Through The Garden Path

The Cousin

    "Have you absolutely lost your mind?" Clemence screamed while pouring buckets of scalding hot water into the bathtub. "What say of your father if he finds out you were barefoot in your skivvies alone with a man!"

Aurelia grimaced at the thought of her father finding out such heinous things. His eminence, Pope Agedius Joccas Baracate, was a stern man of god. He made Aurelia learn the scriptures in all languages, forced her to attend all of his preachings, and instructed her Governess to teach the girl everything she would need to know about high society. Aurelia was primped and pinned like a show pony from the day she arrived.

"You won't tell him, will you?" Aurelia cried out.

Clemence sighed, she had grown old and mature in her time serving Aurelia. While it was her duty to take care of the girl, she would be lying if she said she did not care for her. "I will not utter a word of this to your father," Clemence said.

"Oh, Clemmy! Thank you so—"

"—But, if I see you sneak out of this house again I will make sure you do not leave your quarters until you are betrothed," Clemence cut her off sternly.

Aurelia pouted as she began to soak herself in the tub. It was boiling hot, just the way she liked it. Clemence stayed in the bathroom with her, standing in the corner of the room folding towels. The young maiden sunk in the water, picturing Raphael's face in her mind.

She felt butterflies as she recalled how gently he kissed her palm. How endearing he was when she droned on about the plants they crossed on their walk. Aurelia drowned herself in the brief memory of him. Of course, she was embarrassed by the entire affair, especially running away from him in such a chaotic fashion. Yet he wanted to see her again. The idea of his affection turned Aurelia's face a shade of pink.

"Clemmy, have you ever been in love?"Aurelia asked her.

Clemence scoffed and crossed the room to Aurelia. "Love means nothing to those who have been scalded by it," Clemence sighed.

"And you have been cast aside by love?" Aurelia gasped.

Clemence sighed and then crouched beside the bathtub. She told Aurelia little of her private life. Clemence found it inappropriate to share such intimate details with a girl half her age. However, Aurelia was becoming a woman, and with no maternal guidance, she figured now would be a good time to share some wisdom.

"When I was a young girl, perhaps the age you were when you came here, I met a boy named Joshua," she began telling Aurelia. "I was smitten. We went everywhere together."

Aurelia smiled, she could picture a young Clemmy wandering around the village where she was from. "Was he dashing?" Aurelia chuckled.

"About as dashing as a young boy could be," Clemence laughed in response. "When I was sixteen I was asked to work for his eminence here. At first, I did not want to go."

Aurelia being so sheltered her whole life had very little idea how tumultuous life was for her maids. Being taken from her peasant village so young she did not remember the strenuous life she had before living in this lavish estate. Aurelia pitied her waiting staff, and showed them a great kindness, but it was hard for her to understand their lives.

"I told Joshua if we married I wouldn't have to leave. He refused, saying it was too soon," Clemence explained, a saddened look in her eyes. "Two months after I came to work for your father he announced his betrothal to another woman."

Aurelia gasped, placing her hand over her mouth. She sat up in the tub, disregarding the fact her bossums were on display. "Clemmy, that's awful!" She cried out.