July 26, 1895 — Whitledge Residence

Frederick had been courting Miss Whitledge for well over a year now and an engagement was certainly overdue. He had been waiting for Miss Whitledge to seem like she was amenable to reaching that milestone and he had felt that she was for a little while now. Sweetie was an independent soul but it was still proper etiquette for Frederick to approach her brother and guardian about his intentions first.

He had done much the same when he had asked to court Sweetie. "Good afternoon, Mister Whitledge," he greeted, having chosen a Saturday so that they were both off work. Sweetie was likely off at The Society which suited Frederick fine for the conversation he was about to have with her elder brother.

Handsome Whitledge

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Handsome had never figured out Frederick Patton. He seemed sensible enough—twenty-nine, well-off, employed in the Department of Mysteries. His family was unremarkable (a good thing, he insisted) and there were no whispers about him in the gossip rags.

This all begged the question: what in Merlin's name did he see in his sister, and what sort of godly patience did the man possess to be able to put up with her and remain so affable?

He'd never voice his confusion out loud, lest he doom the whole courtship, but there was just something... off... about it.

"Patton," he greeted flatly, unable to muster up the friendliness he might've shown the man had they passed each other in the Ministry atrium instead of the foyer of his home. "I nearly forgot you were coming today. Saturday already?" he asked, as if he hadn't stayed in bed for as long as he could until his footman's knocking had startled him into a sitting position. He'd gotten used to rising early on workdays—and even most weekends—but he couldn't help but doze into mid-morning on Saturdays after a stressful week.

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Frederick was personally not quite sure what to think of his prospective brother in law. He knew there was a great amount of animosity between the two Whitledge siblings and had been for a long time. He had very little reason to interact with Mister Whitledge, even at work, given the discretion and secrecy behind Fredericks position. Though obviously they'd had that sit down with Mister Whitledge when they had all discussed Fredericks intention to court though Miss Whitledge had been present at the time.

His family name was well known in academic circles, almost the entire lot being involved in some way with the esteemed The Society for the Transfiguration Arts. That was where his relationship with Miss Whitledge had mainly progressed, bonding over their shared enjoyment of the Arts. He had been courting her for well over a year now and was honestly overdue to propose but things had seemed to continue happening both in their work and personal lives.

"Good day, Mister Whitledge. Indeed it is." He imagined the other must have some clue as to why he was here. There was little else he would need to speak with the man privately about outside of work. "I do not want to waste your afternoon off so shall we just get into what I've come to request of you?"

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