Lost in the Castle

~6~

Katerina's words made me feel elated and a little less confused about the immensity of my own feelings towards Vlad. I was only feeling for him what he was feeling for me. And now that I was back, I would do anything to help him forget his suffering.

Katerina responded patiently to all the curious questions I could think about at the moment, and I only let her leave my bedside when someone knocked on the door of my chamber. Judging by the changed light in the room, it was early evening already.

A couple of maids brought in my dinner, placing several trays filled with food on the table by the window.

"Do you still want to take a bath, my lady? Katerina asked.

"Of course I do," I said, happy that she remembered.

"Come and eat something while we get your bath ready then. Otherwise, I'll be told off for not having fed you," she said gravely, making me smile.

"Is he back yet?" I asked, getting up and walking over to my dinner table.

She repeated my question to one of the maids who were now wheeling a tall, wooden tub from my dressing room towards the fireplace of my chamber. For some reason, I was relieved not to see the plump, blue-eyed girl among them.

"Not yet, my lady," the girl responded, curtseying, "but his lordship is expected very soon. Lord Radu has just arrived; he is waiting for him, too."

I shuddered at the idea of Radu being present in the castle, but then I remembered that Vlad didn't want me to meet any of the guests. I hoped it applied to his family members as well. Surely his brother would leave soon. I needed to find out more about the reasons for my aversion to Radu, but it could wait, Vlad was the only person I wanted to think about now.

Katerina dismissed the maids. The water in my bath was now ready, warm and steaming, and I couldn't wait to dive in.

Despite my lack of appetite, I ate a bowl of stew quickly, not really tasting it. But if I refused to eat, Katerina wouldn't let me in the bath, I was sure about it.

While I was finishing my dinner, Katerina disappeared in the dressing room, or rather a boudoir as she called it, returning shortly with a clean, white shirt, some linen towels and a big bar of soap.

Following Katerina, I approached the bathtub. It was lined with white sheets, and the water inside smelled heavenly of sage and something else I did not recognise. I shed my clothes as quickly as I could and climbed in, slipping inside the scented water. The tub was surprisingly spacious and cosy, a welcome change after the shower corner back at home. I sat down comfortably, sighing deeply, relaxing in the warm water. The soap slipped among my fingers, and I let it all melt, creating a soft foam all around me.

"Katerina, tell me I can have a bath like this every day, please?" I begged, closing my eyes with pleasure.

"Maybe not quite every day, but often enough. Don't be too demanding, Lady Samara. It doesn't become a..."

"Oh, Katerina, will you treat her nicely, for once!" Vlad's voice interrupted Katerina's complaint.

My eyes shot open with surprise. I didn't hear him coming in at all. He stood not far from the door connecting our chambers, making me wonder how long he had been standing there. I couldn't see him directly, but our eyes met in the mirror hanging on the opposite wall. A captivating smile was playing on his lips, and his eyes were so full of passion that I felt a blush spread over my cheeks. He took a couple of steps towards me but stopped when Katerina started to complain again.

"Will my lord remember his manners, too, and knock on the door before entering Lady Samara's chamber? She will receive you once she is ready. Now let her enjoy her bath."

He shook his head but retreated back towards the door, smiling at me in the mirror, then disappeared without a word.

"Why didn't you let him come in, Katerina?" I asked, still blushing once he was gone.

"My lady, this is not how I brought you up!" she exclaimed, genuinely appalled. "Where is your modesty?"

Now, I was thoroughly puzzled. "Is he not my husband?" She obviously did not understand how I was feeling about him, how much I had missed him.

"Of course he is, but still, you'll see him once you are properly dressed."

Oh, no. I couldn't stand another lecture about being modest, properly dressed, and whatnot, so I decided to disappear under the water competely, not to have to listen to her.

"Lady Samara, you were not supposed to get your hair wet!" Katerina's indignant voice reached me anyway, even though muffled by the still pleasantly warm, scented water.