Chapter 6
Odessa’s POV
It was the second month of living with Devareaux, and we were settling into some sort of comfortable state.
Well, I thought we were anyway. After having worked two jobs for almost two years, I had been getting restless so after a week of relaxing around Devareaux’s home, I approached the house staff about helping them with the household chores.
The head maid, Miss Gloria, had appeared appalled at my request. When I told her that I just needed something to do, she was a bit reluctant, but a little more open to the idea.
She made sure I didn’t do anything that was considered “distasteful.” Her words, not mine.
I was not allowed to take out trash, mop floors, scrub anything, or touch the cars.
I could dust, sweep, fold linen, and help make beds.
I usually did the work with one of the other maids, Elise or Nova.
I enjoyed my time with the women in the home.
They had been more than welcoming, but whenever I would attempt to do a little more that I was allowed to, they would threaten to tell Gloria or Renald.
Renald had been disapproving of my need to work.
But he allowed it once he heard what I was allowed to do.
I tried some of the gardening work, but was quickly reprimanded not to touch the garden or yards whatsoever. The green thumb I did not have.
The garden and yards were well maintained by a group of four men.
The head gardener, Stephan, was an older vampyr, but was eager to deter me away from his “baby,” as he would refer to the garden.
I understood, but would come outside to watch when he and the men did come to work.
I learned a lot, though I would never make a good gardener.
At first, Devareaux allowed me these activities, though I could tell he did not approve.
By the second month he had asked is there nothing else I would like to do with my time.
I didn’t know what else to do with my time.
honestly. When you couldn’t afford to do much more than work or eat out on the rare occasion, how else would you know what to do with your time when you weren’t able to afford those luxuries?
The one thing I did allow for, Miss Gloria, with Devareaux’s permission, helped me purchase clothes.
She ordered them through a catalog from a local boutique and had them delivered within three days.
The clothing was too nice for my liking, but I would have to dress the part.
One of the items was a silvery dress that I would be wearing at an upcoming gala event.
I wondered if this would be my first public appearance as Devareaux’s blood wife.
That thought left me anxious, knowing my first appearance in a gala event would have all eyes on me.
Would they accept me? Would they shun me?
I was extremely apprehensive about the first appearance. Up to this point, Devareaux continued to say he wanted to make sure I was comfortable and ready before my first introduction. Apparently, that even met with his family. I still had not met his parents or his sister.
One time I had asked both Miss Gloria and Renald about Devareaux’s family.
Miss Gloria gushed about Estella, saying she was perfect, even for an aristocrat.
Renald had referred to her as a “fine young lady with a good head on her shoulders.” His parents?
Miss Gloria had looked a bit uncomfortable, but said, “They are just your typical aristocrats,” with a tight smile.
I wasn’t sure what that meant. But I looked forward to meeting Estella.
I just wasn’t sure when that would happen.
I was starting to question if Devareaux was ashamed that I was a low blood born.
I knew it would bring questions once that part came out.
We had yet to discuss what the differences in our stations actually even meant to us.
The sex was phenomenal. I had thought that first time would have been the best it would ever be, but I was proven wrong.
Devareaux only took the blood every two or three days, and we would have sex in between.
A lot of sex. At least two or three times.
I couldn’t complain. He always left me feeling wanted and satiated.
Always. But I didn’t understand why he didn’t take the blood every day.
I had been taught it was natural to take the blood daily.
Devareaux often looked tired so I wasn’t sure if my blood was enough to satiated him.
Was there something wrong with my blood?
I couldn’t believe that because he always acted like a starving man when it was time to take the blood. He often said, “You smell delicious.”
I had a month to prepare for the gala so I engaged Miss Gloria in a conversation.
“What do I need to know?”
She had looked uncertain for a moment, but then straightened herself and took my hand. She gently pulled me to the one of the smaller living room areas. I was surprised when Renald peeked in, looking curious.
Miss Gloria noticed him and narrowed her eyes. “The Madam has asked about the aristocrats and galas. I am merely giving her what information I have.”
Renald’s face pinched a bit, but he nodded and came to stand inside the room near the wall.
Next thing I know, Nova, Elise, and Chauffie were seated around me as I sat on a loveseat sofa with Miss Gloria.
Miss Gloria spoke up first. “Okay, so this is what I had observed when the Sir has brought any of the aristocrats to the house, which isn’t very often, thank goodness.”
We all chuckled. Technically, we were all low blood borns, but as the staff to a high blood born, they were slightly more elevated in status than I was. Or than I had been before I became the blood wife of a high blood born.
“Only talk when spoken to. The women are more for uplifting the men.”
“Don’t smile too much, don’t laugh too loud, and don’t say too much when you do talk.”
We all looked at Renald, who shrugged.
Chauffie snickered. “He’s right though. The aristocrats look on their wives as an addition that should make their status more valuable.”
Elise stood, and walked gracefully, yet stiffly across the room.
“”And try to look like your body is locked up when you walk, like your not flexible or fluid.
” Elise was petite like me, with a darker complexion with light brown hair that was cut short to just under her ears. She had large brown eyes.
I chuckled and Nova giggled. Nova stood next, “And make sure you swoosh your hair back over your shoulder at least once.” Nova’s medium brown hair was slightly past her shoulders, which she flipped back from her shoulder with a slight toss of her head.
Nova was a little taller, but looked a bit more awkward as she was incredibly thin with pale white skin.
Her eyes were smaller, and you could barely see any other color than black from them.
I laughed at her.
We all started to laugh and joke about the things the aristocrats did, and I was shocked to see even Renald soften a bit to the conversation. He remained standing, but contributed to the conversation.
I did learn some new things, but they left me more apprehensive than before. But I had a month to learn and practice my walk. Within a month, I would be presented as the first low blood born to be blood matched to an aristocrat.