The lads will be up in a moment with buckets of warm water.”
Ursula gimped over to a tri-fold screen and pushed it aside to reveal a small room with a large pedestal tub. A mirror with an elaborately carved frame hanged from the wall. Beneath the mirror sat a short table and padded stool. Marvelous. It was as close to a modern bathroom as she would come. If only she had the lavender, body wash Abby had given her as a gift.
At a timid knock, Ursula opened the door. A horde of young boys tromped across the floor and poured buckets of steaming water into the tub. After they left, Ursula stayed by her side as she walked into the bathing area and sat on the bench. The old woman hovered over her while she undressed.
“I will be fine, Ursula. You may go about your business while I bathe.” Her strength had begun to return with food and exercise, and soon she could search the rest of the castle.
“I be cleaning yer room if ye need anything.” Ursula set the screen in place, giving Maggie the privacy she craved. She heard Ursula opening and closing drawers, and the soft swish of material as she made the bed.
She trailed her fingers in the water to test the temperature then quickly stripped the rest of her clothing off and slowly sank to her neck into the warm liquid. The scent of lavender wafted around her. A bar of hard soap and a bathing cloth lay on a small table next to the tub. Lifting the soap to her nose, she sniffed. Lavender. She spotted a vial, picked up the glass container and pulled out the stopper. Mmmm. Lavender, also. Ursula must have placed several drops in the water to make her bath smell of her favorite scent.
“Ursula.”
“Aye, lass.” Ursula’s voice sounded muffled and distant through the tri-fold door.
“Where did you find the lavender oil and soap?”
“They be in the things ye brought with ye.”
Her body jerked forward as gamut of bewildering emotion rushed through her. Water lapped at the tub’s edge. Ursula had to be mistaken. She hadn’t brought these items with her.
“What!”
“Aye. I unpacked them from the trunk yer mum and da sent. Yer gowns and such be in the wardrobe, undergarments ’ere in the drawers, and writing things in the secretary.”
Her indrawn breath hissed through her clinched teeth as she relaxed. These were Margaret’s items, not hers. How odd that she and Margaret had such similar preferences. The coincidence troubled her.
“Thank you for your help.”
She had to continue to let Ursula believe she was Margaret. She only hoped it didn’t upset Margaret when she returned and discovered Maggie had helped herself to her belongings.
“The Laird will be up to see ye in a while.”
Her pulse quickened at the thought of seeing Liam again. Had he found the brooch? Is that why he wanted to see her? Memories of last night when she sat on his lap while he kissed her senseless swamped her. Her body felt heavy and warm. Beneath the water her nipples hardened and hot liquid pooled between her legs. Hundreds of years separated them, yet a physical attraction drew them together as surely as a storm beckons the flash of lightning.
To wash away the sensuous thought of another woman’s husband, she dipped her head under the water and used the bar of soap to lather her hair. After scrubbing her hair, she dunked her head once again to rinse out the suds. Soap ran down her face and stung her eyes. Using the towel laid out for her to dry with, she dabbed at the burning liquid.
Pulling several strands forward she inspected the bubbly mass. She opened her mouth to call for Ursula when she heard the door open and close in the next room. Ursula left. Now what? How could she rinse her hair free of soap without help?
“Stand and I’ll pour clean water o’er yer head.”
The husky command startled her. With a splash, she sank under the water until only the top of her shoulders were visible. She glared at Liam.
“I cannot stand up. You will see me naked.” By the wicked
Ursula gimped over to a tri-fold screen and pushed it aside to reveal a small room with a large pedestal tub. A mirror with an elaborately carved frame hanged from the wall. Beneath the mirror sat a short table and padded stool. Marvelous. It was as close to a modern bathroom as she would come. If only she had the lavender, body wash Abby had given her as a gift.
At a timid knock, Ursula opened the door. A horde of young boys tromped across the floor and poured buckets of steaming water into the tub. After they left, Ursula stayed by her side as she walked into the bathing area and sat on the bench. The old woman hovered over her while she undressed.
“I will be fine, Ursula. You may go about your business while I bathe.” Her strength had begun to return with food and exercise, and soon she could search the rest of the castle.
“I be cleaning yer room if ye need anything.” Ursula set the screen in place, giving Maggie the privacy she craved. She heard Ursula opening and closing drawers, and the soft swish of material as she made the bed.
She trailed her fingers in the water to test the temperature then quickly stripped the rest of her clothing off and slowly sank to her neck into the warm liquid. The scent of lavender wafted around her. A bar of hard soap and a bathing cloth lay on a small table next to the tub. Lifting the soap to her nose, she sniffed. Lavender. She spotted a vial, picked up the glass container and pulled out the stopper. Mmmm. Lavender, also. Ursula must have placed several drops in the water to make her bath smell of her favorite scent.
“Ursula.”
“Aye, lass.” Ursula’s voice sounded muffled and distant through the tri-fold door.
“Where did you find the lavender oil and soap?”
“They be in the things ye brought with ye.”
Her body jerked forward as gamut of bewildering emotion rushed through her. Water lapped at the tub’s edge. Ursula had to be mistaken. She hadn’t brought these items with her.
“What!”
“Aye. I unpacked them from the trunk yer mum and da sent. Yer gowns and such be in the wardrobe, undergarments ’ere in the drawers, and writing things in the secretary.”
Her indrawn breath hissed through her clinched teeth as she relaxed. These were Margaret’s items, not hers. How odd that she and Margaret had such similar preferences. The coincidence troubled her.
“Thank you for your help.”
She had to continue to let Ursula believe she was Margaret. She only hoped it didn’t upset Margaret when she returned and discovered Maggie had helped herself to her belongings.
“The Laird will be up to see ye in a while.”
Her pulse quickened at the thought of seeing Liam again. Had he found the brooch? Is that why he wanted to see her? Memories of last night when she sat on his lap while he kissed her senseless swamped her. Her body felt heavy and warm. Beneath the water her nipples hardened and hot liquid pooled between her legs. Hundreds of years separated them, yet a physical attraction drew them together as surely as a storm beckons the flash of lightning.
To wash away the sensuous thought of another woman’s husband, she dipped her head under the water and used the bar of soap to lather her hair. After scrubbing her hair, she dunked her head once again to rinse out the suds. Soap ran down her face and stung her eyes. Using the towel laid out for her to dry with, she dabbed at the burning liquid.
Pulling several strands forward she inspected the bubbly mass. She opened her mouth to call for Ursula when she heard the door open and close in the next room. Ursula left. Now what? How could she rinse her hair free of soap without help?
“Stand and I’ll pour clean water o’er yer head.”
The husky command startled her. With a splash, she sank under the water until only the top of her shoulders were visible. She glared at Liam.
“I cannot stand up. You will see me naked.” By the wicked
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