A/N: Finally, exam week is over! Time to put my effort into some serious updating! So, here's a little preview. Esmeralda and Frollo are to wed. She also wonders over Frollo's past liaisons when another maid let's slip that Frollo first love was actually a gypsy as well. Oh, the complications. Oh and I discovered in my last chapter, the maid was named 'Frances' in the first paragraph and became 'Elise' in the next few paragraphs. Sorry for the confusion!

Chapter 7

The Other Woman

Today's the day. The day I've been dreading and anticipating and it's finally here. Funny, I always expected to be leaping for happiness if my wedding was ever to occur. Now, I'm just numb.

Esmeralda inhaled sharply to aid Georgiana, a tall, angular maid with brown curls, in tightening the silk, white laces that held her wedding gown together. She repressed a desire to sigh unhappily as Madeline, another maid with blonde, straight hair and cherub features, ran a hairbrush through her rambunctious curls, attempting to entangle some of the stubborn knots. The maid was completely captivated with Esmeralda's lovely tresses.

"You have such glorious hair, Mademoiselle!" She bubbled, fingering some of the healthy, silken strands. Esmeralda had to smile. Such an innocent this sweet little maid was. "The Master is so full of praises of your hair. I believe it's his favorite attribute about you."

Esmeralda rolled her glimmering eyes. That and my stupid large, pert breasts.

The very feminine appendages she was thinking of were now being pushed up and revealed tastefully in a fitted bodice and lacy sweetheart neckline that plunged very nicely down her torso. She groaned; there was nowhere Frollo would be staring into her eyes today. Georgiana, whom was standoffish and contrasted with Madeline's energetic, perky nature, tied up the white laces into neat knots.

"Mademoiselle, you look magnificent," She commented, blushing a lovely peach color. Finally, after the two flitting maids placed the finishing touches and the lace-trimmed, sheer veil on Esmeralda's head, the gypsy girl examined her reflection in the full-length mirror.

She really was a most beauteous sight. Her bronze skin stood up perfectly with the pristine white of the wedding dress. Her athletic, hourglass figure looked like it was naturally spilled into the gown, filling it with every voluptuous curve. The bell-shaped skirt flared and swished around her shapely, toned legs when she walked. On her feet were finely crafted, comfortable lace slippers. The veil sat nicely amidst her forest of beautiful black curls.

She was a tad surprised Frollo hadn't asked the maids to powder and primp her face as well. After all, he had lavished on her this exquisite wedding gown tailored to fit her well-proportioned measurements. She concluded that she preferred seeing her in all her natural Romani element. She sighed; she still couldn't believe that in a few hours, she was going to be Mrs. Claude Frollo, wife of the fearsome and well-respected Minister of Justice.

Frollo was adamant that Esmeralda be confirmed into Christianity and that they should be married as soon as they possibly can. He had summoned a priest from another part of France to perform her baptism. The very same priest had also agreed to perform the wedding for them. She couldn't fathom how all this took course in a mere matter of days! Frollo certainly was eager to have her as his lawfully wedded wife. That and also because the both of them were growing exceedingly frustrated of Esmeralda constantly being labeled as a common whore by the other ministers as well as the servants.

She did a final, inspecting spin around in front of the mirror before sighing again. This time, her green eyes fell upon the glittering engagement ring that fit snugly around her left ring finger. When Frollo first proposed, he had tried to be as romantic as he possibly could. He did so after they had dinner and adjourned to their bedrooms. He whispered to her to accompany him to his room and amazed her with an expensive, intricately carved emerald ring!

It was a sizable gemstone and pervaded the dark room with its hypnotic glow. Esmeralda had been hesitant and a little scared. She had already knew a wedding was inevitable. Yet, getting betrothed in only a matter of days of knowing each other seemed completely crazy. Then again, when was Frollo ever mentally stable? Accepting his proposal seemed like the only safe, simple method to make him happy. When he was happy, he wouldn't harm her.

The minute the word 'Yes' escaped her red lips, Frollo claimed them and the next thing she remembered was making fiery, passionate love in his room. He informed it was a preview of their wedding night. Esmeralda didn't know whether to cringe or grow excited at his words.

Now, here she was, dressed and styled, ready for her incoming marriage.

