Chapter 15

The moment the bedroom door closed behind them Eleanor took several hurried steps forward, then turned to look at Fann. He took the wine and food to the table by the settee and looked over at her. “Aren’t you hungry? You didn’t touch the food in Claire’s solar.”

“My hands smell like the safe room. I dare not eat with them.” Fann smiled and inclined his head towards the wash basin. He’d noticed that she washed more often than most. Personal choice or a habit from the abbey he wasn’t sure yet, but she was talking about her hands smelling, so perhaps her nose was sensitive. After only two days her preference for washing regularly had become so obvious that the maids knew this about her as well and a pitcher of water and a washing bowl were always fresh in the room. He joined her by the bowl. “There was quite a stench in there after a while,” Fann said, dipping his hands in by hers. “This ought to be enough water to clean us up well enough until they bring a full bath. The count ordered o