Private Message to Barty Crouch, Jr

[alt_narcissa]

Is there something you've not told me about work lately - something about more threats? Your mother seems to think you dare not set foot inside or out for fear of assassins.

I found somewhat more unlikely her notion that your servants would allow anyone into Marlborough on pretext without your express arrangement.

You may have gathered she dragged herself to the WI yesterday, and I heard her tell Aleta that she absolutely intends to be at Monday's lecture, although she was several times assured that the event has been managed expertly by Diana.

Tell me what I can do to convince her she needs to give up her responsibilities and withdraw, particularly if she persists in spreading wild and unsettling rumours about the attention you have attracted from those villains in that DogStar group. Beyond the impropriety of the tales, it would best for her own health to avoid further shocking her system.

She seemed to believe your father would object strenuously to any semblance of shirking on her part.

Comments

[alt_crouch_jr]

Narcissa.

I cannot imagine what's got into Mother. Something the Healers have prescribed, most likely.

Yes, she imagines that I'm being pursued by assassins.

She imagines that I'm in danger at every minute, in every place. The field. The Ministry. Our Lord's court at Buckingham.

She imagines the elves will breach security at Marlborough. (And unfortunately she's managed to talk her own way past my elves more than once, but as they were her elves before they came to serve me, that's a unique problem, not a sign that just any sod off the street could wheedle his way in.)

She imagines my Father would be judgmental. And he would. If he noticed at all. It's an even toss which would be the case.

This isn't news to you, I'm sure. Father drives himself 'so as not to disappoint' her, and she does the same, but really they're each of them running after whatever it is they each want and blaming the other for pressing them to it.

When they're not laying it all on me, that is. She's as like to tell you I'm her only concern. My 'position' is her highest priority. As I haven't a wife to concern herself about such things on my behalf.

And HE thumps about, insinuating that he's forced to whatever it is he does because I've put such constraints on his freedom. I should really have let them put him on trial and have done with it. She'd have been much the better for it.

But, of course, it was Mother who begged that I do something, anything, to see him saved from judgement. And at the time, she was so pathetically ill-

But I should not have let her persuade me.

I would not do the same again now.

[alt_narcissa]

So there haven't been any fresh threats, then? I do hope that's true, but I would be sorry to think your mother has lost touch with reality to such an extent.

You think it's a side effect of something they've given her at St Mungo's?

[alt_crouch_jr]

There are always threats. You know that much.

As for Mother. I've scheduled an appointment with her Healer tomorrow.