Muse in Secret

Chapter Six

My dearest Lily,

I hope that my letter finds you in good health. I am sorry on the terms which we parted, and it has troubled me deeply every night sense. I am writing to let you know that Sirius' ward has taken poorly once more, and that the doctor does not believe he has much time left. I have postponed several meetings in the time being to be of assist to my friend. I am sorry for any distress this may cause you, and I wish you well. I promise I will send for you when time allows so you may join me for a few days in Paris to see the sights.

Please do not be angry. I send my love and well wishes and hope that you are back in my arms soon.

Truly yours,

James

James,

Of course you may stay as long as you need. I was foolish in the way I acted, and I hope you do not think less of me for it. Please tell Sirius that my thoughts and deepest prayers are with him at this time. I can't imagine losing a spouse and then knowing you are soon to lose your ward. Please stay with him as long as you need, and do not worry about me. I am well kept in England, and I am very happy here. I have thought every day on how we parted, and I have wished to write you every one of those days yet have not been able to find the words to amply describe my sorrow.

Truly yours,

Lily

James had read the letter three times over before tossing it to the fire. It was such an odd thing to do, but he felt as though if Regulus was to read it, it would somehow diminish what they had. He had been so kind, so attentive at both their retreat and their return to Paris, that the whole ordeal had made him feel very unwell indeed.

When he had brought those concerns to Regulus, they were simply brushed aside. "You have a wife- many men have wives. That does not, and will not even diminish what is between us. Should you wish to tell her, I would respect that. Should you never wish to tell her, I would respect that too. It is not my job to police your life, when you come from a world so heavily against who you are."

Still, it was hard not to notice as Regulus' jaw tightened whenever Lily was mentioned, or how he gazed longingly at James on their strolls through the Parisian streets. Jealously was a funny thing, it was hardly sensible in it's disposable. Just because one knew the correct course of action in their mind did not mean that it wouldn't lead their heart astray. Regulus meant what he said, however his heart persuaded him, and there was safety in that measure of kindness he had granted James.

Remus health came and it went. There were days when they were sure he would pass, and then the next morning he would be up and about in the Emporium as though nothing had happened at all. It was wearing at Sirius, although he would never say that aloud, and he had become short and snappy with everyone that wasn't Remus as a result.

"James do you have somewhere better to be?" A burley man in a fashionable suit had asked him. It was one of those rare meetings he actually had to to attend, and he had found himself staring out the window, thinking of Regulus, thinking of what he would pick up for the four of them before heading back to the Emporium, where he was now staying.

"Sorry?"

"I've asked three times now, on finalizing the second book." The man barked. "Corleonis is dead, Moony is gravely injured- can we have some of sort of hook to keep the readers reading? The first book is selling well, no doubt, but it's not a sellout like we hoped, and-"

James rolled his eyes, though he knew it was not proper. "Corleonis is the cat." He said. "He was turned into the cat...look, I'm sorry, I must be going, I'll make some edits and I'll send them to you."