(A/N)

And we have made it into the Regency era! So to celebrate that, there will be a piece of lemon in this chapter. Slightly.

NOT for innocent eyes. But this does have an important plot point in it so if you can skip sentences and read, then you are cool.

Also, a heartfelt thank you to my reviewers who keep me so motivated! So a huge shout out to puasluoma, xXMizz Alec VolturiXx, Ariel Nicholas913, RisaliaDragneel, mega700201, Kathrynrose42, kei, sarenia, LightofEvolution and bennettfan84. You guys are the best!

A little more love with the vote and share button would get me the much needed reads guys, so please hit like and share if you like this story!

And if you want to have a look at any of the jewellery or places mentioned, you can head over to my blog later:
 2017/01/08/vexed-a-dramione-fanfiction/

Mili

Hermione had transfigured her shoes to slippers more acceptable of that time. She had put a cushioning charm on them, yet they hurt. She pitied the women who had gone through years of such uncomfortable clothing. Thank God she had landed up in a time where there were no corsets at least! She was all for dressing up for occasions, but such torture each day would have surely suffocated her. How she missed her comfortable jeans and jacket!

She stumbled yet again and was now visibly grumbling. Draco quirked an eyebrow at her and offered an arm. Hermione gave him a determined look and started to move ahead on her own. Suddenly she slipped on a loose rock and was tumbling down when a strong arm wrapped around her waist and hauled her up. Draco Malfoy held Hermione in his arm and was smugly smirking at her. She wanted to rip that smirk off his arrogant face, but she knew that he had been right to offer his arm to her even if he seemed to be rather amused with her plight. It was rather thoughtful of him, she had to admit. But skies would fall the day she would admit that to him.

"Now will you let me hold you, my Lady?" He asked with a grin. Hermione looked away but slipped her hand in his as they continued their journey. Draco smiled to himself while Hermione tried to not be so cross with him for being nice. She knew she was just confused because she could handle Draco being snarky, but she felt completely clueless about how to react when he was being nice. This was a side of Malfoy that always caught her off guard.

Lydia was leading them ahead with their trunks charmed to fit into her pockets. Malfoy was glad that since he was a child, he was taught to always carry enough galleons on him. He felt the sack of galleons in a pocket deep within his robes and felt a tad bit secure.

As they neared a village, Draco took in his surroundings. "Lydia, where can we get a carriage on hire?"

Lydia stopped and turned around. "At the railway station m'lord."

"Very well. Then lead the way?" Draco gestured.

Hermione seemed to tug at his arm as she whispered frantically. "Why do we need a carriage!?"

"Because I maybe pretending to be a Zabini, but I am a Malfoy. And we like making an entrance. Plus, if we were to make them believe that we are reputed healers, we must be loaded enough to be able to afford a train and a carriage. Plus, I cannot let my new wife torture her feet anymore, can I?" He smiled. Hermione felt her insides flip at the comment. Malfoy really knew how to manipulate her and shut her up.

As they boarded the carriage, Draco requested her to aid them at the Estate as they were not real healers, to which she happily consented. Hermione had to sit next to Draco for the ride, as was expected of a newly married bride. Draco had declared that he wanted them to pretend that they were newly married as then people would leave them be and they wouldn't have to mingle around with others and only pretend to have eyes for each other. Even though this vaguely made sense, Hermione knew it was his ploy to take a rise out of her.

As the carriage moved ahead, they reached uphill and massive iron gates came into view. Lydia got off the carriage to open the wards for them to pass through. The road took a curve and the Fawley Estate came into view. It was a massive stone structure and rather imposing.

"It's nothing when compared to the Manor." Malfoy chuckled.

Hermione gave him an irritated look as she felt her nerves jitter. She had fought Death Eaters and stood by Harry as he defeated Voldemort, but to lie to people about her identity and pretend to be Malfoy's wife for an indefinite amount of time still made her extremely nervous.

Lydia got off the carriage first and asked an elf to announce that Lord and Lady Zabini had arrived from Italy. She had owled them earlier about the situation that healers that Adelia had called from Italy would be arriving today.

