Coral

When I get older losing my hair

many years from now

will you still be sending me a valentine

birthday greeting, bottle of wine





If I'd been out till quarter to three

would you lock the door

Will you still need me

Will you still feed me

When I'm sixty-four?



You'll be older too

And if you say the word

I could stay with you



---------------------------



The Rookwood house was thrown into uproar, most of which came from Agnes, though Demogene had provided a few choice vocalizations as well.



" I don't understand how you could allow such a thing!" Agnes whined.



" It wasn't my choice." Eloise retorted. " He and Amanda reached an agreement between themselves. I didn't arrange it, and it isn't as though it happened without either of them consenting."



" Apparently they were very eager." Winter agreed, having heard Eloise's side of the story just moments before Agnes burst in to accuse them all of conspiring against her future security.



" And furthermore," Eloise gave Winter a reproving look, " it is still a good arrangement for this family."



"So was the previous one! What about me?"



" Agnes, you locked yourself in your bedroom for three weeks after I told you of the former arrangement, and tried to starve yourself to death. What were your exact words? Hmmm? The exact opinion you had of him at that time?"



Agnes flushed.



" I don't remember."



:" Well, I do. So mind your manners, and don't behave as though you've been cheated out of a great love affair. The law is still in effect, I am sure we can find someone else. Someone perhaps more to your...preferences." Eloise said the last word as though it were something dirty.



" I just worry about myself is all! I'm older than Amanda, I might not get another chance.What will happen? The Ministry will auction me on the slave market!"



" Don't be so dramatic. You won't be auctioned off." Eloise rubbed her temples. " I promise. Now, if you will invite some of those eligible wizards over, and charm them, we'll see if we can't take care of you."



" I'm not as pretty as Amanda." Agnes argued.



" You aren't ugly, either! And your a Witch who has proven herself capable of producing children who are also magical. Now Demogene, there you go crying!" Eloise threw her pen down in frustration. She took off her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose, trying to calm herself.



She had been attempting to write a letter to Mr. Prill, her advisor on all things financial, but she simply could not concentrate on words or figures, with such upheaval around her.



" I'm sorry." Demogene sniffled, cringing away from her aunt's expression of irritation.

Eloise softened slightly, and put the letter away, to be finished later, after everyone was in bed.



Now, there was much to do, and discuss. Amanda was still locked in her room, with only the sound of music answering Stella's call. Stella, in the one hour since the contract had left the door, had been through every possible human emotion, and settled on blatant skepticism. Agnes was in rage of self pity, Demogene...well was just Demogene, and Winter was too busy being amused to be any help at all.



Eloise sighed.



" Now, see here. This law has us all upset and chaotic. Let's not squabble, or be jealous of one another. I am doing my best" She unlocked a drawer. " You will both want new dresses for the wedding, of course, and perhaps one or two for whatever dinners or events might occur. Do you want to shop for them in London, or have them made especially?"



In this way, she distracted them both. Demogene, who became nearly prostrate with nervousness anytime she had to have clothes made, and Agnes, who had a great greed for any finery.



It was arranged that they would first shop for clothes, then, in the event that they found nothing satisfactory, they would have them made, which was what Agnes truly desired anyhow. She could see Agnes' eyes tightened with greed at the very thought.



Now Eloise could worry about the actual wedding arrangements. There would have to be a time, a place, a dress, a trousseau, food, champagne, invitations, and actual guests.

Amanda would have to rehearse for the formal acceptance ceremony, then for the actual wedding. She would have to adapt to living in a house designed with very few Muggle conveniences, and was mostly likely, after being empty so long, crawling with magical vermin.



Polly! She must send Polly to live with Amanda for awhile. She could raise the girl's wages handsomely. Polly would be a great help, and no doubt relieved to be far away from Agnes and her slovenly habits.



" Demogene, could you please find Polly, and send her to Amanda's room? I need to speak with her. "



Eloise rose from her desk, and gestured for Stella to follow her.



" Well...let's see what Amanda has to say for herself, should we?"

