Chapter 7
Odessa’s POV
I was running late for the gala event for the aristocrats.
I wasn’t going to lie and say I wasn’t extremely nervous.
It had been three months of living with Devareaux as his blood wife, and he had not yet shared me in society.
Or met his family. I wasn’t sure if that was an aristocratic thing, or if it was something deeper, darker.
I had always equated it to Devareaux being an aristocrat, and they did things differently than suits and workers.
He had insisted on our driver, Chauffie, dropping me off and meeting him at the gala event, as he had to make an appearance early on.
I didn’t understand why he didn’t just have me come earlier with him, but again, I didn’t feel it was my place to state this.
I was still learning where I fit in, being so low on the status chain and him so high.
This was almost unheard of. We were both trying to figure out what that meant for us, I’m sure.
I was in the long, silky silver dress that I did not feel the least bit comfortable in, but I pushed myself out of the car as soon as it arrived at the event location.
I plastered on a polite smile, and attempted to be as graceful as I could.
I must have pulled it off as several people looked my way and nodded.
No smiles, just nods. I did learn that was the aristocratic way. I nodded back ever so slightly.
The heels clicked on the marble floors as I walked through the entrance of the grand room.
The place looked more like a museum with its blank white walls, large statues of prominent aristocrats from our history, and golden trim along some of the borders.
It was luxurious yet gaudy. I manage to walk gracefully through the entryway as I followed others in front of me towards the great room where the event would be held.
Most of the guests were dressed in white, silver, or black colors.
Men were in suits with ties, women in glamorous and, likely, very expensive dresses.
My dress had been expensive too, but I felt like I was wearing the cheapest version of the dresses of others in this room.
I felt extremely out of place with my long, black hair flowing down my back in waves.
Most of the women had their hair in up-dos. Those that did not, had short hair.
Once I reached the entrance to the grand room, I caught my breath.
I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach.
I literally couldn’t breathe for a few seconds.
I almost gasped trying to take in a breath as I stared across the room at one of the very few women in the room wearing a color other than white, silver, or black.
In fact, the woman’s dress was bright red, like a beacon to attract attention.
And standing next to her with his hand on her waist, was Devareaux, with a wide grin on his face.
He was looking down at her with what appeared to be affection.
Is this why he wanted me to come alone? To show me he had found another to replace me?
Why couldn’t he have done this at our home?
Wait. But is it our home? If what he is doing now is what he wants, then no, it is not our home, but his home.
He should have told me he didn’t want me as his blood bride.
I would have left. I would have returned home and continued my working life.
It would have destroyed me, but I would have honored his choice.
But this? This was a public announcement.
He was ashamed of me, of his blood wife.
I had not chosen to be his blood wife. The blood had chosen that for us.
But I would have respected him more for choosing another blood bride if that had been his intent.
The pain in my heart was excruciating, making my head throb and my vision begin to blur.
Devareaux’s action made it a point that I was unwelcomed here.
Just as I was about to turn and walk away, his head lifted and his eyes met mine.
His smile did not dim, his hand did not move from this other woman.
If anything, his smile seemed to grow wider.
I looked from his eyes, to his hands on her waist, and back to his eyes again.
He did not move or make any attempts to come to me.
So, I moved first. I turned without waiting, and returned out through the front entrance.
I was able to get one of the staff outdoors to call my driver back.
I couldn’t hear or feel anything but numbness.
When Chauffie returned, I slipped into the backseat and simply said, “Please return me to the estate.”
Not home. The estate. Because that’s all it really was.
Chauffie tried to ask me questions, but I could no longer respond. I was moving without thinking, without feeling.
I knew what I had to do. What I would do. He made his choice. It was loud and clear. Publicly so. Once we arrived back at the estate, I asked Chauffie to stay in the car and wait for me.
I went inside without looking around, with a plan in place. I heard a voice calling my name, but I could not hear it. A muffled sound reached my ears but my eyes were burning with unshed tears. I would not cry. Yet.
