Thanks for reading. Updates will be slower now that I'm back to work after Christmas. BBC own them, I'm just playing.
Jenny wasn't entirely sure how a thirteen year old girl was supposed to go about finding a chauffeur, never mind one of a particular set of preferences. She had one idea and decided to talk it over with Madam Vastra.
"I'm tryin' ta figure out how we goes about to find a pouf who's also a chauffeur, and also the type we'd want workin' wi'' us. I can find an invert man, no problem, Jimmy got propositioned near the Molly Houses all the time. So I have a plan but I'll need you for backup."
'Jimmy's' look for this exercise was crafted to look solidly middle class. 'He' needed a guide who would steer him towards the service sector, not toward the oldest profession. Vastra's presence, and Jenny's hand not far from her knives, would keep her safe. 'Jimmy' headed far enough away where he wouldn't be recognized, followed by a veiled figure at a discrete distance. Jenny figured that the best lie was the one closest to the truth. 'He' stood outside near a tavern frequented by so-called poufs. Jenny was watching for a particular sort, one who seemed at ease and familiar with the scene, but not too interested in young boys.
"Scuze me sir, me mah just caught me an' another boy - ya know - together. Me pa gave me a good lash in' an kicked me out for good. I hear this is where lads like me go."
"Let me take you to Patricia, she may know something for you. She works for some toffs with a big staff, always needing pages and such.
'Patricia' was a middle aged man drowning his sorrows inside. Jimmy's guide remarked "Patricia, you're not looking yourself"
"Been let go, I was Lucy- don't want no Pouffs. I worked there for thirty-two years, stable boy then ladies chauffeur. They've always known, think that's why they trusted me with the young women. They never bothered about it until all the stuff in the papers. What am I to do now?" He noticed Jimmy, "Who's the lad?"
"Jimmy sir, uh Miss, I got kicked out too. "
"I'm sorry I can't help yuh"
Lucy had headed off to talk to someone else. Jimmy leaned in "I may be able to help you"
"No matter what they say, not all the men here are lookin' for boys. Ply your trade elsewhere."
"My mistress is lookin' for a chauffeur. Ya see, she wants an "invert". She's inclined to ladies herself, and don't want no regular blokes I guess. Come by Number thirteen Paternoster Row, she'll interview ya fer sure. ".
"Outside this place, I go by Parker. Sometimes I wear ladies clothes".
"Ta tell the whole truth, some days I'm Jimmy the page, but mostly I'm Jenny Flint the maid. And I don't fancy blokes either".
"I need to meet this mistress of yours".
"She's, well, different. You meet her, She'll explain.
At promptly 9:00 the next morning, Jenny answered the door to a clean-shaven Parker, dressed as a chauffeur. "Hello Miss Flint, I'd like to make an appointment with Madam Vastra."
"She's in the parlour and will see you now. "
Jenny escorted Parker to the veiled lady. "Madam, this is Parker, he is interested in the position of Chauffeur. "
"Please take a seat Mr. Parker, Jenny, would you bring us tea?"
As Jenny left Vastra began the interview. "I will ask you a series of questions. Please answer honestly but with only one word. Truth is singular. What was your previous position?"
"Chauffeur"
"For whom?"
"Ladies"
Vastra thought it odd that he answered ladies rather than the family, but perhaps he thought it important. "Which ladies"
"Of the Jefferson family"
"Why at you no longer there?"
"Dresses"
"Whose dresses?"
"Mine" he said defiantly.
"Are you an invert?"
"Yes"
"Can you care for horses?"
"Yes"
"Can you work nights with appropriate time off in the day?"
"Yes"
"What do you think of reptiles?"
"Harmless"
Vastra laughed at that, a genuine heart warming laugh. Parker started, "unless they spook the horses, of course."
Vastra threw back her veil.
"When can you start?"
"Now" - Parker did a double take, and smiled himself. The Veiled Detective was not known for being harmless, though it surprised him that she was a lizard, he was fouth generation in service, and knew enough not to react to the differences of those for whom he worked.
Vastra offered Parker a room upstairs, but he said he preferred to be close to horses. A proper stable with well appointed servant's quarters was refurbished in short order, and Patricia Parker joined the staff at number thirteen Paternoster Row.