Drusilla would not say she was especially fond of her children — they had too much of their father in them to be particularly interesting to her — but she did like to preen with them from time to time, the same way one brought out nice jewelry: to be admired and complimented when it suited the day's outfit, and to be carefully stored away at home when it didn't. Today was a flaunt-the-children sort of day. They had been dressed impeccably, with fingernails cleaned and hair combed, and they had been behaving splendidly throughout the outing so far. Yes, Mama to any of her questions and keeping their hands to themselves in the shops. Her second had asked for a treat and she had indulgently granted it, allowing them to stuff their pockets with sweets in the candy store. She liked to be indulgent — liked to have moments where she could roll her shoulders back and think I am an excellent mother, despite her lack of good parenting examples — and ignoring the memories of the times her father had done exactly the same thing, substituting indulgence and extravagance for real affection.
She was an excellent mother.
The next stop was the book store. The nurse was minding the youngest, who was unlikely to make much progress from the rug at the front of the store where they had been set down. They were only barely mobile to begin with, and the children's area had far too many distractions for either of the younger two children to be particular interested in wandering. Her oldest, on the other hand, had disappeared into the shelves. Dru had gotten lost in her own search for books and hadn't minded him, and was now making a round to try and find him when she heard someone scoff. At her child, as it turned out. She would have felt protective of the boy regardless of who it was — children may not have been especially interesting, but no one was allowed to be dismissive of her children — but when she recognized Brooks Watson her expression turned predatory.
"I admit it's hardly a serious pursuit, books like that," she said lightly, with a nod towards the mystery aisle. "But you can't blame the boy; he's only five."
She was an excellent mother.
The next stop was the book store. The nurse was minding the youngest, who was unlikely to make much progress from the rug at the front of the store where they had been set down. They were only barely mobile to begin with, and the children's area had far too many distractions for either of the younger two children to be particular interested in wandering. Her oldest, on the other hand, had disappeared into the shelves. Dru had gotten lost in her own search for books and hadn't minded him, and was now making a round to try and find him when she heard someone scoff. At her child, as it turned out. She would have felt protective of the boy regardless of who it was — children may not have been especially interesting, but no one was allowed to be dismissive of her children — but when she recognized Brooks Watson her expression turned predatory.
"I admit it's hardly a serious pursuit, books like that," she said lightly, with a nod towards the mystery aisle. "But you can't blame the boy; he's only five."
ty MJ <3