Free Call Home the Heart by Shannon Farrell

already seen me
    in my underclothes yesterday. I think I can trust you."
     
     
Lochlainn, astonished at her forthrightness, shook his head. "Never
    mind, Muireann, forget I said anything. You're right, of course. I'm
    sorry. But you should go first. Get into that bath now, before it
    gets cold, and I'll go downstairs."
     
     
"Please, Lochlainn, I'm not that modest," she answered with a
    withering look. "There is a screen, you know. If you're still
    sleepy, go lie down on the bed. If not, then here's a copy of
    today's paper. Read me the items while I have a soak, and then it
    will be your turn. Unless of course you don't wish a bath."
     
     
"I'd love one," Lochlainn said enthusiastically, looking forward to
    the prospect of his first full bath in over a week. Muireann had
    been absolutely right about the primitive conditions at Barnakilla.
    In the summer the lake was fine, but in the winter, hot baths were
    an unheard-of luxury for him except when his sister took the trouble
    to set up the tubs for washing day and boiled them a few extra
    cauldrons for a hasty, tepid dip.
     
     
Muireann tugged out the lilac nightdress and matching robe from her
    valise and went behind the screen. Soon Lochlainn could hear her
    happily splashing, and the sounds of her lathering herself all over.
     
     
"Go on, read to me," she encouraged.
     
     
Lochlainn did as he was told.
     
     
She sat back in the tub with a satisfied sigh and soaked, adding a
    bit more hot water from the cans the servants had left, until at
    last she felt cleansed after her terrible journey from Scotland and
    the dreadful ordeal she had endured the day before at the hotel.
     
     
It's like it all happened in
     another lifetime, she reflected in surprise. She decided
    that that was as it should be. It was better for her to pretend her
    past life had never happened if she was to face the hardships of
    Barnakilla.
     
     
She was no fool. Lochlainn had been very sparing with the details
    about circumstances there, but she had got to know him well enough
    over the past three days to sense the fear lurking just below the
    surface.
     
     
She certainly couldn't blame him for being frightened. She had
    learnt for herself about the tragedy caused by a bankrupt estate
    when her Uncle Arthur had made some unwise speculative ventures.
     
     
Her father had bailed out Uncle Arthur, but not without issuing a
    stern lecture about his foolishness, and frequent reminders ever
    since about his own largesse in having helped, for which her father
    felt Arthur should be suitably grateful for the rest of his life.
     
     
Muireann was determined that that would never happen to her. She
    loved her father, but his smugness from his superior position as a
    person who had never know a day's want would be more than she could
    ever bear.
     
     
All the same, Muireann knew she would have to tell the truth to
    someone back home, if only to prevent her family from coming over
    once the news of her widowhood reached them.
     
     
The only effective ally she was convinced could be trusted was her
    brother-in-law, Neil Buchanan. Over the years he had always defended
    Muireann's actions while her mother and sister had denounced them as
    unfeminine.
     
     
Neil had four sisters, all talented, beautiful and well educated. He
    had always been impressed with her head for figures, and had
    carefully explained investments and other financial matters to her.
    He had been pleased at how apt a pupil she had become.
     
     
As their family's lawyer after the early death of his father, Neil
    would be as familiar as anyone with her father's affairs. He would
    be able to tell her whether there might be funds she could get her
    hands on easily without her father discovering that Augustine had
    frittered away her entire marriage portion. And as a landlord
    himself, he might have a few good ideas about the estate.
     
     
Neil was also a fine judge of livestock. He had taught her a great
    deal about that