Chapter 13
Torr bounded into thekitchen. "The horses are well, thank the saints."
Still holding the love potion vial, Cat hid her hand in the folds of her skirts. "Oh, I'm glad. I was especially worried about the wee mare." She turned away and covertly slipped the vial into her waist pouch, hoping he wouldn't notice. "Are you hungry?" She glanced around at him.
"After running all night. Aye." He grinned slightly and sat at the maids' table.
Trying to calm her nerves with a slow, deep breath, she carried the food and drink to the table. Her hands shook slightly as she set down the full ale tankard.
Using small wooden spoons, they dipped each bite of porridge into the bowl of cream before eating it. She had never realized how sensual it could be to share food. Her eyes met his often.
She remembered the honey Maude had mentioned earlier. "Do you want some honey?"
"Nay." He drank a sip from the cup. "Where is your ale?"
She nervously bit her lip, hoping he didn't taste the herbal brew in his beverage. "Oh, I couldn't find another tankard."
"Probably in Finnian's laboratory. He tends to collect them. I'll share." Torr slid the cup toward her.
Goodness. Should she partake of the love potion? She already loved him and didn't need any help.
But if she refused his ale, he might be suspicious. "I thank you." She sipped from his cup briefly, glad the ale tasted the same as always. She smiled to cover her nervousness and went back to eating.
Torr had not drunk much of the ale. Was he not thirsty? Likely, he would need to ingest far more of the enchanted liquid before it would have an effect.
Finished with her meal, she focused on what she should do next to get the seduction underway. She was splattered in mud from the trail and needed a bath.
"Want more ale?" He offered the tankard to her.
Hesitantly, she took it. Mayhap if she appeared to be drinking a lot of it, he would also.
"Many thanks." After handing the ale back, she moved toward the enormous iron pot of hot water over the low-burning kitchen fire.
After finding a wooden bucket on the floor, she dipped it in.
"Are you going to bathe?" Torr drank from the tankard again.
"Aye, a sponge bath. I'm covered in mud." She showed him her dirty sleeve. The mud had probably also splattered onto her face.
"You could use my bathtub," he suggested.
Shocked, she gaped at him, scarcely able to believe he'd made such an offer. Was the potion skewing her thinking? Or his?
"Finnian created a contraption to pump the hot water from this large pot to the tub in my chamber." Torr pointed to a vertical copper pipe that extended through the ceiling.
"Oh. I've never heard of such a thing." Was he jesting? He didn't have to tell such stories to lure her to his chamber. She would gladly go if only he'd ask.
Torr nodded. "Finnian is an inventor, among other things."
"'Tis impressive." Was there anything the old man couldn't do?
"Come. I'll show you how it works." Carrying the ale with him, Torr proceeded up the stairs and into his bedchamber. She gladly followed.
He drew her attention to the water pump perched over the end of his large wooden tub in the corner. He lifted the handle and pressed it down repeatedly. After a few moments, steaming water flowed out of the spigot and into the tub.
Cat's mouth dropped open. "Amazing!"
"Indeed. And 'tis so easy to pump that even a wee maid without much strength can accomplish it. There's another one in the kitchen where Maude can pump cold water from the well."
