Ursula was sitting at her vanity in the master bedroom in order to get ready for bed. She haltered in her movements when she heard the front door open. There was only one possible person being able to enter the house without ringing and at this hour. He is back. Of course he hasn’t bothered to send his Patronus or even Scrope to inform me of his arrival, she thought.
She rose, grabbed her dressing gown and made her way downstairs to greet her husband.
She slowed down when she saw him standing in the dim light of the hallway where he was discarding his travel cloak and gloves and handing them over to Scrope.
“Phineas! You have arrived. I am very pleased. I shall hope the journey was not too unpleasant and your meeting with the Minister to your satisfaction, dear.“
He looked her way, an unreadable expression on his face. She gracefully descended the last steps and made her way over to him slowly, adjusting her dressing gown, until she stood before him. Part of her wanted him to properly greet her, take her in his arms and give her a modest peck on the cheek, but she knew her husband too well by now to even hope for such a thing.
“Please excuse my improper appearance, but dinner had been served 3 hours ago and we decided to have an early night. The children are in bed already. Well, I can imagine you wish to refresh yourself and must want to eat, dear. I’ll have the servants prepare something for you in the dining room. I will go and change to join you then. Or would you prefer to have a tray in your study?“
@phineasnigellusblack