Chapter 5 #3
Kiri let them into the cottage and Dania skipped inside. Sonya followed in last, closing the door behind her. They set the groceries down on the table, and Sonya built up the fire again. While it was spring, the evenings were still a little chilly, and the fire was so cozy.
She went to put the drawing Dania had made her up in her room, then returned downstairs. Then, she washed her hands and went to offer her help to Kiri in the kitchen.
‘I don’t know much,’ Sonya said, a bit embarrassed. ‘But I’d love to learn if you have the patience for it.’
‘Nonsense, I’d love to teach you,’ Kiri said, with a smile. ‘Come, lend me a hand. We’ll need some herbs from the garden first.’
Sonya followed Kiri outside. The garden was modestly sized, surrounded by a simple wooden fence along the border, with two chairs with chipped white paint sat in the center.
Dania skipping behind her, Sonya went with Kiri through the overgrown grass to the section of herbs on the side, which was full of different types of greenery.
Sonya couldn’t tell one plant from another, but Kiri showed her the different patterns of the leaves, though it was a bit difficult to see with the sunlight fading so fast.
‘Use your nose,’ Kiri advised. She held up a thin sprig, and Sonya could tell it was rosemary. Kiri harvested some thyme and sage, as well as some parsley. Sonya tried to remember which was which, but Kiri was right—it was easiest if she used her nose. Arabella used to say something similar.
After collecting the herbs, they returned to the kitchen, where Sonya washed and chopped the herbs while Kiri cleaned the chicken.
Then, Kiri made a butter mix and rubbed it across the chicken while Sonya peeled and cut the vegetables.
She was really very tired by then—it had been a long day!
—but the task ahead of her was one she did not want to abandon.
She did not stop until dinner was nearly finished, and the entire cottage smelled perfectly divine.
Kiri was just pulling the roasted chicken and potatoes from the oven when Azam entered through the door. Seeing him again sent a little jolt through Sonya, and he truly was just as handsome as he had been that morning, despite the fact that he looked exhausted and even a bit troubled.
He stopped in his tracks, his jaw dropping open, brown eyes wide. Sonya wondered what was wrong and worry pulsed through her, until his gaze fell to her.
‘This place looks incredible!’ he cried, astonished. ‘I thought it would take you a week, at least.’
Relief flowed through her. She smiled. ‘Well, I haven’t done the upstairs, yet.’
‘You’re an absolute angel,’ Azam said. Tenderness spread through her, and he came over and squeezed her shoulders, only making the feeling increase in intensity. He kissed Kiri hello.
‘What are you making?’ he asked. ‘I’m starving.’
‘Didn’t eat lunch, did you?’ Kiri asked, tone scolding. Azam let out a long breath, confirming Kiri’s suspicion, then went to sit on the sofa. Dania climbed onto his lap, showing him her doll. Azam petted the doll’s yarn hair.
‘Dinner’s nearly ready,’ Sonya said, setting plates and glasses on the table.
‘Has Kiri got you working as a cook as well as a housekeeper?’ Azam asked, raising a brow.
‘I wanted to!’ Sonya protested, before Kiri could. ‘I enjoy learning.’
Azam smiled at that, then picked Dania up off his lap, sitting her down on the sofa. He came over and helped Sonya finish setting the table, his shoulder brushing against hers. Again, she felt warm, as though she was sitting right by the fire.
Soon thereafter, dinner was served. The chicken was roasted to perfection: crisp brown skin glistening with melted butter and tiny green herbs, on a bed of browned mushrooms, sweet carrots, and hearty potatoes.
They all sat down, filling their plates. It was so different from the way dinner was served at the castle, where each of them would wait to be served by the footmen. This was so much simpler, with less fuss.
‘How was work, darling?’ Kiri asked Azam.
‘Oh, it was fine …’ He trailed off, as if he didn’t wish to talk about it. He was probably very tired.
He shook his head, then turned to Sonya. ‘I want to hear about your day,’ he said, eyes bright. ‘You must have had a right wrestle with all the clutter in here. Did you see any mice?’
She shuddered, making a disgusted face, and Azam laughed. Kiri hit his arm. ‘Don’t tease.’ She turned to Sonya. ‘Don’t worry, we don’t have any mice here. Our neighbor’s got a cat, and she takes care of any mice that wander this way.’
