‘Say then, Jacques, you have followed him?’ she demanded of the black-garbed footman. Jack Kimble nodded eagerly. ‘Aye, miss, like a shadow. I done just what you asked.’ Melusine was quite aware of the effect she had on the young lad. She was sorry for his liking her too much for his own good, but her need was too desperate to cavil at turning it to useful account. She had need of a devoted cavalier and Jack had proved eminently valuable. ‘That is good,’ she said with satisfaction, ‘for I was compelled on Saturday to abandon the chase.’ Kimble’s eyes widened. ‘Was you following, too, miss?’ ‘Certainly I was following. Only that I was prevented by one of those soldiers that caught me in the big house.’ ‘Militia, miss,’ Kimble corrected her. ‘They weren’t no soldiers.’ ‘They wear a uniform, do they not? They march and fight with swords and shoot with guns, no?’ ‘Well, yes, miss.’ ‘Then they are soldiers.
