Caversham's Bride (The Caversham Chronicles - Book One) by Sandy Raven Page B

but I ask that you not make a servant of an old woman. I wish to keep her with me as my only remaining family.
    “And, I have hopes and dreams for Luchino. I will educate him as my parents did me, and when he is old enough I will send him to university, which is what my father would have wanted. He will grow up to be a fine gentleman one day, I know it.”
    “I will not make a servant of your nurse, Lia,” he replied. “And your brother will be expected to become a gentleman.”
    She closed her eyes and bowed her head, hands together as if in prayer. “ Grazie. Dal profundo del mio cuore, vi ringrazio, ” she whispered, thanking him from the bottom of her heart. She looked up at him again. “I will pay for everything he needs, food, clothing, books. For Maura too, of course. She is old now, and doesn’t move as quickly as she used to, but I love her as most would their grandmother.”
    Ren watched as she nervously rubbed her lap with the palms of her hands. This was difficult for her, and he wasn’t going to force her to continue if it would upset her further. “You don’t have to say anything more.”
    She stopped him. “I need to warn you.” She glanced over at him, and stood going into the room to get a goblet and some wine. Taking a seat next him again, she said, “Claudina is my father’s brother’s wife. She is a most despicable woman—greedy and power hungry. If she doesn’t try to sell my brother and Maura to you, she’ll try to marry you off to her daughter, Julianna, if she even suspects you have any wealth.”
    Ren laughed, but her eyes widened suddenly in fright.
    “Please be careful around her. Promise me.”
    He assured her, “I will.” Without saying so to Lia, he knew that some old woman could never best him.
    A male servant came to the doorway of the courtyard to announce that the bath had been prepared, and their dinner tray was in the room.
    “Shall I stay and attend you in your bath, Your Grace?” the servant asked.
    “No, the lady will attend me.” He met her green-eyed gaze, and nodded, letting her know that it was what he wanted.
    “As you wish.” The servant bowed and left.
    Ren stood, and holding out a hand to Lia, he led her into the room.

 
    C HAPTER S EVEN
     
     
    T o allow him privacy as he undressed, Lia busied herself by testing the water to make sure it was warm enough. She then placed a towel over the privacy screen and the bar of soap on the floor next to the tub. When he joined her behind the screen, she forced herself to keep her eyes downcast, unsure of how he would react to her direct gaze, when what she really wanted was to admire his naked beauty.
    With his back to her, he lowered his massive frame into the brass tub, and she got a glimpse of his naked bottom as he sank into the warm water. His skin was tanned golden from the sun, down to the point of his breeches, below which his skin was whiter than hers. Surely he must work on that ship without a shirt, like a common laborer, to be tanned so evenly, she thought. The muscles of his shoulders visibly relaxed as he lay his head back against the curved headrest of the brass hip bath. His entire body could not fit into the tub, so a great long portion of his legs rose above the water. Water spilled over onto the tile and she immediately reached for one of the towels, laying it on the floor so he wouldn’t slip when he came out.
    “The tub seemed large enough for two when I bathed earlier.” She dampened the washcloth. Picking up the bar of soap, she nervously worked a lather onto the cloth and began scrubbing his back. Lia had never tended a man in his bath before, and to have this one as her first had her on edge. She had to control her racing heart and shaky hands. His was the finest specimen of male to ever catch her eye. And she’d seen most all of the great statues in her travels with her parents.
    “I’ve had this problem all my adult life.” He sighed. “When we get to my home, Haldenwood, you