Chapter 20
They arrived at the inn Ximena had arranged for them and went straight to the counter. Sonya was exhausted, and she realized she could do with a lie down, especially after that close call with the soldier.
The inn was loud and busy, teeming with customers who were having drinks and eating dinner on the main floor, while people continuously came up and down the stairs.
‘Evening, loves. My name’s Ream. What can I do for you?’ the innkeeper asked.
‘Good evening,’ Azam replied. ‘My name is Azam Mirza. Lady Ximena made a booking for our stay here.’
Ream opened a big book, scanning through. She tapped the page. ‘Yup, it’s right here,’ she said. She reached under the counter for a pair of keys, then twirled them on her finger. ‘Come along, then.’
They followed Ream up a set of stairs, going up to the first floor. She led them down a hall and stopped in front of a door, which she unlocked with the key. She pushed the door open, entering to light the candles. Then she came back and handed Azam the key.
‘Here is your room,’ she said, smiling at both Azam and Sonya.
Room, singular. Azam seemed to notice the same thing. ‘Um, it’s just the one …?’ he asked, gesturing at the bed.
Ream gave him a funny look. ‘Yes. Lady Ximena made the reservation for you and your partner.’
‘Oh, she’s not—I mean, we are, but she’s—We—’ Azam stuttered, face red. He worked his jaw. ‘Would it be possible for us to have a second room?’
Ream shook her head. ‘Sorry, love, but we’re all booked out.’
Azam swallowed. ‘Right. Thank you.’
Ream left. Azam and Sonya glanced at one another. There was nothing else for it; they entered the room. Azam set down the luggage, then closed the door behind them. The room was decently sized, with an attached washroom and changing screen along with the bed, side tables, and vanity table.
Sonya’s heart pounded. She desperately looked anywhere but at the bed.
‘I’m sorry,’ Azam said, rubbing the back of his neck.
‘Don’t be,’ Sonya replied. ‘It’s better this way.’
‘It is?’ His gaze jumped to hers, his brown eyes wide.
Her cheeks flamed. Lord, but she must have sounded terribly improper, even as a part of her was thrilled to be sharing the room with him for entirely improper reasons. ‘I’ll feel safer if we’re together,’ she said, finding her voice and a valid excuse. ‘The inn is very full.’
‘Yes. Yes, of course.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Right. No, I will also feel better having you near.’
They both shuffled a little awkwardly. Sonya let out a nervous laugh, and then Azam shook his head, smiling.
‘I’m starving,’ she said. ‘Shall we freshen up, then head down for dinner?’
‘Yes, please,’ he replied.
The inn had gotten even busier, more and more people coming in as the night went on.
They found a spot at a small table and ordered: browned crisp chicken with fennel and leeks, along with cups of ale. The meal was warm and fresh and especially delicious after a full day’s travel.
Once they had had their fill, they headed back up to their room to escape the chaos.
‘That’ll be Lady Ximena’s butler,’ Azam said, when they heard a sharp knock at their door.
He let the butler in, and Sonya retrieved the wedding dress package from Azam’s luggage.
She had wrapped it very carefully and neatly, with plenty of pieces of tissue between every part to prevent it wrinkling.
She handed the package to Azam, who gave it to the butler. ‘You can check it, if you’d like,’ Azam said.
‘There is no need,’ the butler replied. ‘Her ladyship trusts you.’ Azam nodded. ‘Payment will be sent to your shop, as requested.’
‘Thank you,’ Azam said.
‘My lady sends her best regards and looks forward to your partaking in the festivities tomorrow.’ The butler bowed his head, taking his leave.
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 Sonya had 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 a boy. 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! I hate mice. Besides, you can’t sleep on the floor with mice!’
‘I’m perfectly fine—’
She could’ve sworn she heard another squeak. Before she could think 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.’
She watched as he stood, coming around the bed to the other side. Her pulse quickened as he reached for the blanket. ‘Is this okay?’ he asked, voice low.
‘Yes,’ she breathed, moving over as he got in. They both lay facing the ceiling.
‘Try and sleep,’ he whispered. A tingle ran down her spine at the sound of his voice so near while she was in bed. But she hardly had time to think about it at the sound of scuttling. Gasping, she clutched his arm.
‘Hey, it’s okay,’ he said, though she could sense he was amused. She knew she was being a bit dramatic. ‘Sonya, they’re so tiny, they won’t hurt you.’
‘I know that but …’ She shuddered, turning toward him. He turned onto his side, as well, facing her.
‘Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.’ His voice turned teasing. ‘If any mice try to climb into bed with you, I’ll fend them off as devotedly as I would fend off a vagabond.’
She hit his chest, and he held her hand, chest rumbling under her palm as he laughed.
‘It isn’t funny,’ she said, trying to pout, but her lips were twitching.
‘It’s a little funny,’ he replied. He had successfully distracted her though, and the squeaking didn’t come again. They both listened, but it seemed as though the coast was clear.
‘Should I leave you?’ he asked. ‘I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.’ He was hesitant again.
‘No, stay.’ The words were out before she could stop them.
She knew he was just trying his best to be proper, but she almost wished he would take liberties. But she couldn’t say that. Instead, she said, ‘You’re keeping me warm.’
She felt so cozy and safe and snuggly, and it wasn’t just the heat from his body, but him.
‘Okay,’ he replied, relaxing. He sounded relieved, as if he hadn’t wanted to go in the first place.
He was still holding her hand against his chest, her palm pressed flat over his heart. She could feel it pounding beneath her fingers.
She heard the sharp intake of his breath and, in the moonlight, she watched a muscle tick in his jaw. She inhaled the scent of strong black tea, breathing him in.
Then, ever so carefully, he shifted toward her, his gaze molten. Her stomach flipped, anticipation pulsing through her. His lips brushed against her forehead in the gentlest of kisses. She closed her eyes, arching closer. Heat poured through her, liquifying her limbs.
He drew back, and she looked up into his dark eyes, her heart beating fast.
‘Goodnight,’ he whispered.
‘Wait—’ She didn’t want to sleep just yet. ‘Tell me a story.’
His lips twitched. ‘Okay, let me think.’ She got comfortable, the tension leaving her body. She was quite tired, but now she wanted to hear his story.
‘Once upon a time, there was a princess,’ he started. It was funny how when she heard of princesses, she didn’t think of herself. She didn’t feel like Sonya Tahir, Her Royal Highness, the Princess of Fairendelle, anymore. She just felt like Sonya.
‘Go on,’ she said, getting more comfortable. She yawned, feeling sleepy.
‘She was very kind and very beautiful. She had a special kind of magic, not a magic of trade, like the witches we know, but a magic that made all those around her feel strong and sure, that made them feel loved. Of course, there was a boy who admired her.’
Sonya listened to the sound of his voice, letting it carry her further toward sleep.
‘The problem was, the boy was just a boy,’ Azam continued. ‘He wasn’t a prince, or a duke, or a marquess, or an earl—he knew he wasn’t worthy of the princess. Even so, he could not stop himself from loving her. He wondered if the princess could ever think of him the same …’
Of course she can, Sonya thought, but the words did not come to her lips, and instead, she spoke them in her dream. For love, one can do anything.
‘Sonya?’ Azam asked, voice quiet, but she was already asleep.