Page 40 of The Knight’s Reward

“Bryce, do not,” Neill protested.

His brother ignored him. Some things had not, apparently, changed.

“After Geoffrey wed Lady Sara, we all moved to Kenshire for a time.” Bryce smiled, a slightly fierce smile.

He had missed his siblings, but not Bryce’s love of telling stories. Especially not when the stories were about him. There was no avoiding it now, though—his friends were listening intently.

“Neill begged to stay at Kenshire, but the situation was tenuous, Bristol still in the hands of Clan Kerr.”

All glanced toward the dais where their brother-in-law sat with his wife. Toren obviously knew they were speaking of him, and he raised his mug in response.

Bryce did the same, the former enemies silently toasting each other.

“We thought it best he foster away from the borderlands.”

Bryce set down his mug and leaned back on the bench, crossing his arms as he continued with his tale.

Neill would find a way to thank his brother later. With nothing left to do but wait for the worst of the story, he drank. Deeply.

“Sara, of course, suggested Sir Adam.” Their connection was a deep one—Adam honored and admired her grandfather, the man who’d granted him Langford Castle, and her father, his dear friend.

“A finer man than most,” Aylmer cut in. “All here were fortunate to serve under Sir Adam.”

Bryce raised his brows. “Do you hear the wisdom of your man-at-arms, brother? ‘Fortunate’ he calls himself, and you, for having such a mentor.”

Neill tried to cut his brother off. “You’ll understand I’d lost my mother and father. My home. I was young—”

“Not that young,” Bryce interrupted him.

“I was young and did not wish to be separated from my siblings.”

Bryce cleared his throat. “He ran away.”

Neill sighed, waiting for it.

“He—” Aylmer nearly choked on his ale, “—ran away?”

“My little brother was quick to anger in his youth,” Bryce remarked.

Neill’s companions at least had the grace to appear somewhat surprised.

Thankfully.

“When Geoffrey told him, Neill simply . . .” He shrugged. “Disappeared.”

When his brother started to laugh, the others joined him. Neill knew there was no defense against such an action, so he didn’t even attempt to speak for himself. Besides which, he knew his brother was finally reaching the joke he’d spent the last minutes setting up. Instead, he looked around the hall.

No sign of her.

“Where did you go?” Aylmer asked.

Bryce was all eagerness. “He made it to the village, to the alewife, who was more than happy to make the acquaintance of the new lord’s young brother.”

Bryce’s hearty laugh drew the stares of those around him. His brother was not prone to laughter, and all knew it. By now, even Neill could not help a small grin.

“A widow,” he said. “And an amorous one at that.”

“By the time she’d finished with him, Neill was a virgin no longer.”