--

For awhile, Agnes and Demogene were content to be part of the bustle of activity. Eloise occasionally became annoyed with them, since like spoiled children, she had to give them gifts daily it seemed, to appease them and keep them from quarreling.



Everything seemed to be either going wrong, or only going right due to extreme effort.



First, Edward had experienced difficulty at the Ministry, when they could not find Amanda's name. The delay, along with his long wait in line, almost caused him to pass the deadline.



After she was rediscovered, and it was time for the formal proposal, the witness had embarrassed everyone by assuming it was Stella that he proposing to. Then Amanda became so nervous she had to stammer out her response, and it took her two attempts to word it correctly.



After that, Edward had nearly dropped the ring, and was mortified when it was too small to fit on Amanda's finger. If it had been too large, she could have merely held it on carefully, until after the ceremony. As it was, Eloise had to resize it in the middle of the proceedings.



At last, the engagement was official, and they all breathed easier. Amanda was slightly disappointed that they didn't have a single private moment in which to speak however, because as soon as the official had their signatures, he was out the door, with Edward in tow.



The next day, Eloise had sent for Amele, to begin on the wedding dress, but had received a note back, in French, from Jean-Paul, stating that Amele was indisposed, and could not possibly travel.



Later, Amele had owled Amanda, and confided that she was expecting again, and apologized profusely for not being able to stand, let alone Floo.



' However,' she assured her, ' the dizziness never lasts too long. I may be on my feet again in a week. I will then come and make your dress, if Eloise can be urged to wait."



Eloise waited one week, but would not be urged further. Amanda didn't understand the impatience. A dress made by magic could be prepared in less than a day, and they had exactly three months.



" No one will ever believe that I didn't plan it that way." she said to Estella, with a sigh. " A June bride...how cliched!"



" I wanted to marry in June." Stella replied, indignantly.



Eloise ordered several dozen June roses, and told Amanda not to complain. She would need the luck.



Amanda was more than willing to let the older women take control of the wedding. She had no idea of how to create a wedding, and was slightly unnerved to think of having to create a wedding in which the guests would all be strangers.



" Do we have to have guests?" she asked, one day, in exasperation, as Agnes and Demogene were listing people who they wanted to invite. Mostly eligible bachelors, with important family names.



" I don't know how they do things in your world, but it is considered very rude to not invite your friends to a family wedding!" Agnes informed her.



Surprisingly, except for the new tone of superciliousness in Agnes' voice, she had been more or less civil. It was Demogene who had taken to harassing Amanda at every opportunity.



Her modus operandi was to begin with light conversation, and then to advance into speculation and gossip about a variety of people. Inevitably, one of these persons would 'happen' to remind her of a rumor she had heard about Edward.



The conversation would then become her one-sided speculation of what a horrible person he must be.



At first, Amanda had found herself listening. Overwhelmed, and with her nerves on edge, it was too easy to be taken in by Demogene's sincere concern.She began to doubt her decision.



Demogene fed that doubt daily, telling Amanda that it was never known whether or not he and Dinah had actually married.



" They say that her father, Vincente Blackmoor, threw her out into the streets for dishonoring the family, and she moved into Edward's home. She was such a beautiful girl, that no one could believe she would have anything to do with someone like him. "



Whenever Amanda inquired who these people were that provided the gossip, Demogene would provide a name that she had never heard before.



" Oh, do you know Ms. Kindred? She lived near the Blackmoors at that time. That reminds me, that Mr. Kindred, who was a healer, told her Elias was born under unusual circumstances. They remember that Dinah was terrified when she came in. Hysterical. Screamed for them no to let him near the baby. Doesn't that just make you wonder?"



Whenever Agnes would overhear these fragments of conversation, she would stop what she was doing and listen. She never said anything, neither to agree nor disagree. She just listened, watching Demogene intently.



Amanda found that to be very disconcerting, and at last she approached Eloise, who was in the process of creating invitations tailored to each individual guest.

She asked whether or not Edward had really married Dinah. Eloise's answer had not been comforting.



