Private Message to Daphne Greengrass

[alt_blaise]

I saw you were writing to your mother.

I know there's been a lot of talk since that article came out. Is it bothering you?

Comments

[alt_daphne]

It probably would be bothering me, but Mother's bothering me more. She's being very childish for a thirty-six year old woman, and now she and Father are fighting. And then, of course, there's the fact that she just had to give Astoria that white ermine capelet for Christmas - as if she doesn't already parade around the castle as if she owns it!

[alt_blaise]

Do you think it will get serious between your parents?

I always thought your mother could charm your father out of any mood. Perhaps it will fade quickly?

[alt_daphne]

It's hard to say, and depends greatly on how much Father knows about her well, notions. I don't think he knows much, given how overcome Mother was when she finally started revealing bits about it to me.

I'd really rather Father not find out much, too.

What of your Mother? Her engagement party was Wednesday, wasn't it? Has she written to tell you how it went?

[alt_blaise]

Well. I hope your mother is able to keep her own counsel, then.

My mother, on the other hand, seems to have decided she doesn't care what anyone thinks. Marrying an artist.

I don't really know what to make of it: he's so young it's going to be awkward, meeting him. I think he's twenty-five or twenty-six. And handsome, of course, so it's like she's dangling raw meat in front of the press tigers. At least she had the sense to schedule the party on Wednesday, so it will be the oldest news in next week's scandal sheets.

Of course, she may have got rid of him by the time we leave school for summer.

[alt_daphne]

My note to her more or less said just that.

You know, his art is quite spectacular, at least; it utterly transformed Kensington Gardens. (Though the fact that his first name is the same as Milli's cat is not very auspicious!) But his age and looks are sure to create a sensation in Dish! and everywhere else. Brace yourself for Padma's report.

But take heart, Blaise: He's no Mulciber, at least.

[alt_blaise]

Ha. I hadn't thought about that. If he sicks up in her shoes, it will shorten Mother's interest for certain.

And I'm sure Patil will make a meal of it.

No, you're right. Mother's avoided the really dangerous ones since. Actually, she still accepts their invitations, but she won't let it go so far.

[alt_daphne]

There's potions that can induce that, you know. A wedding gift, perhaps?

Yes, Padma's been trying to get me to tell her what's been going on with Mother, under the guise of deep sympathy, of course. Well, I do think that the sympathy is genuine, but it still doesn't hide the ravenous hunger for titillating gossip.

Your Mother does display wisdom about certain things, you know. I do hope that she's had the foresight to apply it to this venture with Fergus Cooper.

And speaking of ventures, I really do need to break things off with Barney once the hols are over.

[alt_blaise]

That's a tremendously good thought.

Well, I trust you'll keep Patil in check. She's not able to play you the way she does so many of the others.

What I don't understand about Mother is, well, if she wanted to play at patronage, she could do that without marrying him. All the more, if what she's after is something good-looking to escort her from one soirée to the next.

Was Bole satisfactory, as ventures go?

[alt_daphne]

No worries on that score. Padma and I know how to play this game with each other by now.

Do you suppose your Mother might actually have feelings for him, then?

Barney was fun up until the Ball was over, at least. I wouldn't have objected to continuing our association, had his interest been in me and me alone, but his continual attempts to pique Jo's jealousy have become tiresome. That silver hairband he gave me for a Christmas gift - really, did he think I wouldn't recognise it as the very same kind that Jo favours? How insulting. And the fact that he didn't care couldn't tell I was insulted was more insulting, still.

[alt_blaise]

Well, it would be a surprise.

I mean to say, they're hardly what you'd call well matched, and it would just be a bit pathetic, wouldn't it? I doubt he's likely to be in love with her, after all.

[alt_daphne]

I can see why you think it unlikely, given their disparity in age and station, but stranger things have happened.

[alt_blaise]

Do you really think he might be more than just a bauble she's collecting?

That would be awkward.

I owe him a letter in any case, but that makes it more difficult to think what to say.

[alt_daphne]

I wouldn't deign to guess, but I don't think it's a possibility that can be dismissed outright.

Just say what you normally would, Blaise. His reply may tell you a great deal.

[alt_blaise]

You're right, of course. I've just written and will send it straight off. Fancy a walk to the owlery?

By the way, I'm going to ask Professor Raz about getting up a proper duelling tourney. We'd have to see how that would fit in with the Tri-Wizard calendar, but I hope he'll think it's the right sort of thing to host while we've a school full of visitors. It would give the rest of us, who can't be Champions, a chance to show what we can do.

And now that I have such a well-fitting sparring cloak, I'd like the right chance to show it off. Thanks for that.

[alt_daphne]

A walk sounds lovely.

And a dueling tourney sounds brilliant. Particularly if it means I'll get to see you in that sparring cloak!

Thank you again for the earrings. My smile has never looked better.