Raincheck

He was actually in 'mid lurch' in sort of a crouching ducky walk, and the intrusion startled him terribly. It was as if he'd just been caught by the schoolmaster doing an illicit bit of mischief, and he simply panicked. He slipped and fell back onto his bum with a resounding KA-SPLASH! (whacking his noggin against the tub's edge in the process).

As to why he'd panicked, Jasper wasn't exactly sure. Though, despite all the naughtiness that had happened between him and Auntie Gwyneira under his mum's 'supervision'; he was still a gentleman in this house, and as still quite naked!

you don't simply "undo" a decade of uptight boarding school suppression of urges, appetites, and passions in one go (no matter how 'libertine' Mummy and Auntie's practices).

He also wasn't sure just who in the household should know about 'this sort of thing,' for that matter. There was a danger of this getting out.

The result was that he had an instantaneous attack of modesty, tried to get as low as possible in the bath, and had the misfortune of stepping on the bar of soap somewhere in the steamy water.

The wretched little cake shot out from under his foot like a greased ball from a twelve-pound artillery piece. The rest was all 'crash and splash.

Now he lay partially on his side in the churned-up water, one foot up in the air over the rim of the bath, and the other bent around him at a wicked and unnatural angle against the tub wall. His head ached like he was a freshly clubbed fish, and his shoulder was not much better. Even worse, his badly banged bum is now smarted.

Suffice to say, he was a sight and couldn't have been more of a pathetic example.

Gwyneira shrieked with laughter from where she sat at the foot of the bath as she found his slip and tumble "arse over the tea kettle" most hilarious!

His Mum wrinkled her nose in irritation at the interruption. She sat up, craned her head out of the bath, and let loose with a loud,

"YES?"

Drusilla pushed her way through the ornate mahogany door, her slender form hesitant as she entered the steam-filled bathroom. Her violet eyes, a telltale sign of her heritage, remained fixed on the intricate mosaic floor tiles. "Ah, my lady," she began, her voice barely above a whisper, "there's a call for Young Master."

Lady Amelia's brow furrowed, creating delicate creases in her otherwise flawless complexion.

She adjusted her position in the large, claw-footed tub, the enchanted bubbles reforming around her. "Can't it wait? We're in the middle of something here."

Drusilla shook her head, her ears twitching slightly - a nervous habit she'd never quite overcome. "It's... It's from the police, my lady. The constable says that it's urgent."

At the mention of the police, Jasper snapped out of his reverie. He had been lost in thought, "Mum, Auntie," he said, his voice carrying a hint of concern, "I will go and speak to him."

With a grace that belied his young age, Jasper rose from the tub. A fluffy white towel, embroidered with the family crest, flew towards him, responding to an unspoken spell. He caught it deftly and wrapped it around his waist, water droplets still clinging to his lean frame.

Jasper strode out of the bathroom, leaving a trail of wet footprints on the plush carpet.

Gwyneira chuckled, "He seems joyful even though he spent only a day."

"It's Theodore's fault, filling his young mind with all his liberal thoughts."

Gwyneira's expression turned grim as she heard his name. "Well, don't worry, dear sister. You heard him, he loves, I think more than that man."

Aurelia smiled heartily as she leaned on the tub frame.

-

-

Meanwhile, Jasper descended the grand staircase, its bannisters adorned with intricate carvings.

Reaching the hall corridor foyer, he approached the antique telephone set on a small mahogany table. The device hummed softly, a curious blend of Victorian aesthetics and modern magical technology.

He picked up the handle, its cool surface starkly contrasting with the warm, humid air of the bathroom he'd just left. "Hello, Jasper speaking," he said, his tone composed despite the unexpected interruption.

A gruff voice crackled through the diaphragm, tinged with urgency. "It's me, Vernon. We have picked up on the trails of the creatures. I will come to pick you up and tell you the details on the way."

"Okay," Jasper responded, and then the line went dead with a sharp click.

Jasper replaced the handle on the cradle, his mind racing with possibilities. He made his way back upstairs, leaving damp footprints on the steps. Re-entering the bathroom, he found his mother and aunt looking at him expectantly, their bath momentarily forgotten.

"Auntie and Mum," he said, running a hand through his damp hair, "I think I need to step out."

Aurelia frowned, her eyes narrowing with concern. "Why?" she asked, her melodic voice tinged with worry.

Jasper replied, trying to keep his voice steady, "It's the case. They say it's urgent." He left unsaid the myriad of possibilities swirling in his mind.