She watched keenly. Hervey stood a little in advance of the rest of them, peering periodically through his telescope – one day she hoped she too might be able to look through one – just as she imagined he had when the French were in the field, or any number of the savage people he’d fought with, the King’s enemies. (She’d observed the land from the deck of their packet out with a telescope, but it wasn’t the same.) Just behind him, watching as fixedly too – not into the distance but close about – was Serjeant Acton. She knew that as covering man it was not his to observe what was far away, rather what threatened at hand. Then behind him (and just to the front of her and Georgiana) stood Corporal Johnson, observing not quite so intently, but alert enough and his horse as quiet as a mouse; and to the left of him, facing south to their south-east, were Captain Fairbrother and Lieutenant St Alban. Only Major Garratt, standing rifle in hand several lengths of horse to their rear, did she have to turn to see – not that the major noticed, for he looked the most intent of all.

She began to marvel at being here. She, Annie Gildea, who’d been a chambermaid at the Berkeley Arms in Hounslow, sat side-saddle like a lady with these finest of gentlemen (and Serjeant Acton and Corporal Johnson, gentlemen too in their way), and in this distant, strange land. She wondered what purpose the Almighty could have for her, for her fortune in being here was hardly of her own making? She wondered if her own heart would count for anything in His purpose, or whether it would simply be taken up in the great stream of events as everything else? Would she, in truth, ever be more than mere Annie Gildea, late of the Berkeley Arms? Perhaps, like her brother, this place would one day see her passing – suddenly, by some malign hand, the Grim Reaper or one of his many attendants. She shuddered. Perhaps she ought never to have quit the sphere in which she was brought up.

But no (she almost shook her head); she had looks, airs – she knew she had, because some had told her so (Georgiana for one) – and she fancied, though how could she truly know, that although she had no formal learning she had intelligence. These past two years she’d read a great deal, and learned already much useful native language, both Hindoostanee and Tamul. No; she might not be a lady, but she might soon pass for one and then she—

A squeal, a shriek – the horse plunging then bucking, the tiger still fast on its quarters.

Georgiana fell hard, the horse tumbling after her, pinning her leg.

Annie’s reared and threw her.

St Alban leapt to Georgiana’s side.

Hervey levelled his pistol, but—

Crack!

Garratt’s rifle fired first, taking the beast in the shoulder. It fell thrashing with bloodied claws, then grunted and lay still.