Azam leaned against the closed door, letting out a sigh.
She smiled. ‘You can relax now.’
‘I just hope she likes the dress,’ Azam said. ‘The fitting and—’
‘It’ll be perfect.’ Sonya said firmly and Azam quieted, holding his hands up.
They each went to the bathroom, preparing for bed. After Sonyahad changed into her nightgown, she put her shawl around her shoulders for some semblance of modesty, then went to the vanity with the roll of fabric strips Winnie had given her. She curled them into her hair the way Winnie had shown her, while Azam read his book on the chair.
She wrapped her hair meticulously even as her arms started aching, and after a little while, she felt Azam watching her. She caught his gaze in the reflection.
‘What on earth are you doing?’ Azam asked, looking slightly amused. She must have looked comical.
‘Winnie showed me this little trick.’ She sighed, giving her arms a break, and turned to face him. ‘It’ll make my hair fall into perfect curls in the morning.’
He furrowed his brow, confused now. ‘But your hair is already perfect.’
While his words were sweet and made her cheeks heat, she reminded herself he was aboy. Surely, he did not know about these things. She just shook her head, turning back to her task until she was finally, finally finished. And looked quite ridiculous.
When she stood, Azam looked up, and his eyes widened in surprise, his lips twitching as if he was trying not to laugh.
‘Go on and laugh,’ she said. ‘I know it looks silly, but in the morning, you’ll see!’
‘I didn’t say anything,’ Azam said, closing his book.
It was late now; best they got to sleep.
Azam grew silent, as if he had the same thought. He blew out the candle on the table, and she blew out the one on the vanity, until only the candle on the bedside table was glowing. The room was dimmed, the lighting soft. She glanced at Azam, who was intense and quiet. A shiver ran down her spine, and she pulled her shawl closer.
Azam looked away from her as she approached the bed, but she saw the shadows on his face move as he clenched his jaw.
‘Right,’ he said. He grabbed the pillow from the chair and put it on the rug on the floor beside the bed. ‘Well.’ He cleared his throat, lying down, very pointedly not looking at her. ‘Goodnight.’
She got onto the bed, getting under the covers, then realized there wasn’t a second blanket for him. When she mentioned as much, Azam said, ‘Not to worry. I’m alright.’
Guilt needled through her as she got comfortable. There was room for him on the bed, but she didn’t want to just invite him into bed with her—it wasn’t proper!
‘Goodnight.’ She blew out the final candle, cloaking the room in darkness save for the moonlight shining in through the sides of the windows.
Sonya closed her eyes, trying to fall asleep, but she was acutely awake, listening to the sound of his breathing. She shifted onto her side, facing away from him. The bed creaked under her, and she cringed, lying flat once more, the creaking subsiding.
And that was when she heard it.
Squeaking.
Sonya sat straight up. ‘What was that?’ she asked, voice panicked. She realized too late that he might have fallen asleep.
‘What is it?’ Azam asked, sitting up as well.
‘Shh.’ They listened, and she heard it again. She squealed. ‘Are those…mice?’ She pulled the covers up toward her face. ‘I hate mice.’
Azam looked amused, and she pouted. ‘It’s not funny! Ihatemice. Besides, you can’t sleep on the floor with mice!’
‘I’m perfectly fine—’
She could’ve sworn she heard another squeak. Before she couldthink about it too much, she forged forward, blurting out the words: ‘Come here, quickly! Come lie with me.’
She heard him swallow. When he spoke, his voice was hoarse. ‘If you wish.’
