by Lady Carlton née Katie O’Roarke, heroine of “The Blonde Samurai” In my previous posting, we discussed my romantic interlude nude under a waterfall with my samurai, Shintaro. In today’s posting, I shall enliven to engage in a similar pleasure with your husband or lover (or both at the same time if your tub is big enough) on the aspects of taking a naughty bath. If you were living in Japan, dear lady reader, you would already be in the tub with his lordship since it is the custom for men and women to bathe together. Nude. Shocking, isn’t it? And quite delightful. Community bathhouses have existed in Japan since ancient times, though recently some bathhouses have since installed a railing between the men and woman, shielding the other sex from view. Bathing together in the privacy of one’s own home, however, has not changed. It is my intent to enlighten you about a spiritual and physical coupling that can enrich your marriage (or your latest affair). All you need is a large tub and hot water and a discreet maid to fill the tub. Where do I begin? Bathroom topics rarely if ever make the heart beat faster. Rather, it is your nose that suffers. When speaking of bathroom etiquette, I am reminded of the vast difference between the Oriental approach to ablutions and that of the West every time I catch a whiff of cinnamon and orange when I approach the boudoir in a London town house. Such scents are often used to offset the unpleasantness of– The chamber pot. Oh, what a ghastly smell…and one you would never find in an Oriental sleeping or bath area since other accommodations are used for one’s necessary place. A separate washing area is also provided with small stools, pans, dippers and cloths. And soap. You wash then rinse off the grime before entering the tub. Not a cumbersome clawfoot with a crack or two defacing the rim, but a square wooden tub redolent with the smell of cypress, filled to the rim with hot water and thin slices of lemony yellow citrus floating on top. Rose petals or ginger root. Or sake. The Oriental rice wine bath goes back three thousand years and not only eases sore muscles but stimulates circulation to the skin (wouldn’t it be wonderful to abandon your nightly ritual of applying raw veal to your face to improve the texture of your skin?). Simply add two quarts of rice wine to the hot water and enjoy its restorative powers by soaking in the tub for thirty minutes. I must add that it is advisable to drink a cup of tea or a glass of water or fresh juice before entering the tub to protect against dehydration and dizziness (you won’t be able to blame a bout of dizziness in the tub on tight lacing, so drink your liquids ahead of time). Ease your way slowly into the steaming tub and begin what I can only describe as pure enchantment. Besides relaxing and finding a sense of well being and balance while soaking in the hot water, the bath is a time you can spend in playful conversation with his lordship (this would be the right moment to broach the subject of your unpaid dressmaker’s bills). And scrub each other’s backs. This is a charming occasion for simply being together without the interruptions of servants and nosy social callers. Physical contact with each other is encouraged and you never know where it will lead. Have I yet convinced you to entreat his lordship to join you in the bath? I pray I have, for you never know what enticing underwater game he may decide to play with you… The Blonde Samurai: “She embraced the way of the warrior. Two swords. Two loves.”