A few moments later, Mathieu appeared, face still ruddy from the fires within. He stripped off his gloves as he came through the door. Though she had requested that he make the lamb, this was the first time he had seen her in this guise, and she quailed at the trial it now faced.

Mathieu searched Jane’s face, as if finding her familiar, but unable to place her. ‘Sir?’

Though she trusted Mathieu, she had no wish to involve him directly in her troubles and so felt the greatest relief that he failed to recognise her.

‘You are off to Brussels tonight on delivery,’ M. La Pierre said.

Jane gave him Mr. Gilman’s direction, written on a card. ‘Into his hands directly, if you please.’

Mathieu touched his forelock in reply and Jane left the shop, tolerably satisfied that the lamb and her message would reach Mr. Gilman without incident. Even if Mathieu were stopped, the letter within was as innocuous as she could make it. It stated her honest plans to leave Binché, and told of a fine herd of Scottish Blackface sheep – the code for Lieutenant Segal – which waited at Gemioncourt. If the letter were removed and opened, Jane had hopes that at least the glass lamb would be delivered and serve as a partial message.

She hoped that it would arrive in time to be of use, but not so early that Mr. Gilman might attempt to stop her.

Jane stopped at the grocers for a luncheon, and purchased a basket in which to pack it. She also bought a bottle of champagne, a length of rope, and a sharp knife. With her purchases, Jane returned to the Chastain estate and locked herself into her bedchamber. She might not be able to work glamour, but there were other illusions which she hoped would serve as well.

In the morning, Jane rose with the sun. Though it took several trips, she carried her basket downstairs, with the results of her evenings’ handicrafts rolled in one of the blankets. The stable master, good man, was waiting for her when she entered the stable, and had the horse already harnessed. Jane thanked him and loaded her provisions into the cart, covering them with a blanket.

She had spied a pasture within an easy walk of one of the back gates to Gemioncourt, its chief feature being that when the sun was directly overhead, there were no shadows along the path between the two.