She attempted to smile, to appear excited. Honestly, all she felt was a creeping numbness. This wasn't a typical sweetheart's wedding. She was entrusting her very life and soul to a man responsible for the bloody deaths of so many innocents. He even once tried to kill her! However, in harsh reality, this really was her only option. Besides, she was getting some really great sex out this. Every cloud has its silver lining no matter how crude it is.

"Oh Mademoiselle, you look just like Mademoiselle Serafina!" Madeline proclaimed appraisingly, earning a reprimanding swat from Georgiana. Esmeralda whirled sharply to see the blonde maid rubbing her sore shoulder tearfully and the brunette one blushing furiously.

"Hush! Remember the master doesn't wish…"They began buzzing in a whisper so inaudible, Esmeralda's curiosity radar was on the high. She piped up with an inquiry. "Who is Serafina?" The two maids halted their conversation and looked at her with awkward silence.

"No one," Georgiana replied almost immediately. "She's just some random woman Madeline thought off." She reached over and beckoned Madeline to follow her by pulling on her arm. "We should be leaving now."

"Wait. You said that Frollo doesn't wish for something to happen. What did you mean by that?" Esmeralda was not letting this juicy bit of information to slip away. She was finally about to learn something of Frollo's past that none of the other gypsies had ever heard of. Moreover, this was much more interesting, considering it was about another woman.

Georgiana turned, shaking and head hung. "I apologize, Mademoiselle. The master made us swear with God on our lips and in our hearts that we would never tell you about Serafina. He wishes to one day tell you himself," The dear little maid explained, all the while looking terrible uncomfortable. Esmeralda was now feeling more inquisitive than ever. Who was this mysterious woman? A sister? A friend? A…lover?

Madeline gulped before speaking up. "The only thing we can say, Mademoiselle is…you and her look tremendously alike." With that, the maids departed hurriedly, not wishing to be bombarded with more pressing questions. Esmeralda was left standing there, totally confused. All she could conclude now was that Frollo and this 'Serafina' woman might have had a rocky history, relationship-wise together and he wished for her not to know about it.

Esmeralda sat down on the chair opposite her vanity table in a deep, pondering state. Madeline's words weighed heavily in her mind.

You and her look tremendously alike.

Serafina must have been the spitting image of Esmeralda herself! Suddenly, the gypsy jolted up to her feet. Her eyes had widened as the realization struck her. That must mean she must've been a gypsy!

Esmeralda knew she should not jump to conclusions but she ruled that theory as highly possible. Madeline claimed that Serafina looked a lot like she did. Could that be why Frollo took such great interest in her? Because she reminded him of his past love? The thought made her uncomfortable and strangely a little angry as well. It seemed somewhat insulting to her that Frollo only fell for her because she bore a remarkable resemblance of his one past liaison.

Another thought that made her blood boil was the fact that maybe Serafina was, indeed, his past lover but left him on their wedding night. After all, Esmeralda was in a wedding gown when Madeline announced the striking resemblance so that could be true. Esmeralda did not know why but she found herself trembling with rage at the thought of another woman whom looked so much like she did could've charmed Frollo and been his first bride-to-be and then left him on the night they united in matrimonial bliss.

Am I jealous? What, no!

Esmeralda shook the thought out of her mind. It seemed pretty fruitless to be envious, not that she was. Still, it made her a bit angry that Frollo had fallen for a gypsy girl before but she had ran out on him on their wedding night. It also made her a little upset that she wasn't the first gypsy girl he loved for some reason.

Maybe this is why he hates gypsies. He couldn't trust his heart with one.

Esmeralda didn't really want to sympathize Frollo. After all his treacherous, sinful acts he committed, sympathy was certainly something he did not deserve. Yet, her heart felt for him a little. She had just lost her own love as well to another woman she had no knowledge of. They had been engaged as well when he was courting her!

The need to question Frollo about this woman was becoming unbearable. However, she knew that if she so much as announced that she knew about his past lover might make him suspicious on how she knew so much. Esmeralda had no desire to land Georgiana and Madeline in trouble. She should wait patiently for the right moment. That seemed the most logical thing to do.

For now, she lifted herself gracefully off the stool and made her way down to his private, judicial chambers. She was to be a married woman first.

A/N: Looks like Frollo is going to have some explaining to do about this 'other woman, Serafina'. Read and review, please.