Page 136 of The Defiant Wife

"What?"

"My favorite sound."

Her cheeks instantly turn pink. "You flirt entirely too much these days."

"I've been making up for thirty years."

She opens her mouth to argue again, but I have already started fixing the pleats.

My fingers carefully tuck the silk into place.

When I smooth the fabric near her waist, she inhales sharply. "Veeraj. . . " she whispers. "We are in the middle of the palace."

"I noticed."

"The staff is literally outside."

"They're serving tea."

"They also have eyes."

"I would certainly hope so."

She lets out an exasperated groan. "You are insane."

"I've heard that from a very reliable source."

"And who would that be?"

"My wife."

I finish adjusting the saree before taking a small step back to admire my work. "There."

She looks down. "Oh . . . "

A surprised smile spreads across her face. "That's actually perfect."

"I know."

She narrows her eyes. "You sounded entirely too proud of yourself."

"I deserve to be."

She folds her arms. "You tucked in six pleats."

"I rescued six pleats."

"There is a difference."

"There absolutely is." I shake my head, unable to stop smiling.

"I should've made you do this from the beginning."

"You still can."

Her eyebrows lift. "Careful, Kunwar Sa. If you become too useful, I'll make you wear matching sarees with me."

"I draw the line there."