Sweeping into the room with a flourish, Maris grinned like a criminal who’d just made a record score. He laughed giddily. “I knew he’d go back for you. I knew it.”

“Do you mind, my lord?” the older woman snapped. “I have duties to attend.”

Maris waved a hand at her. “Relax, Gera. I’m here to help.” He frowned as he saw the bandage on Zarya’s ankle. “What happened?”

“I fell in the kitchen and I’m supposed to…” Her words broke off as the door opened and a servant came in with a cold pack. Without pausing, the servant came straight to Zarya and lifted her foot to the ottoman, then placed the cold pack over her ankle.

“Let me guess,” Maris said with a proud smile. “Keep it iced?”

“Yes.”

Gera excused the other servant before she approached Zarya’s chair. “Then I take it you’re not supposed to be walking on it, either?”

“Not for a week.”

Gera sighed wearily. “How am I supposed to get you into the tub then?”

Maris made a strange noise before he picked Zarya up. “Just show me where you want her.”

Ramrod stiff, Gera sputtered in indignation. “No men are allowed in here, except for the governor. You should know that, Lord Maris.”

He tsked at her. “And Gera, you should know by now that I’m just one of the girls. Darling will understand and I’m sure he’d much rather I carry her than one of the guards. Now where’s that tub?”

Without another word of protest, Gera led them through the doorway next to the bed.

Zarya’s face flamed red as she saw the mirrors that covered every wall. How could anyone bathe in this place? It was horrifying!

The ceiling was painted with people in all kinds of sexual positions, some of which she wasn’t sure would be feasible for anyone with a spine. “Oh my…”

Maris laughed. “Tawdry, isn’t it?”

“Not the word I was thinking, but it’ll do.”

He kissed her on the cheek, then set her on the wide tiled edge of the tub where someone had already drawn a warm, sudsy bath. “Before I scandalize Gera any further, I shall take my leave. But I’ll be back.”

Scowling even more, Gera came forward with the cold pack. “I’m so confused. When the governor told me to make preparations for a mistress, I assumed it would be Lord Maris, or another man. Are you sure it’s you?”

Well that wasn’t something a woman wanted to hear. Especially since Zarya wasn’t exactly sure of her position here or what Darling intended for her. “I… guess.”

“Very well then, we should get started.”

Started with what?

Gera set the cold pack down, then helped Zarya pull her ugly gown off. But the moment Zarya was naked, the older woman hesitated. Her features pinched, she reached down to touch Zarya’s inner thigh where Darling had left visible proof of what they’d done a few minutes ago.

Zarya’s face exploded with heat.