"Good morning," Narcissa said, looking up with some surprise but smiling to receive Lucius' company. She turned her chair to talk to him more easily, and put aside the magazine she'd been reading. Witch Weekly. Perhaps it was beneath her, but one had to retain the small, silly things in one's wife.
"I'm glad you approve of my presentation," she said, sliding her account book over the table towards her. "What do you make of the investments themselves? I've tried to take out shares in those industries least likely to be affected by Muggle antics, to try and secure our fortunes against any moves the Ministry - or those supporting them - might make."
Narcissa didn't know just what industries the Muggle world might compete with hers in, but she didn't need to know. What she needed to know was how to phrase her desires to the solicitors and accountants she employed, and that she could do.
"If you're wondering, you were my teacher," she said. "I wasn't a very diligent pupil, but over twenty years I picked up more than a little." Back in the time Lucius had come from, her interest had largely been confined to the division of the Gringotts vaults upon their marriage and hanging over his shoulders distracting him while he was supposedly accounting for her over-extravagant spending. She'd been threatened with limits before, but Narcissa knew such threats were invariably empty - as Lucius had proved time and time again when he'd spoiled her. The gifts had accelerated and grown with their engagement, and when they were married - well, it wasn't as if she'd ever gone wanting before, but Lucius Malfoy's wife had to have the best of everything.