“Oh.” Aylin sighed. “That is quite a difficult question. In hindsight it was quite clear that we loved one another from the first moment we met, when she joined the staff at Stormhill.”
Hevva couldn’t help the small smile that flitted across her face at her maid’s candid joy in the happy memory. It didn’t slaughter her sadness, but it helped a bit. “Tell me about it?”
“I would love nothing more. It was a horribly rainy spring day, much like this.” She gestured out the window. “But much, much colder.”
Hevva nodded, gazing out through the glass at nothing as her friend spoke.
“The mail coach dropped poor Thera so far down the hill, she had to trudge up to the manor in the pouring rain. She fell, not too far from the house, but she twisted her ankle horribly. I didn’t know this of course. So, when Thera finally found the kitchens, she staggered in looking like a drowned rat. And, well, it was nearly supper, you see. I was below stairs, getting food foryou, in fact, when the door banged open.
“The old cook shouted for the new arrival to shut out the rain, and Thera did. Then she staggered over to the table, where the duke and duchess’s first course was being plated. I stood there frozen, like a fool, half a spoonful of potatoes hovering between the tureen and the plate, staringat her. She was so beautiful, even in that state. With her long black hair and dark eyes. I nearly fainted, my lady.”
Hevva chuckled. “Then what happened?”
“Why, then, she started to fall! I didn’t know she was injured of course, so what I saw—what we all saw—was a rather drunk looking vagrant stumbling in, covered in mud, who set about messing up the duke’s dinner! Thera tipped forward and braced herself. I think she meant to grab for the edge of the table, but she overshot, and one hand went into the carrots and another into the jelly! Cook screamed, I dropped the potatoes and rushed down the length of the table to shove her away.”
“Shove!?”
“Yes! I was new on staff, you were just a baby! I was trying to impress Cook, trying to earn my place. And when I did reach the intruder...oh, my lady, pardon me, but I pushed her back with both of my hands. Then I realized I’d pressed them right against her big bubbies.” Aylin roared with laughter, tears leaking down her rosy cheeks at thenowvery funny memory.
“Oh, gods, Aylin!” She chortled. “That is too much.”
“It gets worse.” The gods sent down a perfectly timed rumble of thunder to rattle their carriage.
“No!” she played into the drama.
“Oh, yes, Thera fell back onto her bottom, screaming—of course—because her ankle was broken. But I didn’t know that yet. I thought she was angry at me! So, I yelled at her, and she at me, until we finally realized the miscommunication. I helped her to her feet, getting covered in jelly and veg in the process, and she hobbled over to a chair.” Aylin gazed out of the window, a look of peaceful nostalgia on her face. “I bandaged her ankle. We talked for hours that night—after I brought you your supper.”
Hevva smiled wistfully, remembering her first real meeting with Ehmet, at the symposium, their first true conversation in the solarium at Hewran Hall, their time with the H-children, the night at the fair, their rendezvous in the royal salon.Oh, how things have gone so dreadfully wrong.She blinked back a tear.
Aylinwent on to tell Hevva how her love for Thera kindled over the passing months. Everything culminated late one night in early fall, when they’d finally shared a kiss in the gardens. The women went on to court privately for years, until certain that their relationship was acceptable to the duke and duchess. Then, with their employers’ blessing, Aylin and Thera had their handfasting on the grounds of Stormhill itself.
“I remember the ceremony, with enormous purple and pink flowers, and the long shiny ribbon.”
Aylin smiled. “A child’s recollection.”
She had to agree. “Still, I cannot believe I’ve never asked you the full story. I am so happy you found each other.” A sudden thought struck her. “I know you are always happy to travel with me, to Kabuvirib or wherever life takes me, but Aylin...”
“Yes, my lady?”
“When Ieventuallymarry, and relocate to Kabuvirib full time, I won’t force you to join me.”
“Oh?”
“I won’t terminate you, either. If you would be interested, I am certain a position can be found for you at Stormhill, something ofyourchoosing?”
“That is very kind of you, my lady.”
“I know Thera is on track to become the head housekeeper in the next few years, and I would not separate you, or ask you to choose between Kabuvirib and home.”
“Hevva, really, you are too kind.”
“Then it is settled!” She clapped her hands, a glimmer of the old her shining through. It was short lived. Her spirits soon plummeted again, and she leaned back with a heavy sigh. She’d requested that story for a reason. For gods sakes, she’d never gottenillover a man before. Sure, she shed a bucket of tears over Gamil, and a few over short dalliances here and there. But vomited? Never. “What made you know, Aylin?”
“Know what?”
“That it wasloveand not only lust?”
“So many things. I think it was the way she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on, or the way I could listen to her speak and nevertire of the sound of her voice. Every word she says is of interest to me, even now, all these years on. She’s kind and caring. She will give the world to anyone before she thinks of herself. She’s so very funny, and beautiful— Have I said that yet?
