Jessamy’s eyes widened. What was it Matchett had said? That she would not take sauce from Jessamy because she was ‘only the housekeeper’s niece and the cook-housekeeper at that?’

‘Aunt Maggie, why was I ever called Jessamy?’ And as she said it she wondered why she had never thought to ask before. Her aunt changed the heavy suitcase to the other hand and said, ‘It was your mother’s name.’ Jessamy’s heart gave a little jump inside her, and Aunt Maggie went on: ‘When I said I thought it was too fly-away, and wouldn’t Ann or Mary be more sensible, she said that the eldest daughter was always called Jessamy in her family.’

Jessamy

Meaning

Noun

Name

Rhymes