Doe (#Wattys2016)

Chapter Twenty-Six

She had given herself hiccups and they laughed as she squeaked. She didn't have to remind him, he drove straight through the clamour of the city and into town.

"You'll have to park on Crossroad Leads." Francis sighed.

He frowned but did as she said. Quickly warning one of the shopkeepers to keep an eye on his motor. Together, they walked through the Market Square, Francis picked up some bread and Draco purchased some sweets.

Lucia was surprised to open the door to both.

"My goodness, Francis. What have you done?" She asked softly. Francis sprung into her arms to bury her face in her chest.

Draco stepped around them into the kitchen. He put fresh water in the kettle and set it on the stove. He opened the few cupboards to find teacups and saucers. While he tactfully set the table, Francis told her mother. They slowly moved towards the table as Draco made them tea and dished out the sweetmeats he'd brought.

"So you won't be back in the evenings?" Lucia's voice was husky.

"Not for long though, Mama." Francis told her.

"No, I suppose not."

"I'll send Doe down later."

"She can't travel by herself."

"She's nearly thirteen, Mum. She can."

"We'll have Adam drive her," Draco frowned at Francis, " She can take as long as she likes."

"Thank you, Master." Lucia smiled at him.

She sipped her tea and looked sad. Draco took a slice of cake and looked thoughtfully about the house.

"Well, I best gather some of your things." Lucia almost sounded bright.

Francis stood up too.

"Don't be silly. I know where everything is."

Francis sat back down as her mother headed up the stairs.

"Are you all right?" Draco asked her softly.

"Yes."

"Your mother is a little upset."

"She knows I've blown it. And she wanted me married." Francis smiled.

"She'll come around."

Lucia came back with a bundle of Francis' and Doe's things. She seemed in a hurry now to get rid of them. Draco thanked her for having him and told her that he was very sorry to take her daughters away from such a lovely home.

"Don't be silly. You are most welcome, Master Lurie." Lucia blushed.

Francis gave her mother a long forceful hug. Until, Lucia forced her away at arms length and patted her on the cheek. Francis was a little embarrassed to be told to be a 'good girl' in front of Draco, but he was looking out onto the street at that point.

They took their leave and headed for the car. Francis knew that Doe would be able handle their mother better than she could.

"Do you want to say goodbye to anyone else?" Draco asked her, before they left The Lab completely.

"No. I'll be seeing soon enough. Let's just get home."

The drive seemed to pass in a second; Francis had barely time to arrange her emotions. Draco was thoughtful in his silence, she knew that she could interrupt him but she had nothing to say. Once home, they stayed together like they had as children; perfect companions only speaking when they had to. While the others ate lunch in the dining room, Francis took Doe to Draco's old bedroom and told her what had happened. Doe looked down at her skirt, biting her lip and her dark hair fell in a screen before her face.

"But I've asked Lord Lurie to keep you on, no matter what happens," Francis assured her, "And I know Kitty and Draco will fight for you to stay."

"They could fight for you too." Doe told her.

"No. I'm not trained in anything like you."

"You could be. There's plenty of work here." Doe shook her head.

"Maybe..." Francis turned her head and caught herself in a mirror, she looked ill, pale with bruised eyes.

"You did the right thing." Doe raised her head, "And I'm proud of you."

Francis beamed at her, "Everything's going to be fine, Doe."

That evening was surreal; Draco drove Doe home to see her mother. Francis was shown to a guest room and the staff had moved in all her 'posh' clothes. Only her nightie was from home. She unpacked the little Lucia had sent with her, trying to arrange her hairbrush on the huge dressing table to make it feel more like home.

When Doe arrived, she told Francis that their mother had been a little teary but that she would be fine, they had arranged to visit on Sunday after the Meeting. Francis tried to put a brave face on it but struggled to stop herself imagining their mother all alone tonight.

"Harri was also there." Draco added, he was leant against the doorframe.

Francis looked up at him.

"He was angry but Doe calmed him down." He told her casually.

"You helped too." Doe nodded at him, "He was just surprised that Lord Lurie decided to keep us, rather than throw us out."

Francis nodded, "Harri will be fine. Especially when I'm back tomorrow or the day after."

"That's what we said." Doe smiled.

"You better pay him a visit Saturday, if you're not." Draco said.

Francis laughed, "Surely he must have seen you as one of my prison wardens."

"Actually, he seemed reassured by him." Doe told smiling, "As he's an official."

Francis laughed again at Draco's slight flush.

"He also said he'd looked out for Mummy while we're away." Doe nodded.

"I wish I could meet this Harri, he seems really nice." Kitty giggled.

Draco frowned at her as Francis and Doe exclaimed; "Yeah, he is!", "He's really nice!"

Lord Lurie was absent from dinner. Francis could picture him at the Cecils' getting the information directing from them. She found herself looking around her and lamenting that she would never see this splendour again. It was the Luries she regretted the most. She was finding them funnier and more touching all because she was feeling so sentimental. They seemed to respond to her melancholy by emphasising their joyfulness. Kitty was extra entertaining and Francis laughed until she cried which made them all laugh more. Even Draco was smiling which made Francis happier than anything else and once her eyes had started watering they just wouldn't stop.

"I'm always crying." Francis smiled weakly, later that night.

"There's no weakness in that." Draco told her.

"Says you. I don't think I've ever seen you cry." Francis laughed.

"Well it's normal for you." He smiled.

She pulled a face.

"There was that one time I cried in front of you." He said slowly.

"When?"

"I was eleven. We hadn't known each other that long. I'd spent months painting a portrait of the house, and one lesson when I wasn't looking, you painted yourself in one of the windows." He laughed.

"I didn't!" she cried with laughter. "Wow, and you cried?"

"Yes."

"I don't remember that at all."

"I was so angry. I think you got detention for a week. And I probably didn't talk to you for that length."

"I can imagine. I'm sorry."

He shrugged. "We all deal with things differently. And crying looks a lot more effective than saying nothing."

She leaned her head against his arm, but couldn't think of how to reply, how to thank him and tell him what she was feeling.