Isonei curled close to Draeseth, feigning sleep, as he carried her wrapped in his cloak into the home of Daga Liadith. As far as Leiran manners were concerned, at this time of night, their host wouldn't be obligated to greet them. The rudeness of their late arrival would be canceled by the rudeness of his postponed welcome. Neither would be mentioned in the morning. Still, with the bruises on her neck, it had been considered wiser to wrap her up and take her in unseen.
They were shown to their cluster of rooms by polite servants, and a separate room was offered for Lady Isonei if she desired it. Had she not been feigning sleep she would have been able to reassure the suddenly stuttering servant she did not require it. Burgath attempted to reassure the youthful-sounding man that Lady Isonei was quite content in Prince Draeseth's chambers. The way he ignored the Prince's assurance and bid them a pleasant rest told her the servant was dubious of that at best.
Safely in their room, Draeseth laid her on the bed and unwrapped her. "Krouth was meant to be here with clothing for you. He suggested it after the state of your dress when you were taken from me. I tried to choose beautiful dresses for you," he knelt, leaning over her on the bed and kissing her gently. "But I wanted to see you in black, all of them have at the least some black embroidery."
"I'm certain they will be lovely, my Draeseth." She wrapped her legs around him pulling him down on top of her, "I still remember you wanting to see me in black silk stockings when you stole my white ones."
"See you in them?" He shifted to push her skirt out of his way, "No, woman, I want to-"
The sound of Krouth clearing his throat loudly startled them both. "I took the liberty of drawing a bath for Lady Isonei and I have fresh clothes for both of you for the morning. As it is late, I would advise you to bathe and sleep your Highness, being late for breakfast with the Daga will not be looked well upon." His almost put upon tones made Draeseth snort as he squeezed her thigh.
"Thank you, Krouth. A bath sounds wonderful." She grinned up at Draeseth's now sour face. "But while his Highness may eventually let me sleep I don't think tonight will be the night."
The growling grunt in his throat as he tried to maintain his sour expression sent her into a giggling fit. His lips were curving despite himself as she pressed playful kisses to his set mouth. "If you wanted to sleep you wouldn't tease me the way you do."
"Your bath is cooling, Lady Isonei."
"Come bathe with me?" She murmured kissing along his jaw. "If you do I promise I won't make you take one in the morning."
Draeseth's quiet throaty laughter as he stood and helped her up made her beam. "I would like to see you make me bathe, woman."
Before she could offer a retort, Krouth hissed something in Torgan, stepping toward her. Draeseth sounded almost defensive as he answered. "It would be thoughtful if you would speak something I can understand until I've learned more Torgan."
"Krouth feels very strongly that I should be more gentle with you. I told him you did not share his concerns."
"That is very true, my flower wine. But your handiwork is a bit troubling to look at and his concern is sweet, whether it's on my behalf or on yours."
"I will take that into consideration, my jewel. But I will not be chided for enjoying you."
"I don't want you to be chided for enjoying me, I enjoy your biting kisses as much as you enjoy giving them to me." She wrapped her arms around him as he smiled and blushed. "I enjoyed everything you did and when I'm no longer so bruised I hope you'll do it again."
"Woman, I may not wait until your bruises fade if you keep reassuring me so warmly."
"Come bathe with me." Isonei kissed his chest and tried to pull him forward.
"The bath is too small for you both, Lady Isonei." Krouth sounded tired and annoyed. "Please, this way."
Letting go of Draeseth with an exaggerated pout, she followed Krouth through the rooms to the bath. A fire was laid, warming the room, and the tub itself was steaming. The Lerian baths with their smaller, shallower metal tubs were still rather pretty. Instead of the sunken pools she was accustomed to in Ara, the tub was raised, almost on a pedestal, and the exterior was covered in painted tiles. But, perhaps, the most important difference to remember when bathing in Leria, was to wash before getting into the water.
Krouth unfastened her gown before stepping out and closing the door and she slipped out of it with an amused smile. Usually, servants would stay to undress the bathers and take away the soiled clothes, bringing fresh as the bath ended. Undressing herself for a bath was most likely something she should get used to if Draeseth wouldn't be bathing with her.
Naked, she laid her clothes carefully on a bench where an attendant should have been waiting. She shook her head with a sigh seeing that the washing seat had not been prepared. The Torgans must have expected to bathe in the tub itself. Arranging the seat and soaps in the proper place, she turned the valve that would send water cascading out of the spout behind her. The warm water felt heavenly pouring over her back and shoulders.
Isonei was almost finished washing as the door opened and Draeseth stepped in looking at the empty tub with a frown. "I thought you would be eager to get into the tub."
"In Leria you wash outside of the tub and then you soak, my flower wine. I thought you knew that and wanted to behave yourself while I got clean."
"What is the point of the tub if you wash outside of it?" He almost sounded sulky, looking at her as if he'd been denied something.
"I'll show you while you wash yourself." She turned the valve letting the warm water rinse the rest of the soap from her skin as he watched.
As she turned it off he began to strip off his clothes with an urgency she was well acquainted with. "Wash me, woman."
"I'm clean and I want to enjoy my bath. You didn't come with me when I asked so you have to bathe yourself now." Rising from the seat and grinning impishly she walked around the tub on the opposite side so he couldn't grab her. "I'll be happy to watch and tell you if you're doing it right, my magnificent beast."