Azam released a long exhale, the tension leaving him. He rolled his shoulders, and Sonya released a breath.
‘If you’ll allow me?’ Azam asked, gesturing to the dress.
‘By all means.’
He went and did some adjusting to the fabric, jotting down notes on a piece of paper, playing with the material a little, moving a measuring tape around. He asked Ximena how things felt, what was comfortable or not.
Then, when he was satisfied, he offered her his hand, helping her off the platform. ‘All done.’
Ximena went behind the screen to change, her maid helping herand, when she was done, the maid handed the dress back to Sonya. Ximena stepped out, a radiant smile on her face. As Sonya went to hang the dress, Ximena’s gaze strayed toward it, as if she couldn’t tear her eyes away.
The young woman seemed different, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
‘I’m leaving for the countryside now,’ Ximena said. ‘The wedding is at our country estate.’ The maid handed Ximena a pouch and an envelope, both of which Ximena brought to Azam. ‘A quarter of the payment, as promised, and an invitation. Please bring the dress in two days, the night before the wedding. There’s an address in there for a lodge, as well as the address of my estate, along with your invitation. I would be honored if you could join me in celebrating.’ Ximena smiled. ‘I’ve added some extra money for the journey, and I’ve already had your lodging arranged. As for the final payment, my butler can give it to you when he picks up the dress in two nights. Or if you’d prefer not to keep such a sum with you whilst traveling, I can have somebody bring it here to the shop upon your return.’
‘The shop would be better, thank you,’ Azam said. He trusted Ximena would pay, so a few days’ delay would be no issue. ‘And thank you for the invitation, that’s incredibly kind.’ He turned back to Sonya, who nodded encouragingly. He faced Ximena again, smiling. ‘We’ll be there. You have nothing to worry about.’
‘I can see that,’ Ximena replied. She was practically giddy now, a complete shift in her energy.
Sonya was happy to see how joyous Ximena was. ‘Are you very excited to be wed?’ she couldn’t help but ask. She had not been to many weddings, nor had she interacted with brides. Her own wedding had become a prospect she dreaded, but seeing how elated Ximena was, Sonya wondered if weddings could be wonderful things.
‘I have been counting down the days,’ Ximena replied. ‘I do love my Kellan dearly and cannot wait to be his wife. I was just apprehensive about the dress, but now I know I made the right choice in coming here.’ She clasped her hands together. ‘I can hardly wait to see the final result!’
When they had first met, Ximena had seemed a bit intimidating, but now she was the very opposite. She was just a girl, excited to be married to her beloved.
Sonya and Azam saw Ximena and her maid out, waving as the great carriage took them away. Azam released a huge breath, relieved beyond measure.
‘That went well!’ Sonya said.
Azam looked stunned, blinking. ‘I’m glad,’ he said. ‘And it was kind of her to invite us to the wedding.’ He paused, as if recalling something. ‘We don’t have to go if you don’t want to.’
‘Why wouldn’t I?’ she asked. ‘It sounds fun! And I’d love to see her in the dress and see everyone’s reactions. You should see the fruits of your labor, as well.’
Azam smiled. ‘Speaking of the dress, I’d better get back to work!’
They headed back inside, Azam going into the shop while Sonya went to the living room to do some chores. She swept, humming to herself, but the tune slowly died as she realized maybe going to the weddingwasn’tthe best idea.
Ximena was an aristocrat, getting married at her country estate. The wedding guests would surely all be other aristocrats, as well. What if someone recognized Sonya?
But she couldn’t come up with an excuse now, or Azam would be suspicious.
Sonya swallowed the lump in her throat. She would simply stick to the sidelines. It would be fine, just as it had been fine the past month and half since she had run away from home.
If someone looked too closely, she would play it off the way she and Winnie had with Dahlia. Of course, that had mostly been Winnie, but Sonya was growing more confident.
She felt healthier, stronger, morealive, as if her life was bursting with color, when before it had been subdued.
After finishing cleaning, she made herself some tea, then brought a cup over for Azam as well. He was working on the dress as it hung over a mannequin, and she set the tea on the table.
‘Thank you, chanda,’ Azam said.
Her cheeks warmed. The term of endearment left his mouth so casually—he hadn’t even looked up. She scurried away, not wanting to distract him. He had the rest of today and tomorrow to work, then the next morning they would be traveling for the wedding.
When she returned to the living room, Kiri was making dinner. Sonya helped her, telling her how it went with Ximena and how she had invited them to the wedding.
‘How exciting!’ Kiri said. ‘You two will have so much fun.’
‘Fun? Where?’ Dania asked, overhearing. ‘I want to go!’
