Dull & Predictable
Hermione had never been so dolled up in her entire life. The maid had carefully tamed her wild into well-behaved curls that cascaded down her head and neck like a waterfall. The pigments she had applied to her face were minimal; one could hardly tell they were there at all. Under Riddle's orders, she didn't wear jewelry and had met him in the front hall precisely at five.
He made no comment on her looks, only gazed at her with an assessing eye before offering his arm. They took a hired carriage to one of the nicest neighborhoods in London, but Hermione was careful to wear a mask of indifference until they got to their host's gate.
Large gilded peacocks stood out from wrought iron, and she covered a snort with her hand.
"From one peacock house to another." She chuckled.
"The owner has a fascination with them, but only because he is the human version of one," Riddle commented dryly.
"This guy, or the owner of my old house?"
The look he gave her made her eyes go wide. "You're taking me to the Cock's house?" She leaned forward a little to get a better view of the townhouse as they approached.
"Is that what the whores call him?" Riddle sounded amused.
"Yeah, though he sends for his girls, I've never seen him in person."
"It wouldn't do for a man like this to be seen at a whorehouse."
"But it is fine for him to own one?" She asked as the carriage stopped.
"Do you think he would admit such a thing?"
Hermione was shaking her head as a footman opened their door. Riddle got out first and offered a hand to help her down.
"I just didn't realize he was this posh." She looked up at the large house but tried to keep her expression schooled. She took his arm when it was offered, and they were directed inside by another servant.
A third servant directed them into a large dining room with a long table set for twelve. About half the guests had already arrived and milled near their seats as they spoke socially. Conversation stopped as they entered, and people looked up to see who had entered.
"Are they staring at you or me?" Hermione asked softly.
Riddle leaned down to speak directly into her ear. "Anyone with a cock is distracted by your lovely breasts on glorious display. She rolled her eyes to show that she would not rise to his bait but allowed him to lead her over to a tall man with long white-blond hair.
"Lord Lucius, may I introduce you to my date, Miss Granger." Riddle bowed only low enough not to be completely disrespectful, but he clearly had no genuine regard for the man.
"It is lovely to meet you, Miss Granger. I hope to get you to know you better in a bit, but my sister-in-law has just arrived, and I must see to her comfort before she makes a scene." The Lord nodded and headed towards the door.
When she turned to get a view of the new arrivals, she froze as Rodolphus stood next to an imposing beauty in a crimson dress. She knew her identity wasn't going to be a secret that evening, but she hadn't expected to see one of her best/worst clients while standing among such civilized company. He was related to the Lord?
She turned her back quickly to the door. She didn't think the man had noticed her yet, and she wondered if she could ask Riddle to go home before there was a scene. Rodolphus had always had a hard time with any boundaries she tried to set with him.
"Is it the Lady or the Lord?" Riddle hadn't missed her reaction to the new guests.
"He's a client, a regular." She told him softly, keeping her back to the door.
"This is going to be more fun than I imagined."
When she looked up to ask him if he was crazy, she noticed the delighted gleam in his eye.
"You like messing with these people?" She asked before she glanced around to see if anyone was watching them. She noticed the woman in crimson glaring over at them and had to wonder if she knew Hermione was her husband's favorite whore? Gods, she was about to meet a client's wife.
"People like this wholly overestimate their value." He explained as he turned in the direction she was looking.
"Do you think she knows?" She asked softly; she couldn't think of any other reason the woman would be glaring as she was.
"I doubt it. I hadn't."
By some horrible twist of fate, Hermione was placed between Riddle and Rodolphus while the wife sat down further towards the hostess.
He didn't seem to recognize her as he moved towards them but coldly smiled at Riddle. "I heard you were bringing a lady friend, Bella was most put out by the news, but you know how much she enjoys your attention."
"Ah, yes, Lord Rodolphus, I've been told you're already acquainted with my friend," Riddle spoke in a quiet tone as Hermione turned to face the Lord. She hadn't known he was a member of the peerage.
When he looked into her eyes, she saw the moment the recognition dawned and his face positively lit with excitement.
"What a pleasure to see you again, Bl-"
"Miss Granger." Riddle cut him off to give the man her real name.
"Ah, Miss Granger, yes. It was just the other day I had tried to call upon you at your last place of residence, and they said you had moved. Imagine my distress. I thought maybe it had something to do with-"
"Don't be silly, my Lord. We sorted out that misunderstanding."
"Then it seems we were destined to keep in touch after all." Rodolphus pulled out her chair as Riddle watched with an odd expression. She took her seat and settled her hands in her lap as conversation started up around her quickly, and it was clear Riddle was acquainted with most everyone at the table.
"Tell me how you met our dear Tom, Miss Granger." The host addressed her from just beyond Rodolphus.
"I'm a part of a case on which he is working, my Lord." It was odd to figure out her standing among such influential people. She felt completely out of place, while Riddle seemed entirely at ease even as he disdained the whole gathering.
"She is a witness to Mr. Rookwood's murder." He clarified. "She is staying with Potter and me while we track down the beasts."
"Messy business Rookwood. But I thought he was found in his office at Slytherin's; what could you have been doing at a Gentleman's club?" As she watched Lucius, she could tell he didn't know the answer to his own question. He wasn't trying to out her; he was only curious. But that didn't stop the words that slipped from her lips.
"Working for you, my Lord." It was funny how the statement had only drawn a bemused confusion from the man.
"I don't understand."
