Elphaba fidgeted in the fussy dress Galinda had foisted upon her. But she knew better than to fight it. Too much headache if it only cost a dress without a full Galindafication.
Once out of sight, she headed straight for the stables, her book already in her arms.
"Avaric? I'm here to-" But she stopped. No one was there. She turned into the stalls, but only the huff of horses greeted her. "Figures," she muttered, turning back toward the manor.
"Figures what?" She jumped as he landed beside her from the hayloft above.
She swatted his arm. "You idiot. You nearly gave me a heart attack."
"I do tend to affect the hearts of women." He bent to retrieve his shirt, dusting the hay from his sweaty hair. "Should you pass out, I'd happily revive you."
She ignored his gibe. "I thought I might read here today."
"And you needed me?"
"Only if your offer to switch out books still stands."
He eyed her suspiciously. "Of course. Though that seems a flimsy excuse as you've not finished that one."
She jutted out her chin. "I'll have you know I finished it yesterday."
He set an arm about her shoulders. "If you wanted to spend time with me, you don't need a pretense. I enjoy your company also." He stepped away to settle Galinda's gray mare from the previous day. "Though I heard you were all shopping today."
"And I seem the type to prefer shopping?"
"No, but I figured Prince Valiant on his noble white steed would swoop in again and carry you off to save the day." He plunked down the brush with a heavy thump.
"You mean rip my skirts and start a fight?" His face clouded at her answer, and she chucked a hunk of hay at him. "Fine, I prefer you. Happy?"
"Deliriously!" But his broad grin ruined any attempt at sarcasm. He took off his gloves and dropped them beside the hay bales. "So what shall we do?"
"What do you mean?"
"With our day together." He winked and snatched her book. "And I refuse to watch you read. You can do that another time."
"You don't have work today?"
"For a day? They won't notice. If I've only a day in your company, I won't squander it with the horses." He took her hand, a wicked glint in his eye. "Never mind, I know what we'll do."
He hauled her after him toward the river. She yanked her hand free. "To be clear, I will not go swimming with you."
"I imagined not. But have you ever been fishing?"
"I have."
"Have you?" He stopped to look at her. "Riding astride, fishing, breaking up a brawl-"
"Which you started!"
He tapped a finger to her nose. "Hardly what I would expect from a lady."
"My father didn't consider me much of a girl."
"Hard to make that mistake now. And in that dress, for certain." His eyes wandered over her, and she tugged at the shoulder to pull up the neckline as much as she could.
"So I was right. It is immodest."
"Not as much as I'd could hope for." A devilish smile lit his face, and he resumed his path. "But it is a lovely dress, and even more so on you."
She held her tongue. Better not to give him more ammunition to tease her. Just behind the treeline, the river sprawled lazily. He located a boat in the tall grass along its bank.
"No rods? That'll be difficult."
"We'll skip the fishing, just go for a little trip." He stepped in and offered her a hand. The boat rocked beneath her feet. She chose the far side, and plopped down. The water sloshed against the side, and Avaric glared.
"Trying to drown me?"
She flashed a sweet smile and nodded.
He boomed a laugh. "You might find me hardier than you believe."
"Oh?"
He winked, and she settled for a demure smile. Oars in hand, he rowed them against the moderate current. She watched him, hypnotized by the dip and rise of the oars. He swallowed a smile. "What?"
He shook his head and bit his lip to stop from grinning. She lifted her eyebrow, and the grin broke free to sun across his face. "Admiring my oars?" He flexed his biceps with the next stroke, and she rolled her eyes.
"The water. How long have you worked for Pemberly?"
"A while. Sometimes I feel it's time to move on, but it's a good job."
"Better that than one of the actors. Trying to fool women into romance all day must be exhausting."
He laughed. "You find romance exhausting?"
"Don't you?"
"Perhaps with you, milady. But in the best possible way."
