A woman opened the door, her dark hair tucked into a loose chignon. A bemused smile played over her bright-red lips. Raya struggled to guess her age. Her pale skin was supple and smooth, but her kohl-lined eyes seemed to have seen more than she cared to remember. A draft tousled her hair’s loose wisps, sweeping the fragrance from the curve of her neck through the perfumery’s door. Sandalwood, citrus, and a story about lost love. The brass hummingbird flew past the woman’s shoulder and perched on the door.
“Merci.” The woman blew a kiss to the bird and cinched a flowing floral silk robe around her narrow waist. “That little one is very thoughtful. She knows that knocks startle me and so she flies up to let me know when I have visitors. How may I help you?”
“We’re looking for Madame Manon de Lambilly,” Q said.
“Congratulations,” she said in a voice touched by smoke. “You have found her. Please, call me Manon. We are all friends on this train, no?”
“It’s lovely to meet you, Manon. I’m Q and this is Raya. We apologize for disturbing you at this late hour.”
“Late hour?” A throaty laugh escaped her full lips. “I was just about to open the shop. I cannot be bothered to get out of bed before the sun sets. Please, come in.”
Raya and Q followed her inside. The shop’s faded façade gave way to decadent walls dressed in a hand-painted silk mural. A peacock, rendered in brushstrokes of brilliant blue, strutted across the silk, its eyes never leaving Raya and Q.
“Beautiful, isn’t he?” Manon scooped a small handful of roasted pumpkin seeds from her pocket and offered it to the peacock. The bird stuck its head out of the painting and pecked at her hand. The pumpkin seeds transformed into a painted version of themselves as soon as they touched its beak. “There are two other peacocks in the mural, but they are shy. They hide whenever there is company.” Manon dusted her palm over her robe. “But Pavo loves it whenever we have clients. I’m not sure if it is because he loves people or knows that he will have the pumpkin seeds to himself.”
“Oh, sorry. We’re not here to buy perfume,” Raya said. “Alain sent us.”
“He asked us to give this to you.” Q handed Manon the basket of rubies.
“How lovely.” Manon’s eyes lit up. “Thank you. I hope that you didn’t have to go out of your way.”
“We didn’t.” Raya smiled. “But we really do need to get going. It was nice meeting you.”
“It was lovely meeting you too.” Manon opened the door. “And thanks again for delivering Alain’s present.”
“Good night.” Q stepped back from the doorway to let Raya through.
“Enjoy the rest of your evening,” Manon said. “And, as I’m sure you know, if you happen to run into the conductor, it would be best not to mention that you were here.”
Raya turned. “Sorry?”
“You have had your orientation, no?” Manon’s dark eyes narrowed slightly.
“We have,” Q said.
“Then you should be aware that you’re not supposed to go through locked doors. The perfumery’s front door was locked when you arrived, was it not?”
Raya shot a glance at the peeling red door. “Well, yes, but—”
“You’re lucky that no one saw you.” Manon clutched the small perfume bottle she wore on a gold chain around her neck.
Raya quirked a brow. “Visiting a perfumery is against the train’s rules?”
“Sadly, yes.” Manon coiled her necklace’s chain around a finger.
Raya frowned. “Why?”
“I’ll be more than happy to answer all of your questions inside.” Manon stuck her head out the door, her eyes darting around the empty street. “This is not the kind of conversation you want overheard.”
“We really should be going,” Q said, looking at Raya.
“If being late for your next appointment is what you’re worried about, you can put your mind at ease,” Manon said. “I had a customer who spent a whole year trying to choose between two perfumes for his wife. He left with the perfect gift and was not a minute late for his wife’s birthday party.”
“How’s that possible?” Raya said.
“Time stopped the moment you entered this shop.” Manon smiled. “So, tell me. Would you care to stay and have some coffee with the truth?”
Raya bit her lip, stealing a glance at the knot on her palm.
