Within moments of settling in, the warm hospitality of the household was made abundantly clear. The woman, whose name Lucas soon learned was Lady Cecilia , moved with the grace and confidence. She had already instructed her servants before their arrival, and by the time Lucas had set down his bag and exchanged a few polite words, a hot bath had been prepared for him in one of the guest chambers upstairs.
The room was pleasantly scented with steam and pleasant oils. Lavender, mint, and a faint trace of lotus filled the air, soothing his nerves the moment he stepped inside. The bath itself was large, crafted from fine marble and filled nearly to the brim with warm, crystalline water. Lady Cecilia personally directed the maidservants to ensure everything was perfect, from the neatly folded silken robes left by the bench to the rare blend of oils that had been poured into the bath to help him relax and recover.
