Happy Families :ch.5:

(excerp from Happy Families ch.5, beta version by girl_starfish)

"Well, old boy,” Hughes drawled as he entered the drawing room. “I can see you've been in the wars.”

"Oh dear," Tucker said, fretting as Roy swung Nina down from his back. "I hope she wasn't any trouble - Nina what did I tell you about bothering the Professor's guests?"

"She was no bother at all," Roy said before the child could get scolded. "I found her company most refreshing." He began to dust off his coat sleeves. "I trust you'll excuse me if I freshen up before lunch."

"By all means," Hughes shrugged. "Believe me, you could do with it."

"Nina, you'd better wash up too." Tucker patted his daughter on the head. "Go upstairs and see if the boys have finished their Latin. Tell them it's about time to come downstairs."

"Can I eat downstairs too?"

"Don't be ridiculous." Tucker shooed his small daughter out the door. "Lila will take a tray up for you."

Nina pouted, trailing out the door reluctantly.

"Usually we eat lunch with the boys in the school room," Tucker explained, taking off his glasses to polish them. "The professor and his staff take lunch in the laboratory and rarely join us, Lady Dante finds it tiring to lunch with the children and usually has a tray in her rooms."

"I hope we're not creating too much of a fuss," Hughes said. "The last thing we want is to be a bother to anyone."

"Oh, not at all," Tucker protested. "A change in routine is appreciated. It's just a shame that Doctor Marcoh isn't here to keep you better company than I." His eyes were curiously flat, without almost any animation at all. He was a curious sort of chap, hardly any sign of personality or backbone. Roy wasn't sure what to make of him.