Hannibal smiles at him, and nods quietly. "It would be very relaxing," he says. "Unobserved baths are a thing of impossibility in my confinement as well."

He reaches out to stroke Sinric's shoulder and breasts, then leans in for a soft, brief kiss before getting up and walking over, calm and naked, to a cupboard that turns out to contain a small cooling unit, some bottles of wine, and some glasses in the open shelf above. With a soft cloth, the doctor dusts the glasses, then he opens the bottle with quick, practiced movements, and pours some wine for each of them before bringing it over to the couch.

It's a dry white, but not quite as light and pale as modern taste prefers it; this wine has depth and character.