Blue Blood, Eliza Wards [ebook reader txt] 📗

Con

 

I wake up and Aunt Maggie has vacated the bed. I give into a big stretch and pull the covers around me. 

 

"Don't you dare go back to sleep!" Is all I hear. I turn over to find Maggie looking at me from the door. 

 

"I'm tired," I moan. 

 

"You know the rules. When you go out at night, you still have to work. No exceptions." She places a cup of coffee on to the bedside table and sits on the bed by my feet. 

 

"Thank you!" I sit up and grab the coffee. 

 

"I take it you went to the tree last night." She watches me from above the rim of her cup. 

 

"How do you know?" I reply trying not to give her eye contact.

 

"When you go there you come back and find me." She says rubbing my calf through the covers. "So, tell me about the girl you met." She changes the subject knowing I won't talk about the tree or anything to do with that part of my life. 

 

"She's a handful," I smile at the memory of her holding the candlestick, "but seemed in awe of Bumblebee," I tell her feeling a little confused, I rub my eyes and drag my hair away from my face. "Apparently, people are spreading gossip about Bumblebee. From the sounds of it, none of it is true. This girl thought it was a make-believe story until she actually met me." 

 

"Bumblebee and yourself are someone worth looking up to." I give Maggie a look and she stops. 

 

"Anyways, this girl she is a prostitute," I tell her bluntly, wanting to see her reaction. 

 

Maggie spits her coffee out. "I wasn't expecting that. How did you meet her? Actually, do I want to know?" Her smile is contagious. 

 

"I was watching someone else and through them, I met Maddie, that's her real name." 

 

"You didn't tell her yours, did you?"

 

"I'm not daft." I retort and take a long gulp of coffee. "She's very... I don't even know the word. I guess you would say free. She's unique and quirky. I like her." 

 

"You always like the ones the rest of society shuns." 

 

I shrug my shoulders, "society can take a hike off a tall cliff. Plus, the people they shun are the ones who have more eyes and ears than the rest of the folk." I gulp some more coffee, "Maddie thought I had turned up to relieve my bodily tension....with her." I laugh at the memory. 

 

Maggie's laugh is sudden and throaty. She looks at me and then laughs again. "Please, tell me what happened." She begs. 

 

"I firmly told her that wasn't the reason and even then as I was leaving, she kissed me." 

 

Maggie starts laughing again, tears streaming down her face. "Ok," she says between catching her breath. "I officially like her."

 

I can't help to laugh along with her. 

 

She tries to compose herself. "So, what did you exchange with her then? If it wasn't for a kiss from you or a way to relieve your bodily tension. What was the bargaining chip?" She asks. 

 

Maggie doesn't mind talking about the funny side of what I do but she prefers not to know about the dangerous side. 

 

"In all honesty, I think she would trade freely. I got the impression people aren't nice to her." I murmur, not finding it funny anymore. "She wants a blanket because she gets cold at night," I tell Maggie which instantly sobers her laughter. 

 

"We have plenty of leftover materials that we can use. I even think we have one partially made. But, we need to get our orders done first." She informs me as she stands up. 

 

"I know, work first and then I can make the blanket." 

 

"We will make it." She smiles and leaves the room. 

 

I down the rest of the coffee and pull on a dress for the rest of the day. 

 

I remember to put my knives away before I go downstairs. I couldn't be bothered to do it last night. I wrap them up and hide them before the day begins. I hang my clothes and place my cloak into a box. 

 

"I've been thinking," Maggie starts as she hears me entering the all in one room. We have this room and our bedrooms and even they are used for storage. 

 

We are a lot better off than most. In our bedroom, we have a lot of materials and mannequins but at least we have our own space. Aunt Maggie had to move a lot of things around so I could stay with her. 

 

"I've never liked you saying those words," I quip with a little smirk. 

 

"Bumblebee is finally getting attention, but I think you need to calm it down a little." She meets my eye and I can tell she worries about me. 

 

"I promised Maddie I would give her the blanket tonight. But, I agree with you. Bumblebee needs to disappear for a few weeks." I smile as she places Porridge in front of me. She sits opposite and starts eating her breakfast. 

 

"That's fine, Maddie needs a blanket. After that, we will go back to it just being us for a little while. I have a feeling something is changing and we need to see what it is before you move forward." She tells me, and there's been enough of these gut feelings for me to trust her completely. Without them, I'd trust her with my life and would do anything she'd ask of me. 

 

"That's good enough for me. What's the plan for today?" I ask, knowing that the conversation is over.

 

"Mrs Weller will be in today so her outfit needs to be finished. She's a big client and has a big mouth. So, let's get those posh people in." 

 

"I hate the high society people." 

