“I wanted to ask you about last night,” I whispered. “When’ll you be free?”
“Not until midnight.”
I saw Ruthita listening, so I changed the subject. “By the way, we met someone who knew you when you were a girl at Woadley. He wanted to be remembered to you.”
Her handsome face darkened. “A man?” she asked.
“My cousin, Lord Halloway.”
She halted and looked round on me in proud astonishment. “Oh!” she gasped, and renewed her calling.
Ruthita broke in to tell her of my good fortune. She did not pay much attention at first. Then it seemed to dawn on her. “So he’s out of it, and you’ll be master at Woadley Hall?”
“Yes.” I lowered my voice. “And then you must come back to Woadley Ham. You were good to me once, Lilith.”
“I never forget.” There was a look of the old kindness in her eyes as she said it. “When you need me, I shall come.”
The crowd pressed about us, curious to overhear, surprised at seeing gentlefolks so chatty with a gipsy hussy. She signed to us to go. We drew off a few paces, looking on, recalling that night at Epping, when we fled from Dot-and-Carry-One and came to G’liath’s encampment.