Two elves greeted them at the entrance and their trunks were taken away by one of them, while another asked them to follow him to see the young Master of the House, Lord Hector Fawley. While he might not know it yet, but he was to be the next Minister of Magic.

"Well hello Mister Zabini, please have a seat." Fawley said shaking hands with Draco.

The study, where they were brought in, was comfortably large. It wasn't ostentatiously large like the one at the Manor, thought Hermione. The man of the house, a young Hector Fawkley sat at a wide oak table, writing on some parchments. The walls were lined with shelves of documents and artefacts on display. A large window opened up to the view of the hills in the distance. Two armchairs awaited them at the other end of the table.

"This is my wife, Hermione." said Draco as they approached the table.

"Pleased to meet you, my Lord." Hermione curtsied as Hector bowed to her.

"You look lovely my lady. The journey must have been tiring. I must say I was a little shocked that our healer Adelia had called up a few acquaintances to heal my mother. But I am told that you both are a formidable pair when it comes to healing people."

"Yes. I brew the potions and Hermione is rather good with the spells. We make a good team together."

"Well, my Mother is upstairs in her chambers. There will be a nurse with her who can help you know more about her ailment. I understand that you might be extremely tired after your journey, all the way from Italy. So one of the elves would show you both to your chambers. But, if I may ask, you do not sound Italian, I mean your accent is rather British?" He did not look like he was suspicious, merely curious.

"My Father was an Italian. He abandoned my Mother, who is British before I was born. Thus, I grew up moving around England and finally settling in the Italian countryside. Hermione is British. She is muggle born and an extremely talented witch."

"Ah. I see. Femmy! Take the Zabinis to their chamber, will you? And alert my Mother's nurse of their arrival."

An elf apparated right in front of them to escort them out.

The Estate was large, but it paled in comparison to the Manor. While the Manor had a display of family pride and artefacts all over it, the Fawley Estate had occasional such displays and only furniture and pieces that were ornately carved yet practical. This was the kind of large house that Hermione could still imagine living in. But the Manor? That made any human feel insignificant, her memories of the drawing room did not even need to be recalled.

Draco was feeling rather smug about how much luxurious the Malfoy Manor was, but even he had to grudgingly admit that the Flawey's Estate looked much more liveable. Hermione seemed to be looking around in awe and not the kind of scrutiny she usually had while she was at the Manor. He was aware that she was a terribly practical person and displays of wealth would not only not impress her, but would also put her off.

After a few turns, they finally reached a set of heavy doors, which the elf opened for them. Inside was a huge four poster bed with heavy drapes around it on the left-hand side. Tapestries with the Flawey crest hung from the wall. A fireplace was on the wall facing the door and a huge mirror and large tall windows overlooked the gardens on the right. The room was warm and sunny. A little too on the Hufflepuff side for Draco's taste, but it looked rather luxurious and nice.

The elf left them, closing the door behind him, after showing them around. It was weird to be in a bedroom with Malfoy. The most absurd bit was that it was their bedroom. Suddenly the large room started feeling a little too small with Malfoy standing beside her. The large windows and the garden outside reminded her of how they had put to use the glass wall in the Malfoy Library. Before she could think of ways to run away, there was a light knock on the door.

"Come in." Said Draco.

A mousy little girl of about fifteen walked in. She curtsied to both of them. "My Lord, My Lady. I have been sent by Lady Flawey for you My Lady. I am to attend to you personally throughout your stay here. The elves will provide assistance every now and then, but it is considered impolite not to extend the service of servants to the guests so I was sent. I could show you the garderobes or prepare a bath for you if you like."

"Could you give us a few minutes alone? I need some time with my wife. You could wait outside in the hall." Draco smiled politely.

As soon as the girl left, Draco turned to her and said, "Garderobes are where one goes to uh...relieve themselves. Chamber pots you must be familiar with but garderobes were for well, a heavier purpose. If you get the gist?"

