Follower

A male sweetheart who follows the object of his affections. A word very common among servants. Mistresses say to female servants, “I allow no followers”—i.e. I do not allow men to come into my house to see you. Also a disciple, a partisan.

“The pretty neat servant-maids had their choice of desirable followers.”—E. C. Gaskell: Cranford, chap. iii. p. 53.