I relaxed back into the bed, and smiled at her. “Oh. Hello. Nice to finally meet you.” My smile faltered. “A bit late though,……..considering….” My voice trailed off.
Her expression softened. “Yes, that. My brother is an idiot.”
I smiled at her again. “He just wanted something better.”
Estella scoffed. “Like that blood whore, Quinn?” She laughed. “Nonsense. Besides, he kicked her out.” She continued to smile at me.
“Excuse me?” I was confused.
“Oh yes. Earlier today, Quinn came to the estate wanting to see my brother.” She leaned forward, dropping her voice, conspiratorially. “I got to hear all about it from the staff.” She had a gleam in her eyes. “She tried talking Devareaux into taking her as his mistress. Said something about, ‘You must not want her that way, so I can be useful to you’.” Estella rolled her eyes, leaning back casually into the chair. A huge grin spread across her face. “He told her to get out, not come back, and to not bother speaking to him in public ever again because no one would satisfy him like his blood wife.” She snickered. “Then slammed the door in her face.”
So that was the commotion earlier. I simply nodded at her.
“So tell me me about yourself.” She continued to smile at me, sat back in the chair, and entwined her hands, looking at me expectantly.
And that was how I got to know Estella.
On the third day, I had another surprise visitor: Dreya Trudeau. I had been resting in the sitting room, attempting to read a book, when Renald escorted her in. I had not expected her whatsoever. She was smiling hesitantly at me as she entered the sitting room. She was a beautiful woman. She had a unique trait about her that shocked me: reddish brown hair that flowed loosely in waves just past her shoulders. Half of it was pinned back. Rumor had it that Dreya D’Avare was a secret. She rarely went out in society, and little was known about her other than who her father was. Another thing I noted were her clothes. They looked more like those of a mid blood born than an aristocrat. Dreya was tall and slim, elegant looking actually, with pale skin. She had dark brown eyes and an elegantly lined face structure. Other than her hair and clothes, she looked every bit the aristocrat.
“Miss D’Avare.”
Her face tensed up, and she hesitated. “Ummm its legally Trudeau…..I guess.” She forced a smile and politely said, “Please, do just call me Dreya though.”
I wasn’t sure what that bit about maybe being a Trudeau, but I chose to move past that. My body relaxed, and I waved a hand for her to sit with me. She chose a small plush chair angled towards the couch I was sitting on.
I turned to Renald. “Could you have Miss Gloria bring us in some tea and fruits, please?”
“As you wish, Madam.” He gave me a slight bow as he always did before leaving the room.
Dreya giggled. “Does he always do that?”
I looked to her, curiously. “Do what?”
“That little bow thing?”
I shrugged. “Oh, yes.” I frowned. “Is that not normal?”
Dreya giggled again. “Not that I have ever seen or experienced. He must actually like you.”
“Hmmmm. Interesting. I’m low blood born,” I turned my head away slightly. “So I have never experienced having staff wait on me.”
Dreya relaxed a bit into the chair, looking a little less staged. “My mother’s staff was kind to me, but they had boundaries, for obvious reasons.” She sounded sad. “Onyx’s staff has been very decent to me as well. But no little bows.” She giggled again.
I noticed she referred to her blood husband’s staff as his, not ours. There was definitely something there, but I would not pry. That was disrespectful behavior. I also noticed she was not what I had expected. The people at the gala, for the short time I had been in their presences, were stiff and unapproachable. Both Estella and Dreya had a different presence to them, one that made me relaxed.
“So, what brings you here today, Dreya?”
“I had heard from Onyx about your….situation. I wanted to simply check in on you and assure you are doing well.” She looked at me expectantly.
I felt warmth flow through me at her surprising concern for my well being.
“I am doing much better. I should be able to do my regular activities again within a day or so.”
“Wonderful! Besides, I feel we will be seeing more of each other over time.”
I leaned in, shocked. “We will?”
“Oh yes. Has Mr. Hautbois not told you about his new endeavor?”