Draco had either used Legilimency on her or him just really knew what piqued her mind. That was exactly what Hermione had been wondering about. But now that she knew, she was horror-struck that they had no actual lavatories or bathrooms! She looked at Draco with shocked eyes.

"It's not going to be that bad. Trust me. At least they have elves and servants."

"Elves that are enslaved." she said in an irritated tone.

"Elves that are happy to serve. And Hermione, this is the nineteenth century. You cannot walk around showing your belief in S.P.E.W. over here. It will endanger us. I know how you feel, but just don't be vocal about it?"

"Fine." She knew he was right.

"Now that we are finally alone.." Hermione whipped around at his words.

"...I can tell you about what I found. The earrings weren't there under the floorboards back at the cottage. I managed to bring along the necklace." he said pulling it out of his pocket. "The floorboard looked like someone had hurriedly taken out the earrings and left without bothering to fix the floor tidily. Someone in this era, not ours."

"Do you think it was Silvius and Adelia? We did not really find any time turner as such so it could be the jewellery that was charmed?"

"I was thinking the same. Keep this safe with you, will you? It would be rather odd if someone found it amongst my possessions. I have to make a quick trip to Gringott's. You can relax till then. I should be back before dinner." She held the necklace in her hands trying to not touch it directly with the velvet cloth around it.

"Why are you going to Gringott's? I hardly think we would be needing any money." She said while locking the piece of jewellery in a box and charming the box to become invisible in the bottom of her trunk.

"I need to check if the earrings are in the Malfoy vault."

"Are you insane? How are you planning to access the vault? You can't just barge in and say 'Hey am a Malfoy from the future!' They will either throw you into Azkaban or St. Mungo's. And then I will be stuck here alone!" She looked at him with a worried expression.

"Are you worried about me wifey?" Draco mocked.

"What? No! I just don't want to be stuck in this era with no proper toilets!" Hermione was being whiny and she knew it.

"Touche. Anyway, the Malfoy family vaults open only with proof of blood so even if I am from the future, I can access it. The only problem will be getting in, but I can pretend to be a distant French cousin of the Malfoi lineage and go in. They wouldn't stop me if the door opens on its own. Moreover, you did say I look like a Malfoy through and through with my blonde hair, pale skin and pointy face. But I should remind you that I have a rather handsome angular face and not a pointy one."

"No. It's pointy and weird. And terribly vain Mister Malfoy."

"Tsk tsk. Mister Zabini, if you please, Missus Zabini." He smiled as he waved her a goodbye and left the room.

A minute later, the little girl walked back in. "Lord Zabini told me you summoned me m'lady?"

"I did? Oh yeah! Can you prepare me a bath? I feel rather grimy. And yes, if you could tell me your name?" She smiled at the younger girl.

"I am Polly!" she chirped. "I shall get the man servants to get the tub ready at the earliest." With that, she bowed and left.

Hermione left the room to take a stroll around the Estate, but was soon called back into her chamber for her bath was ready. She took one glance at the wooden tub and she knew that it would be impossible for her to not embarrass herself in front of Polly if she allowed her to assist, as she knew was expected of her to do.

"That will be all Polly. Thank you. I shall call you if I need anything else."

"You don't need me to help you with your bath?" Polly looked a little surprised.

"No. I am rather shy, you see. So well, I shall manage on my own."

"You are, but a new bride." Polly giggled as she closed the door behind her.

Hermione mentally thanked Draco for the ruse he created of them being a newly married couple. It was serving as a great excuse for many silly things, as it turned out. She wondered if he had been successful at getting to his family vault.

Hermione closed the heavy curtains and slipped out of the chemise dress that she was wearing. With a flick of her wand, her shoes and clothes were tidily kept in a corner on the bed as she sank into the tub. The hot water soothing all her aching muscles, especially her sore feet. She put up her feet at the edge of the tub and drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

Draco could not believe his luck! They had actually believed he was a Malfoi and let him in. Unfortunately, the earrings were nowhere, but he did find what he had actually gone to look for. He patted his breast pocket one more time and smiled to himself as he apparated back to the gates of the Estate. Within moments, he was at the door of his bedchamber. He knocked twice but when there was no response and he found the door unlocked, he opened the door and walked in.