I was stopped by someone in front of me. It took a few moments for my vision to clear and my brain to register that Renald was speaking to me.
“Madam Odessa, why have you returned so early?” He looked concerned.
“Renald, your master has made his choice clear this evening. I will be returning to my home. Thank you for all you have done during my short stay.” My voice was flat, but I couldn’t muster up any emotion or warmth in this moment. I just hoped he understand how much I actually meant the words.
“What has happened, Madam?”
“I will no longer be the Madam of the house. The Master has chosen another.”
Renald looked shocked. “No. No, that cannot be. He would not.”
I forced a smile. “It is his choice. And he has. I will gather my belongings and leave. He may bring his new bride as soon as he wishes.”
I moved around Renald, because it was taking everything in me to keep my composure.
And I still needed to pack. I did not feel I should take anything I acquired while living here.
That would not be appropriate. It would look as if I wanted my partner’s money.
I did not. I had survived on less for longer.
These luxuries had been simply a vacation from my real world. Where I must return.
I packed only two suitcases full of my belongings. Mainly those of which I arrived with. My clothes, my books, and my blood bonding quilt. It was given to me by my mother, which had been passed down from Dad’s mother to her, and now to me. But I would have to return it. That hurt my soul.
As I reached the top of the staircase with my two suitcases, Renald was there waiting and insisted on taking one of them down for me. I allowed it. I did not need to overdo myself and fall down the stairs. That would be quite the burden.
He helped me with my suitcases into the car, then helped me into the backseat. Before closing the door, he asked, “Madam Odessa, are you sure of this decision?” He looked on me hesitantly, and I could feel Chauffie looking at me through the rearview mirror.
“Yes, Renald. He has made his choice to me very clear this evening.”
Renald’s expression morphed from shock to anger, then resolve. “As it be, Madam.”
I nodded ever so slightly to him, and settled into the seat. After closing the door, I instructed Chauffie, “To the Flats, please.”
His head whipped around to me, his eyes wide. “Madam?”
“The Flats, Chauffie.” I made sure my voice was stern and authoritative.
He stared at me, concerned and uneasy. But then he nodded and turned back to the front.
During the drive, I tried to hold off on thinking about my situation.
I went into practical mode. I would need to get my old jobs back in order to pay for myself again.
I had been on a long vacation. That’s all.
Or at least that’s what I had told myself.
I was grateful now for the allowance Devareaux had been giving me since I moved in.
He had refused to pay off my lease early, so I had to continue paying on it.
The lease did not expire for another two months, so I should be able to move back in without any concerns.
In fact, I still had some of that allowance, which I would keep.
I felt it was fair since he did not properly inform me of choosing another.
This was penance. Or payment from undo hardship. However it was needed to be justified.
It was dark out now, and even darker in the low blood born sections of town due to dimmer lighting.
The aristocrats had blazing, bright lights at the gala event while my people struggled to be able to see a few feet in front of them out on the street.
I should have known are partnership would not work. We were from different worlds.
Chauffie helped me with my suitcase as Renald had. I was up on the third floor so he was breathing heavily by the time we reached my door. I unlocked it with the key I had kept, grateful now in this moment that I had. I took the suitcase from him, and turned to him in the doorway.
I forced a smile for him, “Thank you, Chauffie, for helping me. But you should really go. It is dark and not the best place for an aristocrat’s driver to be found.”
I hoped no one would try anything, because any staff attached to an aristocrat was considered off limits, but you never really did know.
Chauffie looked upset and looked like he might argue with me, when I shooed my hands at him. “I will be fine. I am home. Where my place is.”
He frowned deeply, shaking his head, “Madam Odessa…..”
In a sterner tone, “Go Chauffie. Please. And thank you for everything.” To ensure he knew I meant it, I closed the door on him. Not to be rude, but to show him I would be staying here.
I heard him shuffle away, and that is when I cracked. I dropped to the floor by my door, and cried so hard my body shook. I cried until I fell asleep, curled up tight, by the cold, closed door of my little studio flat.