"Until I discovered her connection to the case, Miss Granger was a top-earning girl at the Pretty Peacock."
Rodolphus nearly choked on his wine as Lord Lucius blinked.
"Mr. Rookwood was a regular of mine and enjoyed engaging my services in his office at Slytherin's."
"And now you're staying with Tom and his partner?"
"They've been kind enough to offer their protection."
"Are you planning to return to your former career once they have apprehended the villain?"
"Former?" It was her turn to act confused. She felt something on her thigh and glanced down to find Rodolphus' hand resting there. "Mr. Riddle has reserved my services for the duration of my stay with him. But I'll find a new house when that ends unless I get a better offer. I'm sort of fond of eating, you see."
"Miss Granger is a pragmatic woman. She will do what she needs to in order to survive." Riddle's voice held no judgment.
"An admirable quality in the more emotional sex," Lucius commented dryly before turning the conversation away from her. It seemed she was making him uncomfortable.
As the men continued to talk around her, Hermione focused on Rodolphus's hand slowly moving up her leg.
"Pardon me; I need to visit the lady's room." Hermione stood and curtsies to the men before trying not to look as if she was running away, as she did just that.
She took a few breaths as she wandered down the hall, looking for a place to get some space. Ducking into the first door after the dining hall, she found herself in a library.
Hermione had to work out how to deal with Rodolphus without making a scene. He wasn't one who liked to be refused, and she didn't think Riddle would take kindly to someone intruding on what he saw as belonging to him.
When she heard the door open, she let her shoulders sag; she could at least explain the situation more fully now that they were alone.
"The situat-" The wind was knocked from Hermione's lungs as a large body pressed her suddenly against one of the bookcases. When she looked up into Rodolphus' eyes, she almost cursed.
"I've missed you, my little Bloom." His hands held her waist too tightly. "They wouldn't tell me where to find you, and I was frantic." He started to kiss her neck without invitation.
"I'm here with Mr. Riddle." She gasped as she pressed her hands against his chest. "Your wife is in the next room!"
"That makes this better." He murmured as he nipped at her ear, his hands roamed up towards her breasts. "That you're here with him while I'm here with her."
"Rodolphus, I can't; he's paying me for exclusivity." She said as the man pulled the neckline of her dress just enough to free her breasts.
"Just gets better and better." He purred as his lips moved down her neck towards her freed breasts. "Don't worry, Lovely; I'm going to make it worth your time."
"Not if I break my contract." She pushed as hard as she could, which made him stumble back a couple of steps.
She glared at her chest heaved from the force needed to get him off of her.
"Don't you get it? That's him, the one I told you about! And now I can take something that belongs to him. It's perfect." He made another grab for her, but this time she was ready and moved out of his reach while she worked to fix her dress.
"Riddle is your wife's lover?" She now understood the dirty look the woman had given her.
"How much is he paying you, Bloom? I'm sure I can-"
"You can what?" Riddle's voice rang clear from the doorway.
"It seems we have similar taste in women, Tom," Rodolphus said with mock friendliness.
"You can what, Rodolphus?" He asked again as he closed the door.
"Lord Rodolphus to you, Tom. And I can pay her double anything you could afford on your limited finances."
"That might be true, but only do to your wife's good fortune and charity. What would she do to your allowance if I told her what I found you in here doing?"
Rodolphe grinned as he shook his head. "You won't do that unless you want her assassins after the girl? She's already livid enough you have a girl on your arm; imagine what Bella would do if she found out she's fucked both of us."
Riddle pursed his lips, an obvious sign that his adversary had made a valid point he did not like.
"I can wait until after the case is solved; you'll still be cut off at your manhood. Is screwing with me worth that much? Go back to dinner, and we can pretend none of this happened."
Hermione could see the Lord's jaw work as he fought with himself over what to do next. He turned his back on Riddle suddenly to face her, which she thought was quite brave all things considered.
"When you're finished with him, contact me before finding a House. We could make a more…" He trailed off as he reached out to tuck a stray curl behind her ear. Riddle hissed the moment he made contact. "...personal arrangement."
She gave him a professional smile and nodded as if she would consider it.
"And remember how willing he is to toss you to the sharks, just to make a point." With that, Rodolphus left them.
Neither moved until the door had closed once more. They observed each other for a long moment, but Hermione had no idea what was going through his head.
"You should return to dinner. I'll follow in a few moments."
"Did he damage you?" He finally asked.
"No."
"Does he like to?"
"I don't talk about my clients."
"So you've mentioned. I require more information to keep you safe."
"But you're willing to throw me to the wolves when I no longer serve your interests?"
"Bella is more hyena than wolf." He agreed with a thoughtful nod. "She enjoys the drama, not just the kill."
"Rodolphus said you're her lover."
Riddle chuckled and glanced around the room. "It amuses me that anyone would think of me as a lover. My arrangement with Bella has nothing to do with love. But let us not get off the point. I need to know if Rodolphus will make trouble."
"I think you put him in his place in the short term. I've never denied him in the long term."
"How often did you see him?"
"How often did you see her?"
"Why would that matter to you? Jealous?" He smirked, making her roll her eyes.
"It's the answer to your question. Rodolphus came to me just about every time his wife stepped out on him."
"How dull and predictable." Riddle's smirk changed quickly into an expression of disgust.
"You should get back to dinner."
When Riddle reached back for the door instead of turning the knob, he found the key and locked it. "They can wait."