<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 1.45em;">Ashley  (</span><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 1em;">bedroom 2 with Imogene and the maid) </span><br/><br/>"She's asleep?" Ashley frowned in confusion--half her mind was still on the mysterious water problem.  Ashley noted Imogene's look of dismay and so wanting to comfort her dear friend, she blurted, "Come, these big old house have the oddest acoustics! Emily may have giggled in her sleep and the sound was trapped in a pipe which winds down the outside of her window and a top the roof to our side of the hallway.  When just babes really, My cousin Thomas and I used to spook Great Aunt Minerva by speaking through the water pipe on the roof top tub and having our voices come out in the bath sounding wet and hollow.   Ashley rubbed her bottom at the memory of the thrashing she had received from her Papa the time he had caught them.<br/>Ashley turned Genie to the tub explaining with a frown in her voice, "This was to be your surprise.  A private bath to wash away the troubles garnered on the trip here."  Ashley used her thumb to gently stroke the center of Imogene's forehead--smoothing away the worry line that creased her otherwise perfect skin.<br/>I would gladly have acted as your maid and bathed your troubles away, but something's gone wrong with the water, for it is ice cold and unfit to touch  you.<br/><br/>Ashley wanted to take Imogene in her arms, but could do naught with the maid standing there.<br/><br/>Just as Ashley was about to dismiss the maid, Imogene strode over to the tub and put her hand in.<br/>"See pet, isn't it freez..."<br/>Ashley couldn't believe her eyes at first.  Imogene looked as though she were being pulled into the tub by some force.   Ashley could see Imogene look as though she were being pulled further and further into the frigid water.   Ashley couldn't move.  Then her whole mind and soul screamed, "NO!" As soon as she finished saying the word, she felt that connection again to Imogene.  Only this time it was like a length of twine between them, and it anchored Imogene to her.  Just as suddenly as Imogene was pulled into the water, she came flinging back up.<br/>Breaking free of her immobility, Ashley grabbed a towel and began mopping the water off of the soaked woman.  She grabbed Imogene by the hand and dragged her over by the heat of the fire.<br/>Turning to the maid Ashley ordered, "Bring a carafe of wine and a bracer of brandy.  Also, please see to it that the food is brought immediately.<br/>Grimmacing, Ashley realizes that it will be too late to give that full bath experience to Genie.  She would have to settle on giving Genie a hot towel sauna instead.<br/>Turning back to the maid, "We no longer require the tub.  Please have it removed.  Also, have the boys bring two more buckets of steaming hot water please."  Turning to Imogene, the maid bobbed and left to follow her orders.<br/><br/>Ashley gathered up the towel across the spine of the rocking chair,  and rushed over to be at Imogene's side. Ashley rubbed the chill water from her Genie's bluing skin.  "Here sweet, let me help you.  We must remove your wet clothing"<br/>Ashley tugged at Imogene's cotton blouse with shaking hands.<br/>"I will be your lady's maid."<br/>Ashley tugged at the cotton blouse that was clinging to Imogene's wet skin.  She undid the row of delicate pearl buttons that ran the length of the back of Imogene's shirtwaist.  Ashley delicately pealed the shirt from Imogene and allowed it to fall to the floor.  She needed to touch Imogene so desperately.  Allowing herself to give in to the urge, Ashley reached out with her right hand and with just the fingertips, traced the outline of Imogene's left shoulderblade.<br/>Ashley's voice grew thick and warm and in a slightly shaky voice she whispered, "your skin is so lovely." The alabaster of Genie's shoulder<br/>turned a warm orange in the flickering light of the fire.  Ashley turned  Imogene to face her and looked deep into her eyes.<br/>Imogene was wrong about herself, she mused.  Her(Imogene's) eye's weren't hazel.  They were green--a rich earth green that spoke of living things and renewal.