in life."
"Of course not. I- I would love to be pregnant as soon as possible," She confessed with surprising honesty. Mrs. Malfoy gave a nod of approval. What Narcissa didn't share was that she wished to conceive immediately because the faster she had a baby, the less time she had to endure in bed with Lucius.
"This will be your private study, Narcissa. You may move personal objects in here, and this is where you will receive your mail, write invitations, etcetera. There is a balcony outside those doors that adjoins to Lucius's study, though I highly discourage interrupting him. You shall have a personal elf… Mipsie!"
With a crack, a small elf appeared in regard to the summons. "Mipsie is here, Mistress. How might Mipsie be helping you?"
"Mipsie, you are to help Lady Narcissa from now on. You may begin by changing the sheets in her room and putting away the rest of her belongings."
The elf bobbed in a curtsey and vanished.
"The elves are generally well behaved but for the one, Dobby. A very young one, but frustratingly simple-minded and performs household chores poorly. We would just be rid of him, but he comes from a line of highly devoted servants. Just be wary of that one. Seems averse to washing his pillow case, too- revolting creature." She shook her head and curled her lip slightly before continuing. "As I mentioned, my son will be back at five, today and every other day that he works. You shall be finished with all your tasks by then."
"Oh?" She wasn't entirely certain why; it wasn't as though Lucius spoke to her, paid her any attention, or even showed the slightest desire to be near her. Mrs. Malfoy gave her a severe look.
"I don't know what your mother taught you about being a wife, Narcissa." She said coldly. Narcissa scowled. Apparently, it wasn't enough that the Malfoys insult their newest member- they felt the need to sneer at the honourable Druella Black, neé Rosier, as well. "Surely at the very least you know that your duty is to your husband?"
"Of course I do!"
"Do not raise your voice. It's very unappealing and frankly, common. And if you had indeed learned that, then you would know that you should always be available to meet your husband's every whim, especially if it's something as sitting in the parlor in the evening enjoying tea."
Narcissa very much doubted that Lucius would ever want to sit and drink anything with her, but kept her mouth shut, silently fuming.
"And you mustn't question my son. Ever." She continued.
"Mrs. Malfoy, am I permitted to visit my family? And friends?"
"Perhaps on holidays. But your family is here now."
Narcissa's hands were gripping the pages of Anna Karenina so tightly they shook. After completing all of her assigned chores uncomplainingly, she'd joined her in-laws in the main parlor with the only book of her own that she'd brought; her favorite. Terentia loudly disapproved of the 'Muggle garbage', Mrs. Malfoy suggested more suitable reading materials (mostly etiquette guides), Adina ignored her, and Beatrice snarled 'faithless' under her breath as she passed.
Now, Narcissa stared at the first page, as she had for the past hour, reading over and over: "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own- Happy families are all alike; every unhappy- Happy families are all- Happy families- families-"
"…And how was your day?"
Narcissa head jerked up, and she realized that all the other women in the room had risen and moved to the door, where Lucius currently greet his mother.
"Fine." He murmured, moving on to greet his older sisters as well. He didn't smile at either one, of them but still treated them with what could be named affection. Beatrice, however, he embraced and called Tricey, still without a smile, but with a deal more care for her then he'd shown any other family member. His little sister was evidently his favorite.
Narcissa realized, a minute or two late, that she herself should have risen as well. In her haste to get up, the hem of her skirt caught on the chair and she stumbled, colliding with a nearby table. The consequent crash caused all attention to shift to her. Lucius eyes flicked over her for only a heartbeat before announcing quietly,
"I'll be in my study."
As soon as he was gone, Terentia spun, livid. "To lazy to even rise to greet the man you're married to? Mother, I told you he should have married Chelsea instead! She knew her place, and could have his heir in less than a month!"
"Terentia! You will mind your tongue. You are dismissed; I do not wish to see you again this evening."
Terentia stalked off, and Mrs. Malfoy turned to her other girls. "Adina, Tricey, you go as well. I think I may need to have a word with Narcissa."
Narcissa blinked in shock. "Mrs. Malfoy, is there something I should be told?" She demanded as the others vanished as well.
"It isn't terribly important." She said with an airy shrug.
"I think I can decide that."
"Chelsea was a friend of Terentia- obviously not any longer, for that would be highly inappropriate. But you know how boys have their indiscretions…" She waved a hand forgivingly.
"This girl, is she pale with dark, curly hair? About this long?"
"Do you know her?"
"She was at the wedding yesterday. You invited her to my wedding? The woman pregnant with my husband's child- at my wedding?"
"She's from a good enough family, and she's a good enough girl; I knew she wouldn't cause any problems."
"Then why didn't Lucius marry her?"
"Because he was betrothed to you, of course."
"Then why wasn't the betrothal broken?" Narcissa cried. "She has more claim to him than I do! She clearly wants to be his wife!"
"Do not raise your voice, Narcissa."
"And this is all just forgiven? What if I had given birth to a child that wasn't Lucius's? I was expected to be a virgin on my wedding night, and Lucius? He can have children with other women?"
"He is a man; you'll quickly learn they can do anything they wish."
"You're absolutely right. And it will be far easier to do so without cumbersome wife to stop him."
"And exactly where do you think you're going?"
"Surely an event as this is enough to get a divorce? Lucius never would have married me if I had been in the same situation."
Mrs. Malfoy actually smiled as she shook her head. "You think it's so easy, Narcissa? You two are magically Bonded- there can be no divorce unless my son so dictates."
"Under any circumstances? What if he beat me? Or locked me up without food? Or brought other women into bed while I slept two doors away? Or-"
"I certainly hope you don't think so little of my son to assume he would partake in any of those actions." Mrs. Malfoy interrupted coolly.
"Well, how would I know? I don't know anything at all about your son!"
"Then I suggest you learn. Come; dinner will be served in several minutes, and you'll not want to be late again."
"Lucius, could I ask you a question?" Narcissa shifted nervously in her bed as he entered the room. She didn't wait for a response. "Are we going to have a honeymoon? Most married couples do." As much as she disliked Lucius, she could better tolerate his silence then his mother's and sisters' constant heckling.
"Did you want to?"
"Well, it just seemed fitting, considering how we are married."
"Right now isn't a very good time to take off from my work. Perhaps later."
…
Later, once he was finished and dozing in her bed (after being reminded once more not to touch her), Narcissa crawled away towards her shower. "Chelsea's a bloody stupid girl for choosing to sleep with him, anyway." She muttered under her breath.