Private Message to Padma Patil

[alt_blaise]

Say. I find I've this evening free.

What do you say we have a nice supper somewhere. The Thames Room, maybe? We could walk the Embankment before since the weather's fair.

I'll stop for you at half-five, shall I?

Comments

[alt_padma]

Oh.

Oh, I'd love to--but I can't. It's been so mad here, and we've been cleaning and cooking all day because Mr Gowda's coming tonight. Ugh, I can't even express how utterly horrid he is. Mum's totally convinced he's a better match for Pav to Mr Sharma.

Pav's just been a wreck. We can't seem to think of any argument Mum will listen to.

[alt_blaise]

Find something on him that will change her mind.

I mean to say, if you could find out he's got a wife already. Or that he's taken all the gold out of his Gringott's account and put it in Bubotuber research. Or that he's a regular client at Mistress Firkin's. Something dodgy that would make her change her mind.

So why should you have to be there tonight? It's not as if he's thinking of marrying both of you.


Never mind, then.

[alt_padma]

Well, he's already a widower. I guess we could speculate that he murdered his first wife but he doesn't seem the sort. He's too flabby.

I have to be there because it's family. Mum and my aunts would never let me hear the end of it if--

And there's Pav. She needs moral support, too.

I'd invite you but you know that's asking for trouble. Look, what about tomorrow?

[alt_blaise]

I'll have to look at my day book. Mother had something or other planned, I think, but I expect she'd as soon I begged off. We could take in a museum in the afternoon, if you like. If there's an exhibition you were wanting to see?

[alt_padma]

I think just being out of the house would be a relief, honestly.

What about coming to yours? We don't have to do anything special.

And. Would you mind terribly if Pavs came along, too? Only I think she really needs to not be alone with Mum, they're just screaming at each other almost all the time now. It's worse when the aunts are about, too.

I've got to go, the family are arriving. We've got about 20 people here tonight. I told you it's mad.

[alt_blaise]

Oh, why not. Bring Parvati.

Do you want me to ask someone along to even the numbers?

[alt_padma]

Anyone but Teds.

The last thing she needs is a little creeper like him, all right?