Doe (#Wattys2016)

Chapter Thirty

Lady Lurie's presence in the house changed things dramatically. Draco was called away to attend more functions with his parents and increased his time spent as an officer in the Home Security. The other siblings were not invited to attend as many functions and they tried to stay out of the Lady's way. Kitty had been reduced to near tears, with the loss of her mother and Lady Lurie's disdain of her. She was being dismantled and there was nothing she could do about it. Lady Lurie seemed to take her existence as more of an offence than that of Samantha's or even Tim's. Draco was raised even further above his siblings. The concentration was firmly taken from the rest and pooled into him. It made him miserable.

Lady Lurie and Francis thankfully, had little to do with each other. Francis stayed strictly to the nursery and Draco's part of the house. Lady Lurie never visited the children and was out during most of the day anyway, but there was a constant tension that she may appear. Which she did infrequently for her son.

Francis was therefore surprised when Lady Lurie interrupted their history lesson a few week's after her arrival. The master stuttered into silence at her appearance.

"Do you mind?" she asked him.

"N-not not at all."

"Yes we do." Draco growled, "This is our education."

"Draco." She rolled her eyes.

"What do you want?"

"The girl."

Francis jumped in surprise; was this to be her end? Not Lord Lurie's word at all but the Lady's?

"I want to take her shopping," Lady Lurie continued as if talking to herself, "I've seen her wardrobe. Tiberius dresses her like a child. No wonder her engagement fell through."

"It didn't." Francis protested.

"It's your coming out ball soon." Nona said, "Would you have yourself presented to society as a five-year-old?"

Francis blushed; it was true that she had been thinking the same things. Now that she seemed to be staying here indefinitely, she had entertained thoughts about her winter birthday. However, to hear these things said by a dispassionate stranger was disturbing.

"Francis is capable of going in her own time." Draco snarled.

"No she isn't." Nona turned to her, "I'm sure you'd appreciate a woman's guidance."

"Well I..." stuttered Francis.

"Don't you think that's the reason you find it all so hard? Samantha had her mother to teach her and Marie seems to have taught hers after her own vulgar fashion but that is still ten times better than your own." She said this with the without the slightest flicker of emotion that Francis wondered why she bothered to be mean.

Francis was brought to the uncomfortable truth. It would have been fantastic to have had a female ally in the world of dresses and decorum.

"No." Draco stood up suddenly.

"Draco." Francis cautioned him, she stood up too, "I would love a trip like this and I am honoured that your mother wishes to be my guide."

Draco looked at her incredulous. Francis shook her head and stepped around him. Nona's sharp blue eyes were dancing in glee.

"I'll meet you in ten minutes." She glided out of the room.

Francis gathered her things together avoiding Draco's gaze, though he was sat perfectly still and composed now.