Page 36 of The Rogue’s Redemption

He could not give up any more information. “Is quite good with the longsword.”

“I saw you together two evenings ago.”

Outside the castle walls? Had the guard told him? Or—

“Dancing.” Aidan finished the last bite of warm bread in his hand, smiling at Reid as if they shared a secret.

Reid was beginning to lose patience with the man’s insinuations. “If you have something to say, de Sowlis, say it.”

Aidan did not appear to be in a hurry to do so. He took his time chewing, then shrugged. “Very well.” Squaring his shoulders, he crossed his arms. “We’ve had this discussion before, but it seems as if a repetition is warranted. If your intentions with Allie are not honorable—”

“We did have this very discussion.”

“Aye, but then I had nothing but a suspicion.”

“About?”

“Allie’s feelings toward you. As I said before, I know you to be an honorable man—”

“De Sowlis—”

“I’ve spent quite a bit of time with Allie, as you know. I’ve seen her in the company of men more powerful and”—Aidan grinned—“much handsomer than you. I have eyes, Kerr, and knew immediately there was something between you. Despite everything . . . I like you. It would be a good match—for you, for Allie, and for our clans.”

“You encouraged it by allowing me to train her.” Reid should have suspected as much from the start, but he had been too enamored with Allie to question why the man would have given over her training so easily.

“Graeme may not agree, and certainty Gillian does not. She genuinely does not like you.”

“But how did you know—”

“Though her words may have said otherwise, the truth of Allie’s feelings show whenever she is around you. As I said, I only knew for sure when I saw you dancing in the hall. I can tell you care for her, so the question now is . . . why are you hiding your affection?”

He’d not lie directly to Aidan, his ally, and the man who would be his brother-in-law.

“Lady Gillian.”

Aidan waited for him to explain.

“Allie wants her sister to like me—”

A harsh laugh cut him off. “So we will not be allied as family after all.”

He ignored that. “And, of course, your brother—”

“Do not worry about Graeme. He knows you as I do.”

Precisely the cause for his concern. “And that recommends me to him?”

Aidan clasped his shoulder. “You are not all bad, Kerr. If you were, we would not be having this conversation. Though I will admit, I don’t understand your position in the clan. You belong by Toren’s side as his—”

“Do not.” His voice was low, hard. A warning.

Aidan dropped his hand.

“We were discussing Allie—”

“Who will be a member of your clan,” Aidan pointed out.

Reid remained silent, knowing Aidan would not drop the matter.