Someone was sitting in that chair, watching the scene in the pool.
A figure in a dark robe, his face completely hidden.
They sat perfectly still, observing Thomas and Sarah's intimacy with mild interest.
Julian's instincts immediately sharpened. There was something off about that figure—not threatening necessarily, but definitely unusual. Before he could investigate further, one of the other doors in the room opened with a soft creak.
Someone else entered and Julian recognized her immediately.
Mara. The innkeeper.
She was dressed in her usual clothing and she entered the room carrying a tray of towel and some other things.
But instead of the shock and alarm Julian had been expecting, Mara's face broke into a smile as she looked at Sarah and Thomas in the pool. Her expression was warm, almost proud, like a director watching performers execute a scene perfectly.
She then turned toward the robed figure in the chair and her demeanor shifted entirely.
