[HP Doujin] 1943

"Puis-jeparleraMme. Clarissa, s'ilvousplait?" (Can Mrs. Clarissa speak to me?)

"Jesuis desole, Madameestoccupeacompterlescadeaux, puis-jepredendreunmessage?" (Excuse me, Madam is busy counting presents, I can send you a message.)

The head of the French maid in the fireplace was spinning as she spoke rapidly.Elisabeth reclined on the sofa and replied in blunt French: "Ok, s'ilvousplaitluidemanderquandellevient." (Okay, ask her when she can come.)

"Biensur, Mme. Stuart." (No problem, Mrs. Stuart.)

Elizabeth walked around to the sofa and sat down, playing with a string of pearl necklaces on her chest, and said, "It looks like Clarissa won't be here for an hour."

Francis lifted his eyes from a copy of Transfiguration Today, looked at her, and said calmly, "It's okay, we'll wait."

It was a pouring rain noon in late July 1955.Elizabeth sat on the sofa, staring at the gray rain curtain outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.She was wearing a long white silk dress with a light beige shawl hanging loosely over her shoulders.A few loose strands of chestnut hair fell across her forehead, and a milky white pearl shone softly on her small earlobe.

Her face was still beautiful, but it was no longer as rosy and lively as before, full of vitality.The comfortable family life day after day and year after year brought a quiet and pale temperament and a reserved and calm taste to her eyebrows and gestures.

She had rarely argued with Francis over the years, and had never had a fight with him.She does what he says.She usually stays with the children in the manor, and never goes out without special circumstances.She began to spend more and more time shutting herself in the study to read.

Elizabeth also learned French.The tutors, nurses, and maids in the Stuart family were all French.Francis works in the Department of International Magical Cooperation, and usually has a lot of dealings with French wizards. There are often French guests at home for dinner. Melinda and Eleanor can also speak fluent French.

They're waiting for Clarissa to come over with her kids, and then they'll floo to Paris together.Recently, the situation outside has been chaotic, and smuggling gangs on the British-French border have become more and more rampant, so the free cross-border fireplace travel between the two countries has been cancelled.Ordinary people who want to go to France must submit an application form to the Immigration Office of the Department of Transport at least two months in advance, and then go to the Ministry of Magic for an interview according to the scheduled time after getting the serial number. Only after passing can they get a transit permit.Francis is the director of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, with a special status, so the fireplace in Stuart's house can always freely lead to France and is not monitored by the Ministry of Magic.The entire Ministry of Magic can enjoy such treatment, except for Francis, and only the Minister of Magic himself.

Tony had a grand wedding in Paris two years ago.At that time, she had just had a miscarriage and was very weak, so she didn't go.Francis told her when she came back: "Almost the entire wizarding community in London and Paris was invited. Many people said that they had never experienced such a luxurious wedding in their life, and it was a waste of money."

She just smiled then.She would be surprised if Tony Randall's wedding would be simple and low-key.

I remember that when the news of Tony's engagement just came out, Clarissa rushed over and had a long talk with Francis in the study.

"He is actually engaged to Victoria's daughter Claudia! When I saw the news in the newspaper, I couldn't believe my eyes!" Elizabeth heard Clarissa shouting angrily.

"Don't worry, Claudia is a good girl. She hasn't spoken to her mother since she graduated from Beauxbatons," Francis said. "I saw her a few times in Paris."

Over the years, she has somewhat learned about the affairs of Stuart's family.Victoria has always lived in France.Neither Frances nor Clarissa is willing to talk about the older sister.Clarissa simply mentioned to Elizabeth: "Victoria was a selfish and cruel woman. She was a poisonous scorpion."

Tony has been living in Paris since his marriage, working for the British Ministry of Magic's embassies abroad.After his daughter was born, he planned to throw a party. "You must come and see her," Tony wrote to Elizabeth. "Estella is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. After the banquet, you can go with Claudia to my Carlo’s villa for a month’s vacation.”

Elizabeth did not stay long in Paris. After attending the banquet gathered by socialites, Francis returned to the Ministry of Magic. Tony sent Elizabeth, Claudia and Estella to Monte Carlo.

The house originally belonged to Mr. Randall.Mr. Randall died six months ago, and Tony inherited all the property, including this comfortable and peaceful holiday home in the Bernard Valley in Monte Carlo.

