ALLURING || D.M.

Chapter 40

Brown liquid danced as a teacup settled on its plate, then delicate fingers brushed a napkin against their lips to clean the breadcrust left there. Narcissa's personal drawing room had turned now into a conference room, and an archive, and a very posh tea room of course, it's intended purpose.

Barely afternoon, almost every witch in the estate reunited per the matriarch's request, to seep a Darjeeling brew and discuss the future event. Across a walnut table the elves had arranged a pile of notes from decoration ideas to flower presentation. Lilianne Lestrange sat between her mother and Thalia Mulciber, who was already busy sketching on a parchment she had pulled from her handbag. Thalia's curls bounced with every excited tap of her furious quill.

"Very well" Narcissa smoothly ending a whispered exchange with Portia Avery, "I am inclined to something classic" she rose an embossed table setting from the stack with her right hand, mother-of-pearl buttons threaded all over the decor, "But perhaps something bolder would work" the women frowned, leaning forward to watch the papers before them.

"Oh, no but you have such a splendid greenhouse, we should use that, it would be so romantic" Portia spoke almost in a gush. Livia blinked, "Romantic?". Lethe snickered under her breath as her mother openly let out a breath, "Well, yes. Surely you don't think your mother brought you here for a dance? This is a matchmaking opportunity if I've ever seen one" it was true, but the girl couldn't help but shift uncomfortably.

"I agreed to something discreet regarding that, this is not an auction" Narcissa voiced with her eyes crossed over the pictures. "No, but it could be" Thalia replied with a soft smile, "Or at least something adjacent. We can arrange the seating to foster conversation. Perhaps some games or mating dynamics?"

It was clear overall, Thalia was very enthusiastic about this whole ordeal, more so than some of the other women present. Either because she missed a good society party, felt trapped in those big walls or really intended on marrying her daughter quick, it was left to each's imagination.

Narcissa cleared her throat, "The goal, of course, is to provide a pleasant atmosphere for everyone, especially our guests. If some new alliances are formed, who are we to object?". Cassian Selwyn leaned through the door for a moment, likely having been sent to fetch a sweet, but upon seeing the room full of women, made a hasty retreat. His mother clicked her tongue, looking back at the ton.

"Now themes, masquerade could be interesting" Narcissa mused aloud, passing along some pages, "We could showcase the craftsmanship, ancient beauty in relics, in... Tilli, what do we have in the attic storage?" She addressed the small elf who was waiting by the doors, who diligently bowed and responded. "Tilli will bring the items, Mistress" Narcissa sipped her drink the four minutes it took the elf to apparate a bunch of items into the room, different in size and value.

The women rose, walking around the piles of stuff, "This is what I mean" Narcissa picked a black iron mask, handcrafted many centuries ago, "You don't see ability like this anywhere these days. I'm sure we can find a way to display it". Some nodded, the rest were far too enthralled by the curious things before them. "So a masquerade?" Thalia asked, "That's definitive?" Portia nodded, Amara muttered a soft 'Why not?', the girls were mostly silent.

"About the menu, one of my elves makes a delightful tiramisu" Avery commented while grabbing a biscuit, "Limoncello, Murdoon's favourite". "Have it done then, it shall be the feast's dessert, and perhaps bite sizes too for the passing trays at the party" Narcissa confirmed, "Would you like lamb, or is turkey better?" her face leaned as she thought.

"Anything but fish for Cyprian" Thalia spoke, her mind turning back to his fits, "Corvinus doesn't exactly like it either". As if summoned by name, the doors creaked open and a group of Death Eaters strode in, uninvited and stern-faced. Rabastan Lestrange was at the helm, flanked by Corvinus Travers and Thane Rowle. "Afternoon tea" Corvinus said, eying the petit fours, "How civilised but we are supposed to be in a meeting".