Chapter 64 Chapter 64
Violet
I stared at him for a while again, just a few fleeting seconds to assess what he thought about me in this dress.
It felt like having his opinion would matter because he belonged to this crazy family after all. He wasn’t wearing a tuxedo or a long coat from the last century either.
And his tattoos did poke out from under his sleeves and the topmost open button of his shirt. He hadn’t bothered to stick to the dress code if there was one.
I almost felt the need to run back to my room and change into something more comfortable. But I had already slipped my hand in his.
We started walking down the corridor and I was acutely aware of the way my arm rested on his after linking it.
The touch was gentle and barely there yet I recalled the way he had held me through the flight as I sobbed into his chest.
There were so many things I wanted to ask him, so many things I wanted to say, but somehow it felt he was in no mood to talk.
He walked stiffly beside me and kept looking straight ahead, no smile on his face for being back to his family home or relatives.
I recalled him not having any contact with his family for long so wondered what must have happened for him to alienate from them.
After all, people died to get a chance to meet Alpha Deveraux so it was strange that his own son wouldn’t even use the family surname.
My gaze flitted back to his face and his set jaw.
“Do you want to say something?” He asked without looking at me when he caught me staring for the fifth time already.
I shook my head.
“Just nervous”
“You have nothing to worry about.”
Easy for him to say given that he somehow knew how to not feel intimidated by meeting one of the founding families of our community.
I barely kept track of what path we took as we walked down the steps. I was glad they gave me a little purse to keep my phone and knick-knacks because I was starting to sweat when we finally reached a huge closed door.
Elijah stopped outside as two servants wearing regal uniforms bowed to us upon approaching the door.
We bowed as well though my bow was a lot less graceful than Elijah’s.
One of the servant reached for the door handle and said. “Hope you have a great evening. Enjoy your dinner with the great Alpha Deveraux and Lady Aurelia who have freed their time to accompany you for this feast.”
Right.
Elijah barely grunted as the doors opened and I took in the grand dining room prepared for a simple dinner.
It looked far more elegant and decorated for a simple, casual family dinner. And it was bright as well as colorful.
There were orchids of various colors pasted along the walls and the dinner table was strategically located in between four giant pillars each decorated with vines sprouting with colorful flowers.
And then there was the cutlery and silverware, gleaming back at me. A huge chandelier hung above the table, huge teardrop shaped diamonds creating an image like that of a waterfall.
It was absolutely breathtaking to look at.
I gawked at the arrangements and felt the nudge when Elijah beckoned me to step forward. And I would have tripped if not for him gently holding me in place from slamming onto the steps and making a fool of myself.
My gaze took in the giant hall and then I noticed it was just us who had arrived so far. There was no sign of Cassie.
But there were servants who were starting to quietly bring in all the food. They too, walked in a line as if this was a military procession.
Each held a dish covered with a cloche and would walk from the left to the table to place them at designated spots on the huge table.
I looked above and saw a huge glass ceiling that was dome shaped that let the moonlight fliter in through the glass and reflect onto the chandelier, sending reflections all around.
The room dazzled and shone bright while I looked like the shadow of a ghost in my pale and unappealing attire.
Elijah and I approached the dining table by walking on the freshly laid carpet and I noticed nameplates assigned to each of us.
Me and Elijah were seating beside each other which was a relief but I looked for Cassie’s name and found it on the opposite side.
I looked around nervously and noticed there were four doors each in a direction and we were made to stand the one facing east.
“Where is everyone?” I asked and Elijah explained.
“The alpha and the lady arrive only after the guests have all taken their seats so we wait.”
“Okay”
The door to my left opened, the one from which we both had entered and I saw Cassie step in. Relief flooded through me to see her face but the next instant, I noticed her dress and my mouth fell open.
She was wearing a long baby pink silk gown with her curly hair hanging loosely around her shoulders. A matching ring and delicate earrings complemented her look.
She looked stunning and absolutely gorgeous in her dress.
When she reached to stand beside her nameplate I couldn’t help but ask.
“What are you wearing?”
She squeaked back. “What are you wearing girl?”
I replied indignantly. “What was laid out for me for today’s dinner. Didn’t you say we should respect Lady Aurelia’s wishes?”
Cassie leaned forward, placing her hands on the chair’s armrest to whisper.
“There was a change in plan because Lady Aurelia found the earlier theme too unappealing after I grumbled about it to the maids. Trust them to gossip a lot.”
She chuckled. That explained why she came strutting all alone.
And I tugged at the frills of my dress. “Then why didn’t you tell me? I look like an idiot in this stuff.”
I stared at my reflection in one of the cloches and was amazed that Elijah hadn’t laughed at me. He had just narrowed his eyes for a second but other than that he gave no reaction.
“Calm down” She insisted but I knew I stuck out like a sore thumb in this out of fashion attire.
I meant to quickly run to my room to put on something else but Elijah tugged at my arm.
“They are coming”
Two guards appeared on the door in front of us and I heard approaching footsteps. The guards again made some announcement that I couldn’t focus on because I saw maids arriving from either side of the room out of nowhere, wearing the exact same color I was wearing.
Even the hair was styled the same. I had been dressed as a maid!!