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She and Lara exchanged fake kisses on the cheek.
“Draco, this is Cassandra, my stepmother.”
Draco shook her hand.
“Go straight into the dining room, you’re just in time.” She disappeared in a swish of expensive fabric, knock-out level perfume and high heels.
Lara led the way.
Charles was sitting at the dining table, glued to his phone. He waved in acknowledgement of their presence, but didn’t say a word.
“Ah, here you are, welcome.” It was Compton Senior.
“Thank you for the invitation, dad.” Lara hugged her dad.
Draco watched every interaction with interest. C.S. barely glanced at him, just shook his hand. There was a pretty edgy atmosphere in the house, but he sensed it wasn’t about them. Could he be right? He wasn’t going to bank on it. Surely the accusations and showdown would have already begun by now? Maybe it was just a dinner invite after all. Then again maybe Compton Senior had an elaborate plan and the cops were standing by.
C.S. instructed them where to sit, placing them on one side of the table, with his sons opposite. He sat at one end and Cassandra at the other.
Draco would’ve preferred it if he and Lara were seated opposite each other. He could feel the tension emanating from Lara by his side and it was a struggle not to constantly reach out and clasp her hand under the table to reassure her. If they’d been opposite each other, he could have judged her reactions to the conversation by studying her face. He knew her well enough. In fact he’d noticed on quite a few occasions where they seemed to communicate without speaking.
The atmosphere intrigued Draco, sharpening his attention more than it would have been anyway. He’d expected to feel uncomfortable, under scrutiny. Even though Compton Senior kept eyeballing him, it was as if they all had other concerns. He’d expected formality, but this was brittle tension sugar-coated with smiles. It was practiced too, as if it was always this way here. He could only assume it was, and they weren’t acting any differently. For a start, he expected Compton Senior to be more chilled—the Lion King in his lair with his pride around him. Instead he was watchful and edgy.
Lara chatted nervously about the traffic and the weather.
“Is seafood good for you, Draco?” Cassandra asked rather condescendingly as she put the plate down in front of him. “We’re having lobster tails.”
Good job she explained, Draco thought as he stared down at the sauce covered mass on his plate. He wondered whether her patronising tone was because he was Welsh, or just because he was supposedly a young student who she assumed was clueless about seafood. “Perfect, thank you. Where I grew up, on the North Wales coast line, fresh fish was part and parcel of everyday living.” He tried not to sound sarcastic, but Lara’s stepmother was very much the trophy wife and seemed to get a kick out of showing off her wealth and status.
“That brings back memories,” Compton Senior interjected with a half smile. “North Wales. I recall being on some sort of youth hostel camping trip when I was at school. We were in the Brecon Beacons but we visited the coastline on some spurious geography lesson.”
“It’s a popular place for visitors,” Draco responded. Too popular, sometimes, he thought to himself. “Growing up in a seaside resort has its advantages and disadvantages.”
“Transient population?” Compton Senior studied him.
“Yes. I wouldn’t change it, but the ebb and flow takes some getting used to.”
“Lots more opportunities for a keen young man in the big city.” C.S. hadn’t touched his starter but picked up his fork while he waited for Draco to reply.
Assuming this was a cue to thank him, Draco nodded. “Exactly, although I doubt I would’ve had the opportunities I’ve been given, had I not become friends with Lara at college.”
He reached for her hand under the table. She grasped it, and he could feel her hand trembling. Quickly, he turned and gave her a smile. To cover, he kept his attention on his plate, and wolfed dow
n some of the starter.
Jamie laughed. “So what is it you found so attractive about our little sister?”
Lara’s mouth dropped open. She looked astonished. Her hand drew away from Draco’s.
Jamie winked at him, which put Draco at his ease. He sat back in his chair. “There’s quite a list. Most of all I like the fact she’s such a risk taker.”
Lara gawked at him.
“Oh yes, that’s true,” Charles said, finally looking away from his phone for a moment. “When we were kids, Lara was always the instigator behind the more reckless adventures we got into.”
She looked so astonished Draco couldn’t help winding her up a bit more, especially because the family seemed to be enjoying the way the conversation was going. “I can imagine that. She really likes danger, seeks it out, in fact.”
He took another mouthful of the food. The sauce was weird and it masked any flavour the lobster might have. He was willing to bet it came out of some expensive package from one of the posh London stores like Harrods or Fortnum and Mason. It would taste much better served fresh from a seaside fish stand on the coast in Wales. As the thought passed through his mind, he had a sudden yearning to take Lara to Wales and show her the coastline, his favourite spots, and treat her to real, fresh lobster tails packed full of flavor right by the edge of the sea where they’d come from.
