Helen led her to the bottom of the stairs. There was more noise here, the sounds of conversation and steps on the hard floor. She was slightly surprised to see carpets. Everything she knew of Scotland said the Celtic people were less advanced than their English neighbors. She had expected rushes to be covering the floor. The wool carpets were a pleasant discovery. Dry rushes turned musty during the long winter months, collecting mud and dirt as they were walked on. There was no way to clean them until spring when you had them completely hauled away and new ones set down.
Carpets could be taken out into the yard and beaten. At Warwickshire, she'd helped with the task and watched a great cloud of dust rising as a crop was applied. The hall smelled far better, without the stink of months of grime.
"We have a fine bath house. The lord has made sure it's as modern as any in England."
Helen moved past the kitchens, and the maids turned to cast curious looks their way.
"We don't even have to haul the hot water by bucket anymore." Helen preened as she entered the bath house behind the kitchen and pointed eagerly at a wooden trough.
"The lord had that added when he saw one at the house of one of yer English nobles. Ye ring the bell and the cook pours the water and … .there ye are. Almost as modern as the Romans had."
It was such a simple idea but one that would save a lot of sore fingers. Anne touched the wooden spillway, shaking her head at the simplicity of the idea. The trough extended over a large slipper tub. A peek inside showed her that it was clean, not sporting rust. As bath houses went, Sterling was no shame. But something near the bottom of the tub caught her attention. A round piece of expensive cork, pushed into the metal side.
"Is there a hole in the tub?"
Helen reached for an iron ring hanging from another hook. She pulled it several times before turning to answer.
"Yes, ma'am. The lord calls that a stopper. Look at the floor and ye'll see another wooden track constructed to let the water carry itself away when ye're done. That's why the tub is set up on blocks, so that the water can flow."
Anne hurried around and sure enough there was another pair of boards waiting to guide the water toward a missing stone in the floor. She couldn't see where it went from there but the idea was immensely ideal. No hauling of water at all. Simply scrub out the tub and bathing was suddenly a simple matter.
Now that was modern thinking.
Water began splashing into the empty tub.
"There now, let's get yer dress off before Bythe sends the hot water."
Helen was already reaching for the buttons that held her doublet closed down the front of her body. She made quick work of it, moving behind her to gently tug the open garment down her arms. There were rows of pegs set into a long piece of wood that ran the length of the walls. Helen hung the doublet on one as Anne began unlacing her skirts. Her fingers were slow as she tried to think of a reason to avoid getting into the tub and thereby put off the coming inspection.
But she could think of nothing, so her skirts were lifted over her head and hung on another peg.
"'Tis glad I am to see that ye're not padded. The lord didnae care for the court ladies he met. He said you couldnae even tell that they were women for all the steel and padded pieces they strapped to themselves beneath their dresses."
"The queen does love her fashion."
Anne watched Helen take her small hip roll away. It wasn't any larger than her fist and considered modest by most. Worn around the hips, it helped carry the weight of the cartridge pleated skirts. There was the added bonus that it kept your hem away from your feet, making it far simpler to carry a heavy tray because you didn't need a hand to pick up your skirt.
"I heard that the English queen padded her hips a full foot on either side of her body. As if anyone would believe a woman could be so broad."
Helen shook her head on the way to a peg. Anne smiled because it was true that many women wore large hip rolls to give the illusion that they were good child bearers. Prenuptial inspections had become popular in the last decade due to the practice.
"'Tis glad I am to see that ye're not suffering your monthly curse. That would have put the lord in a nasty humor indeed."
Standing in only her stays and chemise, it was easy for Helen to notice the lack of stain on the cream cloth.
"But it would have been his own fault for not giving you any notice of when he was going to be arriving to fetch ye. I imagine that ye are a wee bit tender having to leave your family without time to truly prepare for the separation."
Helen pulled on the lace securing Anne's stays in place. She tugged and loosened each eye until the stiffly boned vest released its hold on Anne's breasts. A little mutter of delight escaped her because she didn't sleep in her corset normally. Freedom from the steel-stiffened garment was very welcome, her breasts rejoicing in it.
Helen tsked. "You need a better tailor. This corset has worn a hole clean through yer lovely chemise and skin. It's too long on the side." She shook her head as she frowned.
"I wasn't thinking when I wore it."
Helen clicked her tongue again. "I'm glad ye left yer maid behind. The girl obviously lacks a good eye for dressing her mistress."
Yet another little error that proved she was not born to noble station. Mary would have blamed her servant for any discomfort caused by an ill-fitting corset. Such attitudes were the reason that the staff banded together. It took everyone to ensure that the nobles weren't unhappy because if they were the staff would suffer for it. Every new piece of clothing that was delivered to Warwickshire was inspected by the housekeeper and measured to check for accuracy before it ever made it into the chamber of the mistress.
"Sit down, so I can get at yer boots."
Anne made use of a stool. Her chemise billowed up as she sat down. A shiver shook her as the cool air rushed over her skin.
"Don't ye worry, ye won't be cold very long. The lord will tend to that."
Her face burned as Helen pulled both boots off. The maid winked as only an experienced woman could, a saucy smile appearing on her lips.
"Well now, no need to be blushing. Ye're a married woman now."
"As everyone keeps telling me." She leaned down to cover the disgruntled expression taking root on her face, reaching for one of the finely knit stockings and gently rolling it down her calf.
"Och now, you couldnae have been so surprised to hear of yer marriage. I wager yer governess has been telling ye to expect such news since ye grew enough to need a pair of stays to hold up those breasts."
Anne crossed her hands over her chest. It was a fact that most women understood that they would marry and that they would not choose their groom. In that respect, she was the spoilt one. Lady Mary's governess had often lectured her on the importance of being poised and ready to hear that her husband had been selected.
Helen propped both her hands on her hips. "Ye're a bit of a shy one." Her eyes studied the way Anne covered her nipples. "If I might be so bold as to instruct ye, that modesty will not please the lord."
He's got a mistress for sure.
Philipa's words rose from her memory. "Does he bring many women to his bed?"
"Och well, there's nothing for ye to worry about. What a man does afore he's wed is only natural. Ye can't be holding that against him."
Helen's tone turned guarded as she averted her eyes. She busied herself with placing the stockings carefully over pegs.
"No, 'tis only a woman who is expected to remain virgin."
Helen's posture stiffened. She turned, aiming a mature look at Anne.
"That's only due to the fact that it's important to be sure that children are born into the family that they were fathered from."
She didn't apologize for speaking so strongly, but Anne didn't want her to.
"You enjoy serving in this house, don't you, Helen?"
It wasn't truly a question. Anne could see the loyalty, even hear it.
"Aye, that's a fact. I suppose I've got a bit of passion in me due to knowing that I serve a good man."
"Your lord is fortunate to have you among his staff."
Helen glowed under the compliment. Clasping her hands together, she rubbed them, her eyes sparkling.
"Well now, listen to me chattering away when ye've got important things to be preparing for. Ye'll be right as spring rain once the formalities are finished. Tomorrow morning ye'll have forgotten all about being timid."
Helen stopped and pulled the ring for water once again. This time steam rose from the water that spilt into the tub. Helen picked up a large wooden paddle and stirred the contents of the tub a few times. She stuck her hand in the water to test it.
"Ye'll have to tell me how ye like your bath. For now, it's warm enough to take the winter chill out of your toes."