Chapter 17
When they returned from the lake, Azam spent the rest of the day sketching, working in a frenzy. The next day, he was up early and went to Castletown. He didn’t return until lunch, with his arms full of fabric and lace. He must have spent a good amount—if not all—of the advance there.
He spent two full days working on the dress and doing little else.
Sonya helped by keeping Dania busy and bringing Azam many cups of chai and scones.
She reminded him to sleep and eat and rest and tried to get him to take breaks, but she couldn’t help in any other way.
She wasn’t a stitch-witch, but she recalled how he had said kindness was its own kind of magic, and she was hoping that it was true.
Before they knew it, their week was up, and it was the day of the trial fitting.
Ximena arrived early, dressed in traveling clothes. Sonya spotted a very large carriage outside the window, watching as Ximena and her maid walked to the front door. Azam fidgeted, nervous, and Sonya gave him a reassuring smile.
‘Everything will be fine,’ she said. He gave her a tight smile, running a hand through his hair. Then, the door dinged and Ximena entered. Her maid was carrying a shoebox and a bag, while Ximena held her hands together in front of her.
‘Good morning,’ Ximena said.
‘Good morning,’ Azam replied. He was anxious and trying not to show it; Sonya could only tell because she knew him so well, but Ximena didn’t seem to notice.
‘My fate is in your hands,’ Ximena said, tone warning. ‘I pray you do not disappoint.’
Azam gave her a smile. ‘I hope not.’ He pulled out his sketchbook, showing her the finalized sketch.
Ximena’s brows rose. She inspected it for some time as Sonya held her breath. ‘Lovely,’ she finally said, the single word clipped. ‘Now, the dress?’
‘Of course,’ Azam said, gesturing to Sonya, who led Ximena and her maid behind the changing screen.
Once she was out of sight, Azam ran his hands over his face, shaking his head.
Sonya squeezed his arm as she walked past to retrieve the dress from the hanger, carefully bringing it back to Ximena behind the changing screen.
Ximena was standing in her undergarments and corset, waiting. Sonya brought the dress and delicately placed it down for Ximena to step into. Once she had, Sonya lifted the dress, raising a sleeve for each arm. Then, she laced up the back, every movement slow and steady.
Azam had been working tirelessly. She did not wish to accidentally tear anything.
‘My shoes,’ Ximena said to her maid, and her maid brought the shoebox. She opened it to reveal a gorgeous pair of heeled white slippers, placing them onto Ximena’s feet while Sonya held her hand to keep her steady. They gave Ximena a few inches of height and allowed the dress to fall even better.
Sonya stepped out to where Azam was waiting anxiously, pressing his lower lip between his index finger and thumb. She went to stand beside him, bumping his shoulder with hers.
‘It’s going to be alright,’ she whispered. Her hand brushed against his at their sides, and he clasped her hand in his, fingers entwined as Ximena stepped out.
Her maid held the fabric up as Ximena stepped onto the platform in front of the mirrors. She was deadly silent.
Terrible thoughts ran through Sonya’s mind. She felt Azam’s grip on her hand tighten as the same must have gone through his.
‘Of course, it isn’t finished,’ Azam said, walking up to the platform. ‘And I will adjust the sizing, and the length, and I still need to add the lace, and—’
Ximena turned around. ‘It’s beautiful,’ she said. Her eyes shone with tears. Finally, she smiled. ‘It’s … perfect.’
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 her and, 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 wedding wasn’t the 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, more alive, 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!’
Dania didn’t even know where it was that Sonya and Azam were going, she just knew she didn’t want to be left out. Sonya tried to distract Dania, bringing up different topics, and it worked until Azam came in for dinner, and she ran over to him.
‘Where are you and Baji going?’ she asked. ‘I’m coming, too.’
‘I’m sorry, sweet, but you can’t come,’ Azam said. ‘You’re too little.’
Dania’s face scrunched with anger. She stomped her feet. ‘I’m coming, too!’ she yelled.
‘Dania, you can’t,’ Sonya said, trying to be soothing. ‘Who will stay with Grandma Kiri?’
Dania was still angry, and then she began crying.
Azam picked her up, and she held on to him tight.
‘Don’t go without me,’ she cried. Sonya had a feeling Dania was upset Azam had been so busy as of late.
She met Azam’s eyes over Dania’s shoulders, and she read the question in his gaze: Should we not go?
It was a good excuse, Sonya thought, but a part of her did want to go. She hadn’t been to very many parties, and she wanted to see Ximena wed and happy. And, more importantly, Azam deserved to have some fun. He could use some time off from everything.
Kiri must have had the same thought because she came over, coaxing Dania into her arms. ‘Dania, you don’t want to go with Bhai and Baji,’ she said. ‘Where they’re going is really very boring, and I thought we could have our own adventure.’
Dania sniffled, lifting her head to look at Kiri. ‘Own adventure?’ she asked, the tears subsiding. Kiri nodded. ‘Like what?’
Kiri pretended to think. ‘Hm, well, I was thinking we could go to Caden’s, and you could spend time with Scotchie and the sheep. But if you still want to go with Bhai—’
Dania shot up, tears forgotten. ‘Yes!’ She smiled. ‘Yes, yes, yes! Please! Can we? Can we?’
They all laughed. ‘Yes,’ Kiri said. ‘Caden said he would call tomorrow. We can ask him then!’
‘Yay!’ Dania hopped down from Kiri’s arms, twirling. The crisis was averted.