It was none other than Richard, Sir Richard Townshend, former hunting companion of Prince Jasper, now turned rebel. The man was in his military uniform. He was waiting in the parlour with a bunch of flowers.
Jasper walked in clad in her wet nurse uniform. At first Richard did not recognise who she was.
Patricia must have been speaking to the man, since as soon as she noticed “Jasmine” she said ‘Here she is. Look Lady Jasmine you have a visitor’
Richard jumped when the person he had initially dismissed as servant proved to be his fiancé. ‘Oh sweet Jasmine! I did not recognise you! My apologies. These are for you’ He proffered the flowers to Jasper. ‘I struggle that you wear the gowns of a servant. It should not be’
'But Sir Richard, you know I am indebted to Master Simon and I am contracted to be wet nurse for his son. I merely wear the uniform of my trade, much as you wear yours’ Jasper didn’t know what to do with the bunch of red roses she was now holding. Fortunately, Penelope must have been nearby and collected them from her.
‘I did not imagine you would still wear the garb of a servant now that you are to be ennobled. This is not right'
‘Sir Richard. I am a wet nurse. I breast feed infants. Ladies gowns are impractical for that task’
‘But when we were betrothed you wore a magnificent gown, that displayed your noble essence. Yet you still cared for the infants that day’
‘I had Betsy and Chelsea as my assistants that day. They made sure my gown was not ruined’
‘But don’t you now have a servant? The girl who took your flowers, I pay for her keep – is it not her duty to see that you are dressed appropriately and your gowns are kept clean. Is the girl unsatisfactory? I will see her replaced - The Countess did warn me that she was a Royalist’
‘No I am more than happy with Penelope. She is a fast learner and performs all that I ask of her. I am comfortable in this garb’
‘I know that you are of peasant birth. I myself was the son of a junior officer, raised to the nobility and understand your sentiments. Our new land is unlike the old days, under the tyrant, when status was purely a privilege of birth. Thanks to the benevolent rule of our committee we now live in a time when people of merit can rise in their rank, whilst others can sink’
Jasper did not like Richards preaching. She did not like to hear her father called “The Tyrant”. She exploded: ‘Were you not, as the low born son of a junior army officer, offered privilege and learning by that very tyrant you speak of? Did you not enjoy the finest education and training in the land? You were the trusted friend and closest companion of the Crown Prince! You attended palace ball’s and hunting parties! Yet you ……….’ Jasper stopped. She was giving away her status as a royal. She breathed deeply and got her temper back under control. Richard was her way back to Wind’s Grove, she had to bite her tongue.
‘I see your servant has been in your ear. You must remember she was formerly a noble and one who is bitter of her own fall. I will not have your thoughts poisoned by her. Beckon her now. I will have the truth of this’
It was a small house and Penelope had heard all of the heated exchange. She shuffled back into the room and looked demurely at the floor.
‘You girl! Have you been filling Lady Jasmine’s head with scurrilous gossip?’
‘I am sorry Sir Richard. I but told the Lady only what I thought to be fact. I knew of you only what the older Princess’s told me when I visited the Palace, which my family did each season. You were reputed to be the best horseman and best swordsman in the land and that you had been the crown Prince’s closest companion and shared his tutors’
‘What right did you have to spread this gossip to my future bride?’
‘Lady Jasmine expressed that she knew little of the man she was to marry. I but passed on what I had heard of you. That you were a good man, a brave and able man and that she should have no doubts’
‘Hmm’ Richard paused to think ‘I suppose it is natural for a bride to be curious about her intended. All what you passed to my lady is actually true. I was educated in all manly subjects at the palace by the tutors of the Prince. Very well you may go back to your duties. Only from now on my intended is to be dressed as a lady every day. I will not have her wearing peasant garb’
‘Yes My lord’ Penelope, who was relegated to wearing peasant garb every day, curtsied and left.
Patricia had remained in the room the whole time, thinking to be Jasmine’s chaperone. “Sir Richard, there is a small problem with your request. Jasmine came to our household with only her babe and the clothes she wore. She owns but two gowns appropriate for a Lady and has no money to purchase more’
‘Hmm, very well I will talk to the Countess and see what can be done’ He then turned to Jasper ‘My lady I see we need to become better acquainted with each other. Perhaps I might call on you tomorrow’