‘Good,’ Sonya said. She really did not like mice. ‘And, yes, I did have a bit of a wrestle with all the clutter, but it wasn’t too horrible. I enjoyed it, actually.’
‘Wonderful! Did that take the entire day?’ Azam asked.
‘Just about,’ Sonya said. ‘But then we went to the market.’
‘I helped with the groceries!’ Dania said.
‘She did very well,’ Kiri confirmed, and Dania smiled to herself, stuffing a potato in her mouth. ‘Sonya, I forgot to ask, but did you find anything you liked at the bookshop?’
‘You went to the bookshop?’ Azam asked.
‘Yes,’ Sonya said to Azam, and then to Kiri: ‘And yes, but I was only looking. I did meet Winnie, though.’
‘Winnie is a character.’ Azam snorted. ‘We went to school together.’
‘I could tell,’ Sonya said, smiling. ‘She threatened to wear someone’s intestines as a necklace!’
Azam laughed out loud. ‘That’ll be Enzo she was talking about, I can guarantee it.’ Sonya nodded, and Azam continued. ‘He’s a tongue-witch like her, and he’s her father’s apprentice. Her father is the smartest person in the Outskirts, without a doubt.’
They continued chatting as they ate dinner, until the food was done and Dania was yawning. Sonya had hardly noticed the time moving; it felt as though mere moments had passed. At the same time, it somehow felt as if she had lived numerous days in one.
‘Come, little monkey, let’s get you ready for bed,’ Kiri said, helping Dania stand.
‘Okie, Gramma,’ Dania said. She went to give Azam a hug. ‘Goodnight, Bhai.’ It was a term of endearment for older brothers. Sonya’s brothers weren’t so much older than she was that she called them bhai, but it was sweet that Dania called Azam that.
‘Goodnight, my love.’ Azam kissed his sister’s cheek. Then she came and gave Sonya a hug. ‘Goodnight, Baji.’ Sonya’s heart squeezed at the term of endearment for older sisters.
‘Goodnight, munni,’ Sonya said. It was something her father used to call her when she was very small, meaning ‘little one’. Off Dania went with Kiri, leaving Azam and Sonya alone.
Sonya began picking up the plates to clear the table. She was sure Azam would want to get to bed soon, as well, since he was so tired, but she was surprised to find him standing up to help her.
‘I’ll do it,’ she said. ‘It is my job, after all.’
‘Just because it’s your job doesn’t mean you have to do it alone,’ he said, meeting her halfway to the kitchen as she made her way back to the table. ‘You must be exhausted.’
‘I am,’ she admitted, ‘but in a good way.’
He looked a bit puzzled by that, and she shrugged, laughing a little.
They continued working together, until all the dishes were in the kitchen.
He wiped the table down while she washed, then he came and took the clean dishes to dry them.
He asked her how she liked the Outskirts, and she told him all the details she had collected throughout the day, and how she loved it already.
When they had finally finished, Sonya massaged her hands, the day catching up to her.
Azam frowned, a crease appearing between his brows.
He took one of her hands, laying her fingers flat to inspect her palm.
A shiver ran down her spine as she looked down at their hands. Her hand was so small in his.
‘Your hands are perfectly smooth,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry to have put you to so much work.’
‘Don’t be,’ she said, closing her fingers over his. ‘I enjoyed it. It was nice to do something.’ She swallowed. ‘I’m so used to being idle.’
‘Well, I’m glad to hear you’re such a good sport about it, though it can’t be easy,’ he said.
‘It’s much easier than I expected, though I suspect much of that is due to you and your family’s kindness,’ she said, looking up at him. Their eyes met, and a jittery feeling spread through her, going down to her toes. She took a deep breath and noticed how good he smelled, like strong black tea.
Feeling a little nervous then, Sonya dropped her hand, breaking the contact. She went to smooth her hand on the front of her dress, but then stopped herself when she realized how dirty the dress was.
Azam looked down as well and seemed to notice the same thing.
Embarrassment flushed through her, making tears sting her eyes. She looked away.
‘I don’t have any other clothes,’ she said, voice quiet and miserable.
He smiled. ‘I can fix that.’