[HP Doujin] 1943

At the end of August 1943, Scotland, Stuart Manor.

It was gray and cold, with a salty gale blowing from the valley beyond the harbour.The windows of most of the manor were tightly closed, and it was pitch black, only the living room on the second floor on the west side connected to the large terrace was lit with soft dim yellow lights.

Laura Stuart loves bright red roses best.The servants have required bouquets of red roses to fill her living room throughout the year since she married here.The open-air tea party at Stuart Manor has always been the most anticipated summer social event for the upper class in the wizarding world.The weather was fine a few days ago, and Laura invited all her friends from London and Edinburgh, and held parties in the manor for several days.

No sooner had the guests left than the weather changed.Summer in Scotland always goes by fast, and it becomes bleak and deserted in a blink of an eye.Laura stood alone in front of the French window, looking out the window quietly.Windswept meadows and rolling valleys beyond, marble terraces covered with dead rose petals blown from bouquets tied to the railing.

Laura wore a white silk blouse and a slightly puffed red skirt.Her long pale blond hair was pulled back into a low bun, and was adorned with a thin chain of broken diamonds.Her eyes were cold, filled with a kind of bewilderment and fear after the banquet.

This was the moment she was most afraid of.After the last guest left, the whole manor was like a deserted theater after the curtain fell and the lights dimmed.Those hilarity and laughter are all a play.The empty silence weighed heavily on her heart, eroding her soul like poison.

When she first got married, she felt that Francis was indifferent to her.At that time, she thought it was just because he was busy with work and his personality was a bit colder.Gradually, she realized that he just really didn't care about her.His attitude towards her was always polite, with a kind of deliberate alienation.He was more affectionate with the family dogs than with her.

She had rarely seen Frances at the estate since she had given birth.He always seems to be on purpose not to be in the same house as her.Whenever she tried to talk to him, he changed the subject without a trace.She was very angry, and began to spend money like land on all kinds of banquets and purchase expensive clothing and accessories.But what annoyed her even more was that no matter how much she spent, his assistants settled the bill silently without asking a word.

There was a light knock on the door of the living room, and a maid came in with her head bowed, saluted her, and said timidly: "Ma'am, Mrs. Jennings asked me to tell you that we may not be able to clean the terrace until tomorrow morning." The petals on it. It’s too windy tonight, and it might rain later.”

"Oh, got it. Thank you," Laura said, smiling slightly.She was always gentle with her servants.

The maid saluted her again and walked out quickly.In came Geoffrey Clifford, who had been waiting outside, a dusty hat in his hand, and a black robe.He is the general steward of the manor, responsible for all matters related to land management on Francis' territory.His father used to work on the estate.Jeffrey grew up in the manor. All the tenants he knew were familiar with every terrain on this large piece of land, and they were masters in horseback riding and hunting.

Geoffrey Clifford came in, bowed to her, and said, "Good evening, Mrs Stuart."

"Good evening, Mr. Clifford." Laura nodded to him kindly.

"There's been poaching in the woods north of the estate for the past few days," he said. "I've got to take some of my boys to watch for a few days. I won't be at my place these days. If you have something to do Just find me and send me an owl."

"Thank you, I see." Laura walked to the white couch and sat down, the red gauze skirt rustling.Leaning gracefully on the sofa, she said softly, "Sit down, Mr. Clifford. Would you like a glass of wine?"

Jeffrey smiled, walked to the single sofa opposite her and sat down without saying anything.On the silver tray of the coffee table was a jug full of ice, a bottle of amber whiskey and crystal glasses.She grabbed some ice cubes and dropped them into two wine glasses, then poured two glasses of wine and handed one to the man sitting across from her.

"Thank you, Mrs. Stuart." Jeffrey took the glass.

Laura looked a little dazed.She didn't say anything, but closed her eyes, raised her head and drank all the wine in the glass.

Geoffrey looked at her in surprise.

She smiled, and her bright red lips looked extra bright against her bright red gauze skirt.Her smile was inexplicably tinged with desolation and despair.She turned her head to look at the snow-white tulle curtains in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, and asked softly, "Do you know where Francis is?"

"He...he's in London," Geoffrey said after a moment of hesitation.

"Who was he with? Mr. Randall?"

"I think so."

Laura gave a soft oh, lowered her eyes slightly, and played with the empty wine glass with her fingers. "Tell me, Geoffrey," she whispered, "was there someone else in his heart before he married me?"

"Mrs. Stuart, you think too much."

