'There is a problem Master Simon, the wee lass has red hair. I fear she may cause trouble for us were I to adopt her' Jasper showed Simon the baby's scalp. She did not have a lot of hair but what was there was clearly red. Not the deep red of a member of the Royal family but the strawberry blonde colour of a lesser noble. The same hair colour as the former Lord Lake.
'Hmm. I see. Yes that is a problem. It seems one of those lordlings has had his way with a married woman. The red hair has revealed her infidelity. Her husband would have made her abandon the infant, rather than be marked as a cuckold. I have heard of this happening' Simon actually felt embarrassed to have said this in front of Jasmine. Most likely she was a result of similar circumstance.
Jasper picked up the sentiment and made light of it. 'Perhaps she will grow to become a favoured wet nurse'
'We must take her to the orphanage and report where she was found. There are barren wives who would be glad to raise the child of their own. She might even get lucky and be adopted by a noble family'
So after feeding all three infants. Jasper left Pyotr and Bry once more in the care of Patricia and with Simon as company went to the town orphanage. She told the matron in charge that she had heard the infant crying and followed the sound to the abandoned house where she found the baby. The matron observed that 'The infant is healthy and has all her fingers and toes. It is much easier to find a home for a baby than an older child. She will be fine so long as we can find a nurse to care for her until she can be weaned'
'Does the red hair make her adoption more difficult?'
'On the contrary. It will make her adoption much more likely. Many women think having a red haired child will make them noble'
'I am glad. I hope this child finds a good family' said Jasper. She was having second thought about handing the child in
'But I do have a problem. We have not had a breast feeding babe for some period and I know the last wet nurse we used has left town. I ask only because I have little choice. The babe needs breast milk and I know your goodwife recently gave birth. Could she care for a second child? We would pay generously'
'No that would not be possible. Patricia's milk supply has dried up. But there is a solution. Jasmine here is a mother herself and I have just employed her as a nurse for my son. What say you Jasmine? Could you care for a third child? It would only be temporary'
Jasper did want to feed the child. The former Lord Lake looked so innocent. The poor girl was nothing like the man who only hours earlier had tried to rape her. 'My milk supply is bountiful. I can look after this babe until a more permanent arrangement can be found'
When Jasper returned to the house she carried the red headed infant in her arms. Simon was carrying a sack full of swathes, blankets and diapers, given by the orphanage. There were enough infant clothes for Bry as well. Better yet Jasper would be paid 5 shillings a week to care for the child. This was on top of the 3 shillings plus board that Simon had agreed to pay her. Jasper began to calculate how much money she could save in preparation for her journey east.