Jarla & Elsa
Jarla had spent the morning with La Principessa, gossiping, playing cards and providing general entertainment. She wasn't sure whether it was a good or bad thing to be good at being a lady's companion but she was evidently quite good at it.
After a light luncheon she departed from her mistress and made her way to the stables to check on Countess. While brushing her steed's mane (she had no faith whatsoever in the castle stablehands) Jarla realised she had a visitor.
Jarla hesitated, but after a moment took Elsa's hand. She even smiled slightly.
"As it happens I was planning on a ride to clear my head, so if you are taking that great black beast of yours you can join me. If we're careful Irene won't spot us and if she hears we've been spotted together I'll fib and say I was seducing you to learn your schemes."