Celia walked the last stretch back to her apartments alone, moving quickly along the quiet corridor and sticking to the shadows at its edges.
When she slipped into her bedchamber, she could immediately sense the apartments were empty. They usually were at that time of the day.
Her maids had noticed she'd gotten into the habit of leaving her quarters a little before noon and returning a couple of hours later. None of them seemed willing to say anything to her, though.
The previous week, Celia had asked Rae about it. Surely the servants were curious about where she went and what she did. Didn't they love to gossip above all?
But the maid's reply had been unexpected.
"My lady, I've been serving at this court for well over half my life. I haven't survived for this long with my skull still on my neck, by asking questions. If anyone asks me where you go these days, I can tell them with an honest heart that I don't know."
