Page 15 of The Rogue’s Redemption

The man in question laughed. Allie had not heard him laugh before, and she wasn’t sure she liked it. His self-satisfied smirk was much more fitting. When he laughed, Reid Kerr looked almost . . . human.

Aidan looked back and forth between them and continued. “A reputation as a swordsman. And as a man to avoid in battle, though luckily, we have fought only for the same side. Though I’m not sure of his skill with this particular weapon.”

Reid held her sword up in front of him.

“May I?” he asked her.

It took Allie a moment to realize what he meant to do. But when Aidan lifted his own sword, she backed away.

“Of course,” she said, crossing her arms in satisfaction. He would have proceeded without her permission, no doubt, but she was anxious to see Aidan best their unwelcome guest. Her brother-in-law was known for his skill with the dagger, but he was equally as skilled with the longsword.

The loud clash of metal hitting metal echoed all around them. If they were nearer the castle, people would gather to watch the two men spar with each other. A match between two such braw men would have been entertaining were it not so terrifying.

Even though both weapons were blunted, Allie had seen more than one knight being carried off the training yard with injuries ranging from minor scratches to life-threatening gashes.

In fact, she was about to yell for the men to stop when Reid’s sword clashed so forcefully with Aidan’s that her brother-in-law’s weapon went flying into the air. He retrieved it quickly enough, but the match was over.

Aidan whistled. “It appears the rumors are true.”

Some men would be bitter at having been bested, but Aidan appeared to take it in stride. Would Reid? Somehow, she did not think so.

When he looked at her, Allie’s breath caught. He was certainly bolder than any man she’d ever met. More arrogant and definitely more—

“Let me train her.”

She froze.

Aidan looked back and forth between them. “Reid, I don’t believe—”

“There is no one better.”

He was not jesting!

“You are needed up there”—Reid nodded toward the castle—“more than I. Until I leave, let me train—”

“Pardon,” she said, interrupting his very pretty speech. “The woman in question is standing here, listening to your conversation.”

She may have been quite sheltered for most of her life, but she was not completely addled. And she certainly would not let Reid make decisions for her as if she were not present.

“He is quite good—” Aidan started. One glance at her, and he quickly backtracked. “But Allie is right. It is up to her, not me.”

She did not need to consider it for long. “Then the choice is an easy one—”

“Although if Reid trained you, I could more easily assist Graeme.”

Allie looked at Aidan as if he’d gone mad. What was he doing? Why would he agree with such a brute?

“Then it is settled.”

“’Tis not settled.” Allie put her hands on her hips and glared at both men. Her brother-in-law had gone daft and Reid . . . he was simply the most infuriating man she’d ever met in her life.

“Give me one reason I should agree to such a thing,” she taunted him.

Reid took a step toward her, and then another. Her heart thudded in her chest as he moved ever closer, and she had to remind herself to breathe.

He handed the sword back to her and said, loud enough that only she could hear, “Because you want me to.”

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