Chapter 24

Daedalus

"So I said, 'Don't you think that robes with sleeve pleats and lace frills are a little much?', but Carrie-Louise was determined to get that robe or no robe at all. I am serious: it has lace panels. On the sides! You have never, ever seen anything uglier. She's mad, but Edward is barmier because he thinks anything she wants is perfect. I am ill of it all. If he weren't my brother I would take a sudden holiday to Africa and not return until this is all over."

Patience and Sarah were laughing so hard that they were holding on to each other for support, as they watched Eva imitate her brother's fiancée whilst she strutted in front of Madame Duvollet's mirror in a pretty indigo robe.

Sarah gasped, "Eva, stop, I can't breathe!"

Patience dropped into one of the brocade-covered chairs near the mirror and rejoined, "When you start shopping for your wedding clothes, you are going to catch the same disease, Eva. I can see it now. You'll want aubergine tassels and a clipped collar."

Sarah giggled, "No, no, how about the meringue that Elspeth wants to make me wear in March?"

Patience looked interested, "I haven't seen it. What is it like?"

Eva turned to face Sarah and interjected, "You still haven't told Elspeth what you think of it?"

Sarah shook her head, "No, she thinks it is so pretty, I haven't the heart. It is pink and gauzy and has a sort of fluffy skirt, Patience."

Patience replied, "Ohhh, pink. Well she is afraid to wear pink because of her hair, so it is a sort of revenge, I think. Not on you, but on the colour. She was always trying to make me buy pink robes."

Sarah giggled softly, "I wonder what Freddie will think when he sees me in that robe."

Eva, who had changed back into her own clothing and, thinking of her father's latest tirade about the cost of three children getting married, decided against the new robe. "Freddie Boyne would think you were beautiful in anything. I have never seen a wizard so securely wrapped up. Are you going to get that shawl, Patience?"

Patience shook her head and stood up, saying, "No. I think I need something warmer. It is always so cold at home."

As Sarah handed her purchase to the hopefully hovering shopwitch, Eva noticed Patience was holding onto the back of the chair and looking too tired. Patience had been extremely depressed over the past three weeks, which Eva considered could merely be due to Luther's presence in the house, but was more than likely something else in addition. Eva might find the idea of living with Luther to be sufficient cause for depression, but Patience seemed to be more hopeful about him.

"So what did Harold say about the party, Eva?"

Eva glanced at Sarah, who had very innocently asked the question without any idea how annoying it would be. "Harold doesn't want a party right now because he expects to be asked to several other events for his job."

Sarah frowned, "But he's only the junior undersecretary. They won't even notice if he attends, will they?"

Before Eva could respond Patience quickly interjected, "You know that Harold is trying very hard to establish himself, Sarah. Didn't Nolan say that Harold is hoping for a pay rise so he can afford a flat in Hogsmeade so Eva can be near her family?"

Eva scoffed, "That is what Harold thinks, yes. I'm sure it is very sweet of him to be so determined to do it all himself, so that I won't need to work."

Sarah asked with a look of confusion, "But I thought you wanted to stay with your family's business."

Patience reached over and tugged up Sarah's hood on her cloak so that the wind would stop tossing her hair, "Why don't keep up the hood to protect your hair, dear? I know you hate how it looks, but Freddie isn't here to see and we don't care."

Eva could tell that Patience was trying to divert Sarah's interest and give Eva herself a moment to reflect before answering, but as Eva clenched her fists and thought of her last row with Harold she said bitterly, "Harold has always known that I intended to work with the business. Now that Harry and Charlie have both decided to enter the Ministry—the selfish clods—that only leaves Edward, Neal, and me to manage things when Father and Uncle retire. My cousin Elizabeth only wants to continue as the supplier's liaison and Christopher has less sense than a child does, so all he is good for is debt collection. I don't know how we are going to keep the business going."

Eva felt Patience's hand squeeze her arm and smiled gratefully at her as Sarah said softly, "I didn't know that Daedalus was having trouble."

"We aren't. We are still the largest supplier of wizarding home goods in Britain, although we are slowly losing Wales to Llewellyn's and Campbell has been trying to take over the Highlands accounts. However, you lot don't really understand how much is involved in the business. We have 44 employees and over 600 permanent-order accounts. There is not just the purchasing from suppliers and delivering to customers, you know. Neal has taken on the contract and permit issues now that he is fully qualified as a Jurisconsultant, and Edward is brilliant with the finances, but my talents are in charms not negotiations. Uncle is planning to retire next year. This leaves everything else to Father. That means I am going to have to train to replace Father, which I never wanted to do."

Sarah was clumsily tying the strings to her hood and appeared to have only heard half of what Eva said, as she asked, "Can't one hire someone else to help?"

Patience slid her arm through her best friend's and told Sarah seriously, "Sarah, it is a family business. The Rosser family has operated Daedalus for something like 400 years."

