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.
Chapter 8
Devareaux’s POV
I had come to the gala earlier, not wanting to walk in with my blood wife. I needed to make an entrance, and I could only do that on my own. I knew I would have to introduce Odessa once she arrived, but until then, I could use my own status, and that of my family’s, to raise me up until I had to explain I was bonded to a low blood born. I felt I would have to ease them into it. Before Odessa arrived though, Quinn arrived in a blazing red dress. She raised eyes and people took notice. She looked fiery tonight. She came straight to me, making me smile. We had started up a friendly conversation with some general banter when I felt eyes on me. I turned to see Odessa at the entrance of the grand room, in a very beautiful silver dress. But compared to Quinn she looked plain and simple. Not what an aristocrat’s blood wife should be. I almost felt irritation at her being my bride, when I suddenly noticed her expression. Her face was blank, which was unusual for her. Then she looked from me to my hands on Quinn’s waist, then back to me. I smiled at her wider, see what she would do about it. Would she dare say something? But suddenly she turned and walked away. I figured maybe she went to the restroom or to get something to drink. I felt a pinch in my chest from her expression, but brushed it off.
