Cassi had just put a few of her books back in their rightful place in her little library when she felt a tug from her network of protective spells. Almost immediately, she recognised the presence of a Summerby sigil, even if this particular variant wasn't one she had encountered before. Smiling to herself, she locked the door behind her and made her way downstairs to the drawing-room. At the same time, the front door was opened by one of Cassiopeia's house-elves, Lilsey. She was short even by the standards of elves, and wrapped in a heavy cloth that might once have been part of a rather expensive curtain. 'Come in, come in,' she urged him. 'Miss Black is waiting in the drawing-room. This way.' The elf turned and bustled off, expecting him to follow.
The interior of Cassiopeia's house was a little larger than might have been expected from the outside, although the overall effect was a subtle one, and not ostentatious. The extension spells enhanced rather than transformed what was already there. Evidence of magic could be seen wherever one looked, from the lanterns which hovered up by the ceiling to the enchanted curios lining shelves and mantelpieces. The drawing-room which Lilsey led Richard into had a great fireplace as its focal point, and couches arranged around low tables. It was richly carpeted, with dark hardwood paneling on the walls – although these were unusually bare. Cassi couldn't stand the static muggle pictures that were on offer in Preya, and she wasn't herself an artist.
As the door opened, she turned to face it, and then approached Richard with a warm smile. 'Mr Summerby, good afternoon! I'm so delighted that you could visit! Do come and sit down. We shall have our tea in a little while, but I thought that we might sit and talk a little first. I have been looking forward to getting to know you.' Her welcome was perhaps a little effusive, but it was very genuine. Cassi missed the company of others from her homeland.
She went to sit on one of the couches herself, smoothing down her long skirt as she did so. Her dress today was relatively casual: a light blouse with a dark green shawl atop it, and a skirt which skimmed the top of her boots. Very old-fashioned for muggle London of 1940, but unremarkable in Everdale, where styles were so eclectic. Lilsey the elf went to stand by the wall, as previously instructed; this was Cassi's concession to the rules of propriety. She and Richard weren't meeting alone if an elf was present, and while she had no doubts about his intentions, she had been warned far too often at home about the potential for malicious gossip.