He frowned. Before she knew what was happening, he lifted her off the box, hands firm on her waist as he set her back on the ground. Then she was looking up at him again.
‘You should rest,’ he said, but neither of them moved their hands.
His were still on her waist, while hers were steady on his shoulders. She could feel the press of each of his fingers as though they were directly on her skin, and she marveled at just how much of her body his hands covered.
And then she understood what the strange new feeling was.Desire.
Sonya had never felt it before, this deep ache, the way her heart was beating so hard it felt like it was a horse that would gallop out of the confines of her ribs.
It was thrilling. She couldn’t move. She didn’t want to.
Until the door opened, and Kiri entered. Azam jumped back, face red, and embarrassment flushed through Sonya. She felt hot all over—but Kiri looked unfazed.
‘I’ve put Dania to sleep and run a hot bath for you, Sonya,’ Kiri said. ‘Come, I’ll wash your hair. It’s filthy.’
Sonya touched her hair, ashamed, though she knew that hadn’t been Kiri’s intent. ‘I—’ She didn’t know what to say. She felt like a burden then, to need Kiri to wash her hair, which was ironic because at the castle she had had an entire herd of people doing things for her, day and night. But that was their job. Kiri had no obligation to Sonya.
Kiri’s face softened. ‘If I can manage Dania’s hair, I can surely manage yours,’ she said, voice kind. She didn’t wait for a reply, heading back upstairs.
Sonya turned back to Azam, who was standing by the fireplace. He wasn’t looking at her at all; rather, he seemed quite fascinated by the dwindling embers of the fire. She saw a muscle in his jaw clench.
‘Goodnight, Azam,’ she said, voice soft. She left before she could catch his response.
Upstairs, Sonya headed for the bathroom, and when she opened the door, the small space was full of steam.
‘Come on then,’ Kiri said. She was sitting on a stool beside the bathtub. ‘Before the water gets cold.’
Sonya closed the door behind her, then took off her undergarments. Kiri immediately put them into a small pail of soapy water to soak as Sonya sank into the hot water in the tub.
Sonya let out a relieved sigh, the aching muscles of her body loosening and relaxing. ‘This is heaven,’ she said. She hadn’t realized just how much she had worked herself, and she was surprised bythe capacity her body held. Now Sonya wondered if all of her father’s precautions had only exacerbated her delicate health, making her weaker when she could have been growing stronger.
Sonya went under the water, soaking her hair. When she emerged, she tried to run a hand through the strands, but her fingers got tangled.
‘Relax, dear,’ Kiri said. ‘Let me.’
Sonya put her arms down and let Kiri work. Kiri washed her hair, lathering it with lavender-scented soap and massaging her scalp before washing it out. Sonya scrubbed her body clean, and when she had rinsed off, she stepped out of the bath, where Kiri held up a clean towel.
Sonya wrapped herself in the towel, then glanced at her undergarments. ‘My dress is downstairs,’ she said.
‘Here,’ Kiri said, taking a dress off a hook on the back of the bathroom door. It was a sleeping gown. ‘It’s one of mine. It might be big, but it’ll do.’
She lifted the dress over Sonya’s head, and Sonya lifted her arms, letting the towel drop and the nightgown fall over her. It was a worn and soft cotton, and it was very big, the neck sliding a bit over her shoulders, but it was clean and comfortable.
‘It’s perfect,’ Sonya said, hugging her arms and twirling on her tiptoes.
Kiri laughed. ‘You’re a sweet girl,’ she said. She turned Sonya to face the mirror, face beside hers, and they both smiled at their reflections.
Sonya looked more like herself now that she was clean, but she looked different, too. She looked…new. Like somebody she wanted to be.
Clean and cozy, gratitude swept over Sonya. ‘Thank you, Grandma Kiri,’ she said.
‘Of course.’ Kiri brushed Sonya’s hair, then tsked when she finished. ‘Whoever cut your hair did a horrible job.’ Sonya felt a little sheepish. ‘Do you need anything else?’
‘No, thank you so much,’ Sonya said, turning to face Kiri. ‘Truly.’
Kiri smiled. ‘Goodnight, darling.’
‘Goodnight.’
