Lucius was not well. He was no where near well and even he was beginning to grasp the severity of his own illness. Not that he wanted to admit that there was even the slightest possibility of it being the Dragon Pox. Even with the pox marks spreading rapidly over his body he firmly denied it.
He would not die like his father. Especially not while alone in a home that wasn't truly his without his wife and family close. He was sick - even he had to admit to that - but he refused to face the truth. It simply couldn't be.
He almost jerked when he felt the locket go off, pulling himself up in bed. With shaky hands he tried to glamour the marks in his face before taking it, trying to put on an unaffected face when opening the locket, her question reaching him the moment he did. He smiled, stroking the side of the locket.
'My love, for you I always have time, if but a little.' He could not afford to speak to her as much as he wanted to. She'd realise that something was wrong, and with her safe at Malfoy Manor, there was no need to worry her so.