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Private Message to Lucius and Barty
Oct. 4th, 2011 10:15 pmYou both ought to know that I've been with Norah since approximately five o'clock this afternoon. She went so far as to track me down while I was looking for Amanda's loveseat, if you can believe it, and implored me to come through the Floo to see her.
Barty, she's absolutely beside herself that you've not sent her any word. She showed me the owl you sent two weeks ago - the same, in substance, that you sent me - informing of your mission in the country. I explained that you'd made it clear you could not be sending any further post, at least in the short-term, but she's utterly convinced it means you've met with foul play. I even pointed out that you made journal entries as recently as Saturday as proof that you were perfectly well - and somehow that fact only served to further convince her that you are in fact in extreme danger.
She had a deal to say about your father's work on Hooper's trial, as well, to the effect that she could not understand why he would log such 'extraordinary' hours when he is representing someone so nefarious, whose fate merely requires observing a few formalities. While I can't fault her assessment of the unfortunate Mr Hooper, I gather she was particularly upset because she believed Mr Crouch's diligence due more to avoiding her than to any true sense of duty. Of course, I did my best to assure her that his motives were not likely to be so callous - but then, your mother being your mother, and your father being your father .... Well.
Lucius, I know we'd planned to dine at The Rookery this evening (and yes, I got your owl asking where I was) but I've been quite occupied with what happened next. Norah grew so distraught - and so resistant to my ministrations - that I had to summon a Healer to see to her. She refused to go to St Mungo's despite Healer Strangeweale's advice (Otto's son, this is - he was the first to respond on the Urgent Floo line. Really, Barty, it would have been easier had Norah's girl shown more sense, or had you given her back one of the elves - but this is far from the right time for that discussion, I know!) - at any rate, she simply would not be budged, insisting that she had to remain at home in case she received some message from her son.
Well, Marston agreed so far as to fetch additional help to soothe her. He asked me to stay so that she had a qualified witch with her in case anything should happen whilst he gathered ... reinforcements (his word, not mine). While he was gone, Norah worked herself into - well, I suppose I would call it an 'episode' of some kind. I daresay she was running a fever and her colour looked a fright - and she was racked with pain, the poor thing. I had the girl make more tea but even that did not calm her. Finally I had to cast a tranquilising cantrip to achieve a little peace for us both.
Now, Barty, don't be cross with her for putting me to the trouble. Healer Strangeweale returned (after half an age) with her regular Healer, who put her to the full exam. The news is not good, I'm afraid. He is fairly certain that the disease has worked its way into her brain and - well, he does not think it will be long. Perhaps a matter of weeks, maybe even days. He wanted to send you an owl but I knew that could be potentially very troublesome for you at present so I offered to write here instead. He knows we correspond and thought perhaps you'd be more disposed to reply to me than to an unknown petitioner.
And forgive me, both of you, for airing this private matter in front of Lucius, but I did want to explain why I missed our engagement. I hope you'll understand and forgive the prerogative of a wife in disclosing such sensitive information.
But Barty, if you can remove yourself, I think you'd better come home very soon. And if you cannot - well, I think you'd best find a way to let your father know that you're unavoidably delayed.
Barty, she's absolutely beside herself that you've not sent her any word. She showed me the owl you sent two weeks ago - the same, in substance, that you sent me - informing of your mission in the country. I explained that you'd made it clear you could not be sending any further post, at least in the short-term, but she's utterly convinced it means you've met with foul play. I even pointed out that you made journal entries as recently as Saturday as proof that you were perfectly well - and somehow that fact only served to further convince her that you are in fact in extreme danger.
She had a deal to say about your father's work on Hooper's trial, as well, to the effect that she could not understand why he would log such 'extraordinary' hours when he is representing someone so nefarious, whose fate merely requires observing a few formalities. While I can't fault her assessment of the unfortunate Mr Hooper, I gather she was particularly upset because she believed Mr Crouch's diligence due more to avoiding her than to any true sense of duty. Of course, I did my best to assure her that his motives were not likely to be so callous - but then, your mother being your mother, and your father being your father .... Well.
Lucius, I know we'd planned to dine at The Rookery this evening (and yes, I got your owl asking where I was) but I've been quite occupied with what happened next. Norah grew so distraught - and so resistant to my ministrations - that I had to summon a Healer to see to her. She refused to go to St Mungo's despite Healer Strangeweale's advice (Otto's son, this is - he was the first to respond on the Urgent Floo line. Really, Barty, it would have been easier had Norah's girl shown more sense, or had you given her back one of the elves - but this is far from the right time for that discussion, I know!) - at any rate, she simply would not be budged, insisting that she had to remain at home in case she received some message from her son.
Well, Marston agreed so far as to fetch additional help to soothe her. He asked me to stay so that she had a qualified witch with her in case anything should happen whilst he gathered ... reinforcements (his word, not mine). While he was gone, Norah worked herself into - well, I suppose I would call it an 'episode' of some kind. I daresay she was running a fever and her colour looked a fright - and she was racked with pain, the poor thing. I had the girl make more tea but even that did not calm her. Finally I had to cast a tranquilising cantrip to achieve a little peace for us both.
Now, Barty, don't be cross with her for putting me to the trouble. Healer Strangeweale returned (after half an age) with her regular Healer, who put her to the full exam. The news is not good, I'm afraid. He is fairly certain that the disease has worked its way into her brain and - well, he does not think it will be long. Perhaps a matter of weeks, maybe even days. He wanted to send you an owl but I knew that could be potentially very troublesome for you at present so I offered to write here instead. He knows we correspond and thought perhaps you'd be more disposed to reply to me than to an unknown petitioner.
And forgive me, both of you, for airing this private matter in front of Lucius, but I did want to explain why I missed our engagement. I hope you'll understand and forgive the prerogative of a wife in disclosing such sensitive information.
But Barty, if you can remove yourself, I think you'd better come home very soon. And if you cannot - well, I think you'd best find a way to let your father know that you're unavoidably delayed.
