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Chapter Thirty
Bertram left her blinking uncomprehendingly at him and went to fill the cauldron with water. He stoked up the fire so that it would heat the water faster, the room warming up considerably. He was grateful for the cool breeze from the sea that made the heat pleasant rather than unbearable.
He divested himself of coat, shoes and stockings, walking around in his bare feet as he waited around for the water to heat, wondering what Letty was up to in the bed chamber. He’d wanted to give her sufficient time to compose herself and get ready for this next part.
He remembered that Victoria had a variety of garments specifically designed. He cut off the thought, not wanting to think of his first wife during his honeymoon with his second.
The water was near to boiling so he poured it out into two pails and carried them to the garderobe which sported an enormous wooden tub. He poured the water into it, sweating slightly with the effort. There was a man on the grounds who usually performed such tasks but Bertram had sent him away, wanting to be alone with his wife.
He whistled as he worked, searching for a towel and soap before stepping out to call to Letty. “Are you ready?”
“For what?” her voice shook the slightest bit. He grinned as he walked to the bedchamber to retrieve her. He stopped in the doorway, admiring her body, clearly visible through her sheer night gown. For a moment he almost discarded the idea of bathing her.
But he rallied, and held out his hand to her. “Do you trust me?” he asked.
“Y-yes.” She whispered.
“Then come with me.”
She took his hand and let him lead her to the garderobe. “Take off your clothes.” He said.
She stared at him with wide eyes before slowly unlacing her gown and shimmying so that it fell at her feet. Bertram took a deep breath, to get himself well in hand.
“Please do step in the water.” He held out a supporting hand so that she could step in the tub without slipping. She sank down in the hot water with a sigh.
“It feels nice,” she murmured.
“Yes. Lean back, and rest. Let me do everything. Close your eyes.” She unhesitatingly obeyed and he took a moment to admire her form. Her hair was still swept up into a knot, leaving her long slim neck naked to his gaze. A pulse beat at her throat, seeming a little faster than normal. Bertram smiled as he traced a finger along the vein.
“Relax. Nothing is going to happen to you. I am just going to give you a nice bath.”
Her eyes fluttered open and she gave him a skeptical look. “Really?”
He laughed out loud. “Really.”
He reached for the washcloth and rubbed it vigorously with soap. “Give me your hand.”
She handed it over and he began by rubbing gently along the knuckles before making sure to clean between the grooves of her fingers thoroughly. He swept the cloth up her arm and around it, ending in her armpit. She flinched away with a giggle.
“I promise I won’t tickle you. Trust me?”
She nodded, eyes still closed as he ran the cloth down her side before cupping her breast. She gasped even as he ran the cloth slowly beneath the swell of her breast, before slowly circling to her nipple.
“Oooh…” she breathed in slowly and then breathed out, hands twitching against the side of the tub, her legs folding and then straightening. “H-how strange that such a p-perfectly innocent action can a-affect all my nerves in such a way. I feel quite…” she squirmed, keening softly, “I cannot explain.”
Bertram smiled. “Let yourself go, let yourself feel.” He leaned close to her ear, and whispered into it. “This is only the beginning.”
She whimpered, fingers clawing on the tub as he moved down, breathing on her skin before his mouth closed on her nipple. Her back arched in surprise and she squealed. Bertram could not help but smile.
* * *
What is he doing to me?
The heat of his mouth on her already overheated breast was doing things to her body she didn’t understand. How could touch on just one small part of her body cause every part of her to run amok like this?
Bertram’s mouth was hot and soft, as he suckled on her nipple and of its own accord her hand reached for the back of his head, pulling him closer as she expelled the breath from her body. Undulating gently in the warm water, she felt as if she was being caressed everywhere by its soft lapping motion. She could well see why Bertram wanted her to have another bath. Everything was sensation, feeling, emotion.
Who could have imagined that something as mundane as a bath could provide such a sensual experience?
