“No, my lord!”
No, no! She would need to make friends with the servants. She could already see the girl’s face had gone white with fear.
“I am well,” she repeated, and this time she didn’t lie. Her foot had stopped the worst of its throbbing. “I was trying to wash my hair and…” She didn’t have the words to explain. She smiled at the servant. “Is that pitcher used to pour water over me?”
“Y-yes, miss.”
“I will ask for it soon.”
“Yes, miss.”
She lathered up the soap and applied it to her hair. Normally, she would be busy thinking so many things while she did this. Today, she only thought of him on the other side of the screen. Of why he would linger to speak with her. Did he not haveother tasks? The piles of books would suggest he had studies to complete, but perhaps he was tired of them.
“What are the books you read?” she asked.
“This and that,” he answered. “Whatever strikes my fancy. A great many historical accounts. Prinny loves it when I compare something he does to some figure from the past. A great emperor or explorer or scientist. I am constantly looking for little bits of their lives to use to flatter him.”
“You do not sound happy with the task.” She was fishing for information. The more she understood who he was, the better she could fit herself to his needs. Long enough for her feet to heal. Now that the fever was gone, she would need to bind her feet so that the bones set correctly. Not in the way of a Chinese princess, but in the way of Emmaline, who was allowed to dance and run.
“I like the subject matter well enough. It’s the constant flattery that wears on me. Prinny has great vision, but I fear his vanity needs too much attention.” She heard the rustle of cloth as he moved on the bed. “I am speaking out of turn. I have utmost faith in the prince.”
She didn’t understand his last words, but she could tell from his tone that he was not speaking his true thoughts.
Meanwhile, her eyes were beginning to sting from the soap, so she gestured to the maid. “Millie? Will you pour?”
“Yes, miss.”
The stream of water was pure delight. She fanned out her hair to let the water run through. She must have made a sound. A murmur, perhaps, of appreciation because Max spoke a moment later.
“You sound better.”
“Millie is helping me.”
“Good, good.”
There was a moment of silence, then a creak of bedding, perhaps, or clothing. He was restless, moving about his side of the room.
“I know so little about life in your country,” he said. “Do you bathe like this?”
What a question to ask. Did the Chinese bathe? But then, she had not expected such luxury here in the land of the white ape, for that is what the English were called by those who did not like them.
“A bath is required of all citizens every five days. Many go more often.”
“Required?” There was shock in his voice. “By the government?”
“Yes. Every fifth day government workers are excused. It is their bathing day.”
“That’s extraordinary. And do you use big tubs like mine?”
“There are bath houses with great pools in Canton. In every city.”
“Roman baths, then. Extraordinary.”
“Is there nothing like that here?”
“Of course, there are a few, and the city of Bath is famous for it.”
She looked at the large tub and again recognized the wealth that supported him. “Then I am grateful for the water.”
