Page 101 of The Knight’s Reward

Geoffrey’s eyes widened.

“Lord Caxton is to be removed as the warden of the Middle Marches, replaced by the Earl of Morley.”

His brother continued to stare at the missive.

“I will be leaving at once to take it to him myself.”

“I will go with you.”

Neill had thought his brother might say that.

“How did it happen?” Geoffrey finally asked.

Neill explained everything that had happened at court, from his initial audience with the king to Kathryn’s appeal to the queen.

“I believe you left something out, brother.”

He had, of course. His brother raised his eyebrows, waiting.

“I was not going to do it.”

Geoffrey shook his head. “As stubborn as Bryce. Always have been. You truly planned to disobey your king? Perhaps cause a war?”

“Unlikely.”

“And Caxton?”

“I believe Edward would have replaced him anyway.”

Geoffrey, rightly so, looked skeptical.

“After Alexander renewed his vow, it would not have made sense for the king to provoke him again by refusing to remove the one barrier to peace at the border.”

“Perhaps you are right. But perhaps not.”

Neill turned away from the view in front of him to the even lovelier one in the castle courtyard.

Hayden ran around his mother in circles as Sara spoke with Kathryn, who now held the babe in her arms. He didn’t need to explain himself to his brother, but he felt he owed it to him.

“When I first arrived at Langford, Aylmer was one of the first men I met.”

He and his brother continued to watch the scene below.

“We got along from the start, I think because he reminded me of you. And still does.”

“Handsome,” Geoffrey said. “Skilled—”

“Nay,” he laughed. “Serious, but humorous. Intelligent. Patient. A quality I admired in him, and in you. Mostly for my lack of it.”

“You’ve other good qualities.”

Neill looked at his brother. “I missed you, Bryce, and Emma. Our parents. Our home. You are everything to me, and I’d not jeopardize that.”

Geoffrey turned serious. “A choice between the woman you love and your family is no choice at all.” His gaze shifted to Sara. “Perhaps I should have counseled you differently. But it seemed you did quite well on your own.”

“Kathryn did quite well for us both.”

Which reminded him. “I want to hold the wedding the moment I return. Three days, at most.”