A Rake, A Spinster, And An Arrangement

Interlude #4 : Blaise Zabini, Marquees of Salisbury

"What are you doing here?"

Blaise paused, glass at his lips, frozen. He knew where he was, he knew what he was doing, and he knew exactly why he was there. Blaise Zabini, Marquees of Salisbury, at the Gentlemen's Club, drinking brandy alone, because all of his friends had fucked off and found partners.

The old boys club, the three friends, brothers really, single until the end... well, and also Pansy, but-

Draco was off in the country with his new wife, Pansy had disappeared into Longbottom Manor, never to be seen again, Theo was living in domestic bliss with his love and his future wife, who was already pregnant, and Blaise...

Blaise had no one but his wealth and his alcohol.

He was exactly where he needed to be.

So why in the bloody fucking hell was Luna Lovegood at the Gentlemen's Club, a place that was only for Gentlemen , so late at night, without a chaperone, wearing... What in the...

Blaise stared at her, not even certain he could find a response. She was wearing clothing much like his own, trousers, boots, a coat, and her hair was gone, likely tucked underneath the very out of fashion high collar she wore... was there coal on her face, to look like... like growth?

Why was she dressed like a man?

"You're probably asking yourself why I'm dressed like a man."

If Blaise believed in witches and witchcraft, he would definitely think that she was one of them.

"Do not be afraid. It really is me under this disguise."

"Yes, I figured that out," Blaise blurted.

Should he offer her a coat, to cover her legs, or should he be calling for her father, or a doctor, or-

"You see, women are not allowed in the club. I find that so strange. We're not so different - we all have two legs and two arms, and a head and a heart, and a brain, and-"

"Does your father know you're here?" Blaise asked, cutting her off.

Her head tilted to the side, as though she was confused, but Blaise's question should not be confusing in the slightest. It was a simple yes or no... and, given how she was dressed... Blaise didn't know many fathers, but he knew enough to know that he should be wary of them.

"I should think so," Luna said, as though still a bit dazed. "After all, he is the one that told me I should visit."

His cup had been at his lips, to swallow a big swig of brandy, but he sputtered at her words. A father encouraging his young daughter to visit-

"Why?" he asked, confused.

"Oh, that's such a long story," she said with a roll of her eyes, then looked down at the chair beside him. "Aren't you going to invite me to join you?"

Blaise was so shocked, he couldn't even protest. He waved his arm towards the empty seat, and she quickly sat beside him, reaching for the bottle on the table and pouring it into an empty glass - Blaise had ordered two others out of habit, not that they would be used. He watched in horror as she brought the drink to her lips, and sipped at it as daintily as if it were afternoon tea.

"Oh, that's rather lovely," she said airily.

Lovely? It was cheap...

Blaise drained his own glass and leaned forward to refill it, his eyes staying on Miss Lovegood as he did so. Never before had he met a woman so utterly confusing... and truth be told, terrifying as well.