He was stunned would be an understatement. It was more like he was captivated, excited, mesmerised and heavily aroused by the sight ahead of him. He silently shut and locked the door behind him as he tried not to make any noise while he moved towards the figure in front of him.

He could see Hermione's naked back and shoulders, with her hair twisted up in a messy knot above her head that sat on her slender neck. She was submerged in a tub and must have drifted off while taking a bath. Her feet and arms were on the edge. As he inched in, he could see the red welts on the sole of her feet. Her skin looked so soft and so supple that he was sure if he sucked on it, it would turn a brilliant shade of red. The temptation was too much. Below all the oils and flowers that the maid might have added for Hermione's benefit, he could make out the silhouette of two perfectly round breasts and a soft flat stomach. He was itching to wake her by kissing her all over. He dared to not let his gaze go down to her most sacred place hidden under wet curls at the apex of her thighs, lest he lose control. But he allowed himself one peek and was surprised to find not a trace of any curl down there. It was as bare as the day she was born. He remembered that this wasn't the case the last time in the Library.

He sat down at the edge of the bed and took in her face. It looked so peaceful and her slightly open mouth made her lips look so pink and inviting. Draco's mind was getting clouded and all his blood was rushing south. He had to touch her. Now.

But he did not want to violate or anger her either. So he settled for her feet that he knew must have been aching and started massaging the soles. He was making lazy but firm circles when she started moaning and stirring. A few minutes later, her eyes shot open and she screamed, "Draco what are you doing here!" while frantically trying to find anything to cover herself with.

He was still in his lust filled daze but did not want to make her angry. So he turned and flung the wash cloth that the maidservant must have left for her, at Hermione. She immediately covered herself as much as possible as she thundered. "What on earth do you think you were doing Malfoy! Look away!" She started to wrap the washcloth around her as she emerged from the tub dripping wet. Draco had turned away, but could still see her through the large mirror that was now on his right.

"I thought your feet must be hurting and you looked really tired so Iw as just massaging them for you." he said honestly.

"You are a pervert Draco Malfoy! No gentleman would walk into a room without permission and then have the audacity to not only look at an unaware sleeping woman but also touch her without her permission!" She was enraged. He knew he had screwed up, but she looked so angelic and yet so sinful sleeping there in that tub.

"Unaware beautiful sleeping woman. And I really am sorry. I am. But tell me did you not enjoy my touch? And don't lie that it disgusts you because I have a very good memory of when my touch brought you to a bloody great orgasm."

"That was a mistake. We over crossed our boundaries as working professionals. We should never have done that."

"I was waiting for you to say that." He said looking her in the eye. Hermine could see something akin to hurt in his eyes. She almost instantly regretted her words. She was still angry at him for what he had done, but to call their past interlude was a mistake that had hurt him clearly.

She decided to call a truce. "See, Draco. We aren't actually married, and God knows till when will we be subjected to this era. I am not like those girls that throw themselves at you. My body is mine and I admit what you were doing made my feet feel a lot better, but it would have made me feel a lot better if you did it after asking me for permission. Granted I would think you have some crazy fetish and brush you off, but still. And what I meant to say was, that that night in the library, I had the best possible orgasm of my life. But let's not complicate our situation further and stick to our goal?"

"Best possible orgasm, huh?" Draco smirked at her through the mirror as he walked towards a very naked towel-wrapped Hermione. That bit had slipped out of her mind even before she realised she said the words. She was now blushing like crazy, exactly what she needed.

He came and stood behind her and she could feel his breath down her neck. His steely gaze never left her hazel one through the mirror. "I overstepped my boundaries, Hermione. I am sorry. I really am. But you looked beautiful like that and I lost any rational thoughts that I had."

"It's okay." she managed to squeak out. His proximity and her near nakedness weren't helping her form any coherent thoughts. She saw him pull out something from his pocket as his gaze became even more intense.

"Did you find the earrings?" she asked in a hushed tone.