"Otherwise, why did he hate me so much all these years?" Laura laughed, with countless bitterness in her eyes, she leaned over and poured herself another glass of wine, "I admit, I'm not the funniest thing in the world Woman. But I'm not stupid. I know he's been trying to avoid me since day one. He hasn't been in my room since I gave birth to Melinda. You tell me, Jeffrey , for Merlin's sake, does he already have someone else in his heart?"

Jeffrey was silent, with a very embarrassed expression on his face.The woman in front of him made him feel distressed, but there was nothing he could do.He lifted his glass and took a big swig of whiskey, sighed a long time, and said slowly: "Mrs. Stuart, you should understand that even if I know, this is not what I should say."

"I'm sorry, I understand your embarrassment." Laura apologized, "You work for Francis, you shouldn't talk behind his back, which is why I never asked you before. But I really can't bear it Got it. Do you understand how it feels to be left out by your own husband every day and no one will tell you why? I beg you..." Two big tears rolled down from her eyes and fell on the On her skirt, "I swear, I won't question him, and I won't tell anyone what you said today. I just want to know why. For Merlin's sake... I just want to be forced to Know the truth before you go mad."

Suddenly she buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

Although Jeffrey was a rough man, he couldn't see women crying, especially Laura, who had always been graceful, gentle and kind.He hurriedly put down the glass, hesitated, and sat down beside Laura.

"Hey," he said in a deep voice, patting her on the shoulder, "I understand. I understand your pain."

Laura suddenly laid her face on his chest and wept bitterly.Her sudden breakdown made Geoffrey feel helpless. His reason told him to leave immediately, but some reckless impulse in his heart made him reach out and wrap her in his arms.It took several minutes before she calmed down, took out the handkerchief in her hand and wiped away the tears on her face.

"I'm sorry, Jeffrey," she said, "I didn't mean to lose my temper."

"You don't have to apologize, Mrs. Stuart," he said. "You always apologize, but it never occurs to you that someone should apologize to you."

Laura looked at him in astonishment.

Jeffrey was also surprised by what he blurted out.He had always respected his employer, Francis, and he never dreamed that he would speak ill of him to his wife. "Go to hell with it," he said abruptly, hard, "Laura, before Francis got married, he said he was going to marry another girl, and it turned the house upside down because of that."

Laura listened silently, the expression on her face slowly cooling down.

"Who?" Laura asked.

"They all kept it secret. It is estimated that only those closest to old Mr. Stuart knew about it. I only know that the girl is in London and is a relative of Tony Randall's family. Of course old Mr. Stuart disagrees with Francis. Marry that girl, and in the end it was Victoria who forcibly erased that little girl's memory of Francis."

Laura stared blankly ahead, saying nothing.But her hands were tightly twisted together, her nails dug into her skin, oozing bright red blood.

Jeffrey calmed down, reached out and hugged his head, and said to himself, "Merlin, what did I say... I should resign now."

"Jeffrey..." Laura took his hand, "Thank you."

He looked at her, and the two of them fell silent for a moment.Then suddenly Laura looked up and kissed him on the lips.Jeffrey hesitated, muttered a dirty word, pushed her down on the sofa, and kissed her back hard.

The sky outside the window had completely darkened, and the clock on the fireplace struck 10:30.A gust of wind blew across the spacious terrace, looking through the white tulle curtains, pieces of withered red rose petals fluttered under the night sky, desolate and sad.

The people in Stuart Manor more or less knew about her cheating.But everyone is very tight-lipped, and they all act as if they don't know.Alicia, Laura's personal maid, naturally knows everything best.She stood by the hostess without hesitation no matter what, and naturally she would not say a word.

In the summer of 1945, Laura suddenly packed her luggage and went to Europe alone, where she disappeared.The reason for her leaving was known only to Alicia - at that time, Laura was pregnant again.The child's father was none other than Geoffrey Clifford.

Laura left without telling anyone, not even Alicia.If she knew, she would definitely leave with Laura.Geoffrey didn't know either, Laura just left him a long letter.Alicia didn't know what was written in the letter. She only knew that after Jeffrey got the letter, he locked himself in his room for a whole day. The next day he came to Stuart Manor. She told her with a wink, "She said she didn't want anyone to be involved. Her pregnancy was a huge scandal. If anyone found out about us, I would 'be implicated and have my life ruined', as would Frances and her own family." Everyone will be laughed at. Therefore, the best way is for her to disappear completely and never appear in front of the world."

Francis, of course, set off at once to find her in Europe, but he found no trace.Until he got the news that Laura unfortunately encountered a scuffle between Grindelwald's men and Aurors and died in Austria.