I spent the morning downstairs busy with chores and in the afternoon, as it was washing day tomorrow, I had to go upstairs to strip and remake the beds with fresh linen.  I was hesitant to venture anywhere near Jasper’s room after last night’s performance but I had no choice.

After I had completed my room and Sebastian’s, I took a deep breath and pushed open Jasper’s door.  The room was in an even worse state of disarray than it was the previous time.  The bedclothes were mangled as if a wrestling match had taken place. 

I sighed and started to strip the bed.  Much to my dismay in the midst of the bedclothes I found a hair clip, a lace ribbon and some silky undergarment.  Shuddering I threw them on the floor, Jasper could return them to their rightful owner himself.

I was just tucking in the top coverlet when footsteps came up the stairs and Jasper appeared in the doorway dressed in a black riding habit and carrying a whip.  He looked particularly handsome this morning and my heart skipped a beat.

When he saw me making the bed a slow smirk spread over his handsome face.  “Good Mercy, you’ve righted the wrongs of my bedroom.  Of course you can’t erase the memory of them but time heals all wounds”.

“Does it sir?”  I said not looking up from plumping the pillows, “I would’ve thought some wounds can never be healed.”  Silence.  What was wrong with me?  Why could I not hold my tongue lately?

But Jasper didn’t scold me.  He shut the door and sat down in the easy chair and flicked his whip idly. “Indeed Mercy indeed”. 

Part of me could hardly believe we were actually in the same room together and having a conversation.   I’m afraid to say his acquiescence made me bold and the knowledge that I had about his past grew thick in my head.  I wanted to somehow let him know that I knew, that I understood his pain, that he and I had both been scarred by the pox.

I ventured over to the items I had thrown on the floor.  “Sir, I wasn’t sure what to do with these, I…I’m guessing they are Miss Arabella’s?”  Jasper yawned showing a set of snowy white teeth “Yes, they are, how very observant of you”.   I stepped closer to him, “Sir, if I may say so Miss is very beautiful, you…you make a fine couple”. 

Jasper stared at me, then, as if this struck him as funny, barked with laughter.  “I would say that means a lot to me Mercy but it doesn’t.  Arabella only wants one thing, well two things if you count money in the equation”. 

I stepped even closer.  “Sir, then perhaps you should find someone who wants you for who you are?”  Jasper closed his eyes and looked bitter.  “And what would that be?” 

By this time I was standing so close to him that I could smell his aftershave, and sweat from his recent ride.  I felt the urge to touch him engulf me, and my feeling of love for him rose so quickly and strongly I was powerless to quell it. 

As if he sensed what I was about to do Jasper looked up and our eyes locked.  I read fear in their depths as he saw at close range my pock-marked face and all that meant to him.  When I realised he was made powerless by the pox I reached out and touched his left hand lightly.  His skin was soft and smooth.  He had quivered but didn’t pull away.

“Someone who knows you Sir,” I whispered “Someone who…..knows”.

I saw him stiffen.  “Knows what?” he breathed.  “What do they know?”  He grasped the whip more tightly in his other hand.  “Knows what Mercy, what do they know?”

I backed away, “I…forgive me sir, I spoke out of turn.  I’ll go now”.

But before I could leave Jasper was out of the chair and rifling through the clothes in the wardrobe.   There was silence and then he slammed the door.  I almost jumped out of my skin.  Fury had replaced fear in his eyes and his lip curled in a snarl, “Where is it?  I know you have it pox-witch I’ve seen you loitering around in here before remember?”

I tried to tell myself his fear was the catalyst to this outburst but my heart stung.   I backed away slowly and he came towards me with his whip in his hand.  “Sir, I don’t know what you mean”.

“Sir, sir, sir”, he mimicked cruelly in a child’s voice, “Always playing the innocent aren’t you?  Well perhaps it’s time I beat that out of you.  Teach you a lesson not to take things that aren’t yours”.  I gulped.  He sounded serious.

Without waiting to hear another word I wheeled about, wrenched open the door and fled the room.    The last thing I heard as I headed for the stairs was Jasper screaming obscenities and the crack of his whip mercilessly pounding the wall.

RATE THIS CHAPTER!

Author guidance for This story

1766 Chelmsford, England. Thirteen year old Mercy Graham is infected by smallpox when it rages through her village. Although she survives, her appearance is drastically altered and she fears no one will ever love her for who she is. Desperate for money, her mother sends her to the next village to be a housekeeper for the local pastor. Mercy forms a close bond with Father Sebastian and he takes it upon himself to educate her. However it soon becomes apparent that Father Sebastian isn't as saintly as he makes out. When his friend Jasper arrives, Mercy finds herself unprepared for what ensues and she must fight to assert her right to love and life.

updated Aug 21 '11 by kiwigirl