Although Baron had outrightly stated he would not be making any moves during the competition, it did not mean his mistress shared the same restraint.
Celeste had never been a woman to wait patiently.
A dark shawl was pulled low around her face as she slipped into a secret location. It looked like an ordinary inn, but Celeste bypassed the front entrance, veering instead toward the stables at the back.
The scent of hay and animal sweat clung thickly to the air, and the moment she stepped inside, a stable boy glanced up, and his face lit up in recognition.
He did not bow, and moved quickly to her side without question. He led her toward one of the horses tethered near the far wall.
The creature was large and dark-coated, its eyes intelligent. Celeste ran her fingers through its mane, murmuring something affectionate, giving the picture of a woman visiting her favorite animal.
