"Slowly Ivy undressed, very much peeling the wet things from her. In the mirror she could see the raised goose pimples on her skin. She smiled at her reflection as she tested the water with a naked foot. So good to settle her bottom down into the water, so good to turn off the taps and lie back closing her eyes.
Outside the bathroom she heard the old gentleman say, "I'll put a towel and a dressing gown for you just outside the door. Ivy had not closed the bathroom door. It was still open a few inches. He could have just walked in, could have just come in and put the towel down - it would have been a reasonable pretext and given him the opportunity to ogle. Ivy would not have cared; she was much more interested in getting into the bath than worrying about a door a little ajar. Her eyes were closed, and she was luxuriating in the warmth of the water, relaxing after the awfulness of the journey and arrival, feeling just how lucky she had been that the old gentleman had bothered to speak to her and invited her in. What would have happened, where would she have been now had he not spoken and replied?"
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