Sunday Scribblings: Wicked

This week's prompt was "wicked." I realized what I was working on today would fit my heroine, Jennet's, concept of wicked pretty well. So here's a snippet from my w.i.p. novel "Hollow Hearts and Hollow Hills." It's still rough, so be kind ;-) .

Jennet’s eyes strayed back to the pair of them. The lass who now had her legs wrapped around Sirius’ waist was older than Jennet had supposed. Far beyond the gleam of maidenhood, Jennet smirked, but strangely lovely, nonetheless. Red hair streaked equally with gold and silver strands, and fine lines edging her slanting eyes like the tiny toes of some bird’s foot; the woman was most likely in her forties. Old enough to be Jennet’s mother. Still Jennet eyed her with envy. She would never be allowed to leap into her husband’s arms with such abandon. Such behavior was unseemly at best.

As if he heard her thoughts, Sirius cleared his throat and tugged Desdemona off of him. He set her down firmly, scowling a reprimand.

“Oh,” she whispered, dipping in a curtsy designed to hide the less than fashionable aspects of her dress. “My lady, I did not expect—did not see--” she corrected, “you here.”

Jennet nodded, a smile curling the corner of her lips. “Far be it from me to interrupt two loving spouses.” She made to leave, but Desdemona was laughing so hard she held her sides.

Sirius, too, smiled loosely.

“Yes?” Jennet asked, raising an eyebrow in an expression that usually warned the help at home.

“Beggin’ your pardon milady, but Sirius and me—we aren’t spouses...”

“You’re not married?”

“Well, surely not to each other,” Dezdie whooped and slapped her thigh in a most unladylike display.

Jennet’s raised eyebrow was now so high she thought she might lose it in her hairline. “You called him lover.”

“I call everyone lover,” Dezdie chuckled. “Leaves my options open by creating an air of invitation,” she winked wickedly.

So there's the "wickedness" of the commoners. Of course, Jennet soon learns life's not as comfortable as it would be if things were merely black and white. And yes, Dezdie is based on someone I know. She's fun at parties, but not the type to leave alone too long with your spouse... ;-)

Oh, I did also think about quoting lyrics from the Broadway musical "Wicked," too. Loved it.
~Saoirse