"I think it's time for me to go." Odette said calmly across the card table.
Bastian looked through the puff of cigar smoke, while Sandrine was busy shuffling the deck for the next game, who also looked up from what she was doing. Odette gave them a warm smile, like an expectant host.
"It seems I had too much to drink. I apologize for not being able to serve you Lady Laviere."
"Rest easy, I am fine. Think about your health, you done need to over do it," Sandrine said. "I'm sure Major Klauswitz can step in for you. It'd be a pity to conclude the game while I'm still eager to play."
Bastian raised an eyebrow as he breathed out another cloud of smoke. Odette sat patiently opposite him, beside a glass that remained untouched and full, mirrored its state from the last dinner. He chuckled, thinking about how she claimed to be drunked from a drink she never sipped. Throughout the night she attended to Sandrine, her magnificent pride nowhere to be seen.
"As you wish," he said, thinking it's s fair affair and it wouldn't hurt to relish a different thrill this time.
"Thank you, Bastian. Then, I'll leave Lady Laviere to you."
Odette rose from her seat, leaving a farewell. Leisurely, Bastian filled Sandrine's empty wine glass while puffing on his cigar.
'I don't really care what the world thought' the memory of Count Xanders resurfaced as he watched the swirling amber liquid. Odette's affair with him would be the scandal of the century, upending the empire. His priceless honor and reputation will be dashed on the rocks over night. It wouldn't be difficult to make them outcasts in this world.
But was it revenge enough to compensate the damage that woman had caused?
Bastian lifted his head, lost in the plot. Through the wisps of cigar smoke, he caught a glimpse of Odette's wistful face. It was hard to believe that she was about to face a tremendous downfall. But isn't she a woman who has long forsaken her honor?
There was a faint sneer on Bastian's face. The scandal might be good for the two who don't care for their reputation. They were great people who could live in a world secluded from everything, far away from him and everyone else. Even though Count Xanders already had a child, they would no doubt find some sort of happiness together, the picture perfect family.
"Bastian?"
Bastian hadn't realised how quiet he had suddenly become. He turned to Sandrine, his countenance void of any melancholy. On the table was a card waiting for him.
"You can start, Sandrine."
With a nonchalant smile, Bastian looked at his first card. Odette gracefully departed the drawing room, accompanied by her loyal canine companion. She never even looked back as the door swung closed behind her.
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
Odette got herself ready for bed, removing all the jewellery and the dress. She closed the windows and curtains, before indulging in a longer than usual bath. By the time she got out, it was past midnight. Margrethe was already asleep, curled up in front of the fireplace.
Odette put on some warm pyjamas and slowly braided her hair and was about to meticulously clean away the dressing table when a knock came from the door.
"Excuse me a moment," Sandrine said, helping herself into the room. Odette stirred, but was too devoid of energy to say anything. "Hmm, this bedroom does not suit at all, it will have to be changed before the wedding." Sandrine moved about the bedroom, examining every nook and cranny.
Odette watched carelessly. It had been a very tiring day and she was not in the mood to get riled up. It was a waste of energy to get involved in pointless conflicts.
"You're not going to leave that dog behind, are you?" Sandrine frowned at Margrethe.
"Don't worry, Margrethe is coming with me."
"that's a relief, I can't stand such dogs."
"If you're done," Odette said, bored of Sandrine already.
"Oh no, I just thought it would be better to use your door to Bastian's bedroom. The night is deep, but you never know who might be awake, where the eyes might be watching."
"What?"
While mulling over the words, Sandrine took off her silk gown. Odette hardened at the sight of Sandrine in pyjamas that revealed a little too much. Sandrine neglected to even dress in appropriate underwear. It was very inappropriate attire for entering or exiting a man's bedroom.
Sandrine sighed. "Its always better to be careful than to get caught out, obviously."
"But isn't this a bit much, Lady Laviere?"
"Why, do you want to stay as Bastian's wife or something?" Sandrine frowned. "You don't know why Bastian welcome me, do you?"
As Sandrine approached Odette, she could smell Bastian's favourite drink on her. She couldn't bring herself to look at Sandrine. Shame burned her cheeks, a feeling that stripped away any sense of entitlement to even the smallest rights.
"Look, I honestly thought we would get along," Sandrine said, turning to the door without much thought, the door that had been securely shut for the last two years, opened to let another woman through.
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
Once the shower was concluded, Bastian wrapped himself up in a gown and lazily dried his hair. He could still feel the drunkenness muddle his head. He accepted this as the day he had drunk far too much and was not looking forward to trying to sleep with the room spinning so fast.
He took a slow and steady step back into the bedroom. "Bastian," came a voice as he opened the door.
He narrowed his drunken eyes and could see the form of a woman sitting on his bed. At first he thought it was Odette and his heart leapt from his chest, not sure what he should do, but through the drunken fog, he could make out fiery red hair and a sly smile spread across his face.
Bastian looked at Sandrine, wishing the drunken haze would lift already. He had always thought of her as a reckless woman, but not stupid, he would have to correct his evaluation of her.
"Don't worry, I've taken measures to prevent any unnecessary rumours." Sandrine stood before Bastian, making herself ready. He could smell a sweet scent of pungent flowers upon her. "I used the couples door, thanks to Odette's consideration." She pointed to the door that linked to Odette's bedroom.
Bastian found the idea amusing, his wife allowing a half naked woman to pass into her husbands bedroom without a hint of objection. It almost felt like Odette was pimping him out to whoever could match her asking price. Her devotion to being a good wife was going above and beyond.
"You really want to test my patience, Sandrine? I think I've shown enough tolerance for your careless behaviour," said Bastian, as he dried his hair.
His voice were not harsh, if anything, he was as cool as ever, but that did not stop a shiver running up Sandrine's spine, but she refused to back down, she would have him, she has been waiting long enough.
"Tolerance? Are you referring to your false kindness in throwing me leftover scraps?" Sandrine's eyes flashed a fierce, cool light and her smile was more of a sneer.
Sandrine didn't hold any resentment to Bastian for seeing her as a strategic business ally while he was married to Odette. Bastian always showed her empathy and treated her with the utmost respect, it was an ideal arrangement, but he never gave her what she desperately wanted.
"How long are you going to keep up this pretence? I want a definitive answer, I want to know that you plan on marrying me once your deal with Odette is done, I want to hear you promise."
"I will deal with that matter as soon as I have properly concluded my marriage with Odette," Bastian said firmly.
"But your marriage with her is already done."
"There are still the formal procedures."
"I kept my promise to you," Sandrine started to sound like a spoilt child.
"I know," Bastian said.
He knew that Laviere was a great partner, the benefits of using each other were great. That was the only reason he tolerated Sandrine's ridiculous behaviour.
"Then, prove it," Sandrine snapped, her eyes locked onto Bastian with an intense fire and unmasked resentment.
"What do you mean?"
"Prove to me that I am your woman," Sandrine threw herself at Bastian, demanding his love without hesitation.
It was the middle of the night and he was drunk. Sandrine knew very well that it wasn't just intoxication that was clouding his judgement, but the vivid heat her body was giving off, mixed with the heady scents of her perfumes.
Sandrine tossed her meagre pyjamas aside and let her warm, mostly naked body, press against Bastian as her lips pressed against his. She could taste the solitude on his lips, a rich, chemical intoxicant he had been indulging in all day.