They fell into an easy rhythm, teasing and talking, enjoying the fresh air and lovely views. After a half-mile or so, Avaric stowed the oars and let the current return them.
He lounged back, hands pillowing his head as he stared up at the clouds. "This is really a lovely day."
"If I agree, will you call me lovely again?" The false compliments were starting to grate on her. He might not be an actor, but that didn't mean he wasn't lying.
"Pfft. Arrogant."
She rolled her eyes. "Yes. Because you're so humble."
"I have to be. You haven't called me lovely once."
She laughed despite herself at his antics. "Very well. You, Master Avaric, are looking quite lovely today."
"Aren't I?" He fluttered his lashes and tossed his head. "Perhaps you should come over here so us lovelies can be together."
"Won't that tip the boat?"
"Maybe. Maybe not. Guess you'll have to come here to see."
She shouldn't. She should laugh at him, but instead she edged toward the middle, as did he. They met a hands breadth apart. "And now?"
"I have many thoughts, but not many of them gentlemanly." His fingertips twined with hers. "Luckily I'm not a gentleman…"
"But you are. At least somewhat."
"I'll choose not to take offense to that." She leaned back against him, and he wrapped his arms around her. "And I thought the day was lovely before."
"What brought you to Pemberly? Were you born near here?"
"In Gillikin, yes, though nearer the forest. I'm not really sure how I ended up here. One foot led to the other, I suppose."
"I'm not really sure how I ended up here, either."
His low chuckle vibrated against her. "Is that so? Well, let's just be glad we did, then."
The boat was back at the overgrown pier, and he rowed them to the side. Once out, he offered her a hand. She took it, and he pulled her to him, deliberately closer than necessary.
They headed back, chatting amiably. "I'm fairly sure I can knick us some bread and cheese for lunch, unless you'd rather make use of the kitchens."
"No, please." He secreted her to the back of the house and shushed her to stay quiet. Out of sight, she watched him sneak to the window and lever himself in. When he returned with a small cloth bundle, she couldn't help the cackles only half-smothered by her hand.
"Are you mad, woman?" he hissed, dragging her by the arm back to the stable. "You'll get us caught. Hush."
"Sorry," she whispered back. "You just looked like a baby snatcher, climbing through the window with an arm full of blanket."
"A baby snatcher?" He wrinkled his nose.
"I call it how I see it."
He set the bundle down and turned to her sternly. "Is that so?"
Her cackles returned at his expression.
"You're mocking me?"
She cackled harder.
"I'm afraid, Miss Elphaba, you're going to force me to teach you a lesson."
"Is that so?"
He nodded solemnly. Then without warning, he tackled her into the hay, and she burst into shrieks of laughter. She spluttered through her hair, batting him off, and he rolled off beside her. He picked hay from her hair, with a conciliatory expression. "Not laughing now, are you?"
By now, the hay must have been gone, but he continued to brush the hair out of her face. "See, that's why I like you so much more than those stuffed shirts." She settled in against his side. "You don't treat me like a china doll."
His cheek rested on her temple. "That's why you like me, huh?"
She hadn't meant to say that, but she wouldn't take it back. Instead, she matched him with a teasing, "Yep. Just that."
"Well, then, I suppose I should continue harassing you, so as to stay in your esteem."
"Oh, don't. This is quite comfortable."
He settled back. "Isn't it?"
She turned to breathe in the musky scent of him, horse and hay. He pressed a chaste kiss to her brow where it met his lips.
"Better than shopping?"
"A root canal is better than shopping with those girls."
He nosed her hair. "Better than a root canal, then?" She tilted her face to give him a look. "What? I'd like to know where I rank, is all."
"You'd rank higher if you'd hush."
She turned back to the scenery, and he tucked his nose against her temple. "Yes, ma'am."
The two stayed there for a long moment, enjoying the call of the birds and the babble of the river, the warm sun and the cool breeze, and most of all, the solid, uninvestigated presence of the other.