Page 56 of A Game of Scandal

“Follow me, then,” Patty said without any further discussion.

She moved briskly towards a narrow staircase and I followed in her wake. I think I would have followed the devil himself if he had offered me a warm bath at that moment.

Patty led me up to a neat bedroom, which, while simply furnished, was as clean and welcoming as the rest of the establishment. It also contained a large copper tub in front of the fireplace. “I’ll ask Ruth to draw a bath for you and hunt out a change of clothes,” she said. “It won’t be what you’re used to, but it’ll have to do.”

“Thank you,” I said, hesitating. “I was forced to leave home without any luggage. I’m afraid I don’t have any money with me, but I assure you that I’ll make certain you’re compensated as soon as possible.”

Patty waved a dismissive hand. “Ash’s money is no good here,” she said. “Any friend of his is a friend of mine. I’ll get something for that cut.” Her brisk, businesslike tone did more to steady me than anything else.

She disappeared again, and I decided I’d better remove my stained dress before sitting on the pristine bed sheets. This also gave me the opportunity to assess the bruising on my body. It was bad, particularly on my right-hand side, but not as terrible as I had feared.

Patty bustled back in, holding a small dish of water and some linen cloths, followed by a girl with a shy smile. She looked a couple of years younger than me; I took her to be a sibling of Sam’s, due to the family resemblance.

“This is my Ruth,” Patty said. “She’s brought you something to wear after your bath.” She eyed the ugly bruises. “You’re going to need one or you’ll not be able to move tomorrow.”

“Yes,” I agreed distantly. “Thank you.”

Instructing me to sit on the bed, Patty perched beside me and set about cleaning the cut on my head with surprisingly gentle hands, while poor Ruth hauled hot water up from the kitchen.

“Oh, I’m used to it, miss,” she said brightly when I mentioned that I only needed enough to clean myself up. “Lots of our guests enjoy a nice bath by the fire, and Ma don’t believe in those gas geysers.”

“Boiling people up in the bath like soup,” Patty muttered.

Ruth looked me over with a practical eye. “And she’s right. You need to soak for a while, or you’ll be awful stiff.”

“I’m grateful,” I said, swallowing against the sudden sting of tears. “To both of you. You’ve been so kind, and I’m a stranger.”

“Anything for Ash’s lady,” Ruth said, unconsciously echoing her mother’s earlier sentiment, before flashing me another smile and leaving the room, the door pulled closed behind her.

I found Patty giving me another long look. “Are you in trouble?” she asked, her tone quiet. “Has a man put his hands on you?”

“I got the injuries in an accident,” I said carefully.

Patty pursed her lips. “Well, if you ever need help, you come here,” she said finally. “We know how to keep people safe.”

She stood and made her way to the door. She drew a jar and some linen from her apron. “Now, you have a good soak, and then use these to cover those bruises.”

With that, she left, and I was alone.

Undressing and climbing into the bath, I gave a hiss of pleasure that edged its way into pain as the hot water touched my skin. After a moment, the overwhelming sensation eased and my limbs relaxed. Here, I felt safe at last. Perhaps it was that feeling of safety that meant I could let the tears finally come. I wrapped my arms around my knees and pulled them to my chest, indulging in a good, soul-clearing bit of weeping. Finally, when I felt stripped clean like the air after a summer storm, I lay back in the water.

I’m not certain how long I lay there, dazed in the soothing steam. Ruth had added some sort of oil to the water with a herbal scent and I found I liked it enormously. Eventually there was a knock at the door.

“Hello?” I called out, my voice surprisingly rough.

“It’s Ash.” His voice came from the other side of the door. “I’m going to order some lunch. I bet you need feeding. Would you like me to ask Patty to send something up to you?” There was something in his voice that made me think either Ruth or Patty had mentioned the bruises.

“No,” I said quickly. “I’ll get out and come down.”

He paused, then said, “If you’re sure.”

“I am.”

It took me the best part of half an hour to remove myself from the bath, and to rub ointment into all the bruises I could reach. The balm that Patty gave me smelled wonderful, of mint and something sweet. Ruth’s dress of plain blue wool was not a bad fit and I bundled my hair up as best I could with the ribbon she had left me. I was touched by the fact she had donated one – a strip of fine blue silk that I knew must be something treasured. I was determined to send her a whole rainbow-coloured drawer full of the things, courtesy of the Aviary, when I got home.

Glimpsing myself in the small mirror over the dresser, I saw huge eyes staring back from a pale face. Only a hint of pinkness gave away that I’d been crying, and I hoped Ash wouldn’t notice. The cut at my temple had been cleaned, but a nasty mottled bruise surrounded it, and I dabbed at it with ointment, then fussed with my hair, pulling it forward to cover the injury as best I could. It would have to do.

When I finally made my way downstairs, it was to find Ash seated in an alcove at a table heaving with food. I caught the relief on his face. I must really have looked dreadful when I first tumbled out of his carriage.