The three would be bridesmaids followed the Countess through a locked door into into a smaller room where they found Jaspar’s cousin Lady Marie sitting on a lounge. Marie physically could not have been more different to her twin. Where Penelope was coarse of feature and badly marked by the pox, Marie was delicate with a flawless complexion.
Jaspar recognised her immediately, but Marie did not recognise Jaspar. When last they met Jaspar had been the handsome, 6ft tall Crown Prince. Now Jaspar was a short well endowed, woman. Marie gave Jaspar and her companions a brief glance then addressed the Countess.
‘What do you want now hag?’ Marie gave a sneer.
The Countess blanched, but managed to control her temper. ‘I would like to introduce you to your bridesmaids, Lady Joanna of St Croux, Lady Felicity of Highfields and Lady Jasmine of Featherstone’
‘Why would I need bridesmaids? I have no intention of being wed’
‘We have been over this. You will be wed this afternoon. It will be much easier if you co-operate’
‘Why should I co-operate with you? I have been held prisoner for months in a ghastly house with no contact with any but a housekeeper and a maid. Now I am told I am to marry a usurper so you can steal my title. And you expect me to co-operate?’
‘Life will be much better for you if you co-operate. Once you marry you will regain your title and status in the community. You will no longer be kept prisoner. If not, you will share the fate of your sister or worse’
‘My dear sister. You tell me she has been stripped of her nobility and now works as a common maid. That now seems not so bad a fate. Better than forced to marry a man whose cause you detest, purely for political reasons?’
‘Such has always been the fate of highborn girl children. At least your husband is young and virile. I married at 19 to a man older than my grandfather’
Marie clearly didn’t have an answer to that. She stayed silent but continued to glare at the Countess.
‘These ladies are to help you prepare for your marriage. I will return shortly with your gown’
Once the Countess departed Lady Marie examined her new companions. Indeed they were the first people under the age of 30 she had seen in months. ‘And who would you be? I recognise the name of St Croux. They are vassals of my father.
Lady Joanna replied ‘My father Is Lord St Croux he has lands along the Greatness river’
‘Your father refused to send levees when my father called for them. He is a rebel’
‘My father is loyal to the committee’
‘And where do you stand? Are you loyal to this committee as well?’
‘My betrothed is a Captain of the United guard’ My loyalties lie with him’
‘You have a love match? Lucky you’
‘I am blessed my Lady’
‘And what about you two brown-heads? Highfields and Featherstone? Are they not estates of my father’s?’
Felicity responded ‘Highfields has been awarded to my bethrothed, Sir Garfield Wrexnor’
‘Never heard of him! Another rebel no doubt!’
‘Garfield is also a Captain in the United Guard, he is your future husband's aide-de-camp’
‘One of those pompous prats fawning at Lord Beckhom!’ Lady Marie did not look so pretty when she sneered.
‘And what about you, Lady Jasmine of Featherstone?’ She addressed Jaspar. ‘Are you hiding a cat in your bodice? Those breasts cannot be real!’
That made Jaspar defensive ‘I am breast feeding my Lady. My breasts are consequently larger than most’
‘And are you a rebel as well? Am I surrounded by rebels?’
Jaspar didn’t know what to say. She could not tell Marie who she really was. She also could not admit to being a royalist in front of the Joanna and Felicity.
‘I am sympathetic to the situation you find yourself in Lady Marie. It is not good that our society forces women to marry against their will’
‘Do you share my fate? Were you forced to marry the father of your child?’
‘I am not wed, my Lady’
‘But you just told me you are breastfeeding? Are you a concubine? I have met concubines. My cousin had a stable of them’
‘I am a widow my Lady’ Jaspar went with the cover story she had been using these last 6 months.
‘In that case I am sorry for you’
‘If it comforts you I have spoken recently to Lady Penelope’
‘Mine sister? I have not heard from her all these months. Is she well?’ Lady Marie’s attitude lightened.
‘Yes she is well and happy. She lives in a good household. She has eyes for a young man’
‘Penelope? A young man? Tell me more’
‘His name is Damon. He is an apprentice wine merchant’
‘A commoner?’
‘But of noble spirit. I will say that one of the reforms of the committee that I agree with is that nobility is not a given just because you possess red hair’
‘So I gather you are a rebel as well? Are you also betrothed to a Captain in the rebel army?’
‘I am’
‘She is betrothed to Sir Richard Townshend’ added Lady Felicity
‘Sir Richard? I know him. He is a rare thing. A rebel with a noble heart. He is betrothed?’ Was there a hint of disappointment in the Marie’s words?
Jaspar stayed silent. Joanne spoke for her. ‘It seems Lady Jasmine has captured his heart’
Just then the door opened and the Countess returned with several servants carrying boxes.
The Countess spoke to Jaspar ‘Lady Jasmine, Lady Brook requires your attention’ That was something Jaspar was looking forward too. Her breasts were by now very sore. She was desperate to be milked.