Proserpina
I dressed up with a sense of foreboding. When I looked into the mirror, I was mildly surprised to see that I looked good. My face did not betray my distress for I knew that I should not make my children worried, at least, not more than they were now. The silver-grey slinky dress was made of a shimmering material and contrasted dramatically with my deep brown hair.
The pretty dress came down to a little below my knees and had a deep plunging neck with billowing sleeves. The back was also daringly deep and I knew that the dress hugged my bosom, flaring out slightly from the waist but still revealing my slight baby bump. I smiled my hand on my stomach. I looked like a woman expecting a baby and I was happy about it.
Glancing at the time, I sighed, dabbing a dash of mild perfume to the area behind my earlobes, affixing the tiny diamond studs that Gaston had gifted me. I needed to go and see that the final touches to dinner had been done.
Maja
She settled down in the chair at the huge dining table, trying not to look around herself wide-eyed. Magnus had a bemused look and Maddy was looking around, her eyes like saucers. Maja pinched her daughter and hissed,
“Madeline, behave yourself.’
Her daughter settled down but in a minute, she was back to goggling at her surroundings.
*
Maja sighed. True, the room was splendid and impressive while managing to look welcoming at the same time. The barrel-vaulted ceiling was made of Jerusalem stone and the bright, airy dining room boasted a long walnut table, with carved wood seating, and a crystal chandelier that twinkled invitingly. a medley of antiques lined the built-in shelves, adding a touch of elegance to the room. Long French doors provided easy access to the outdoor terraces. Adding to that, the woodland wall mural and mossy green velvet asserted a connection to the outdoors.
She sighed. Now that it was dark outside, the lights had been turned on and the large room looked welcoming, with the various aromas of food rising to her nostrils enticingly, and the muted lighting created an effect of splendour without being ostentatious.
The people who lived here all their lives were really lucky, she thought enviously and then smiled as Proserpina Delano emerged from the kitchen. Heavens, what was that gorgeous woman doing there? thought Maja incredulously. Cooking was something beyond her; her family survived on take always and meals bought over a supermarket counter. Even making a decent cup of coffee took an incredible effort from her side.
Proserpina smiled at her, the dimples appearing and Maja found herself smiling back automatically.
‘I hope you like Jambalaya?’ she asked with a smile and Maja was floored.
“Who’s that?” she squeaked and saw Magnus groan.
‘Jambalaya is a dish,’ said Tara helpfully as she seated herself beside Maddy with a sidelong smile, “it is like a hot pot and you are going to love it!’
“Aaah…’ said Maja pretending to understand but she knew she was totally unconvincing. Proserpina went on softly, gently. ‘It’s alright, we also have Macaroni and cheese as well as Meatloaf and then, apple pie.’
Maddy sat, mouth hanging open.
Tara giggled.
“Mumma is a fantastic cook!’ she boasted even as April shook her head warningly at her daughter. Maja sat weakly. She longed to sink to the earth.
Suddenly, “Pappa!’ cried one of the boys, the twins, or rather, triplets, as Maddy had confided in her.
The change in the atmosphere around the long, wide walnut table was astounding. The boys quietened down, Tara sat straighter and the maids quickly bustled out, even the tall, fierce-looking woman named Camille who bossed about in the kitchen, hastily scooted away into the kitchen. Proserpina Delano who had been standing on the other side of the table, her dimples peeking, turned to the door, her eyes widening. She raised a hand unconsciously to her stomach and Maja turned curiously to look at the bear-like man who was striding in. Magnus and Maddy unconsciously shifted in their seats, uneasy and vaguely scared.
He was not very tall, she thought in surprise but then she found herself stiffening automatically. The Don was a burly man, grey-haired and much older than his lovely wife, but with the commanding presence of a leader that made people jump to attention. He was in a dark suit but his shirt was opened almost halfway down his chest, revealing the wiry hairs curling on his muscular physique.
When he entered the room, his eyes moved around and seemed to be searching for someone. It was only when the cold grey-blue eyes rested on his wife’s flushed face that he seemed to relax. Built like a bull, his powerful muscles appeared to be straining under the expensive material of his deep grey jacket as he unerringly walked to the head of the table.
Virility; the man exuded it easily and combined with his arrogance, it was a potent mix. All the stories she had heard about him as a man who could not be satisfied by one woman, were real after all, she reflected as she slid him another look, half fearfully.
On the flight, Grace had filled her in on her lover’s boss, the Mafia Don who could not keep his hands off his wife now. She had been curious to see the woman who had captured the man and enslaved him so completely. The couple fascinated her.
Proserpina Delano bit her lip as he looked at him and he scowled as he looked around the table stacked with the delicious looking food.
The Don growled in a threatening, deep baritone that sent shivers down Maja’s spine, ‘Woman?’
His eyebrow cocked interrogatively at her and Maja bristled on Proserpina’s behalf but to her amazement, Proserpina dimpled sweetly at him before crossing to stand beside him, her hips swaying in an erotic manner as she approached her husband who was practically devouring her with his hot eyes.
‘I made your favourite Jambalaya,’ she said in a soft, apologetic murmur as he gripped her hand and pulled her closer to him. They exchanged a long look, wordless but charged with such passion that Maja felt her cheeks turn pink.
Jesus, Joseph and Mary, she thought incredulously, it was as intimate as though they were making love before the guests, she thought, her breath coming faster.
The man was crazy over his wife. He gently stroked her swollen belly and Maja thought to herself, “That is like the Most Romantic gesture ever.” She looked around and caught Schwartz gleaming gaze on her; he was laughing at her, she thought furiously. Handsome James smiled openly as he cleared his throat.