The Bernard Valley is the most famous pure wizarding villa area in Monte Carlo. It is an oasis free from tourists and hustle and bustle. Most of the people who live here are rich or famous in the magic circles of Britain and France.In the eyes of Muggles, Bernard's Hollow is a dangerous crater that must not be approached.Housing prices here are frighteningly high, and it is a paradise for wealthy wizards.What makes ordinary people even more angry is that these houses are almost unused all year round, and those people only live in them when they come to Monte Carlo to cool off in July and August.

The car passed several Muggle villages, and drove along the winding mountain road into a tree-lined valley.The flat road spirals upwards, with palm trees and broad-leaved forests that seem to grow naturally on both sides, but are actually carefully pruned and maintained by gardeners every day, verdant evergreen silver needle pine and layers of golden bells.Those blooming white and tender yellow buds weigh down the dark green stems and leaves, shaking gently in the wind.

Tony stopped the car in front of a well-proportioned and elegant three-story white villa, got out of the car and pushed Estella's crib down.The nanny and the servants of Randall's family came out to carry the luggage. Becca carried Elizabeth's handbag and directed a servant to get the box.

Both sides of the black wrought iron gate in the style of the Medici family are covered with lush broad-leaved forests. When a gust of wind blows, there are swaying tree shadows and fallen leaves above the head, and the air is full of the aroma of violets.A cobbled path leads through the garden to a large and airy Louis XIV porch at the entrance of the house. The dark brown double oak doors have been opened, and the butler and maid stand in the polished marble foyer to greet them. their arrival.

Claudia had gone in with the child and nurse, and the nurse and her valet, while Elizabeth remained in the shaded hall.The low green hedges in the garden are trimmed neatly and neatly. There is a sculpture of the goddess of laurel on the left, and an elegant white fountain on the right. Thin drops of water spray out from the tail of the golden mermaid sculpture, shining in the sun. Shining brightly.

At the gate, two male servants were washing Tony's car. One of them sprayed water from the tip of his wand, while the other was wiping a rag up and down with his wand.

Tony came out of the door, took out a beautiful sterling silver cigarette case, and handed it to Elizabeth.

She shook her head.Tony smiled, took a cigarette by himself, paused on the porch railing, and said, "I forgot you quit smoking."

"I never asked you when you first met Claudia," Elizabeth said.

Tony smiled and lit a cigarette: "When we went to Greece for vacation in the summer of sixth grade. The first time I met her was not pleasant at all. She thought I was her driver, and I played a prank and threw her away. On the main road."

Elizabeth laughed: "Then why did you get together again?"

Tony breathed out a puff of smoke calmly, with the same smirk on his face as before: "Who made my brother so attractive."

She rolled his eyes at him, folded her arms on her chest, and looked at the servant who was busy washing the car at the door.Tony drives a black Mercedes, which is much more stable than before.I still remember that when he was in London, once he drove an Aston Martin to pick her up and honked the horn wantonly downstairs, causing the whole street to stare at her.She couldn't bear it and said to him: "Can't you keep a low profile?" So, when Tony came to pick her up the second time, she changed to a Maybach, and she glared at him and said: "In the concept of people like you, low-key Just change the 400 million car into a 300 million car!"

Tony whistled: "The word low-key doesn't exist in my concept."

Thinking of their endless bickering in the past, Elizabeth felt very far away, and now she was getting more and more tired and peaceful, and she really didn't know where all the previous energy went.

"Have you seen Sylvia lately?" Tony asked her.

She felt a little strange, because Tony seldom mentioned Sylvia's name in front of her before.She looked at him and said calmly, "No."

With one hand in his trouser pocket, Tony leaned leisurely on a stone pillar, looking at the garden full of afternoon sun, and said, "She may be in some trouble."

"Oh?"

Tony shrugged and said, "I heard some rumors in the Ministry of Magic that she was involved with some criminals. But they haven't found evidence to arrest her yet." He glanced at her and added: "Francis doesn't want you to know this, so don't tell him I said it."

Elizabeth's expression was still very calm, she smiled lightly and said, "Of course not, thank you."

******

The next day, Elizabeth discovered that there was a larger garden behind the house, connected to a private lake, pure Breton style, romantic, elegant, peaceful and comfortable.

