The head stablemaster offered to give her a tour, but Celia declined. She would rather not keep the man from his work, she explained with a tight smile. But the real reason was she was more comfortable exploring alone without any witnesses in case Bryan made contact.

There were several horses inside their stalls. Arion occupied a roomy box stall. He nickered at seeing Celia’s approach, hanging his head over the stall door and tossing it to gain her attention.

“Hello, sweet boy,” she crooned, rubbing his large head with the heel of her palm. “Are you settling in?”

She glanced around as she spoke, apprehensive that she would see Bryan, yet even more anxious when she did not. Was it possible the man had left on his own after seeing her? Had he realized the danger of staying?

Please let that be the way of it. It will solve so many problems.

“So, you found a man t’marry you. Even if you were damaged goods.”

Bryan’s voice was rough and coarse, and when Celia whirled around, she was taken aback by his physical appearance.

He was no longer the boyishly handsome man for whom she’d suffered her first crush. Having only had a fleeting glimpse of him the day before, she saw him quite clearly now. He was gaunt, his hair thinning and his features sallow and pinched.

He smiled cruelly in recognition of her shock. “Aye, I may look different, but you, milady, you look as fine a picture as you did that night in the stables.” His watery blue gaze moved over Celia, taking in the obvious wealth of her clothes and the pearls adorning her ears before dropping to the ring on her finger. His eyes gleamed with avarice.

Celia drew back her shoulders, determined not to cower despite the overwhelming terror at seeing him again. “You did not damage me, Bryan. And yes, I am married now. To one of the most powerful men in all of England. While I shouldn’t give a farthing for your wellbeing, I cannot help but warn you that is it very dangerous for you to remain here. You must leave. For your own safety.”

Bryan’s head tilted as he laughed. “For my safety, lass? I am in no danger.”

“If my husband discovers who you are, what you did, he will kill you. I promise you that.”

The man smirked, then with a quick glance around to see if anyone watched them, he sidled closer. He made a pretense of straightening Arion’s halter where it hung on a hook beside the stall door and ignored the agitated shaking of the stallion’s head. “Was your husband himself what gave me a job.”

Icy cold dread permeated Celia’s blood. She stared mutely at the man, unable to even voice words, struck silent just as she’d been that terrible night so many years before.

Bryan clucked his tongue. “You didn’t know? I’ll clear matters for you. You see, I saw you at that inn just after your marriage. You and him. I asked the marquess that very night if he had need of servants, and he directed me to Rosenthorne Park. But the estate manager said I would be of more use in town. Now, your husband probably doesn’t remember me, but that’s all right. I’m not here for him.”