When the Roses Bloom Again by TheBlack'sResurgence

Chapter 33

The Wolves of Paris

It was not uncommon for Charlus to be summoned to his father's study, but the man doing so was quite unusual when they had already spent much of the day together in the Wizengamot chambers.

Either something of great importance had arisen in the few hours since Charlus had seen him, or his father wished to put him to the test on one of the duties he would one day be expected to fulfil.

He entered the room to find the Lord Potter scratching away with his quill, likely penning a missive to one of many of his associates.

Charlus waited patiently until the wax seal was affixed to the note and placed on a small pile of others that had been recently written.

William looked tired, his expression almost unreadable when he finally looked up and took note of his presence.

"Sit down, son," he instructed.

Charlus did so, wondering why he had been sent for.

"It has been brought to my attention that you were seen in Diagon Alley with Miss Black and that you were rather…friendly towards one another."

That had been weeks ago now, and though Charlus had not forgotten his impromptu outing with Dorea, he hadn't thought such a trivial thing would cause issue with his father.

"I was with her," he confirmed unabashedly.

William sighed, his jaw tightening, but not in anger. If anything, the man was concerned.

"Meeting with her without mine or the permission of Lord Black was a risky thing to do, Charlus," he pointed out. "For the two of you to spend time together in such a way is not proper. Dancing at a public even where I was present is one thing, but this is problematic."

"It was not planned," Charlus defended. "We bumped into each other, and she asked if I would escort her whilst she shopped. Would it not have been improper for me to deny her?"

William eyed his son speculatively.

"It would," he agreed, "but from what I have been told, the two of you were quite familiar with one another."

"What I do and who I see has bugger all to do with anyone else," Charlus returned heatedly.

William shook his head.

"That is where you are wrong," he countered. "When there are two families as prominent as ours and the Blacks, it becomes everyone's business. It shouldn't be. You are quite right, but it is. You must understand the significance of this."

"I helped her with her shopping, nothing more."

William nodded his understanding, and he offered his son a sympathetic smile.

"You are infatuated with her," he said simply. "I could see when the two of you were dancing that you were smitten, but it is beyond that now, isn't it?"

Charlus deflated as he nodded.

"There has never been a union between our two families, and for good reason," William reminded him. "Our politics are too different, our beliefs not in line with those of the other. The reason there hasn't been a union is because there is nothing to be gained from one another from such a thing. Do you understand, Charlus?"