His hands were in her hair and had unpinned the braid of her chignon. Wild spirals probably bloomed like flower petals raining down on her shoulders. She wanted to stop and pin up her tresses, but this was truly her, and he needed to see it.
Still kissing her, he picked her up in his arms and started toward the bedchamber.
It was time to be his wife wholly. Her hands clawed into his cravat. She wanted to be close to him like they were at night.
But he stopped moving and set her slippers on the ground. “Ester.” His voice was husky. He pulled both her hands to his chest. “Ester,” he said again, panting. “I’ve a surprise for you.” He laced his fingers with hers.
She didn’t want a surprise. She wanted Bex, but how could she say such a thing?
Cheeks on fire, she let him lead her.
When he reached the flat’s door, she panicked. “My hair’s not up. I’m not fit to be in public.”
He kissed her ear. “Listen to me. You’re beautiful, every inch of you, from the soles of your feet to the crown of your head. I ache to behold all of you, but not until everything is perfect.”
“It is now. You stayed.”
“Come with me.” His arm was about her waist, her feet barely touched the ground—partly from the strength of his arms, partly from floating on love. “Bex?”
“Shhh.” He blew the sound over her lips and brought her to a door at the end of the hall.
Jonesy came out even before he knocked. “All clean, Mr. Bex.”
“Good, go get the other bucket, Jonesy.”
As the boy left, her husband opened the door. The white room was small but in the center was a glistening metal tub. A pile of snow white towels sat close by and a fresh bar of lilac soap. The scent of it was sweet. “Bex, you did this—”
Jonesy came back with the bucket sloshing and dumped the hot water into the tub. “Anything else, Mr. Bex, Mrs. Bex?”
“No,” Bex said and pulled a coin from his pocket.
“You’re a good tipper, Mr. Bex.” The lad seemed to skip from the room.
Her husband pushed the door closed and clicked the lock. Before she could thank him, he had her in his arms, kissing her, unbuttoning her buttons, whispering her name against the pulsing vein along her neck.
When her carriage dress hit the ground, she couldn’t breathe. She was alone in a chemise and corset with the man she loved.
His hand wandered the length of her, and she stood up tall. She trusted him. This was the beginning of a communion between them, of how things should be, the mystery of a husband and wife.
Loosening the lacings of her corset, his fingers smoothed her skin. He stood back and gazed at her, but Ester wasn’t afraid anymore, for she was his and he was hers. “You’re beautiful.”
He took a step back and folded his hands behind his back. “I need to remember how hopeful you look.” A loud sigh fled his nostrils. “You’re first in this clean tub, Ester. First. You deserve to always be first. He scooped up her dress. Take a long soaking bath. I know how you love them. Get good and wrinkly and enjoy the water and know how I wish to kiss you everywhere.”
She breathed hard, but he had the fortitude to part from her now, and that built the anticipation of what was to come.
At the door, he turned. “When you are done, knock three times. When you hear the same repeated, know that it’s me, and I’ve come to take you to our wedding bed. Not as friends or roommates, but as man and wife. A man very infatuated with his beautiful wife. Soak a long time and think of me.”
He stepped outside. “Lock the door, Ester, and enjoy.”
Her pulse raced as she turned the lock.
“Take your time. You’re worth the wait.” His steps disappeared, and she stayed by the door a few moments until all was silent in the hall.
Turning to the metal tub, she looked at the hot water condensing moisture on the sides. She moved to it, and her eyes felt moist. Stirring the clean, hot water, she fought the tears wetting her cheeks. Bex did this. He must love her. Lordy, how did I get so lucky, so blessed?
She brushed at her face and inhaled the lilac soap. Bex knew what a hot bath meant to her, what this night would mean to them. Giddy, she took off her chemise and corset and climbed into the warm water.
The bath was hot, permeating her tired muscles. She let the water, the clean water, baptize her arms and legs. The dirt and sweat of their travels melted away in the suds.