"No. But I found what I actually went to look for. I got easy access thankfully." He took her left hand in his as she saw him lift a tiny open box in his right hand. The box was a covered in velvet that was dark green in colour. He pulled out a ring and slipped it on Hermione's ring finger on her left hand.

"A Malfoy bride or even a pseudo-Zabini bride cannot be without an engagement ring or a wedding ring." He whispered in her left ear which made her shiver. She felt his breath leave a trail from her ear to the centre of the back of her neck, where he gave her a light butterfly kiss as he dropped her hand. Then he looked at her and smiled as he fully bent down to give the same spot on the back of her neck a hot kiss with his lips open and gently sucking on it.

It felt like he was staking his claim, and for once, Hermione did not mind. Did not mind a single bit. "May I?" He asked as he turned her to face him and looked at her lips with wanton eyes. "Yes." She had barely finished the words before his lips crashed onto hers and his hands found their way into her unruly locks. He cupped her face and tugged at her hair as he pulled her in for an even deeper kiss. Their lips had never felt so full of sensation before. Hermione was sure that if they continued, his kisses alone would make her climax. He grabbed her by her shoulders and pulled her into him so that they were now standing with her breasts crashing into his chest. The washcloth and the sensation of feeling Malfoy all over her made her moan. He used this as an opportunity to plunder her mouth with his tongue. His tongue and hers battled for dominance and in the end, Hermione gave up when she realised that his kiss and the way his tongue plunged in and out her mouth was simply, but a promise of what he wanted to do to her in other places. Eventually, when both of them were out of breath and panting, they pulled apart. Hermione almost wanted to cry at the loss of contact. Malfoy gave her a smile that made her feel like she was someone he was really proud of having. He bowed and took his leave, asking her to be ready in time for the dinner.

She was sure he had left her with a hickey on the back of her neck. There was no way she could see it with her own eyes, thus, neither could she put a glamour charm on it, thus.

She finally felt the weight of the Malfoy family heirloom set on her left hand. Never had she imagined herself to be in such a position where she would be donning a piece of Malfoy family history as a wedding ring on her finger. The ring looked like it belonged to the Victorian era. It had five emerald-cut emeralds set in yellow gold with beautiful and intricate carvings in the gold. It was simple and elegant, just how Hermione would have preferred it, yet it was ornated and detailed enough to look like it belonged to a Lady of the Malfoy Manor. The thought made her lost until she heard Polly knock at the door.

"This is for you m'lady." She handed Hermione a letter.

Mrs Draco,

Hope you like the ring. I looked at it and it reminded me of you- classic, elegant and beautiful. I have asked Polly to help you put a glamour charm on the hickey that I have surely marked you with on your neck.

Sorry once again.

Your husband,

Draco

Hermione knew he had signed off as her husband to ward off any suspicion on them, but the way he had addressed her as Mrs Draco made her heart skip a beat. Writing Mrs Malfoy would have been a dead giveaway and Mrs Zabini sounded rather absurd even though that was the ruse they were using. He must have deliberately written Mrs Draco. She looked at the ring once again as Polly helped her get into another chemise dress for dinner. The ring was perfect. Probably not something she would ever think of, but had she seen it in a store, she would have definitely landed up picking this very ring. She smiled to herself at that thought.

"M'lady, should I use the glamour charm before I put up your hair? Master Zabini asked me to do so." Polly sounded like she was trying to control a flurry of giggles.

"Yes, be a dear and help me with it, will you? And find it amusing, don't you? We are newly married after all. You shall have your own share of it all when you get married." Hermione blushed and smiled at the girl fondly. Polly was a hard worker and rather chirpy and had already started to wear on Hermione. She somehow reminded her of Ginny when she was younger.

As she sat there while Polly did her hair, looking at the ring against the sheer fabric of her gown made her realise one thing. It was all just a ploy. They didn't even like each other back in their real lives, this was nothing but the pretence of matrimony and hormones that were catching up with the two of them. And the more the two of them kept themselves in check, the better it would be before they were too deep in it to retreat.