alt_narcissa | (no subject)

I hope no-one is feeling any ill after-effects from the party last night. Congratulations again, dear sister, on twenty years of marriage! And Rodolphus, I still say I cannot think of anyone else equal to the challenge. My sister is many things but easy to love is not one of them! Nevertheless, we all persevere, and thank you in particular for taking your post on the front lines.

It was certainly a festive time. I'm going back over this afternoon to help Mother and Pascoal put things back to rights after that incident near the reflecting pool. (Janus and Cornelius, you are both old enough to know better.) And I've a few other topics to cover with her.

Oh, before I forget, Revati: Yes, I can come on the 7th for the shoot, but the photographs must be at Witch Weekly by the 20th if they're to be included in the December issue. I think you ought to plan to come in to the offices the whole next week so we can supervise the layout. And verify that the girls will all be available for the runway show in early December, will you?

I'm glad to see that one effect of last year's quarantine has benefitted the Protectorate: I am receiving a higher than usual number of baby shower invitations over the next two months. And two birth announcements this week! Congratulations to the new parents, of course. And I'm sure the whole nation thanks you for your duty to the Protectorate, may it increase and prosper.

Daisy, are we on for lunch on Thursday? Mariposa says she'd not heard from you to confirm. Let me know where to meet if you still want to get together.

And Draco, dear, I'm sending you a parcel. Just a little something to say Mother is thinking of you.

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Thank you, Narcissa. May the next twenty be as challenging as the first, eh?

Oh, and I recall you asking me about that Sharrow Bay restaurant last night before the reflecting pool incident interrupted us. To answer now, belatedly, it was indeed a fine meal, largely owing to the spectacular view of Ullswater, mind, but the food was quite good, too. Not, perhaps, quite up to par with the best of New London, but they kept the whiskey flowing.

Well, I understand that liberal amounts of whiskey can make any meal much more enjoyable - and improve the taste of the food into the bargain. But I am glad you convinced her to slip away for a day or two, at least. She works far too hard, I think, when there are more than enough others who can be trusted to do the job properly.

And if you can imagine it, I even enjoyed the break from "the job," as you call it. Though I am paying the price for my time off now. So it goes.

Rodolphus' assessment of the Sharrow Bay is fair enough, though to my mind fruit and veg ought to have been fresher, for that price. The view truly was incomparable, however.

You are allowed to enjoy your husband's company now and then, Bella dear. I know, no-one else has quite your standards, save perhaps Barty or Claudius, but surely a few days off cannot exact so high a cost?

If you think my job is easy then you are welcome to try it sometime, Cissy, and see how you fare.

That is not at all what I meant and you know it. Invaluable as you are to the MLE you are not the only competent Auror. And everyone knows you would have dropped everything had there been the need.

Incomparable when she was able to spare a glance away from her book, she means!

Though it is true that one never knows when an urgent message might be dropped upon our good Aurors. I'm only glad that certain fugitives had the good sense to stay hidden this weekend.

At least you admit that it's necessary for me to always be at the ready, even if it does mean taking my eyes off the delectable view now and again.

After twenty years I know that "at the ready" is the only way you know how to be, darling Missus. It was a lovely time we had; I'm only sorry that it's already over.

I'm sure Bella would rather have caught the fugitives, regardless of the timing - but I agree with you. They'll show themselves sooner or later. It's only a matter of time.