Page 21 of The Rogue’s Redemption

Aidan didn’t answer for a time.

Reid waited.

“Allie is not as vulnerable as you think,” he said finally. “And I did it for the simple reason that she wanted me to. Even if she said otherwise.”

Aidan spoke in riddles.

“And you are better with the longsword than I,” he added.

“We can agree on that, at least.”

“I ask again, what are your—”

“And I answered you already, Aidan. I’d not dishonor her, if that’s what you’re asking.”

Aidan’s eyes narrowed. “I would not expect it. But that isn’t what worries me.”

“Then what—”

“She has been sheltered most of her life and deserves a bit of adventure. But she does not deserve to have her heart broken by a man—”

“Aidan, you get ahead of yourself. I’ve agreed to train her, nothing more.” Even as he said the words, Reid recognized the lie.

“And I agreed to it because of the way she looks at you. I think of her as my true sister. All I ask is that you remember that fact.”

Reid really should forget he’d ever met Allie. Give her training back to Aidan, spend his afternoons listening to the bickering of the border chiefs, and go back to Brockburg when the council was over.

Unfortunately, he could not do that.

“You have my word,” he said. “But your other sister-in-law—”

For the first time since their conversation began, Aidan smiled. “Allie can handle her sister,” he said. “I worry more about your intentions.”

Rightly so.

“I said I will not dishonor her, and I will not.”

He had been warned. Twice. Only a fool would continue down a path that would lead to his own destruction.

And yet, he hastened to the great hall just the same.

* * *

He’d been watching her all evening. Yet if she paid him any more attention than the occasional surreptitious glance, Gillian would attempt to lock her in her bedchamber until the council was over. Proud of her effort to avoid looking his way, Allie was about to take a bite of the stewed partridge when Aidan whispered, “He is sitting just to the left of the sideboard.”

Of course she looked. As if she had not already known where Reid was sitting.

“You are the worst sort of scoundrel.”

Aidan leaned back, apparently pleased with himself.

“He is not very subtle,” Aidan answered.

“Shhh.” She glanced at her sister, who was speaking intently with her husband.

“She didn’t hear me.” Aidan reached for the salt cellar, an elaborate silver piece that had been a fixture of the head table for generations, according to Gillian. “So tell me, how did it go after I left?”

Darting another careful glance at Gillian, Allie told Aidan about the remainder of her afternoon. Increasingly uneasy about keeping her training sessions from her sister, Allie had actually planned to tell her, but now that Reid was her teacher . . .