Married To The Mad Vampire Lord

Belle and Evenly spent time together. After Angel had finished feeding, he didn't stay awake for long, falling asleep in Evenly's arms. She gently placed him on the bed so he could rest more comfortably, adjusting the blanket so the baby's tiny chest rose and fell in perfect rhythm.

They talked for a long while, and Belle was amazed at how easily they caught up, as though no time had passed since they met at the royal castle and sat in the same group for the hunt. She was glad for the company; it kept her mind off many things, especially the memories she had seen in the walls. If she claimed those visions hadn't unsettled her, it would be a lie. And she swore to herself never again to touch a wall for memory.

This distraction was worth more than gold, and she was pleased to be able to return the favor by keeping the other woman company, too.

"How was it there?" Evenly asked with genuine interest, her light red eyes sparkling when Belle told her about the cottage and mountain where she had given birth to her son. Their conversation had meandered through many unserious topics before arriving here.

Belle smiled. "Well, to me, it's the most peaceful place in the world, a yard filled with flowers and plants, animals everywhere, and it's always sunny. I would've said it was more like a home, but I've realized home is really where your family is. Anywhere can be home if you have them with you."

It was true, because when she first returned last night, Belle had somehow believed she would never get used to this place and that their lives would change. But she realized having her husband and son in it made all the difference. Though she would have liked it better if the place weren't this big, she didn't mind wherever she lived as long as her family was there. Home was family.

Evenly nodded her head thoughtfully. "The place sounds lovely… though knowing myself, I don't think I would survive a day in a place like that," she said with a little chuckle, causing Belle to give her a questioning look. To Belle, a place like that was a dream, and she couldn't imagine someone not surviving there.

Evenly noticed the look and continued, "Let me tell you a secret you don't know about me." She moved closer to Belle where they sat before the fireplace on the rug and, with a look of embarrassment, said, "I was raised in a house where I never touched a pan with my hands or thought about cooking. I was spoiled by my father for being his only child, he gave me whatever I wanted. Even when I got married, I still had the luxury of being spoiled. So you see why I don't view the place you describe as the most wonderful thing in the world, because I wouldn't know a single thing to do to keep it running."

Evenly had found the little work she was given in this castle stressful because she wasn't used to even lifting her own dirty laundry. She was used to people doing her bidding. The only thing her father had ever allowed her to do that went far from what a lady did was teach her to fight, and that was only to protect herself against vampires. He hated them, and he wouldn't let them hurt his only daughter.

Now that only daughter was a vampire, and no matter how much he loved her, he would never accept her into his house. She had been raised to be a lady in every sense, inside and out, and to never lower herself to any person below her status. And as much as she wanted to bury that part of herself and move on with life, it wasn't something that could easily be carved out in a day or two.

Belle had told her about how life was wonderful in this small cottage, but to Evenly, it sounded more like a dreadful place. Of course, it was only her opinion, and she wouldn't ruin her friend's dreamy fantasies just because she did not view it the same way. But then she became curious about something.

"How come you learned to adjust to a lower life when you come from a noble family? As a duke's daughter and now a duchess, I can't believe you could live a life in a cottage with farm animals. Many aristocrats I know would shudder at the thought , me included."

Belle understood what she meant. It was true, had she been raised like her sister, she knew she would have the same mindset as Evenly and many noble ladies, thinking of such a life as lowly. But she hadn't been raised like that. She was a noble by name but not by heart. Her parents had somehow made sure of it since she was a little girl. Thinking about it now, she felt a tightness in her heart. Would they still treat her like that if she went for this visit? Would they still make her eat with the servants rather than sit at the family table with them?

She quickly dismissed those thoughts and replied to the curious Evenly, who was staring at her with interest. Belle smiled. "I adapt to things quickly, you see. I can live any life as long as it doesn't kill me. And a cottage life is peaceful."

Belle noticed how Evenly seemed to think deeply about her words before a solemn look crossed her face and she muttered, "I wish I could be the quick-adapting kind. But I am trying to adapt, and I think the lack of servants here is a good thing. I should use the opportunity to teach myself things and not always wait on a servant." She said this with a smile and a firm nod of her head. "And I think I will start that by packing our things for tomorrow's journey. Would that help make me adapt quickly?" she asked Belle.

Though Belle usually did not like ladies who thought a servant was there to be their hands all the time and who looked down on people lower than them, Evenly was somewhat different. The fact that she seemed willing to learn and improve made it all the more better. "It will. We can do it together. I hate sitting idly with nothing to do. Before Angel wakes up, let's get to it now. If you can, we can help Gwen in the kitchen as well."

Evenly shuddered internally. Another thing she hated doing was cooking, as she didn't like the heat of the stoves, but she was willing to try anything to kill that old part of herself and to move on from a life that had hurt her far more than it had healed her. Hence, she pushed herself up from the floor and held out her hand for Belle, who was still seated on the rug. "Deal, let's go and finish the castle chores!"

Belle placed her hand into Evenly's cold palm and was swiftly pulled up to her feet.

"There's one thing I noticed I like doing more than anything, though," Evenly remarked as they made their way out of the chamber, closing the door softly so they wouldn't wake the sleeping baby.

"What's that?"

"I like the part where you rub scented liquid on washed clothes and fold them so they keep smelling good."

Belle chuckled and shook her head. Of course every lady of high social status liked scents. "Then I will let you do that part."

"You are too nice for your own good, Lady Dagon. And I am glad I got the chance to know you," Evenly said with a smile, realizing there was hope of actually moving on and feeling alive again if she had a friend who really cared.

"I am not always nice. I can be mean," Belle said with a clear of her throat.

Evenly tried to arch a brow at those words but ended up arching both as she asked, "How mean?" To her, the blonde lady was the nicest person she had encountered in Nightbrook, someone who, when they met, had not tried to get close to her because of her background like all the other ladies had.

"I'm telling Gwen you volunteered to chop onions."

Evenly froze mid-step, horror in her eyes. "You wouldn't dare."

"Oh, try me, Lady Evenly. I can be really heartless," Belle said, but that only made Evenly burst out laughing, the sound filling the halls they walked in.