Page 32 of The Knight’s Reward

Making a quick retreat, Kathryn returned to her hiding place, the walkway behind the stables that led to the curtain wall, a perfect place to finish her midday meal and bide her time until darkness fell. Until she could go about more easily without being noticed.

“Pardon,” she said to one of the stable boys. “Has the Earl of Bothwell’s party arrived?”

He startled, obviously caught off guard by the directness of her question.

As was her goal. A lesson she’d learned from her father, who had dealt with sensitive information most of his life.

“I . . . I do not believe so.”

She inclined her head and walked away, cutting the conversation short. The longer she spoke with him, the longer he would have to study her face.

Kathryn nearly laughed aloud at her own absurdity as she found the walkway, choosing to sit on the concrete slab rather than the hay bale from earlier. Bits of hay still clung to her dress from earlier.

She wasn’t sure what made her look up as she pulled the remainder of the bread from her pouch, but when she did, Kathryn’s heart thudded in her chest—so loud she could hear it in her ears.

“Hello, Kathryn.”

Oh dear. His shirt hung loose, sleeves rolled to his elbows.

“Hello, Neill.”

She wanted to demand how he’d found her, but from the look on his face, Kathryn reminded herself she was not in a position to make demands.

“Didn’t take you long,” she said instead.

“’Twas easy enough to find you.”

It wasn’t possible he’d noticed her in the midst of his fight with his brother. Curiosity overcame her. “How?”

“When MacDuff sought me out to congratulate me on my win—”

“Win? I saw your brother . . .” She stopped talking. For every word she said, Neill took a step toward her.

“Before Bryce.” He smiled. “The Scot cared little for a match between two Englishmen. Clearly, you did not see me best the chief of Clan Scott before I fought my brother.”

No, she hadn’t. But Kathryn assumed he’d been more successful that time.

“I don’t know this MacDuff.”

He took another step toward her.

Kathryn looked around, not because she needed to be rescued from Neill Waryn, but because she was accustomed to looking for an escape whenever she felt even slightly uncomfortable.

Unfortunately, this spot was private and darkness had just begun to settle in.

They were very much alone.

“But he knows you.”

Another step.

Kathryn stood, not wanting to be in such a vulnerable position with Neill towering above her.

“How?”

A final step and he was nearly upon her. If he reached out, he could touch her.

“He saw you at the Anvil Inn. He noticed you near the stables earlier and wondered if his eyes deceived him.”