Proserpina
When Grace brought me the lovely long dress that Danielle had got for me on Lucien's instructions, I sat staring at it in disbelief. Even after all these years, I was still awed when I saw a beautiful gown and this time was the same.
Lucien's words had been clipped over the phone when he spoke to me. Schwartz's party was to be held at the club, not the log cabin near the lake he said and it was slated to begin a few days earlier. This evening, he said and slammed the phone before I could ask for details.
I stared stupidly at my cell phone: Lucien had sounded irritated but I knew instinctively that it was something that was weighing on his mind, something that he could not handle which was getting to him.
But when Grace laid the lovely gown before me, I was wonderstruck. Deep purple, it had a plunging V-neckline with a deep back that almost reached my waist. Clinging to my full breasts alluringly, it flared out in folds below the bodice and effectively hid my rounded belly to a certain extent. The bodice was stitched in such a clever way, it moulded itself to my breasts and thankfully, I thought, I would not need to wear anything to support my heavy breasts.
The delicate pattern of tiny flowers on the dress made me sigh. It probably cost a bomb, I thought, as I felt the soft material but knowing Lucien he must have ordered Danielle to buy something expensive anyways, I thought with a shrug.
I did not foresee myself going on an outing for some time now; the baby was due any day now, as the doctor had warned me sternly on my last visit. It had been a strange experience. But I had deliberately omitted to tell Lucien that, for I knew he would simply confine me to the house. I wanted to wear a pretty dress and float around on my husband's arm too, I thought wistfully.
***
When I wore it and twirled lightly for Ria to admire, she clapped her little hands and exclaimed,
"Mumma! You look like a princess!' I awkwardly bent to kiss her little golden head, hugging Piers to me too. A small noise at the door made me look up. Lucien stood in the doorway, watching us, a slight frown on his face. He had arrived a short while ago. After kissing me fiercely, he had disappeared to take a shower.
He was already dressed in a dinner suit, as elegant as ever, the grey hair in place, looking regal and arrogant, a man no one would dare to trifle with.
I smiled hesitantly, Why did he look so annoyed, I wondered.
"Lookit Mumma, isn't she beautiful', exclaimed Ria joyously. And then, pouting, rushing to grab his knee, she asked sweetly,
"Pappa, when will you take us out too ?'
But Lucien only smiled tightly in reply and said crisply to me,
'Hurry up. We need to go.'
His abrupt reply made Ria step back in surprise. I bent down to kiss her small head,
A pang of disappointment shot through me; he had not bothered to comment on my appearance.
I fastened the tiny diamond earrings that he had gifted me and picking up my stole and clutch, waddled along hurriedly to catch up with him after kissing my babies goodbye.
"Come back soon, Mumma!' shouted Ria as I left.
I turned to blow her a kiss and then got into the car beside the man who was my world...
*
It was chilly and I shivered, wrapping my stole around me tightly. I sneaked a glance at my husband's chiselled profile. He was checking his phone and I could see the lines of stress on his face, I longed to stroke him, kiss that hard mouth but my fear, for I feared him when he looked and behaved like this, and his tightly controlled expression, the harshness of his countenance, kept me in my place,
It was as though we arrived at the club in a flash. Something about the entire journey made me uneasy; the security men who accompanied us in the large sedan had seemed more watchful, more alert.
It seemed the same at the club.
"Not many guests tonight?' I asked Lucien in surprise as we drove up. Unlike the few times I had been here when the place was discreetly crowded, it seemed almost empty tonight.
"No,' he answered in a clipped tone, pulling me along with him, hurrying up to the doorway. His arm was circled protectively around my waist and I felt like I was being hurriedly bundled into the Club. The wingmen formed a close circle around us and the feeling that there was something majorly wrong bothered me again.
I looked around; was I imagining it, I wondered or was someone watching us?
Lucien
He felt uneasy, knowing that he was putting his young wife in a danger she was unaware of made him angry. Damn it. He had created this situation, and this lovely girl, who looked at him with adoration, her body swollen with his child, was now in the crosshairs. All because of him. Guilt gnawed at him, making him angry.
Proserpina
Schwartz met us at the entrance, and Lucien hugged him tightly. As they stood side by side, I couldn't help but compare them. Although my husband was shorter than the tall, lean man with twinkling green eyes, Lucien had broad shoulders that made him appear larger. He also carried himself with an aura of authority that Schwartz had yet to achieve. I stood by, just watching my husband as he stood there, his icy eyes casually scanning the surroundings, the people, and finally resting on me. His arm had been casually draped around my waist, but now he had let it go. He looked at me again with those cold blue eyes, and I felt a deep yearning within me, a profound love for him. I thought to myself, almost sadly, that at no point during our relationship had he ever spoken words of love to me.
There were plenty of passionate words, abusive words he used while I lay there, writhing in the throes of my desire for him. I accepted his violent use of me, the savage, yes, filthy words he used as he drove into me in a frenzy of lust. I welcomed the way he took me to satisfy his own desires. That was the extent of my subjugation before the man I craved, the man I had married; whose child I was carrying again.
The feeling of weariness that overwhelmed me was due to my condition, seeing my reflection and a general sense of unease that had been following me since we left the house. A girl feels down when she's carrying a child, and the physical pressure sometimes makes her feel low, as Jeannie would say!
I sighed wearily. Lucien gave me a sharp look with his cold eyes, and I avoided looking at him. I didn't want him to see the utter desolation in my eyes as I stared at a bleak life ahead, where I would love and serve him and he?
He would continue to use me as long as it pleased him.
What would happen, I wondered bitterly, when I grew older? When my body no longer enticed him?
Wouldn't he discard me? And look for another young woman to please him? For he didn't seem to care for me other than when we were in bed together.
The dark thoughts that surfaced when I felt tired and insecure came to the surface, and I wanted to sit down and weep.
As I felt a flutter in my stomach, I tottered slightly.
Lucien reached out swiftly and steadied me. The warmth of his large hands gripping my waist as he supported me sent a rush of pleasure through me.
"You okay?" he asked coolly. I looked up at him, trying to hide the reaction I invariably felt when he touched me, and nodded my head, biting my lip anxiously. His gaze fell to my plump lips and I saw his jaw clench. The heated look he gave me made me feel better. Yes, I told myself defiantly, Yes, my husband does love me.
Grinning in welcome, Schwartz turned to me, and I stepped up to him, smiling fondly. He looked as handsome as ever, his blonde hair falling across his forehead, his green eyes twinkling mischievously. The deep lines on his face only made him look more attractive, and I smiled fondly in return. He kissed my hand, winking as he said softly,
"Looking ravishing as ever, eh?"
I giggled. I knew I looked like an elephant, but his comment made me feel light and happy.
Then, rising on my toes awkwardly, I reached for his cheek to give him a quick peck, placing my hands tentatively on his dinner jacket; he had, after all, been instrumental in bringing me back to my husband.
To my shock, he turned his face to me as though anticipating my action, and the kiss landed squarely on his wide mouth. He held me in his arms a minute longer than necessary, and I quickly stepped back, face scarlet, unable to look at Lucien, who was glaring silently beside me. Schwartz's touch made me aware that he liked me, a lot more than just as a friend or as the wife of a friend.