The Cogsmith's Daughter (Desertera #1)(72)

Aya rolled her eyes. “He’s a nobleman.” She cringed, uncertain how Dellwyn would take the news. “Actually, he’s your Lord Collingwood’s nephew. This dress belonged to his mother.”

Dellwyn burst into laughter, sending globs of bread and saliva splattering across the table. Aya tried her best not to be insulted.

“Wow.” Dellwyn gasped for air. “By bedroom logic, I’m practically your aunt!”

Aya narrowed her eyes. “Practically.”

“And what does the lady mother think of her son taking up with a harlot?”

Aya wished she had something to throw at Dellwyn, and she indicated as much by faking a toss at her. Dellwyn pretended to dodge, and Aya stuck out her tongue. “She doesn’t think anything about it. She’s dead.”

Dellwyn sat up straight and pursed her lips. “I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize to me. She wasn’t my mother.”

“I know, but—”

Aya held up her hand. Almost everyone they knew had at least one dead parent. There was no reason to tiptoe around her now. “His name is Willem. And, before you ask, yes, he is gorgeous. He’s at least six feet tall, lean but still muscular. Beautiful, thick brown hair that flops over his forehead in an endearing curl. And his eyes, don’t even get me started on his hazel eyes.”

Dellwyn leaned forward, cradling her face in her hands. She stared across the table with moony eyes that grew consistently more wicked. “And is he well-endowed? Outside of the wallet, I mean.”

Aya took an even breath, hoping to stop her blush before it spread over her chest and face. She looked Dellwyn straight in her dark eyes and matched them with a wicked smile. “Now, now, Miss Rutt. A lady does not bed and tell.”

Dellwyn leaped up from the table and ran around it, latching onto Aya in a crushing hug. Aya hugged her back, laughing so hard she thought her ribs would crack. Or maybe that was Dellwyn’s embrace.

“I am so happy for you! Screw that. I’m so proud of you! How was it?”

“Wonderful. It’s everything I knew it should have been all along and everything I never want to have with a client.”

Dellwyn sat back down in her chair, this time, leaning even further across the table. “So was he just a buckle in your corset? Or is he more?”

Aya smiled, reaching up to touch the barrette in her hair. “I’m not sure yet. He’s a good man, but we haven’t known each other very long, and I don’t know what will happen with the rest of my time in the palace.”

“That’s fair. If you do think he might be something more once this is all sorted out, be careful.”

“Why?”

“It messes with your head. When you share something that intimate with another person, sometimes they get this hold over you.” Dellwyn smiled toward the window. “Make sure you keep him at arm’s length until you figure out what to do with yourselves.”

Aya sighed. “I don’t think that’s going to be an issue after the truth comes out.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, first of all, Willem’s a nobleman. And even if Lord Varick honors our arrangement, I’ll still be merely a Portside merchant. Willem’s father is alive, and I cannot imagine a nobleman would allow his son to wed a merchant, let alone a lady of the Rudder. And even if he does, I’m not keen to give up my father’s shop, not after everything I’m doing to get it.”

Dellwyn gave an understanding nod.

“Besides, even if Willem’s family would miraculously agree to our being together with me as a working cogsmith, I am not sure what Willem will think of me. After what I’ve done with the king, I mean. I think he will understand, but I’m not sure.”

“You haven’t told him?”

Aya shook her head.

“Once you explain things to him, I feel as though he has to accept it. The king is a monster, and he ruined your life. Avenging your father and saving the queen, and any future queens, and the entire monarchy at that, is pretty damn heroic.”

Aya bit her lip. “I hope he sees it that way.”

“If he doesn’t, he doesn’t deserve you anyway.” A smirk crept across Dellwyn’s face. “And if he’s mean about it, I’ll castrate him.”

“Dellwyn!” Aya gasped, swatting her friend’s arm.

“What?” Dellwyn held up her palms. “Just offering.”

Aya laughed. Even though she had only been away from Dellwyn for a few days, Aya had missed her. She doubted she could ever have this close or comfortable of a friendship with any of the noblewomen. She wondered, if she and Willem were to explore a relationship, how he and his family would feel about her staying friends with Dellwyn. After a split second of pondering, Aya decided she didn’t care about his family’s opinion. And if Willem didn’t accept it, as Dellwyn said, Aya shouldn’t be with him anyway.

“So what happens now?” Dellwyn asked.

“I wait for the king to summon me, and when he does, I get him to confess to his plans to get rid of Queen Zedara. A group of nobles will be waiting to overhear his confession, and when they do, we’ve got him.”

“That simple?”

Aya shrugged. “That simple.”

“Huh, wow.” Dellwyn took her empty plate and brushed it off with a cloth from the stove before placing it back in the trunk. Watching this almost made Aya cringe. After all the water the nobles wasted—in their wine, their baths, their frozen desserts—it nearly brought tears to her eyes to remember that the people of Sternville couldn’t even afford to use water to rinse their plates.