Page 5 of The Knight’s Reward

Under Cora’s, a gentleman.

“When Geoffrey sent me here . . .”

He didn’t need to continue. All three of them were aware of Neill’s past, as was the entire Langford household. His brothers, Geoffrey and Bryce, and his twin, Emma, had stayed in the north. Together. He had been sent south to Langford. He’d raged against their decision at first, feeling he’d unfairly been sent away. But Neill had come to recognize that his brothers, already knights and well into adulthood, had done the best possible thing for him at the time. They’d ensured he would get the training he needed to become the knight they knew he could be.

“Thank you.”

The words hardly seemed adequate, and as Cora wrapped her arms around him, he ignored the looks they were receiving from the men in the training yard and hugged her back.

She never had cared about appearances. A more unconventional lady couldn’t be found anywhere, with the exception of in the north among his own family.

“Give your siblings our regards,” she whispered. “And Lady Sara too.”

“I will,” he promised.

“And Neill . . .” She pulled away slightly but still held his hands. “Please remember what I told you.”

“The greatest knight in Christendom is nothing without his family.” He winked. “Although I suspect you say that only to remind me to return.”

She didn’t deny it.

Neill turned to Adam.

Lord of Langford, a man who knew very well that not all family was related by blood. Adam himself had been the ward of Spencer Caiser, the former Earl of Kenshire. Neill wished he could have known the great man, the grandfather of his sister-in-law Sara. “You are my Richard Caiser,” he said.

He embraced the man who’d acted as his father after his own father was killed. He vowed, as he’d done so many times before, to continue to make him proud. To uphold the virtues Adam held dear. Strength with humility, honor and family above all.

And he’d start by saving the very borderlands that would be his home, apparently with Lady Alina by his side.

* * *

Kathryn was grateful for Magge.

For The Wild Boar.

For her new life.

But she was really not having a good time of it.

Four of the Scottish king’s men had come to the inn, and she’d thought it her chance to learn something about her father’s murder. But when she’d tried to question them, Magge had promptly shooed her out of sight.

Later, she’d berated her for a fool.

“You always talk about stayin’ out of sight. And here you are, doin’ everything but proclaiming yourself a lady to the very same men you’ve been warned away from.”

Kathryn reminded her it was the English court, not the Scottish one, she was afraid may harbor a traitor. But the innkeeper had insisted that she remain abovestairs until they left.

Three days had passed.

Three long, miserable days of nothing but a view of The Wild Boar’s stables, hours spent poring over the books, which were completely up to date, and the orders, which Magge came for each night. At least she knew now not to complain about working down in the hall.

Unsolicited flirtation was preferable to boredom.

As she left her room to take inventory at the stables—the men in question had finally left—she heard someone whisper, “Psst, Kathryn.”

Groaning, she stopped at the top of the stairs. Should she pretend she hadn’t heard Mary’s plea?

Too late. She’d been seen.