could sympathize, it set her nerves alight as well. "My intentions were linked with my hopes...which have been...disappointed, as you said. Therefore I'm obliged to consider alternative optio

t a startled gasp. He released her before she could pull away or apologize. "I'm sorry, I

her." She paused and looked down

t me talk to them they will calm down. They are, after all, very young. We

, You are not scre

different though

at her mor

hey di

unger daughters of age, from the largest famil

y one of them is a

he answered anyway. "It would be high

r, as if really looking at her for the first time. She looked down

eyes to his face. "She had better prospects for marriage anyway

My father thinks...thought I would make an excellent merchants wife. I wasn't enthusiasti

quite plea

ken too much of your time. Your water will be ready for the bath by now. Thank yo

ed her eyes. It wasn't as though she'd not seen a naked man, certainly she'd seen many, it was after all customary for the daughters of well off men to tend and bathe his most honored guests. There was nothing new in this for her, but unlike the body of your average 40 some

" He nodded and she fetched the rest pour

nd knelt behind him. She wet the cloth and was about to start when he pulled away

I'm doing, but that would have been rude, and possibly da

ld you d

t sure wh

s do...at home...fo

all

my

l." Was all he said and turned back around, stretching his long arms across the edge of the bath. She proceeded with her work, rubbing his arms

nk y

a tree trunk. Eventually her arms tired and she proceeded to the chest and waist. The front was her little sister's domain. She would chat and flirt and entertain, so

o a man while bathing him, and the way she'd laughed at her shock later that evening when she questioned her. She said it was practice for when she was finally married...she'd

you thinki

I have a tendency to drift. I've never been go

thinking about jus

He pressed after s

sideways look. She blushed and tried to focus on the task at hand. He and the bath were too big, she'd have to climb in to finish...and gods knew what she'd bump into once she

you?" She

ed. "Not

ooth head. This wasn't so bad. H