" I honestly don't know. I was very busy at the time. I'm sure he did though...why do you ask?"



Amanda considered the question for a moment, then decided she had nothing ot to lose from the truth.



" Demogene has been sharing gossip with me." she confessed.



Eloise gave her a wry smile, and returned to her work.



" Hmm...well one thing that true in both the Wizarding and Muggle world is that you should never believe something until it is printed in the newspaper. And then leave a small margin for doubt."



It wasn't exactly reassurance.



" Oh, and Amanda...'' Eloise called." Come over here. Now, since we're alone, I want to apologize to you about Martin. Stella told me about the bruises, I'm sorry I didn't notice them that day. I dropped in on the Ashwell's yesterday, and saw a few ugly truths about the family's condition. I honestly had no idea. "



" There was no harm done. " Amanda smiled.



" No, but there could have been. And very few people get apologies from me." Eloise said, a twinkle in her eye. " Now, stop listening to your cousins. And look over those cakes."

Amanda grimaced. so far she had successfully avoided making any decisions, but she had at last been cornered.



" I did. I chose one already. "



" Which one? "



" The flat one." she admitted.



" The flat one. Isn't it a bit plain?"



" Yes. I like it though, I think a tiered cake is too ostentatious."



" This is your wedding!" Eloise exclaimed. " It's supposed to be ostentatious. It's supposed to have flowers, and doves, and champagne fountains, and huge tiered cakes with thick icing. When are you ever going to have a chance for such glitz and celebration again?"



Amanda leaned on her elbows, and grinned cheekily.



" My fiftieth wedding anniversary perhaps?"



Eloise laughed despite herself.



" All right, you win this time. We'll have a subdued wedding, but I get to plan your anniversary party."



" Will you remember it in fifty years?"



" Fifty? I was talking about next year. I'm impatient." she swatted Amanda's bottom with a rolled up invitation.



" Go pester your mother."



That evening, no longer in the mood for weddings or Eloise's gifts, Agnes had returned to her room, and taken out a bottle of Ogdens Old Firewhiskey. It wasn't the first time she had ever decided to drink herself into a oblivion.



After the first few swallows rendered her stupid, she began to charm a few clothes into a small, musty carpet bag. This wouldn't be the first time she had made one of these ventures, either. Taking the Knight Bus to the seedy, dangerous, Knockturn Alley, where she would hide a few days in whichever tavern would give a cheap room.



This would be the fourth time, and every time she had returned starved, sick, and beaten, Once, she had received worse than that as she lay drunk behind the tavern, unable to defend herself, unable to care as a filthy man in ragged clothes had abused her.



Each time, Eloise had taken her back in. She never asked.



Agnes didn't have to have a reason to run. She herself didn't know why she did it. She would spend the first night or two away, hating everything, and everyone. Then she would miss the comforts of the house, and laughter, and evenings by the fire. Then she would hate them for not coming ot find her, hate them for not being more concerned when she returned.



The more the latter mood descended on her, the more self punishing she became.



Winter had once said that the greatest calumny ever committed against Agnes, was that she grew up. It was nature that Agnes could not forgive.



Winter also said that it was unforgivable behavior, and that Eloise should not support her. But Eloise could never bring herself to close the door on Agnes. She was her sister's child, a Rookwood. It was this reckless and erratic behavior though that had led Eloise to find a new heir. Agnes would be cared for. As would Demogene, but neither of them would receive all of the Rookwood money. They both knew this.



And Agnes resented it.



She left by the front door, while everyone was in the parlor discussing whether or not a covey of lavender doves flying from a golden fountain would be too expensive for the brief procession across the lawn. Agnes hoped their dammed fountain exploded and the doves fell down dead and pelted the guests. That would give them something to talk about for years to come!



With a sneer, she slammed the door hard enough that a portrait of Demogene, which hung in the parlor, fell to the floor and shattered, sending that woman into hysterical tears, that would not cease, even after Eloise had mended the broken picture.



----------------------------------

When I'm Sixty-Four-The Beatles