The ball went well, or Marlene believed it did at least. There were still whispers but the overall tone seemed to be that she was publicly redeemed, whether that would result in a proposal or not was left up to fate mostly, but she wasn't an unthinkable option anymore. She wrote her sister's, telling them a wedding may be in her future but at least if one of them had to come the next season then they would not be attached to a ruined name.
When Marlene received an invitation to the Potter's for tea she jumped at the chance. She owed so much to the older woman. She still could not believe her kindness. Most would have avoided her like she was diseased, but she saved her in so many ways that Marlene could not wait to thank her properly.
She brought a bouquet of the best flowers and headed over. When she was greeted but saw no sight of the viscountess she set the flowers in a vase and waited patiently.
Marlene found herself reading one of the many books around her when the Viscountess's son came in. The Viscount seemed surprised to see her there but was warm regardless of when he greeted her.
"It is nice to see you… Does my mother know you are here?"
"She invited me over for tea. I was shown in here without any more information," Marlene laughed before she tilted her head. "Do you believe this is a ruse?"
James rolled his eyes. "She would. My mother is perpetually scheming."
"That is with mamas in the ton do," Marlene told him, fondly smiling thinking about her own mother.
She eyed him for a moment and considered him as he poured himself some tea. He was tall and lanky with unreasonable dark hair. He was handsome but not a handsome she would have noticed right away. More in a wild, messy way that contradicted his breeding.
He wouldn't be an unthinkable solution. In fact, despite Lily's feelings on the man, he would be ideal in many ways. He seemed reasonably mannered, conversational enough with a kind mother. Marlene could do a lot worse, but the longer her eyes lingered on him she could see his mind was a thousand miles away.
"Is there something on your mind Viscount?" Marlene asked him, curious if he'd answer.
"You can call me James," he told her as he sat down, spreading out as he leaned back. "I still look for my father when I hear that title."
"I understand that," Marlene smiled at him kindly.
"Are you friends with Miss. Evans perchance?" James asked her.
Marlene nodded.
"Maybe you can help me… She seems to have this vendetta against me," James sighed, "And I simply cannot for the life of me figure out what is driving her to feel this way."
"You believe she has a vendetta against you?" Marlene questioned him, a smile playing on her lips. "So, she is plotting against you?"
James laughed, "maybe vendetta was a poor choice of word, but she does seem to have an unreasonable amount of hatred for me."
"Is it unreasonable or is any amount unreasonable?" Marlene wanted to know.
James grinned at that. "I will admit… I have never had anyone dislike me. Well at least not anyone that wasn't a villain in their own right. Like lynx's," he teased.
"Oh yes, lynx's," Marlene nodded teasingly.
"But," James said, shifting, "do you happen to know the reason behind her distaste? I'm not proud to admit it… but it has been bothering me for some time now."
Marlene considered the pros and cons. Lily had spoken to her in confidence, but she also could tell the Viscount was both deeply troubled by the information and completely unaware of what he could have done. It came down to one factor, whether he was going to use the information to dismiss Lily's feelings and deny it or whether he would rectify the behavior. After a few moments she reasoned she would find a halfway point.
"Would you like me to be nice to you or honest with you?" Marlene asked the Viscount.
His dark eyebrows furrowed together. "They are mutually exclusive?"
"In this circumstance I believe them to be so yes," Marlene said before sipping her tea.
James paused for a long moment, his hazel eyes scanning Marlene's face before he said, "honest please."
Marlene said, "I believe you come off to her entitled, arrogant, and inconsiderate. Knocking fliers out of people's hands, taking things without paying for them, bullying those in a lower station than you…"
He blinked at her, puzzled.
"I do not have the dates of these instances," Marlene told him, "so I cannot really discuss the circumstances behind them, but I do know she does not wish to quarrel with you. She simply… is not interested in moving forward."
James gaped at her. "There is nothing I can do?"
"I would not say it in that manner. I would say I would not waste the effort. Any apology would feel forced and to be frank I doubt in the long-term scheme of things it matters whether she dislikes you."
"You would not care if someone disliked you?"
