Emerence slipped the shop key and knife back into her pocket. “He always worries, but I’ve done this many times. It’s mostly safe and I stay alert and don’t carry money or jewels on me.” While moments before her heart sat wedged in her throat, it now beat fast at the knowledge Gaeres had come to escort her home, worried for her safety. “How did you know I was still here?” The windows in the drapery’s second story were blocked by concealing curtains, and the light from her desk lamp wasn’t bright enough to penetrate their coverings and shine through.
“I didn’t. Not at first. I wished to see you again so I left Dahran Sulti and my cousins at the party and returned here. I saw your father’s wife bring food to the shop after it closed and assumed you were still working.”
She gaped at him. “You waited all that time? Why didn’t you just knock? I would have let you in.” And cheerfully abandoned battling numbers in favor of spending time with the handsome Quereci.
He shrugged. “I didn’t wish to disturb you.”
Astonished, Emerence could only stare at him before saying, “That’s a long time to wait for someone, especially when you weren’t really sure it was me still in the shop.”
Another shrug, this one accompanied by a lopsided grin. “Reason and good instincts served me well.” He sobered. “I would be honored to escort you to your home or to one of the parties if you so desire.”
As fatigued as she was, the last thing Emerence wanted was to spend the rest of an already long evening amidst loud, drunken crowds, no matter how entertaining the venue or luxurious the setting. “Home,” she said, delighted by the idea of spending a brief time in Gaeres’s company, even if the walk was no more than two streets over from the shops. Hopefully they’d leisurely stroll.
Their breaths fogged in front of them, mingling in a single cloud before dissipating in the frosty air. The snow fell harder, cladding rooftops and covering streets in white. Used to initiating conversation and carrying on small talk with customers, Emerence avoided the awkwardness that came with hunting for topics of conversation.
“The two biggest public parties during Delyalda are hosted by the Ganmurgen and Dolrida families. They’ve been in competition with each other for more than a decade as to who hosts the best party. Which one did you and your cousins attend?”
Snow crunched under their feet as they walked, and Gaeres held her elbow to steady her as they navigated across a slippery patch of road. “I don’t remember,” he said. “It was a great house built of white stone, filled with light, people, and music.”
Emerence couldn’t decide if she heard awe or horror in his voice or possibly both as he described the scene. She recognized his description of the house. “That’s the Dolrida estate. Your cousins will be having a fine time there as will Dahran Sulti. You’re missing out by keeping company with me.” She wasn’t fishing for a denial. A young, handsome Quereci warrior would garner a great deal of fawning attention at a Delyalda celebration and be far more entertained than acting as escort to a tired shopkeeper whose idea of the best ending to the night was to drink a cup of tea and fall into bed.
“I disagree,” he said. “I’ve hoped all day I’d find a way to speak with you again. My patience has been rewarded. There’s no other place I’d rather be at the moment.”
Emerence halted abruptly. Gaeres mimicked her action. “Why?” she asked.
“Why what?”
She held out her hands in a puzzled gesture. “Why did you want to speak with me again? I assure you I’m not known for my sparkling conversation or extraordinary wit.” She was just Emerence Ipsan, merchant’s daughter. A spinster as well. “How unfortunate,” many had clucked to each other, often within her hearing.
Gaeres’s expression remained maddeningly obscure in the shadows. Emerence wished the night were clear so the moon’s radiance might reveal his features better. “Because I find you interesting and would like to know more about you.” He frowned suddenly. “Is this walk of ours unacceptable in Beladine society?”
His question made her smile. Her days of being chaperoned under a matron’s eagle eye for the sake of propriety were long over. There were certain freedoms and perks afforded to spinsterhood, and she was old enough now to act as a matron herself. She chuckled and