Doe (#Wattys2016)

Chapter Fifty

Lucia Bullire was relieved to have a full house again.

The few days she had spent in her new house, had been long and lonely. She had been worried sick about her daughters' watching the silent street outside, where the bus had stopped running to the bus stop for two whole days! It was a quiet street anyway she would soon find out. On the third day it began to run again, the early shift in the morning and back again in the late evening. Each time she watched from the window, reminding herself of the little ridiculous dog that had once been her place, she watched the staff disembark, noted their melancholy demeanour (although she did not know them) and thought that things at Lurie manor must still be bad.

         On the fourth day, Adam the chauffeur turned up with Francis' entire luggage but not with her. Lucia felt a little better to surround herself with her daughter's things even if she didn't recognise any of it. Harri appeared once more, nervously tugging on the doorbell, and sending a piercing chime ringing into every empty room of the house. Lucia was glad of his company, eager for any news, for any thing that wasn't herself, really. However, he had nothing to say, he had not heard again from Francis or Doe and the few gossips in the Square were unlikely to know anything concrete. After awhile the silence got too embarrassing and Harri took his leave with a blush.

      However, the fifth day was a Sunday. Lucia awoke extra early and dressed for The Meeting, she had thought it should become part of her routine as a resident of Angel's Walk and she had been right. Outside motors were purring and young couples were wrestling their toddlers into them. Lucia wanted for a few of these to go, embarrassed to be seen walking to the Town Hall.

       She was fifteen minutes late and was confused as to where to sit, as an inhabitant of an Angel's Walk town house she was entitled to take a seat near the front of the hall, but she was not brave enough to walk down the aisle when she was late. She spotted Harri and Deric, sat a few rows from the back and made towards them, hardly wanting to think about it. She perched herself next to them and they acknowledged each other with a nod. Lucia was startled to hear the three Lurie's voices, Lord Lurie, Lady Lurie and Draco all provided words of encouragement and sadness. It was a moving service, marking the memory of Lord Cecil and the horror at discovering a monster so close to them. Lucia found herself being drawn in, believing every word, she trusted that they had no idea their own family member was one. When they had finished, there was a heavy bittersweet silence; Lucia even found her eyes were feeling a little watery. Then she was shocked to hear Lacy Cecil's voice, naming Francis as Lord Cecil's successor. Francis took to the stage and gave a short but strong speech, Lucia felt her heart swell with pride and she beamed at the dumbstruck faces of the Christiansens.

Now, Harri was here. No longer awkward and hesitant but serious and strong, listening to the complex conversation that was taking place at the kitchen table, though he still managed to help Lucia with the electrics. Kitty too, was trying to help with food and trick but really she was just making it more difficult for them.

"Sit down, girl," Harri told her with a kind smile, "Lucia has two hands."

Kitty blushed and rushed back to Doe's side at the table.

"You should hire some staff for this big house, for your mum, Fran," Harri said.

Francis nodded distractedly.

"What are we actually here for? Have you got us here to discuss what's happening next?" Draco asked, he was standing up, one hand on the back of Francis' chair, which he occasionally left to do a little pacing.