“My apologies,” he said, reaching down and pulling her to her feet, studying her curiously. She was a delicate, lovely girl with blue eyes and straight blond hair, but not nearly as beautiful as her eldest sister. “You are Lady Jasmine, are you not?”
She nodded, rubbing her backside. “Aye, my lord.”
He acknowledged her with a slight nod. “Then, if you are not injured, I shall be on my way.”
Jasmine stepped aside and gave him a wide berth, turning to watch him as he marched down the hall. Had she not been so frightened of him, she would have thought him to be a ruggedly handsome devil. He was so tremendously masculine that there was no other way to describe him. But she did not think of men in terms of handsome or desirous; men were terrible, vile creatures and she generally hated the sex. Rubbing her bottom once more, she continued on her way.
Gaston reached out to open his door and was cautious when he saw the door slightly ajar. Inside his room, he could hear banging about and his sword drew forth from its sheath in a clean, swift movement. Carefully, he inched the door open.
He had hardly taken a step into the room when he was suddenly flooded with the scent of lavender. He heard a good deal of splashing now, pouring water, and deduced that no one lay in wait for him. Unmistakably, someone was taking a bath in his room and he had vague suspicions as to who the culprit was. The lavender gave it away.
Remington sat in a huge tub in the center of the chamber, her head wet and her hands vigorously lathering a white cake of soap. The clothes she had been wearing to gather flowers in layin a pile by the hearth, while still other garments were carefully laid out on the bed. He was amazed that it had taken her so little time to prepare a bath and plunge into it; he had seen her not ten minutes before.
He pushed into the room; his eyes riveted to her back the color of fresh cream. Never had he seen such pure, flawless skin and it amused him that Remington had yet to notice him.
“What are you doing in my room?” he asked.
Remington shrieked, immersing herself in the water up to her chin. Her eyes were so huge they threatened to leap from their sockets as she turned to him.
“My lord!” she gasped. “I thought…. I had no idea that…oh!”
A corner of his lips turned up. “You thoughtwhat?”
Her cheeks were a delightful shade of pink; she was deeply mortified. “I was dirty after gathering flowers this morn and…I thought you were too busy in the bailey for some time. I had hoped to take my bath and be gone in plenty of time.”
“Why did not you simply take the tub to your room?” he asked.
“Because it is too heavy for the female servants to carry it, my lord, and the men are too old,” she explained. “We must do all of our bathing in this room.”
“I see,” he said. Much to her horror, he was moving closer. “I could have moved it for you.”
“I did not want to be a bother, my lord,” she said, eyeing him warily. “As I said, I had hoped to be done well before you returned.”
“Yet I have returned and you are not finished,” he said.
Remington was starting to shake; she was not only embarrassed, she was terrified. He had the same look Guy had right before he….
“I am finished now,” she said, her voice rising with fright. “If you will but allow me a moment to dry myself, I shall be gone.”
Her sudden terror caught him by surprise; what had he said? Yet he realized that his mere presence frightened her and, for once, he was sorry. He did not want to frighten this woman, although he knew not why.
“Nay, madam, take your time,” he said, backing away. “I have duties that can use my attention. I am in no hurry.”
But Remington was ignoring his words, hell-bent on leaving the room as hastily as she could. She did not like the look in his eye. She knew what he was thinking and she wanted no part of the horrible, unspeakable deed. Stripping her naked, putting his hands roughly on her, and…
“If you will turn around, please,” she asked, her voice cracking. Much to her shame, she was beginning to cry. She simply wanted to be out of the tub and away from him.
“Truly, Lady Remington, you may finish your bath,” he insisted, his voice growing gentler. “I will antagonize you no further.”
She did not even wait for him to turn around; she shot out of the tub and grabbed the huge piece of drying linen, her sobs evident now and her body shaking. Puzzled and concerned, he watched her jerky movements, wondering what he had done to upset her so. But even as her mental state concerned him, it did nothing to dampen his appreciation of her nude body. From the brief glimpse he had stolen, he could see that she was absolutely perfect.
She was sniffling and coughing as she wrapped the linen about her. Snatching the dress, she wrapped that around her haphazardly as well, trying desperately to cover herself from him. Gaston could see how terribly upset she was and he felt the least bit guilty.
“My lady,” he moved to the door. “Please finish your bath. I shall bother you not and I am sorry to have upset you in the first place.”
“You did not upset me,” she insisted loudly, wiping at her nose. “I am leaving now.”
Holding all of her garments to her recklessly, she started to dash past him, desperate to leave his presence. But he reached out to stop her, his massive hands grasping her upper arms and covering them completely.
