"No,you cannot wear your glasses out." Beatrice Rowe, Amelia's mother-in-law chided as she pulled the offendeding accesory from Amelia's nose. "First off, you have no reason to use them- you could go to Mungos any day of the week to have them corrected. Second-"
"Second." Amelia's mother cut in, "If you really need them to see, it might be for the best. Your aunt said that he wasn't exactly built looking, family name aside."
Amelia had been able to do little more than hide a sigh as both older women hovered over her, make-up brushes in hand. What with her own younger sister-in-law declaring she preferred women- was not the eldest and fuck them and their expectations... Both mothers knew that hitching Amelia up would be their last proper chance until the youngest was ready to be wed off herself, and that was a good five years away.
They were hardly that patient.
Getting Amelia married to a Malfoy would not only do some good to the Burke family, but it would create less strain for the Rowes, which also claimed responsibility for their former daughter-in-law. She'd have a proper house again, get her nose out of those silly books, and give them a child to dote on once again. - It was the same rhetoric that she heard every 'first' dating, and by now? Amelia was an expert in shutting them all out. She was no longer seventeen, nearly a spinster by expectations, and a widow besides. Not only was she allowed some standards while still wearing a ring, she had an excuse every time a boy turned the proposal down. Unless he was in the same predicament, he had his pick of pure and partial blood girls at his disposal. It was all the better to Amelia, though Merlin Bless she'd never say that out loud.
It was a quarter til she was expected at the restaurant before either woman let her be. Allowed her to pull up her own stockings and fix the clasp on the chain around her neck where she wore both her own, and Brighton's rings. The chain was long enough to tuck under the line of her dress- rings sitting safely at her breast. He'd be with her on this date, just like every other one before- and likely every date yet to be on.
Amelia was still a minute or two early when she made her way into the restaurant's doors- finding the privy to wipe off her elder's attempts at make-up, apply something much more basic and be directed to the up-stairs dining area. At least he knew how to eat.
The waiter showed her the way into the room, and before he had a chance to take her robe or pull her seat out for her- Amelia made a point to hold a hand out to Scorpius, eyes fixed on his. "Amelia Rowe, I'm afraid you've been expecting me?"