Auntie Gwyneira

When he arrived, he was greeted in a tight hug by his dear aunt, Gwyneira Harding.

She was a couple of years older than Aurelia. Auntie Gwyneira had no husband; he was long dead, leaving her widowed and wealthy.

Soon enquiring about his travels, both sisters were immersed in their chatter. Gwyneira arrived a few hours ago.

Then they were all seated in the hall. He found the conversations of women tedious at times, and he often wondered if they thought at all or if they simply prattled on all day about shoes, dresses, and other nonsense that he simply couldn't make any sense of.

He did not, however, escape female conversation completely!

Aurelia took him by the arm, escorting him along with her sister, Gwyneira, to the parlor.

There she sat him down, and Jasper immediately felt the gaze of his aunt upon him as his mother poured tea for her. Auntie wasn't exactly the unfriendly sort, but she was tall and serious (even when smiling). She had a pleasant enough face, but she had a bit of an aura about her. She could also be blunt; she was very judgmental and critical.

The house was warmly lit, a beacon in the darkness.

When it was time for dinner, Aurelia and Gwyneira stood up and said, "Well, nephew, how about we take a bath together and get ready for dinner?"

"What!" like a dear caught in headlights, Jasper stared at both of them.

Gwyneira giggled, seeing his nephew's expression.

Then she called for the maid, "Drusilla."

Jasper's auntie then took him by the hand, leading him past Drusilla.

"Drusilla," Auntie said, "see that we're not disturbed."

"Mother, aunt, I can bathe myself." Jasper tried to wiggle out of his aunt's grip, but she held him firmly, dismissing his claims. Gwyneira was almost as tall as him, with a firm physique and strong arms, not that Jasper couldn't get out of them; it was just that he didn't want to be rude.

Aurelia chuckled softly, seeing Jasper blush, which she only saw when he was younger. She used to give him baths, and he always used to protest.

Aurelia went ahead to tell the maids to prepare the bath for them.

While Gwyneira says, "You just stay still; you don't know how much the city has been fouled, and you must have worked pretty hard today, the first day of your job."

The maid woman nodded her head, but she thought he looked fine. His aunt had a rather odd look in her eyes, but the young man was fine. She shrugged shoulders and, putting it out of her head, set about her work, grateful that she wouldn't be picking up any of his bugs 'n messes this morning.

Jasper began to protest that he felt perfectly fine, as mentioned before, but Auntie put a finger to his lips. For an instant, her stern visage returned. It was the briefest flash of correction, but it was sufficient to make him clam up and do as was told. At the top of the stairs, his auntie explained to him patiently, with an arm around his shoulder,

"It's about your health, relaxation, and hygienic prevention. You do know what I speak of, yes?" His answer was cut short as she continued,

"I think with this weather, one cannot be too careful. Wouldn't you agree?"

She stopped at Aurelia's bedroom door and knocked. She listened. Jasper answered her question.

"Of course, Auntie, but why are we not heading down to the loo in the hall? See here, I think I can bathe mysel..." He was again shushed with a finger to his lips, but this time the woman's face was not stern, only smiling. A voice from inside said,

"Do come in."

It was Mother, and her voice came from inside her master bath. Apparently, she was preparing things for him. In a way, she most certainly had.