A Rake, A Spinster, And An Arrangement

Chapter 28 : Requisites(Ep 6)

"You own a village," Hermione gasped, shaking her head as she and Draco walked back across the green towards Wiltshire. "These people, they practically live in servitude!"

"They are not slaves, Hermione," Draco said, shaking his head. "You are correct, in that their current dwellings are lacking, and in need of great repair, but they may move about as they wish, they may-"

"They are in servitude to the land!" Hermione gasped again, in absolute disbelief. "That they should fall upon their knees for want to simply hunt a deer within your woods-"

"And I have granted that permission, and then some," Draco reminded her.

He was right - he was granting them more allowances, far more than his father ever had, but to find out that, not only did the Malfoy family rent out some of their land to local farmers, but also rented out the hovels these families lived in, and the tools these families worked with... and to see that they were in such disrepair!

"We simply must do all that we can for them," Hermione begged, tightening her grasp on his arm. "And did you see the poor children? Why, I think I saw one wearing naught but a pillowcase!"

"We will do all that we can for them," Draco insisted, and he tightened his hand on her arm. "We shall make sure of it."

"You must... you must send for the lawyers today! What does the will say about caring for the tenants? Surely, surely there must be some provisions! No matter what we must do, these people, they are reliant upon us! Whatever we must do to care for them, to see to their needs-"

"It will be done," Draco assured her once more.

He halted and turned towards her, and Hermione looked up at him, trying to not stress. She had not realized that so many were reliant upon them, and that Lucius Malfoy, villain that he was, had allowed them to live in such conditions. She would not stand for it. Why, she would give from her own table, if need be, to provide for the children in particular.

A pillowcase, honestly! And how were they to stay warm during winter?

"Send for the lawyer straight away, I beg of you. We must know the contents of the entailment. Every last detail. We should go over it, together. I want this taken care of-"

"It will be handled," Draco reassured her again, and he took her hands in his, squeezing them together. "Forget the lawyers - I will write to Theodore straight away, and have the money sent. The lawyers can figure it out in London, and if there are provisions, then they can simply repay the Nott accounts. This way, we have the money sooner, and if there are no provisions, the village will be cared for."

Hermione didn't like the idea of borrowing from Theo, but-

Children in pillowcases. Something had to be done.

"You swear it," Hermione insisted, tightening her grip on his hands. "I know you do not want to borrow from anyone, but this is not for our well-being."

"Theo will find it to be a worthy cause, and if I did not allow it, he would insist upon it," Draco reassured her. "All will be well. But, if it makes you feel any better..."

His words trailed off, and she watched a smirk curve over his lips. Hermione could only guess where his mind had gone, and it was likely the same place where his hand was trailing... up her arm, down her side, and around to her lower back. His fingers spread and he tugged her closer with a hand over her arse, and in seconds, his lips were against hers.

She melted into his kiss, quickly parting her own lips as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She had not had him inside of her since the night before, seeing as how they had had an early morning to visit the village, and she was desperate for him. She had thought that, after a week of matrimony, she would be sick of him, but instead, she still craved him. She needed him within her at all times, so desperate was she.