Marlene shrugged, "many people dislike me. I only care about my reputation because of how it affects my sisters. If I was only child I would not care at all. You can take her opinion and grow from it, or you can remember that other people's opinions are none of your business. Either way, it is not something you will have to deal with much in the future."
James put down his half-empty teacup and frowned pensively. Marlene continued finishing her cup, unbothered. She was honest. Lily had reason to dislike him, but Lily had no intention of courting him, so it did not much matter, especially when she was planning on leaving the ton anyway. An added fact she kept to herself.
After a few moments of silence, the viscountess walked in and said, "oh, Marlene I am terribly sorry. I lost track of time in my garden. Do you garden?"
"Oh no trouble at all. I love flowers but I'm afraid I do not know much about them except for which are poisonous. A friend of mine has pointed those out thankfully," Marlene smiled at her warmly.
"Is it Miss Evans?" James asked her.
Marlene nodded before she quickly turned her focus to the Viscountess. James seemed nice enough, and genuinely troubled that he could have given Lily the impression of bad character, but Marlene wasn't there to see him.
"I cannot thank you enough for the other night Viscountess. I went to promenade yesterday, and everyone is speaking to me again in high esteem or at the very least speaking to me," Marlene smiled at her.
The viscountess sat across from her with a smile of her own, "of course dear. I did not believe it was fair for you to take the brunt of choices you did not make. Maybe this time we can find you a love match even," she winked at the girl.
Marlene laughed softly and said, "as lovely as that sounds I am more focused on finding a match that sets up my sister with good matches. I am the oldest I do not have the luxury of waiting, or making moves based on feelings. I wish I had that."
"I have pushed that on my children I confess," The viscountess told her, tucking her curly white hair back. "I had a loveless first marriage because I had to and when he died and I became a widow I met my second husband whom," she paused her eyes watering with a mixture of grief and sentiment. "I love fiercely to this day though he has long since passed."
James leaned over and tenderly squeezed his mother's hand, to which she beamed and kissed her son's cheek.
"I am very lucky and so are my children. I do not want them to settle when they have the advantage of not having to. I wish the same could be said for you Marlene," The Viscountess told her.
Marlene smiled, "many have far worst fates than I. Now I have to focus on who my options are."
"Yes, yes!" The viscountess said excitedly, "I saw you dance with five men save for my James."
Marlene did not say anything, but she was relieved that the Viscount wasn't considered on her list of prospects. Although he was good looking and had the exact title that would help her, she needed someone where a marriage of good standing was expected, not the expectation of love. She could not imagine entering a situation where there was a stress on feelings that may never manifest.
"The Prince, Remus Lupin, Caradoc Dearborn, Nicholas Yaxley and Phillip Nott," Marlene nodded.
"Any of those someone you could see yourself with?" The viscountess asked her.
Marlene bit her lip and said, "They are all attractive and maybe with the except of Mr. Lupin good dancers," she laughed softly. "But he was very sweet."
"He's turned into a fine man," The Viscount beamed.
"Are you interested in Remus?" James questioned her.
Marlene told him. "It's not about my opinion. It's about theirs. I have to make a match this season to not let anything trickle to my sisters. He seemed nice enough and has a good reputation, but he seems shy and less likely to pursue me in one season."
James nodded and Marlene wasn't sure if he was judging her or not, but she did not care. Her family needed security and she wasn't going to worry what a man that never had to worry about that would think about her choices. The Viscountess, on the other hand, nodded in understanding. She had to consider those things once upon a time and she proved that by saying, "I believe your best bet is Nicholas or Phillip."
"Sirius has no intention of ever settling down," James snorted.
"Also, I want security, but I do not expect myself to get a prince," Marlene laughed softly.
The Viscountess smiled, "you never know."
The Viscountess had a kindness to her that radiated through her, and Marlene did not want to dishonor that with the honesty of the situation, which was, James was right. Sirius was effortlessly handsome, a brilliant dancer and could make any woman breathless with his charm alone. In the two times she had danced with him she had laughed, blushed, and smirked at his compliments but she was fully aware he was a rake.
And a rake would sneak out of any arrangement he found himself in, so Marlene had no desire to attempt to marry one.
