Re: The Gardens - Rodolphus and Bellatrix arrive, 6.00 pm.
"Corbina is looking forward to seeing you." As if this made the situation any better. But at least he'd made the effort to keep himself and Bellatrix (and Corbina, poor girl) away from his parents, because Merlin knew he couldn't sit through an evening with them and come out sane at the end. Bellatrix's childish sulking ought to have irritated him (after all, in grown up land, one didn't get to just go about having sex and enjoying one's self all the time), but he found it impossible. His general stoicism acted as a sedative against her incendiary attitude, and as she hadn't done anything explicitly offensive (yet), he managed to maintain an air of calmness. He also managed to refrain from complimenting her dress.
"I can bring a book for you." He even cracked the vaguest of smiles. "You can be horrifyingly rude with me over dinner." As much as he hated to vex Narcissa, he was infinitely more interested in what kept Bellatrix vaguely appeased. Plus, he found the idea amusing - after all, these events were hardly the most intellectual of pursuits.
The reference to Corbina gave her momentarily pause, slim satin sheath awkwardly gathered at her waist. She was neither delighted nor dismayed by the mention of her sister-in-law, but she supposed she erred on the positive side of neutral. As far as other women went, Corbina was surprisingly tolerable and even pleasant to be around on occasion. Bellatrix cared very little for female friends - or friends in general, really - but she was not opposed to infrequent conversations with individuals who possessed a measure of intelligence. The moment of contemplation was fleeting at best, hands swiftly returning to smoothing down the folds of her gown, unwilling to reveal whether she considered the aforementioned young woman's presence to be an incentive.
Nimble fingers drew lustrous black locks into a classic up-do, effortlessly securing her hair in place with slender garnet hairpins. His mischievous interjection very nearly warranted a full-fledged smile, quelled only by calculated emotional attachment and stubbornness. All the same, she couldn't suppress the subtle upward quirk of the corners of her lips, dark eyes catching and holding his through the reflective mirror. Count on it, they conveyed without a word, but there was an unmistakable note of amusement in her gaze.
Rodolphus took even the tiniest hint of amusement as victory, for getting Bellatrix to even acknowledge emotions that did not involve flaying, fire, or fury when a ball was involved was no mean feat. He gave his coat pocket a vague sort of pat to confirm their horrific table manners and then finally rose from the bed, resisting against all odds the allure of an exposed neck. They were supposed to be going somewhere, not ruining the dress she'd finally decided upon. No, he demonstrated a modicum of self-restraint and merely leered at her in the reflection as he awaited her readiness.
"Planning on dancing with anyone tonight?" He queried, stretching out one arm in a mockery of chivalry. "Or will you simply direct your spite across the room? I believe old man Bulstrode is due for another heart attack."