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Chapter Nineteen

Upon learning that the private dining rooms in the tavern would be occupied for some time, Leo requested a tray to be sent up to their room, as well as a hot bath

Catherine fell asleep beneath the quilt while waiting She stirred and blinked as she heard the door opening, chairs beingof plates and flatware, the thuht next to her Dodger had crawled beneath the quilt and was snoozing beside her shoulder As Catherine looked at hiht eyes and heard a tiny yawn before he resettled

Recalling that she earing only Leo’s discarded shirt, Catherine hid beneath the quilt and peeked over the edge as a pair of chambermaids set out the bath Would they suspect what had occurred between her and Leo earlier? She braced herself for a sly or accusing glance, perhaps a contele, but it see but businesslike as they tipped two stea pails into the washtub, and returned with another two pails full One of the girls set out a three-legged stool piled with folded toweling

The chambermaids would have left the rooer, attracted by the scent of food, eed froarded the dinner tray on the s hungry! his expression seeer, her face contorted in terror "Eeeek!" She pointed a pluer at the ferret "It’s a rat, or a mouse, or--"

"No, it’s a ferret," Leo explained, his tone reasonable and soothing "A harhly civilized creature--the favored pet of royalty, actually Queen Elizabeth had a pet ferret, and--really, there’s no need for violence--"

The cha it in anticipation of an attack

"Dodger," Catherine said shortly "Coer slithered up to her Before she could push hi ferret kiss

One of the chambermaids looked horror-struck, while the other appeared ill

Fighting to keep a straight face, Leo gave a half-crown to each chambermaid and ushered them from the room When the door was closed and locked, Catherine lifted the affectionate ferret froarded him with a scowl "You are the most troublesome creature in the world, and not at all civilized"

"Here, Dodger" Leo set out a saucer of beef and parsnips, and the ferret streaked over to it

While the ferret was busy devouring his entle hands He lowered his mouth to hers in a brief, warm kiss "Dinner or bath first?"

She was hten with an audible kworr

Leo grinned "Dinner, it seems"

The meal consisted of beef rounds andred wine Catherine ate ravenously, even swabbing the plate with a crust of bread

Leo was an entertaining co out confidences, refilling her wine glass In the light of the single candle that had been set on the table, his face was severely handso incandescent blue eyes

It occurred to Catherine that this was the first meal she’d ever shared alone with hi she would have to be on her guard every second But there was no conflict in this easy conversation How remarkable She almost wished that one of the Hathaway sisters were somewhere nearby, so that she could share this discovery … Your brother and I just spent an entire un to rain outside, the sky darkening steadily, sprinkles thickening into a steady rush that obliterated the sounds of people and horses and the activity in the carriage yard Even dressed in the heavy robe that Leo had given her to wear, Catherine shivered and felt gooseflesh rise all over

"Ti to pull her chair back

Wondering if he intended to stay in the rooht allow me some privacy"

"I wouldn’t dream of it," he said "You may need assistance"

"I can bathe myself And I would prefer not to be watched"

"My interest is purely aesthetic I’ll i in the waters of innocence"

"Purely?" she asked doubtfully

"Oh, I have a very pure soul It’s only otten"You reed" He went to stand by the

Catherine glanced at the tub with keen anticipation She didn’t think she had ever looked forward to a bath soher hair to the top of her head, she shed the robe, the shirt, and her spectacles, placed thelanced cautiously at Leo, who seee yard He had opened thea few inches, letting rain-scented air into the rooh you really should discard your inhibitions," he said "They could get in the way of yielding to teerly into the battered tub "I would say that I’ve yielded quite thoroughly today" She sighed in relief as the water soothed all her intihted to be of assistance"

"You didn’t assist," she said "You are the temptation" She heard him chuckle

Leo kept his distance as Catherine bathed, looking out at the rain After she had washed and rinsed herself, she was so tired that she doubted her own ability to clis, she fu from the stool next to the tub

As Catherine stepped out of the water, Leo ca it around her Swathing her in a temporary cocoon, he held her for a ainst her hair, a question in his voice