and stirring it with his hand to mix it. She watched him with curiosity.
“I am going to get soap and towels now. Wait here.”
When he returned, Anna had stood and left the chair to peer into the tub. She dipped her hand into the water and swirled it around, her face in awe. Once more, his heart seemed to tear in two, seeing her marvel at water that wasn’t used as a weapon.
Without being asked, Anna reached for the hem of the sack she wore and yanked it off, tossing it aside and climbing into the tub. He saw the welts on her back and more bruises before she sat and fought the tears that misted his eyes.
“I am going to scrub you, Anna. It will hurt some. Not like at the asylum, but I need to penetrate the dirt ground into your skin. We will bathe you every day until it is gone and then you’ll want to take a bath because it will be a pleasant experience.”
She nodded sagely, taking in his words. Then she held out her hands.
“Do you want the cake of soap and the brush?” Dez handed both to her. “I think that’s an excellent idea for you to take charge of this. When you have finished, I will wash your hair for you.” He paused. “I am going to the lake to retrieve more water and put more on to heat.”
She shrugged and took up the brush and soap. He left her to her ministrations and hauled water back and forth, working up a sweat. He would need a bath himself by the time this was all over. With no valet to give the order to the kitchens to do so and bring water to him, baths were a difficult undertaking. Still, Dez felt he had committed to the right path to help Anna heal.
By the time the water warmed enough to be brought to her, Anna had scrubbed herself thoroughly. Her skin looked rubbed raw in many places but he knew she washed away not only the dirt but the stain of the asylum’s soul upon her. He proceeded to wash her hair, working up a lather and rinsing numerous times to rid her hair of the various items he’d used to kill the lice.
Holding a bath sheet open, he said, “Let’s dry you off. It’s a good thing because the sun is setting.”
She stood, the water sluicing from her thin frame. He refrained from looking at her in a sexual way but as a doctor would, in a professional manner. The realization that he might never kiss Anna again was a strong possibility. Her time in the asylum might have left her so untrusting that she would never wish to give control of her body to another.
Even to the man who had loved her since childhood.
He wrapped her snuggly and then placed a smaller towel around her hair.
“Come inside,” he suggested. “Let’s see what all Coral brought for you to wear.”
Anna sat on the bed as Dez unpacked the valises. He talked about each gown he removed and then thanked Coral silently for also including a few chemises and two night rails.
“Let me help you put this on,” he said, taking one of them and bringing it to her.
Anna let the towel fall from her, once more seeming to be untroubled by him seeing her bare form as she slipped into the night rail. Then he handed her the dressing gown and helped her shrug into it, belting it for her.
“It’s time again to comb your hair.”
She huffed.
“I know. It seems like a lot but I don’t want you to sleep with it tangled else we might never unsnarl it.” He smoothed her hair. “It has been a very long day, Anna, but I promise that you can sleep soon.”
Dez had her return to the other room and sit in a chair so he could stand behind her. With her hair clean now, he could see some of the color though it was still wet. He couldn’t wait to see it in the sunlight tomorrow. Anna’s hair had been one of his favorite things in the world, her strawberry blond locks distinguishing her from anyone else of his acquaintance.
By the time he finished undoing the snarls, she was yawning repeatedly. She tried to stand and seemed too tired to do so. Dez swept her off her feet and carried her into the bedchamber. He placed her on the bed and saw she