I put the paper down and take another swig of coffee. The morning goes on as I look at my housemaids, scurrying around trying to get everything done. Carpets are cleaned, beds are made, tables are swapped, even the TVs get a good dusting. It's been two days since Avaric left, and today he would return with his colleague. Apparently he's a prince with enough money to purchase whole lands in Oz so I don't have any idea why he chose to board here. But it is what it is. I sigh and scoot my chair back, standing slowly so my swelling stomach won't pound that familiar throb of pain. As I pass our chef I take a plate of curry from him. The little one inside me is making my appetite extensive.
Gretel meets me in the hallway. She looks exhausted and frantic, and the little grey hairs that escape her bun hang down like curly ribbon.
"The master is coming home today!" She shrieks. "And you are not dressed? The living room isn't done! The tables haven't been set for dinner!"
"Calm down, Gretel," I say. "the guest won't be that bad. I'm sure he won't go around to every room, judging which rooms are clean and which are not."
"Go. Clean yourself up. Get ready for his arrival!" She adds through gritted teeth, heeding no attention to my words. Her hands flung to her half-formed bun and she clucked her tongue. "The time! Oh lurline!"
I roll my eyes and enjoy my curry as I go up the marble stairs, passing maids and cooks and nearly dodging a chair that is being carried down by two stumbling men.
I close my bedroom door behind me and drop to my knees beside the bed. My father had taken my sister and I to pray when we were about eleven, but I never really pray unless it is really important, while Nessa does it on a regular basis. After praying for a nice visit, I pull my dress out from under the bed. It used to belong to Nessa, but she made no attempt to hide that she did in fact hate the color, and flung it into my arms.
I had to add a bit more to it, since Nessa is quite a bit smaller than I and doesn't need long dresses due to her legs.
I slip the cool fabric over my head, and it glides down my body to gently brush my feet. I step into heels and twirl my hair into a bun. My dress hugs my sides and does little to hide their points, but I head into the bathroom to see myself in the mirror. I look alright, I suppose.
No sooner do I get dressed that the door bell rings. I clomp down the stairs in a hurry as Avaric holds his arms out for me at the end. I collaspe into his embrace, inhaling his sweet scent.
"Hey there." He breaths into my hair. I take his hands in mine and I let him observe my outfit. He grins. "Looks like we'll have fun tonight."
I hug him again, finally content. I have to admit I missed him, even with all of my doubts and fears. Tonight we will bond together the way a couple should. He runs his rough fingers over my skin, making my pulse jump. I almost forget we are not alone before a cough from the other side of the room jolts me out of peace.
"Avaric, you never introduced me."
The voice is soft and polite. It sounds familiar, but then all of Avaric's friends' voices sound familiar. They are all full of pity. Oh, yes. The poor daughter of the governor of Oz. So tragic.
I lift my head from Avaric's shoulder, and we both look to see the man across the room.
"Yes. This is my wife, Elphaba." My husband's voice sounds the slightest bit annoyed. I do not blame him. I wanted that moment to last, too.
The gentleman is handsome, with sweeping brown hair and eyes the color of chocolate. He is not as muscular as Avaric, though he could surely stand his ground in a fight. My eyes drift down and I am surprised at how tight his pants are. I suppress a smile as Avaric notices, too.
"You...uh...had a date, Fiyero?"
I place a hand over my mouth at Avaric's question, strugging to fight all laughter. Then I remember.
Him. Fiyero.
My eyes pop. No. It can't be. Not the same man I had hurt so badly. He will be staying with us for a month? I clutch Avaric's arm at the thought. His eyebrows crease in concern.
"Elphaba?"
Fiyero has changed since I last saw him. On that day...
I struggled to release myself from his grip. Fiyero bore down on me, his eyes made of stone. "You are not breaking up with me, Elphaba Thropp." I tripped as I attempted to go further away from him, my new engagement ring flashing in the sunlight. It had driven Fiyero to insanity having him knowing that I was soon to marry. My eyes filled with tears as I tried to explain.
"My father did this, Yero. He said the only way he could try to love me was to find someone better. Someone with more money. Besides, you have Glinda. I have no one. My engagement shouldn't cause our friendship to corrupt. I'm sorry." I was true. My father didn't love me, but he still wanted to have control over who I would be with fro the rest of my life. "Don't you want someone else? Someone better?"
"You are perfect. I don't want anyone else, I swear." Fiyero cooed, but I kicked his shin and ran towards the door.
"Fiyero?"
"Elphaba," he responded. His eyes are as sad as humanly possible, his arms open. "Please."
I shook my head and closed the door behind me, cringing as I heard his anguished cry.
I regain my posture and look Fiyero straight in the eye. Taking a deep breath, the words escape me before I can stop them.
"Yes. Did you have a date, Fiyero?"
Fiyero fingers his bag and his cheeks give a light glow. "I was with my fiancé, Sarima."
I give a small nod and turn to Gretel, ignoring Avaric's digging eyes. "Please show Fiyero to his room."
Gretel rushes to his side and takes his bags, gesturing upstairs. She is a short woman, and struggles to carry them. Avaric walks away, clearly confused. I know I will have a talking to later about my actions. Fiyero gives me a familiar look of sadness before starting up the stairs, helping Gretel by taking a couple bags.
I stop her before she follows him up and lean close to her ear. "After he settles in, ask him about his fiancé, Sarima. Then send for her. We can't have him be lonely here."
I move from her and stride across the house, ready to smooth things out with my husband.