 

"I know, but it brings us money in and we get to eavesdrop as much as we like. That or she moans away to us about how difficult life is for the spoilt." She smiles devilishly at me. 

 

"It's taken three years but I think I am finally rubbing off on you Aunt Maggie." I finish my Porridge and head to the shop. 

 

I check myself in the mirror and adjust my hair clips. I smile and the day is set. 

 

Aunt Maggie opens the shop and we get to work on Mrs Weller's order. Apparently, Aunt Maggie was quite surprised to find out I could sew. Which even to this day I take offence over. I may be good with a knife and running around the Kingdom like a lunatic but that doesn't mean I'm not good at girl's stuff too.

 

I even enjoy sewing. Mostly. My mind settles and everything just blurs away. I just focus on the task at hand and all of my problems slip away. 

 

The door jingles and I place my things down to walk into the shop so I am seen.

 

Maggie is already in there but I pretend I am after something just so I can keep an eye on everything. 

 

I listen as Maggie talks away to the customer. 

 

He tells her what he needs and passes her a jacket to be fixed up. 

 

"I need it to be done now." He demands. 

 

"I'm sorry, sir. The quickest I can do it is by tomorrow evening." She informs him with more politeness than I could muster. 

 

I take him in, he's in his late thirties, he has broad shoulders. Nice strong jawline. His black hair is slightly receding. He seems rather built beneath the coat he is wearing. I peg him as a middle-ranking officer and definitely a married man. 

 

"That's not good enough. I need it done for tonight!" He shouts. 

 

I look up and edge closer. 

 

"Sir, if you please could lower your tone." 

 

"I will not!" He booms. "If you don't get this done by the end of the day I will..." 

 

"You best not finish that sentence," I warn him. 

 

"Or what?" He challenges, swivelling on me. 

 

I smile sweetly at him, I picture Maddie as Lucille and try to imitate her. I saunter up to him walk around the counter that Aunt Maggie is behind. 

 

I lean against the counter and touch his arm. "If you finish that sentence then how can I sort that jacket out for you?" I ask, flipping my hair and looking at him beneath my eyelashes. 

 

I watch as blood rushes into his cheeks. I don't take my eyes off him for a second. 

 

"Do you mind if I measure the top half of your body?" I ask. 

 

"Of course not," he smiles, his eyes lighting up with appreciation. 

 

"Thank you, please head this way." I lead him to the part of the shop that holds a mirror. "I do apologise, our shop isn't very big but I will make sure your jacket is good as new. Unfortunately, I will have to charge more due to how quick you are wanting it." 

 

"That's no issue, ma'am." He smiles over his shoulder. 

 

Maggie looks at me and smiles. The angry ones are always easy targets. A bit of charm and they are yours. 

 

I measure his back and shoulders. Writing them down as I go. 

 

"So, why the need for the rush?" I ask as I move to face him. 

 

"I'm an officer." He says pushing his chest out proudly. 

 

"One of the nice ones or not so nice?" I ask as I gently measure his chest and grin up to him. 

 

His smile comes easily, "depends." He replies, his face leaning towards mine. 

 

I quickly dodge him as I measure the length of his torso. 

 

"So, I take it you're trying to impress someone?" I press. 

 

"My boss, he's a tough man to please but I want to be a lieutenant. I want to be in charge. To lead my own men." He tells me trying to impress me. 

 

He tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear. 

 

I ignore the impulse to chop his arm off and smile. "Keep still, I need to measure your arms next." 

 

"Has anyone ever said you're beautiful?" He asks, trying to be smooth. 

 

"Arms down please." I stroke down his arm and measure it. I do the same with the other arm. 

 

"We are done." I smile as I write the last measurements down. 

 

"Could I take you out, just me and you?" He asks, stroking my arm.

 

I tell him my price and he hands the money over without a second thought. 

 

"I would love that but we have two problems," I inform him. 

 

"Oh?" 

 

"For one, you're married." I watch as his face pales slightly. "And I am not the type of girl to go for another woman's man. Secondly, the way you spoke to my Aunt was rude and I don't appreciate rude men." 

 

I pick up his jacket and lead him towards the door. 

 

"But, I will make sure you're the best-dressed man at the party." 

 

"Thank you," he says nodding his head at me. 

 

"Sir? I'm happy to help in any way, but don't ever speak to my Aunt the way you did today." I tell him as I open the door for him. "I'll see you tonight." 

 

"You probably just lost us a future customer." Aunt Maggie calls. 

 

"Good! I won't have people disrespecting us and then treating us nice as soon as they think they've got a shot with us. People should be respectful no matter what." I reply back as I turn to face her. 

 

"Don't start on me Blue, you know yourself that life isn't kind. People in this world aren't respectful or caring.