The sky is blue and clear, unbelievably sweet, and the air in the afternoon is quiet and fresh. Walking through the glass greenhouse planted with various magical herbs, you will find a lawn like a carpet. The green hedges are neat and low, and hydrangeas and peonies are blooming at your feet. , the tall plane trees and citrus trees form a green dome on both sides of the hedge, and the sunlight passing between the leaves seems to turn into a light mint green light, fresh and elegant, as beautiful as a fairy tale.

In the afternoon, the butler and his servants laid out tables and chairs under the plane tree to prepare for afternoon tea.When Elizabeth and Claudia sat down here, they couldn't help sighing: "A rich man like Tony really knows how to enjoy life. If Francis had his thoughts, Stuart Manor would not be here long ago. So rigid."

Claudia smiled, her blond hair looked very soft and charming in the sun, and her blue eyes were shining: "People in the Stuart family have always been like this, if Tony can be as mature and rational as Francis , he is no longer a small foreign-related clerk in the Department of Transportation."

Elizabeth smiled. People like Tony have no political ambitions at all. He works in the Ministry of Magic just to find something for himself.Even if he doesn't go to work, the money in his hand is enough to squander for several generations - he is the major shareholder of several top wizard luxury hotels in Europe. In addition to Europe, his business scope also includes French Morocco, British Kenya, New Zealand, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire and other colonies, he also owns two mines in Africa, invests in the Greek banking industry, and has countless properties in Britain and France.

At this time, the servant came over and brought a teapot, a milk pot, coffee and all kinds of exquisite pastries. "Is there any letter from me?" asked Elizabeth.

The valet put the silver sugar bowl on the table with his white-gloved hand, bowed politely, and said in French: "I am sorry to have no letter from you, Mrs Stuart."

"Are you waiting for someone to write back to you?" Claudia asked curiously.

"Nothing special," Elizabeth said with a gentle smile on her face. "I'm just waiting for the nanny to write to me to see how Charles is doing."

"Oh, I'm in the same mood as you. As long as I don't hear from Estella for a moment, I feel flustered." Claudia said with a smile.

Elizabeth nodded, picked up a lump of sugar and threw it into the exquisite white bronzing fine porcelain teacup, picked up a spoon to stir it, and took a sip from the teacup.

She is lying.For her now, lying was easier than blinking.A few days ago, as soon as she heard Tony say that Sylvia might be suspected by the Ministry of Magic, she sent her a letter asking where she was. "You can come to France and hide for a while," she wrote. "Use our fireplace, take my letter with you, and the housekeeper will let you in."

There had never been any so-called friendship between her and Sylvia.They weren't friends, they looked down on each other, they mocked each other, but from long ago they had developed a strange, indelible bond -- a bond of bondage, of survival.They don't like each other, but they don't regard each other as enemies.

But Sylvia never wrote back to her.One day at the end of July, it rained heavily in Monte Carlo. Elizabeth happened to be walking by the beach. With a gust of wind, the torrential rain poured down. The coast guard drove the boat to escort the yacht back to the port. The parasols on the beach The ice cream truck and the ice cream truck were all soaked, and tourists in bathing suits hugged blankets, put picnic baskets on their heads, and rushed to the beach to give tourists changing rooms.

Elizabeth was wearing a beige dress, with a copy of Soir de France on her head, and in black high-heeled shoes, she ran across the quickly flooded road and ran under the awning at the entrance of an Italian restaurant.

The wind and rain on the seaside always come extremely fast, a gust of wind blows past, and all the umbrellas in the hands of passers-by turn over like trumpet flowers, and the palm trees and holiday huts along the road are submerged in the white mist and rain.Elizabeth and many people stood crowded together under the awning. From time to time, someone opened the door and walked into the dining room. Every time someone opened the door, the bell at the door would ring crisply, mixed with the sound of wind and rain and the noise of people.

Another crisp copper bell rang, and a petite young woman with short curly hair came out. She was wearing a little black dress and a beige windbreaker, holding a folder in one hand , holding a cup of takeaway coffee in one hand.Seeing Elizabeth, she stopped in surprise and froze in place.

