With the earl, she felt safe and at that moment secure in his arms. She wanted him to take over as he carried her out of the kitchen, down the hall, and up the main staircase. There it was: she wanted him to manage her—when it suited her, of course, she told herself.
The manner in which he held her, something in his air and attitude, made her feel as though she was a most precious prize and he was being especially careful not to break, or hurt, or disrupt who she was. He made her feel as though he liked her just as she was, that he wouldn’t change a thing about her, and that meant the world to her.
The notion made her smile to herself.
However, at the top of the stairs, he turned away from her room, and she didn’t hesitate to ask, “Wait, where are you going?”
“Well, the lad is in the main house tub, so I thought I’d get mine ready for you.”
She blushed furiously. “Oh thank you, but I couldn’t … not the one in your room, I just couldn’t … and it wouldn’t be …”
“Och lass, I won’t be in the room, not when ye bathe, so where is the harm?” He grinned wickedly. “With ye hurting as ye are, ye just need to let me tend ye, for I mean to whether ye deny me or not.”
“But, my lord, not in your room,” she objected still.
“I’ll just draw ye a bath—why should ye wait when soaking in a tub is just what ye need, lass? Ye see, m’man already has a drum of water ready for heating and a fire lit, so it won’t take long, and while ye wait for me to prepare it for ye, why don’t ye rest …” He hesitated and grinned wickedly. “… on m’bed.”
“Oh … oh … I … no … I.” She looked at him and swallowed hard.
He managed to open his door with a dexterity she could not help but admire. A moment later, he had pushed it in with his booted foot and set her on her feet by his bed. “Lie or sit, whichever ye feel more comfortable doing. I won’t be long, lass.” He smiled at her, and her heart fluttered. In spite of her resolve to leave his quarters, she remained. She could not help but stare at his huge bed. She couldn’t lie on it. What a completely brazen thing to do. If she had been years younger, it was just the sort of thing she and Donna would have done had they the chance, just for the thrill and the giggle, but now … oh, no, she just couldn’t.
He stuck his head out of the ante-room and said lightly, “Doona ye have yer clothes off yet? If ye are feeling too modest, m’dressing gown is right there on the chair. Just slip it on when ye have yer gown off—or do ye need me to help ye get it off?” he said, once again with a mischievous grin.
“I can manage, thank you, but don’t stick your head out again until I tell you I am done.
”
“Aye, m’lady, as ye wish,” he said softly.
A few moments later, she was in his dressing gown, which hung loosely around her body and to her ankles. She tied the black ribbon tightly around her waist to keep it from slipping off her shoulders, and he said, “Ready?”
“Yes, thank you,” she answered, once again feeling the heat in her cheeks.
“I want to have a look at yer bruises and make certain ye didna break yer ribs,” he told her as he approached.
“Look at my bruises? Well, you can’t … I mean, no, and I am certain nothing is broken. Only bruised. There is no need for concern.” Her voice trailed off as she stared at him. Just what was he asking her to do? She would have to remove the robe if he wanted to look at her bruises, which were considerable and quite vicious in appearance.
“Right then.” He allowed this to drop. “Yer bath is ready, m’lady.”
She arched a look at him because he looked very pleased with himself and managed to murmur, “Thank you.” She stood and waited for him to leave.
He laughed. “I shall leave ye shortly, but I have a notion to wait until I hear ye climb into yer bath safely. I put a chair near it for ye to lean on should ye need a bit of help.”
“You are very kind, but I can manage. You shouldn’t remain here while I am in my bath.”
“And I won’t, but oblige me, woman, and get into the bath while I am here, so I know ye managed the thing without hurting yerself.”
“Oh, very well then,” she said, went into the cozy chamber, and started to close the door.
“Doona lock it, for then I would be forced to break it down, and so I would if I thought ye in trouble. Understood?”
Their eyes met and locked, and she found she couldn’t speak, so she nodded in response.
“Good then,” he said and allowed her to close the door.
He had been right to be concerned. It took her a great deal of effort to lift her leg and get into the oversized tub. She dropped low into the lovely hot water and played with the bubbles a fraction of a moment before she called out, “I am in and safe, thank you.”
“Aye, then, soak for as long as the water remains hot, lass. It will do ye good.”