A SEA BETWEEN

Chapter 4: Some things are better left unheard

The next day Draco did show up for breakfast but repeated the same antics. He looked bored and made NO effort to get to know Mara or her family better; he simply didn't seem to care. Draco looked at twice during breakfast. The first time Mara didn't notice because she was talking to his nice brother, but the second time happened to feel that his eyes were on her. His eyes met hers briefly and she couldn't help but be fixed for a moment. She had never seen such peculiarly beautiful yes before, and it didn't help that their colour seemed to be almost silver, green instead of the regular pigments.

He gazed at Mara angrily and she felt anger coming from him. He was angry, did he feel angry with her? As if SHE could do anything about it, as if she had come up with this ridiculous idea. Mara felt uneasy enough, there was no need for him to add to her sorrow looking at her as if he'd wished she would fall of the centre of the earth.

What made things worse, apparently, he didn't feel the same about Hermione. He was still quite focused on Hermione even though he knew she was married. She had noticed Hermione and it gave an uncomfortable feeling to know that her friend's husband-to-be couldn't keep his eyes off her. She tried to act casual for her sake, hoping SHE hadn't noticed but oh she had. That ship had sailed.

She was not the only one noticing unfortunately, because her sisters had also seen Draco stare and Mara sometimes caught them having a little chat between them, sometimes bursting out laughing. Cinderella had even nicer sisters than Mara did; she knew for sure. In the end her mother said something, and the two ladies stopped laughing openly but shared amusing looks.

After breakfast Draco curtsied again and left as if he had urgently had to be somewhere else and then she didn't see him again for he was a no-show at lunch and dinner. Her parents-in-law did their best to make excuses for him and were extremely uncomfortable but just like yesterday no one said anything to call them out. But her parents were seething internally because the obvious lack of respect shown not only for her daughter reflected upon them as well.

Mara went with Hermione to the seamstress one more time for her last fitting, after which she required to meet Mr. Cleery of the royal household so he could inform the bride & groom about the 'big day'.

"I have come up with a short programme for the wedding" the distinguished gentlemen stated in an in a drawling voice, holding a clipboard upon which the itinerary for the wedding was written.

Mara figured Mr. Cleery was around 60-ishs old and with the royal family for many years for he spoke with a lot of experience and familiarity about the Malfoys. But when she looked at him, she could sense that he seemed to be tired and bored with his profession and that years of organizing state visits, weddings, baptisms, and other celebrations had taken a toll on him. His eyes were sullen, his skin full of wrinkles and he looked tired. Mara didn't know why, but she suspected that he was going to enjoy his well-deserved pension after this ceremony.

"Breakfast will be served at 9:00. After that, the bride and groom will have time to prepare themselves. We'll gather outside on the courtyard around 11. 45, after which we'll walk to the little abbey on the premises upon which the ceremony will take place at around 12.00 hours. I must inform you that the priest has chosen a shorter version of the blessing based on the character of this ... commitment because that would be more appropriate", and he looked at each of his listeners individually as to make his point come across.

He cleared his throat and continued to speak in that drawling voice of his.

"When the Princess & Prince have taken their vows, a high tea will be organized outside, followed by lunch. After lunch, the painter will be stand by to make some sketches for your wedding portrait, this may take several hours, at least until the evening. As for the programme of said evening... Given the circumstances a large wedding reception is forfeited, and a small intimate dinner will take place. After dinner, the prince and princess will leave for their new home, Ashwood Castle, that is located 20 miles away from here".