Page 30 of A Touch of Royalty
But she couldn’t go anywhere in her nightdress and she didn’t want to wake Cas by calling for Shana. But maybe she could bathe at least. She felt a little bit gross and a bath would help with that.
She was due to be seen by her Majesty’s seamstress today too. So it was best that she was clean.
The bathtub was the size of a small pond. Always full, clean and hot thanks to the purifying spells in the walls of the tub. Emryn shed her nightdress and stepped into the water, winding her braid around her head and lowering herself into the heat with a sigh.
It was very nice indeed. The baths at the temple had been small and cramped, always busy and only good for a quick wash. This tub was made for lounging in the heat and letting your muscles relax.
Cas was still asleep, she could do nothing until he woke. So she might as well relax for a while.
She washedwhen her fingers went pruny. Climbing from the tub and wrapping herself in the huge fluffy towel. Once she was dry, she put her nightgown back on. It was the only piece of clothing that she knew she had.
She had other dresses, but Shana kept them elsewhere and she wasn’t certain where.
Emryn left the bathing room to see Cas awake and looking at her from the bed. “Good morning,” she felt herself blush, but went and sat on the side of the bed. “Did you sleep well?”
He smiled at her. “It was very nice, yes.”
“Breakfast?”
“I imagine you must be hungry.” He rose, making Emryn look down and away. He was only in his undergarments. But she was only wearing a nightgown, so maybe that was alright.
He tugged a rope next to the door, smiling at Shana when she bustled in. “Would you please tell the kitchen that we are ready for breakfast?”
“Yes Highness,” Shana curtsied and left again.
He turned back to her, still smiling that soft smile. “I am going to go wash and dress. I’ll be right back. You might ask Shana to help you with your dress, seeing as you are seeing mother’s seamstress today.”
She nodded, watching Cas leave the room and close the door behind him. She had no idea how long it would be until he returned and she needed to be wearing something besides a nightgown when he did.
20
PLAN
She didn’t know. Cas closed the door of Emryn’s room behind him and hurried up the hall to his door, hastily rushing through and closing it behind him. Emryn wasn’t a flirt, wasn’t ready for any sort of physical connection between them.
But her nightgown had been the next thing to transparent in the rising light and the way she’d been turned, he’d seen everything. The tips of her pert little breasts and the shadow of the curls at the juncture of her thighs. The curve of her waist and the swell of her hips.
His wife was a lovely creature indeed, and he knew he’d locked himself into six months of waiting with his proposal. He would not push for her. To push the physical would frighten her beyond anything, and he couldn’t do that.
Last night was more than he’d expected for some time yet. He hadn’t expected her to come to him for affection and help, especially after she’d seen him ushering Ruby out of his rooms. So many women would have actively misunderstood that sight, and he’d thought he would have had to explain it to Emryn.
But she hadn’t even mentioned it. Seeking the comfort of his arms and telling him that she was frightened and felt alone. It was his duty to ensure that she didn’t feel alone in her new world.
He washed and dressed, calming himself down and heading back up the hall to his wife’s rooms where the porters were just finishing setting the table for breakfast.
She’d been dressed. Her gown for today was jade green and simple. Just the thing for sitting with his mother’s seamstress. He crossed the room to her where she was sitting on the edge of the bed and raised her hand to his lips.
“Good morning, Emryn, you look lovely.”
“I feel odd,” she blushed, but smiled up at him. “Robes fit differently, have a different range of motion. I just have to get used to it.”
“The gown is lovely on you.” Cas repeated, trying very hard to banish the curve of her waist from his mind. “Shall we dine?”
They were seated at the table when the door banged open and one of the palace pages dashed into the room. Emryn dropped her fork and shot to her feet.
“What is it?” She demanded in a voice wholly different.
“Lady Avery asks for your presence, Highness.” The page panted. “Her bleeding has returned.”
