Grumbling, she glanced over her shoulder and looked at him. This time her face flamed red before she quickly looked away. “Unheard of by whom, my lord? Men or women?”
“Both, actually.”
“Well, it’s obvious you have never lived in the country.”
“I have, but this isn’t a farm so I doubt you were out milking the cow.”
“No, this isn’t a farm.”
“So what were you doing?”
She grumbled louder and folded her arms. “It’s none of your business, Tristan. Now just let the matter rest.”
He arched an eyebrow. Although she was awake and had been doingerrands,it was clear she wasn’t a morning person. “If you wish.”
“I do wish.”
“Diana, I need to ask… why didn’t you wake me last night so we could finish our talk?”
Her head spun around so fast when she turned and met his eyes, he thought it would roll off her shoulders. “Actually, we had gone into your room to wake you, but you were having a bad dream. Tabitha gave you a little tea with some sleeping draught in it to help you calm down.”
“Pardon me?” He sat forward in the tub a little more. “You gave me a sleeping draught?”
She turned away from him again. “Only a little. Tabitha says it helps with restlessness.”
“Then I thank you for helping me to sleep better.”
She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “I shall leave now and let you finish your bath in private.”
“Before you go,” he said as she stepped toward the door. “Will you do me a favor?”
She took a quick peek over her shoulder again. Her face still flamed an adorable red.
“What?”
“Wash my back?”
“Augh!” She hissed and stormed out the door.
Laughing, he relaxed back in the tub again. It was rather fun to rile her, and especially see her cheeks bright with embarrassment. Spending the next few days with her would be quite enjoyable. Then again, that meddlesome maid was still here. Too bad he couldn’t figure a way to get her to leave. Being alone with Diana was something he desperately needed.
Chapter Sixteen
“Did you reallysee him naked?” Tabitha asked, her eyes wide with shock.
Diana shook her head as she stood in the kitchen an hour later, helping her maid make breakfast. Heat climbed up Diana’s face and she didn’t dare look at Tabitha. Tristan’s image—all wet and bare—was engraved in her mind and she feared she’d never be able to erase it. Every time she glanced at the tub, embarrassment flowed through her just the same as it had done when she first saw him this morning.
“Tabitha, he was in a hip tub, for Heaven’s sake! I wasn’t even that close to it, and all I saw was his chest and arms—and his bent knees, of course.”
Tabitha laughed. “I cannot believe he thinks he lives here now.”
Sighing heavily, Diana set down her fork and finally met her maid’s stare. “What do you expect him to do? Stay tied up in the chair the whole time? Obviously, he couldn’t even stay in his room last night.”
“If we had it my way, I’d keep him tied up,” Tabitha grumbled.
“Tabitha, really!” Diana shook her head. “So what are we going to do with him? We can’t keep him here forever.”
“As unbelievable as it sounds,” Tabitha continued, leaning her hip against the cutting table, “I don’t think he wants to leave now.”
