Page 15 of The Rake and the Cake

“I know. That’s what makes it fun.”

Aisling tried not to be too charmed. But she failed utterly.

Rowan the tailor was tall and beautiful, with the most interesting bird-like hair of black-and-pink. She was also obviously very, very good at what she did; she had Aisling’s bodice pattern pinned within the first five minutes. It was a whirlwind of activity, one very different from the ready-made shops Aisling frequented in Copperford. “I usually buy new things in something like my size and alter them myself,” she confessed to Brook quietly at one point. “Especially with the tail.”

“I prefer to shop that way as well. But since I don’t like wearing skirts and my legs are—well, you know they’re long.” She smirked.

Aisling grinned. “Are they? I hadn’t noticed.”

“Mmm, you sure about that?”

They were laughing together when Rowan came back in and started pinning the material for the skirt.

After a half hour’s work, Rowan said she had all she wanted and gave them a cursory, “Come back tomorrow evening for a fitting, will you? And I’ll have something for you, too.” She nodded at Brook.

Brook raised her eyebrows but didn’t argue.

“Are you sure it’s not too last minute?” Aisling worried. “Tomorrow’s the day before, and then the day of, and if we need to be there early—”

“I have a bodice close to these specifications already,” Rowan assured them with a chuckle. “The skirt is a lot of material but less complex, and the sleeves are simple. Don’t trouble yourself. I’m a genius.”

Aisling had to agree.

To go to the dance, Aisling would have to lose that entire evening and part of the morning; she had plenty to prepare in the meantime and only two days (and one night) to do it. She visited Inventor’s Row once more, this time to find one of Darra’s friends who was famous for his cooling boxes; a larger one would let her prepare in bulk, which would solve the most complex problem. Once the box was ready to be delivered, however, Aisling was neck-deep in her dinner rush and couldn’t get there. She thought about sending a magical missive to Darra asking for help…

But she couldn’t bring herself to. So when Brook showed up that evening, Aisling had already closed up shop and was about to head to Inventor’s Row again.

“Where are you off to?” Brook asked cheerfully.

“I have to pick up a new, bigger ice box. So I can make pie crusts tonight for tomorrow and tomorrow for the day after—and maybe extra, if it’s big enough. I also need to get eggs before my supplier turns in for the night, and I have to make sure my cinnabark supplier is up-to-date, and I haven’t seen my jewelberry supplier since they dropped off my initial order, and I’d love to find some more, but—”

“Whoa, whoa.” Brook took Aisling by the arms and squeezed gently. “Which one of the things can I do right now?”

Aisling thought for a moment, trying to still her mind. “Um… eggs? Can you go get eggs? And ask them to put it on my account?”

“How many eggs?”

“Three dozen. No, six! Then I won’t need to go tomorrow.”

“Done,” Brook said seriously. “And then what can I do?”

“Ummm, I’m not sure how I’ll get the ice box into the stall. It’s ready now, but—”

“I have an idea. Which tent?”

Aisling frowned. “An idea?”

“Well, we could just hire a cart. But I think the magic match vendor, Elian, has levitation charms. I could just go grab one of those and sort of—push it here.”

“That’s…” Aisling was about to argue, but she couldn’t. “Brilliant, actually.”

“Isn’t it?””

Aisling smiled but then realized that was just part of her massive to-do list. “And I know we need to go see Rowan for my fitting, but I really must start building up extra crusts and doughs and fillings in the ice box, and then I’ll have to get ready for the food competition—”

“Aisling,” Brook interrupted.

“Hm?” Aisling blinked at her, head spinning.