England, 1492

Jessamy wiped sweat from her forehead while stirring the stew that simmered in a big cauldron. The tavern was almost full already and she knew she wouldn't get much sleep tonight. That wasn't anything new, her uncle couldn't stand laziness. Not from her anyway. Her cousin Thomas, uncle William's only son, got a very different treatment from his father.

Not that Jessamy should complain, her uncle had taken her in after she had lost her mother. Jessamy loved her mother very much and missed her. Uncle William and his wife, aunt Agnes didn't feel the same way, not after her mother had brought such shame to the family by giving birth to a bastard daughter. Jessamy had no idea who her father was, her mother had never told her. She had lived with her uncle's family five years already, ever since she had been 12.

"What do you think you're doing, girl?" Aunt Agnes' voice suddenly snapped. "You expect your uncle serving all the customers by himself?"

"No, I was... The stew..."

"Go! I'll finish the stew."

Jessamy obeyed as quickly as she could, knowing what would happen if she would anger aunt Agnes. Uncle William would punish her for that, as he had many times before. Her back was so ugly that she tried her best to hide it from everyone. She had hoped that the wounds would eventually heal, but instead they had scarred.

"Girl! Where's my ale?!" a loud male voice demanded.

Jessamy hurried to the counter and picked up steins for the loud man and his friends.

"That's better!" the loud man chuckled and slapped her bottom as she placed the stein in front of him.

Jessamy tensed but didn't say a word. She knew better than that. Her uncle wouldn't defend her and he would punish her if she would even try to defend herself. The customers were allowed to grope her if they wanted to, a bastard had no honor. She hated all those filthy hands touching her, but again she knew she should be grateful they weren't allowed to do more than that.

At least her uncle didn't let them violate her. As he had often said to some drunken customers, this wasn't a brothel. She kept running back and forth, serving meals and drinks to the cheerful customers. Her legs and back hurt and she was exhausted, but she had no time to rest. A new customer had just entered the tavern, he was sitting at the corner table. Judging by his clothes, he was a wealthy man.

"Good evening, sir," Jessamy greeted him, trying her best to smile at him. "What can I get you?"

Slowly the man raised his head and looked at her. His eyes were blue, his hair dark, and his skin was very pale. He didn't say a word, he simply stared at her. Jessamy blinked nervously, his gaze was making her uncomfortable.

"Sir?" she murmured.

"What is your name?" he finally asked.

His question confused her, but she tried her best to be polite.

"Jessamy, sir."

"Jessamy," he repeated. "That is an unusual name."

"Yes, sir, I suppose it is. May I bring you something to eat or drink?"

He kept staring at her until he finally nodded.

"You may bring me some wine."

"Yes, sir."

Jessamy hurried to the counter, relieved to get away from the man's gaze. There was something very strange about his eyes.

"Who's that?" Uncle William asked, nodding towards the strange man.

"I don't know, uncle," Jessamy replied. "I have not seen him before."

"Then why is he staring at you?"

"I don't know..."

Uncle William grabbed Jessamy's wrist before she managed to finish her sentence.

"What did you say to him?" he hissed.

"Nothing, I... I just asked what he would like to eat or drink, I swear."

Uncle William glared at her for a moment before letting her go.

"You know what these noble lords want from peasent girls, don't you?" he snorted. "Are you going to give him what he wants, girl?"

A flush was rising in Jessamy's cheeks as she bowed her head.

"No, uncle," she murmured.

"Hmm, good. These lords have plenty of coins though, so let him have a little taste if he wants to. Make sure you're friendly enough without whoring."

"Yes, uncle."

Jessamy forced a smile on her face as she headed to the man's table with a wine goblet.

"Here you are, sir," she said, keeping her tone of voice as light as she could.

"Thank you," the man replied, he was still staring at her.

"Can I get you anything else?"

He shook his head.

"Not right now."

"Alright. Let me know if you want anything."

"I will. Thank you, Jessamy."

She swallowed, trying not to show her nervousness. There was something very strange about this man.