Eva and Patience followed Sarah into the teashop, as Eva added, "Right, 447 years with no one but family running Daedalus, although it hasn't always been Rossers, of course. I would be the third daughter to take over at the helm, so the family name would change again if my children took over. Yet Harold does not understand. He thinks that I only want to stay in the business because he can't afford anything."

Patience said tartly, "He really is an idiot, Eva. I am sure that he thinks he is going to make you happy, but how can he do if he never listens to you?"

Sarah sat down next to Eva and put her hand on Eva's arm. "I had no idea that things were so difficult with Harold, Eva. Do you want me to talk to Nolan and see if he can beat some sense into Harold?"

Eva exclaimed, "No! I'm sorry, Sarah, but I don't want to get anyone else concerned in this. I think that if Harold cannot come to understand how important Daedalus is to me then he doesn't really know me."

Patience could see that her brother had barely heard her, so she repeated, "Luther?"

Luther raised his head slowly and asked tersely, "Yes?"

"You know that we need to talk."

"About what, Patience? I have already told you that Snape wants me to escort you tomorrow. He does not feel that Eva Rosser is sufficient protection after daylight and outside of Hogsmeade."

Patience felt a sudden desire for something really chocolaty. As she reached for the miniscule bell on the table, she replied, "I don't care about the party, Luther. Elspeth already knows that you are coming. We need to talk about Eva."

Patience saw her brother's expression grow agitated, but before he could speak, Wicket appeared in front of Patience. "Yes, Mistress? What can Wicket do for kind Mistress?"

"I would like a cup of chocolate, Wicket. Do we have any more of that lemon cake?"

"Yes, Mistress. Wicket would be pleased to bring some to Mistress. Can Wicket bring anything for The Brother?"

Patience smiled, but replied only, "No, that will be all, Wicket."

As soon as the old house-elf had gone, Patience looked up at Luther with a smirk, "I have spoken to him, you know, but he hasn't forgotten yet, Luther. I think you will have to apologise yourself before he recognises you as a member of the household."

Luther growled, "I'm not going to apologise to an ancient old house-elf because he ruined my robe."

"No, but you should apologise because you threatened to toss him down the stairs."

"It was my best robe, Patience."

Patience did not respond, but merely cast her brother a look that clearly spoke of her opinion on the matter before changing the subject. "We have to talk about it, Luther."

Luther stood abruptly and took his sand needle case from his pocket. "I suppose we ought. Evidently my feelings are quite obvious."

Patience watched Luther tap his sand needle case with his wand and found herself thinking briefly of her husband. She had never before noticed how much more elegant it was when Severus lit his sand needle, since he only needed to touch the case and a careful, controlled purple flame would dance along the lid. "No, Luther, you are not obvious to anyone else. But if you never miss tea whenever Eva is here, you never fail to be the one to take her cloak, and you actually manage to remember the names of all her brothers and her fiancé's boss then do not expect to keep your feelings a secret from me."

Luther laughed mirthlessly as he leant back against the mantelpiece. "You are very observant."

Patience warily looked at her brother as she replied, "She is my best friend, Luther. I want her to be happy, which is why I am asking you what you are doing."

Luther raised his brows and regarded his sister carefully. "I am not going to do anything. She is engaged to Harold Goodwin."

Patience picked up the cup of chocolate that had appeared moments before and took a sip before saying, "Yes, she is. She loves Harold, Luther."

"I believe that she does, yes. I also know that Goodwin loves her. I made it my business to find it out, actually, because I could see she was unhappy. Poor sod is hopeless about her."

Patience nodded, "I know. Hopelessly in love and hopelessly clueless about how to make her happy. You do not know how much I would like to Charm some sense into him. However, you must stay out of it, Luther. No matter what happens with Harold, leave her alone."

Luther stared at his sister before replying softly, "I am not intending to do anything about my feelings, Patience. I am perfectly aware of how useless that would be. Eva thinks I am a bastard, which of course is absolutely correct you know, and would never consider me. In fact, I do not want her to know, Patience, because then she would feel uncomfortable."

Patience spoke very gently, "Yes, then she would not want to come anymore, would she?"

Luther grimaced, "No, which of course is bad for me, but much worse is that she would be unhappy, Patience. I am not a complete fool, so you do not have to worry that I will try to seduce her away from Goodwin or force her to care for me."

Patience took another mouthful of cake as she watched Luther push off from the fireplace and then sit down in a chair near her. "As long as we are both putting Eva first, Luther, then I do not think that there is any problem. Nevertheless, I will not allow you to hurt her."

Glancing almost respectfully at his sister, Luther answered, "We both know what sort of wizard I am, Patience. Three weeks ago I don't think I could have considered putting anyone else first. I can at least promise you that I would never knowingly harm her."

Patience pursed her lips and regarded her brother, trying to determine if he were speaking the truth. "Good."

"However, if the situation with Goodwin changes and I see my chance, I will take it, Patience."

"I am sure that you will, Luther, but I am going to warn you again. I do not think that you are good enough for her, so I would not help you."

Luther nodded. "I know."