Elizabeth was also taken aback.At this time, the storm that swept across the harbor gradually weakened, the sky became clearer, and there were fewer people under the awning. Elizabeth stood where she was, her face was a little pale, surprise flashed in her dark eyes, sentimentality and embarrassment .

They both wanted to pretend they didn't see each other, but now there was no way out.So Elizabeth showed a faint smile and said in a calm voice, "Hi, Ada."

Ada looked at the two teenage boys running by the side of the road, then turned her head, cleared her throat, and said awkwardly, "Hi, Lizzie."

They were silent for a few more seconds. Elizabeth took a step forward, looked at the blue and calm bay not far away, and said, "The weather here is really changeable."

"The coast is like this in summer." Ada said, turning her head to look at her. "I live in France now and work for the "Marseille Witches Morning."

"Oh?" Elizabeth said quickly, "I happen to be here on vacation."

"I saw the news of your marriage in the newspaper. Happy wedding," Ada said.

"Thank you." Elizabeth smiled slightly.The last time they met, they almost got into a fight, but fortunately Francis' assistant passed by and pulled them away.However, after so many years, they have both matured and become more sophisticated. Both of them kept silent about what happened last time, and just exchanged polite greetings.

"What about you?" Elizabeth asked, "Are you planning to settle down?"

Ada shrugged with a smile: "No, the life of a reporter is always adrift. I'm not as lucky as you. By the way, Mr. Stuart is a busy man, why do you have time to come here for vacation?"

Elizabeth hesitated, wondering if it would be appropriate to mention Claudia in front of her.She knew Ada had liked Tony since first grade.

"Francis isn't in France," Elizabeth said. "I... I'm staying at Tony and Claudia's."

To Elizabeth's surprise, Ada just smiled and said, "Oh, I remembered, Tony seemed to have said you would come a few days ago."

"What?" Elizabeth looked at her in surprise, not understanding what was going on.

"I am now a special columnist for the foreign agency of the British Ministry of Magic, so I will have some contact with Tony at work." Ada said calmly, "It seems that Tony has been negotiating with the French Ministry of Magic for a while. The cooperation is also quite busy."

"He has never paid much attention to the work of the Ministry of Magic," Elizabeth said with a smile. "Is his superior trusting him to negotiate important cooperation?"

"Actually, the details of this bill have almost been finalized. Tony is just doing some finishing work. Finally, it will be fine to wait for the French Magic Council to vote and pass it." Ada said, smiling apologetically, "Listening to these things, you must feel that Annoyed? I have a long feature story to write, so it's been on my mind lately."

"Never mind," said Elizabeth, "what the hell is this bill about?"

Ada shrugged: "It's about the treaty between Britain and France on the extradition of dark wizards and suspected black magic item smugglers. After passing, some British dark wizards who fled to France can be arrested by the French Ministry of Magic and sent back to the UK." The recent situation is a bit chaotic, so the Ministry of Magic has stepped up. But there are also many people who oppose it, because this bill will damage the free trade between Britain and France, and Tony is lobbying those wavering members every day."

She looked at her watch and said, "I have to go, I have to go to the office."

"Okay." Elizabeth said politely, "Come and sit with me when you have time."

Ada smiled, turned around and walked to the corner of the street and disappeared.

As soon as her figure disappeared, the smile on Elizabeth's face disappeared, and she walked back, her face cold and pale.She didn't know what was going on at the Ministry of Magic.When she was at home, because Francis dealt with mostly confidential documents, in order to avoid suspicion, she never went to his office study, nor did she ask about things in the ministry.But recently, it seems that the Ministry of Magic is speeding up its pace to pursue the dark wizard. It is difficult for her to feel that this matter has nothing to do with Francis.

It was already dinner time when I got home. Claudia had a migraine and didn’t go downstairs to eat. Tony also didn’t come back in Paris. She had dinner alone and went for a walk in the garden. Said: "Ma'am, there's a note for you from a Miss Woodson."

Ada?Elizabeth thought in surprise that after she and they met this time, no one would contact anyone again.She took the parchment and saw Ada's round note on it, which read——

"Lizzie,

Nice to meet you again in Monte Carlo. If you are free next Monday, can you sit down at the Greek Leprechaun Cafe in the 'Côte d'Azur' hotel at three o'clock in the afternoon?There are some things I want to apologize to you.

good luck,

Ida Woodson"