The Cogsmith's Daughter (Desertera #1)(34)

“I’ll be right with you, Mr. Willem.” Abrim stretched out his name, making it three syllables instead of two.

“Thank you, Abrim. Thank you.”

The mask maker waved his hand. “How are Lord Collingwood’s bakeries doing? I hear they are dealing with the overflow of pastries that the palace chefs cannot handle.”

“They’re managing quite well.” Willem tugged at his jacket sleeves. “I believe they’re happy to have the extra income.”

Abrim nodded. Aya glanced between the two men, wondering why Abrim would care about the bakers in Portside. For her part, Aya cared about gathering whatever insight she could into Dellwyn’s most loyal customer. Before Aya could formulate an appropriate question, Abrim had turned back to her. “Now, Miss Wellman, you have a fondness for the animals, yes?”

“Most definitely.”

The mask maker looked between Aya and Willem. He untied Aya’s frog mask and lifted it off her face. “Would you allow me to make you a special mask? I wouldn’t charge Lord Varick a cent over the regular price. I simply think that a face as beautiful as yours should be accented, not hidden, by one of these animal faces.”

“Oh, that is not necessary.” Aya placed a hand over her heart. “Truly, I am honored just to wear one of your artful designs. I require nothing special.”

“Nonsense.” Abrim shook his head. “I want to do this. You have inspired me.”

Aya looked at Willem for assistance. He chuckled. “I have known Abrim a long time. There is no talking him out of this.”

Aya sighed. “Fine then. But please, don’t go to too much trouble.”

“It will be no trouble at all. In fact, I shall begin work right now.” Abrim tottered over to his workshop, the frog mask still in his hand. “I trust you can select your own mask, Wil-le-em?”

Willem nodded. With that, Abrim closed the door to his workshop, leaving Aya and Willem alone amongst the masks.

“I’m sorry Abrim abandoned you.” Aya frowned. “I have no clue what got into him.”

“I do.” Willem sat down next to Aya. “As he said, you inspired him.”

“I’m sure.” Aya rolled her eyes. “Are you this much of a flirt with all the ladies?”

It was Willem’s turn to blush. He looked down at his feet like a boy chastised for spilling a cup of water. “Is my flirting with you a problem?”

“No.” Aya nudged his arm. “I’m just trying to figure you out.”

“And maybe my silver tongue is trying to loosen yours.” Willem smiled.

Aya sucked in an audible breath, letting it out in a laugh. “You have a line for everything, don’t you?”

“Yes,” Willem stated, deadpan.

“Then tell me this,” Aya began, allowing her face to turn serious. “Why did Abrim say your name so oddly?”

“What do you mean?”

“He stretched it out. Wil-le-em,” Aya mimicked, watching Willem’s hazel eyes travel to the exaggerated flicks of her tongue.

“Oh, that.” Willem rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s an old joke of his. He finds my name strange, because it is ‘Willem’ instead of ‘William.’ He’s always said it that way.”

His answer seemed odd to Aya, but she nodded anyway. As she did, the aroma of the bath oils wafted from her curls. Willem leaned in closer to breathe in the scent. “You smell heavenly.”

“I know.” Aya’s eyes widened, and she put her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry. That was arrogant of me. It’s just…I haven’t felt this clean and pretty in a long time.”

Willem brushed a curl over her shoulder. “It shows. You are much more confident than the last time I saw you. It’s very becoming.”

Aya smiled. This time, his words did not make her blush. “I do feel changed. Though, I do not think the bath oils should get all the credit.”

“What else has happened in such a short time?” Willem squinted at her.

“A lot. A lot can happen in two days.”

Willem smiled, his eyes flitting between her eyes and lips. Aya wanted to close the distance between them, but the possibility of passerby outside the shop kept her in place.

Instead, she returned to her unspoken musing. “Why did Abrim ask you about Lord Collingwood’s bakeries?”

Willem froze, his brow furrowing. “Oh, um, I help oversee the management of many of the merchants’ shops.”

“But why did he ask about those specifically?” Aya wondered if Willem had some sort of familial connection with Lord Collingwood. Somehow, the thought made her feel proud, to know that she could attract an equal caliber of man as Dellwyn.

“Lord Collingwood and I are rather close. I pay a bit more attention to his businesses than the others, which is probably unjust of me. So don’t tell anyone.” Willem whispered the last sentence, leaning in closer.

Aya would not be deterred. “How close? Are you family?”

“I think the better question is, ‘which nobles are not family?’” Willem laughed. Aya kept her face sincere, and Willem’s gay expression slowly faded. “Why are you so curious?”

“I’m trying to loosen that silver tongue of yours,” Aya joked. She looked down, fiddling with the fabric of her toga. “I like you.”