Page 36 of The Knight’s Reward

He took a step toward her, squeezing her hand as he did so. “I would never, ever hurt you.”

She blinked.

Kathryn must have known that already.

“Or betray you.”

This time her mouth trembled.

So that was it. She did not trust him.

“Please. Tell me the truth.” He squeezed her hand again, silently urging her to unburden herself.

“You said you didn’t want to know,” she said softly. “That you didn’t want to involve yourself in my affairs.”

He had said that. And regretted it.

“Tell me,” he repeated. He licked his lips, his throat suddenly dry.

Her shoulders sagged in defeat, but still she held her head high. “I mean to ask the Earl of Bothwell about my father.”

Shocked she’d relented, Neill was nevertheless confused. “You told me your father was dead?”

Her head dropped down, making Neill feel like a complete arse.

“I apologize.”

She looked back up at him.

“I did not mean to speak so bluntly,” he said.

“My father is dead. And he—” she nodded toward the courtyard, “—was the last man to speak with him before it happened.”

If he was expecting an explanation of the circumstances of her father’s death, including why a man from a tiny village in England would have been speaking to one of the most powerful men in Scotland . . . it wasn’t going to happen.

As sure as he had three siblings, Neill knew Kathryn would say no more.

“Answer me one final question.” For now, he added silently. “Is Bothwell the reason you wanted me to bring you here?”

She nodded. This time, it was she who squeezed his hand.

Joined as they were, it was not appropriate. Especially not given his agreement to wed Lady Alina. But if the king of England himself had ordered him to release her hand, Neill would not have pulled away.

“There is no other man?”

He held his breath, waiting. Her answer should not matter, but it did.

“Nay. There is none other.”

He really should not keep pushing. “Earlier, when you spoke of ‘him’?”

He didn’t need to finish the sentence. Her silence was his confirmation—as he’d suspected, Kathryn had been speaking of him. “If I am to be your savior, of sorts, you will have to tell me more about the situation.”

“It could put you in danger.”

“My lady.” He took hold of her other hand. “Much of our world is dangerous, but right now, as we stand here in the recesses of Brockburg’s courtyard, there is only one imminent danger. And it is not of me knowing too much.”

Her brows furrowed. She didn’t understand his meaning.