‘It’s lovely,’ she replied, taking it from him. He smiled up at her.
She slipped it onto a hanger, then set it on the rack alongside some other orders that were ready to be collected. When the customer came to pick up their garment, Azam always had them try it on to see if any adjustments were necessary, which he would then do immediately. Otherwise, Sonya would package the order up.
Azam stood and stretched his back, cracking his neck. A little while later, the front door dinged and a familiar old lady entered. She had long gray hair in a simple braid and was a little hunched over as she walked with a cane.
‘Mrs. Webster,’ Sonya said, going to say hello. ‘Are you here for your dress?’
‘Yes, dearie, thank you,’ Mrs. Webster replied.
‘Just a moment.’ Sonya went to the hanging rack and retrieved the dress. She knew exactly which one it was because she remembered being unable to tear her eyes away from it when Azam had been working on it. It was a breathtaking lilac color that caught the light.
Sonya held the dress up for Mrs. Webster for inspection, and the old lady smiled, pleased. ‘It’s perfect!’ she said, clasping her hands together. ‘Oh, I just know my sister will adore this.’
‘It’s a birthday gift, you said?’ Sonya asked, and Mrs. Webster nodded.
‘Her seventieth!’
‘How wonderful! Shall I wrap it up for you?’
‘Yes, please!’
Sonya packed up the dress and, after paying, Mrs. Webster was on her way. The day was almost over then, and she closed the windows, winding things down for the shop to close.
They always closed around six, which left them with more than enough time in the evening for dinner and to spend time with Kiri and Dania, though during the day they were always going back and forth from the shop and the living room; it was easy with everything being together in the same cottage.
Azam finished up what he was working on, and then she felt his gaze on her. She glanced over at him and he smiled.
‘I’ve got a surprise for you,’ he said, opening his desk drawer.He pulled a folded piece of fabric out. It was the same lilac as the dress for Mrs. Webster. ‘I saw how much you liked the color and…’ He lifted the fabric and it unfolded, revealing a dress.
Sonya gasped. ‘For me?’ He nodded. ‘Azam, I love it!’
She rushed over to him, taking the dress from his hands. It was just as soft, the color just as breathtaking, if not more so. The design was different from what Mrs. Webster had taken for her sister: this had a collared V-neck with delicate lace, sleeves just above the elbow, and a pleated top with pearly buttons.
‘It’s gorgeous,’ she said, hugging the dress. He laughed, happy to see her happy, as if it brought him as much joy to give her a gift as it did for her to receive it.
She felt overwhelmed with fondness, then. He did spoil her so! It was so sweet. She knew she was used to being spoiled at the castle, but it was different coming from Azam.
He was so attentive and paid particular attention to her. He was always watching and noticing. It made her feel seen and cared for.
Overcome, she put the dress down on his desk and threw her arms around him in a hug.
Surprised, he staggered back, his hand on his desk to steady himself. For a moment, she worried if she should have been so bold, but then his arms came around her, and she felt his trembling breath by her ear.
‘Sonya,’ he whispered against her hair, holding her tight. She was on her tiptoes, holding on as he was bent over, his cheek against hers. She took a deep breath, and he smelled so familiar, like strong black tea, mingled with the starch he used for ironing fabric, a clean scent.
He pulled back, leaning his forehead against hers. His hands rested on her waist, and she rested hers on his shoulders, feeling weak in the knees. Desire stirred low in her belly as he gazed deepinto her eyes, his pupils blown wide. She ached to lean in closer, to taste him.
Before she could test her limits, the doorbell dinged again.
Sonya startled back, cheeks flaming, and Azam fidgeted, hands twitching as they both looked toward the door.
‘I do hope I’m not interrupting,’ a young woman said, painted lips tilted into a small smile. ‘I know you are about to close, but I was hoping you could squeeze me in.’
It was not a customer they had seen before. Sonya did not recognize her at all, and neither did Azam, from the look on his face. The woman seemed to be from Castletown, not the Outskirts: she was evidently wealthy, a society lady.
She looked to be a few years older than Sonya and very beautiful, with straight, dark hair pulled up into an elegant twist, arresting eyes, and a beauty mark next to her full lips. She wore an expensive, complicated outfit, the hem of which looked a bit dirty, and underneath she was wearing silk slippers.
Most definitelynotfrom the Outskirts. No one wore silk slippers here. And to confirm it further, she even had a handmaid with her.
