ANNABELLA. A wash in a bucket’s likely better for your soul. Do you know, when I was in France when I was a girl, they didn’t believe we washed in Scotland.

ANNABELLA vanishes behind the bath curtain again. PHEMY labours in again with a young boy, TAM, helping her carry the bucket.

MARGARET. Oh, the Princess Annabella’s already got in.

ANNABELLA (behind the curtain). Well, she can pour it in on top of me, can’t she?

MARGARET. She’s got the boy with her.

ANNABELLA. Which boy?

MARGARET. Wee Tam.

ANNABELLA. I’m sure he’s seen a pair of tits. You’ve seen a pair of tits, haven’t you, Tam?

TAM is too mortified to answer.

Well, if he’s not it’s about time he did. Come on, wee Tam. I’ll no bite you.

MARGARET. Don’t let her tease you, Tam.

ANNABELLA. It’s alright, wee Tam, your next pair will be bonnier than these…

It’s all uphill from here.

TAM and PHEMY have gone into the bath tent.

Open your eyes, Tam! I won’t blind you!

PHEMY. Watch! Watch, you’re pouring it all over the floor!

ANNABELLA. He won’t look at me, Margaret!

MARGARET. Leave the boy alone!

PHEMY. Tam, you’ll never get a decent shag if you’re that feart of a woman’s fanny! Come here.

Splashing and then TAM runs out the tent and straight for the exit. ANNABELLA and PHEMY are laughing. MARGARET is shaking her head.

MARGARET. You’re cruel. Cruel.

PHEMY comes out of the bath tent.

PHEMY (scorn). He spilt half the water on the floor! I’ll get a mop.

She exits.

ANNABELLA sticks her head out of the tent so she can talk to MARGARET.

ANNABELLA. I’m so pale. Too long inside. Am I pale?

MARGARET. You look like a tree.

ANNABELLA (surprised). What?

MARGARET. A bonny tree. A bonny birch tree with silver bark.

ANNABELLA. Well… thank you… I think.

MARGARET. It’s what I see. People should say what their eyes see, it’s important.

I love starting the day like this, with clean water and good conversation. I love it. Do you want flowers in there?

ANNABELLA. Rose petals?

MARGARET is looking.

MARGARET. We’re out, you could have the pine and birch… I love the smell of that on me…

ANNABELLA. On you go.

As long as I smell sweet.

She ducks back in the tent. PHEMY comes back in.

PHEMY. Lord John’s come to see you, Margaret. He won’t wait.

ANNABELLA. Well, he’ll need to.

JOHN enters as she’s speaking.

JOHN. Well, he can’t.

A shocked silence. ANNABELLA speaks from the bath tent.

ANNABELLA. Is he out there? Is he standing out there?

JOHN. Morning, Princess Annabella.

ANNABELLA. Mother of God.

She sticks her head out the tent to look.

MARGARET. Lord John, we’re not receiving visitors.