The tension eased again. Narcissa's expression had returned entirely to normal as she nestled into the sofa, her shoulder resting against Lucius's arm, her face softened by his reassurance.
Half the wine in the bottle was gone, and Lucius gradually steered the conversation in another direction.
Holding his glass, he leaned a little farther back into the sofa and looked at Regulus, his voice naturally lowering. "The Dark Lord went to the wasteland that night."
Regulus raised an eyebrow.
"The Dark Lord has taken quite an interest in the Black family lately," Lucius continued, watching Regulus's reaction.
Regulus took a sip of wine, his expression unchanged.
Lucius watched him for a moment before continuing. "He may want to see you."
The study fell quiet for a while. A log cracked in the fireplace, sending out a spark that bounced twice against the iron grate before dying.
Acting on his own judgment, Lucius was letting Regulus know that Voldemort might be about to approach him personally.
Voldemort had never explicitly told him to pass on a message. He had given no orders, much less told Lucius to inform Regulus in advance.
Lucius was a core Death Eater. Young though he was, and even if he was only the Malfoy family's young heir, he belonged to the inner circle. There were things he simply knew.
Perhaps he had planned to tell him all along, or perhaps the promise just made had prompted him to give Regulus this advance warning.
Regulus turned the wineglass in his hand, his tone relaxed. "Does he need me to take time off school?"
Lucius froze for a moment.
He had been tense as he spoke those last few sentences. He knew all too well what it meant when the Dark Lord wanted to see someone.
At the