"Do you suppose I can share the hot water? Use it after you're done?" he clarified quickly, turning the color of beetroot. "I would very much like another bath if you don't mind."
"Not at all. Any time you want one, just ask Caleb or myself, and we'll get the boiler lit."
"Heaven," he sighed. "We had to share the bath at the hospital. By the time I ever got near it, it was practically freezing. Hot water is a real luxury where I've come from."
She stroked his over-long hair. "I'm sure a lot of the things we take for granted here in this house are real luxuries where you come from," she said quietly.
She traced the length of a lock down over his shoulders, moved beyond words by this remarkable man. "I shall see you in a moment."
"Sarah?"
"Yes, Alexander?"
"Do you suppose you could do two more things for me?"
She poked her head back in the door. "What might they be?"
"Is there a dressing gown of your brother's I can use? And can you give me a tour of the er, room?"
"You mean you need to use the chamber pot?" Sarah asked directly, with a chuckle.
"I'm afraid so."
"It's no matter. You should have just said so. Nothing to be ashamed of. Silly me for not thinking of it sooner. I suppose I just assumed Caleb gave you the tour."
Jenny had left an old dressing gown of Jonathan's on the back of the chair. Sarah fetched it for him and said, "I shall turn my back while you put it on."
"I'm just going to have to take your word for that," he said, grinning a little as he put his feet on the floor and bared himself to the waist.
Sarah was sorely tempted to peek, but she knew if she were in his position, she would hate feeling so vulnerable. Besides, anything less than honest and straightforward dealing was not really fair to him. So turn her back she did, and said, "Ah yes, trust again. I promise to try to be worthy of it. Just tell me when you're finished."
She heard the rustling of the bedclothes behind her. At length he said, "There, done."
"All right, we'll start with the door. Step forward and hold on to me."
She took his hand and led him back to it. She put one hand on the door frame, and he stretched out his left to get a sense of its size.
"The only thing I have to warn you about is since that you're so tall, you might want to considering ducking down a bit under the beam if you're wearing boots. The ceiling is rather low too, but you'll be fine so long as you don't jump up and down."
"I promise not to," he said dryly.
"Now to the left is a dresser, with a mirror on top, and five drawers. In the corner is a rack for boots and shoes. To the left of that, on the adjacent wall, is the bedside table, then we have the bed."
He moved into the room and felt along each piece of furniture carefully, with Sarah guiding his hand as necessary, reveling in the contact with his huge, powerful body.
"Here to the right hand side of the room, we have an upright chair, and wardrobe. On that wall is the first window, and there's a desk and chair under it. In the corner is an armchair. On the far wall is the second window, which is a bay one with a window seat.
"In the final corner of the room is the screen and chamber pot. Next to it is another wardrobe, with both hanging space, and some slots for your shirts, as well as three drawers underneath. You and my brother are pretty nearly the same size, so I shall help you match up a selection of things to wear, until we can get some things made for you, or go to a shop where they have items ready to wear."
"I wouldn't want to put you to any trouble or expense."
"No trouble at all. Jonathan's wardrobe is nothing fancy now that he's a vicar. He does have a lot of new clothes, which he had made or which I made for the wedding, but he's taken most of them with him on his trip. So everything which has been left behind here, he really doesn't care very much about. You're welcome to any of it. As for the money, he's a humble clergyman, but the living is a good one."
She was glad he couldn't see her blushing at her fib. He would probably run a mile if he discovered just how wealthy she really was. Or try to take advantage of her...
But no, she had met her fair share of fortune hunters. He was only embarrassed about his straitened circumstances because he didn't wish to be an imposition.
"You're too kind, Sarah."
"Don't mention it. And now that you've reached that corner, I shall withdraw politely, and go about my morning ablutions. I shall send Caleb up with some hot water and something hot to drink, and see you in about half an hour?"