The Fire's Center by Shannon Farrell Page A

room will you have it in, sir?" the manager asked.
     
    "The lady’s room please," Lucien stated, and followed the porters who climbed upstairs with their bags.
     
    A bevy of servants began to fill the tub almost immediately, and Lucien disappeared into his own room, where he began to unpack some clean articles and his shaving kit.
     
    At length he wondered why no one was bringing any hot water to him, until he realised the query had not been simply about the food, but also the hot water.
     
    Oh damn, he thought, assuming he would have to do without until the servants were finished drawing Riona’s bath.
     
    But just then a tap came at the door, and Riona poked her head in. "I’m sorry to disturb you, Dr. Woulfe, but they’ve laid out all sorts of barbering items in my room, and the manservant is waiting to give you a shave. Won’t you come in?"
     
    "Er, don’t you mind?"
     
    "Not at all," Riona replied as she looked around his room to compare it with her own. "My fire is drawing very well compared to that tiny flame you have in your hearth. In any case, there's a screen, so it’s perfectly decent. I don’t mind sharing at all. It will save the servants some work."
     
    "I’ll be there in a moment, then."
     
    Lucien gathered up his dressing gown and crossed the landing, tapping on Riona’s door and entering just as she was taking off her cloak.
     
    "Here, let me," he offered, and hung it up on the peg, before helping her undo the knotted shawl, and removing it as well.
     
    "Thank you so much. My fingers were frozen."
     
    The manservant then sat Lucien down by the window where he had laid out all of his razors and scissors. Soon Lucien was closely shaven, and sleek-headed with pomander.
     
    The young man was pleased at his handiwork, and asked Riona, "There now, don’t you think your husband looks a picture?"
     
    "A picture indeed." She grinned at Lucien, and handed the young man a coin from Lucien’s jacket pocket as he had indicated.
     
    The valet thanked her heartily and left the room. Only then did she begin to laugh.
     
    Lucien scowled, inexplicably piqued that she might have found the idea of them being a couple amusing. "What on earth is so funny?"
     
    But she merely said, "I hate to admit it, but that pomander is awful. I think I prefer your lice lotion."
     
    Lucien began to laugh himself then, and a quick glance in the pier glass confirmed her opinion. "You know something my dear, I think I agree with you. I’ll get in the tub now, if I may, and wash it off."
     
    "That’s fine. You go first. It’s steaming, and in any case, they’ve left plenty of cans of hot water."
     
    Lucien went behind the screen and stripped off his clothes, and once he was in the tub safely, Riona ventured over to pick them up and fold them, and then began to read the papers loud while he soaked in the tub.
     
    "Unless of course you’d like to give me another bone test," she quipped.
     
    "No you’ve passed the first part with flying colours. I still have yet to determine your reward," Lucien said with a sigh as he leaned back in the tub.
     
    He enjoyed the sound of her musical voice as she read him each of the articles in turn, and the sudden thought came to him, I’m happy. He was startled, but began to analyse the feeling further.
     
    For the first time in my life, I feel like I haven’t got a care or worry in the world. How very odd. Is it the girl’s fault, or is it just a coincidence? Perhaps it's just because it’s the first time in years that I’ve been away from Dublin and my medical duties?
     
    Lucien pondered this thought as he finished lathering and rinsing his hair. He was just about to get out of the tub when he noticed there were no towels on his side of the screen.
     
    "Um, Riona, if I might trouble you, are there any towels in the room?"
     
    "Oh, sorry, yes, they’re here on the bed," Riona replied.
     
    She moved over to the screen, and got a wonderful view of his bare torso and