Page 19 of The Knight’s Reward

“Let them wait.”

He let go of her hand but continued to look at her with a combination of concern and sympathy. This would not do.

“It happens from time to time. Please, there’s no cause for concern.”

He didn’t believe her.

“Whether or not there is a cause matters little. I am concerned. You were unable to breathe.”

“And am now breathing quite well.”

The arrival of a small riding party caught their attention, and Kathryn thought to use it as a distraction. She once again walked toward the entrance to the inn.

Neill had other plans. “Wait. Has this happened before?”

She shrugged, frowning, but she didn’t wish to lie to him. Not about this. “It has.”

Why did he appear so concerned now, when he’d taken pains to avoid her for the past day? She’d not intended to mention it, but . . .

“You ensured I had my own mount today.”

It came out like an accusation, which was absurd. Surely she should be thanking him for his pains. She turned away. “I should not have mentioned it.”

He grabbed her hand again, pulling her back. It didn’t take much convincing. Kathryn hadn’t wanted to leave him.

“Not for the reason you think.”

This time, he did not let go, his warm, callused hand engulfing hers. Those calluses had been born of hard work.

“How can you possibly know what I’m thinking?”

“Because . . .” She sucked in a breath as he stepped closer. To anyone walking by, they would appear to be talking casually, side by side, but Kathryn knew otherwise. His hand, though concealed from view, hadn’t moved.

“I know the assumption I would make, if I were you. But you’re wrong.”

Her first assumption was that he’d wanted to distance himself from her. Could she have been wrong?

“Have I offended you? When I asked about Clan Kerr?”

It was the only other possible explanation that had come to mind during the long ride that day. But Neill shook his head vigorously.

“No. God no, I don’t offend easily.”

He smiled again, that devastating smile that made her forget he was reputed to be one of the most fearsome knights in all of England.

“I can only offer the truth,” he said, his thumb rubbing her palm. Did he even realize what he was doing?

“I am much too curious about you,” he continued.

Oh my.

“I want to know how you really came to be at The Wild Boar. I want to know if you truly are as well-bred as I believe you to be. And if so, how a lady such as yourself came to be at The Wild Boar with Magge as a mentor. I want to know why you’re able to ride for two days straight as skillfully as one of my men, all of whom were trained to do so. And why you weren’t afraid when we met those reivers.”

This time, she couldn’t breathe for very different reasons. As he spoke, the low pitch of his voice cut through her like a knife through Magge’s freshly baked bread.

“You could have asked,” she said quietly, fully aware she’d not have answered. He’d warned her he would ask, hadn’t he?

“And be pulled toward you more than I am already?”