[Jill can feel Gnistre purring. Can hear it above the sounds of the carriage. She can hear Clive speaking to her, too, but it takes her a moment longer to find the words to respond. In the silence, she draws the kitten into a one-armed cuddle until she starts to squirm; then, she'll slip her fingers through her collar, holding her in place else she decide to leap out of the carriage or find some other form of mischief to get into.

When Jill does speak, her voice is quiet, her tone still disbelieving.]

My father meant for her to be one of his war beasts, but he saw what you see: she's too feisty for that. He and my mother gave her to me so that we might temper each other. I... didn't quite succeed, but I didn't want to, either.

[Here, she finally looks back towards Clive, and she casts him a smile so fond it almost veers towards being shy.]

Thank you, truly. I don't know how you keep finding second chances to give me, but you always do, don't you?