So instead, she smiled and spent her morning with the viscountess.
At some point her son slipped away but she hadn't noticed until she was leaving, and she had no one else to say goodbye to. She didn't mind. In fact, Marlene appreciated that she didn't have to answer anymore of his questions about her friend. The matter was better dropped.
When she arrived back at her aunt's home, Marlene considered sneaking out to Lily's. She hadn't seen the redhead in a couple of days and a part of her wanted to tell her that the Viscount was asking about her. It may have been nothing, but Marlene wasn't sure how viable Lily's plans truly were so a plan B wouldn't hurt.
The second she stepped out of the carriage she paused seeing another carriage in front of it. For a moment, she considered her aunt had a visitor but then she recognized the gold framework and royal family crest on the side and froze.
"Miss. Marlene McKinnon?" One of the attendants asked her.
She nodded sheepishly. "Your presence has been requested."
"May I ask by who?"
"The Queen Ma'am," he said simply, opening the door.
Marlene gaped at him, speechless for a few seconds.
She couldn't tell him she needed to change into something nicer or make sure she looked alright. They had clearly been waiting for her and needed to go, which horrified her because why would they be waiting on her?
Marlene however didn't get a choice. Their stern glances made that clear. They were taking her to the palace without any further explanation. Biting her lip, Marlene went into the other carriage. Once it took off she tried to think of what she could have done.
The few times she had been in front of the Queen she had been respectful and quiet. Never had she stepped out of line or done anything to call attention to herself. Even at the Potter Ball, the Viscountess set her up to dance with a few options, but she did not linger on Prince Sirius longer than the others. He was undoubtedly betrothed and even if he wasn't she would never be ridiculous enough to do something with him.
Or was it Emmeline? Had she set her up for something?
Even that sounded mad, but Marlene had no fathomable reason to grasp why she of all people would be summoned. By the time she stepped in front of the Queen she had to hold her hands tightly to stop them from shaking. It didn't work. But she hoped as long as she kept them clasped it wouldn't be obvious to the ruler of England.
"I suppose you're wondering why you are here."
Marlene nodded, "yes your majesty."
"I have a proposition for you. So good you'd be a fool to give it up," Queen Irma told her.
Marlene waited patiently, biting her tongue to stop herself from asking what it could possibly be. She had no money; she was living on the generosity of relatives and eventually that would wear out. Even if it didn't, the Blacks had more money than God. They were in volved in so many different areas of business outside of the crown, there wasn't a dime of hers that could help them.
"I have a problem. I'm looking for my successor and I'm failing to see someone qualified for the job," The Queen said bluntly. "My son was a disappointment, my daughters married poorly, so I will have to move on to the next generation and in doing so I will need to find my grandson a suitable wife. That's where you step in."
Marlene asked in pure bewilderment, "me… your majesty?"
"You would make a suitable wife for my grandson. Your beautiful, eloquent, not showy but can handle being the center of attention and you can adapt to a scandal..." The Queen smirked at her. "You are the perfect candidate. We can throw a quick wedding, no need for the pomp and circumstance."
"For…" Marlene began before the Queen cut her off.
"Yes you and my grandson. Here he comes now." The Queen told her simply.
Marlene's blue eyes snapped to the front of the room to find a tall, dark haired man with piercing light grey eyes who she had never seen before.
"This is Prince Regulus, Regulus this is your betrothed Marlene McKinnon."
If he was as in the dark as she was, he did not show it for a second. He bowed to her, telling her quietly, "nice to meet you."
She bowed back, "likewise."
"That was all I summoned you for. You can head back home. I will call for you in a couple of days to finalize everything, but you are both now engaged. Regulus give her the ring."
He took out the box, and gently took her hand to slip on the ring.
Marlene was in shock. She went from thinking she had done something to upset the crown to being a part of the crown. She felt like her brain was stuck in processing mode and could not continue. She had never spoken to this man in her life and his royal ring was on her finger before she could say or do anything about it.
And there was nothing she could say or do. The crown wanted it, the crown got it. And if she had known she was going to be in this position maybe she would be happy or at least say something but all she could do was stand there, speechless until she was dismissed and taken back to her house.
