Page 59 of The Knight’s Reward

“At Kenshire. My brother would protect you. And you would still be close to the border.”

I would protect you. God, this woman was in his blood.

“Nay, I could not,” Kathryn said, dismissing the possibility at once. “Neill, I wanted to tell you . . . Sara seems to have some odd notions of our relationship.”

“Odd?”

“For some reason, it appears she’s taken it upon herself to—” She coughed. Kathryn was nervous. “To believe there is a reason for us. That is, for the two of us . . .”

He suddenly knew precisely what she was about to say, which was why he lifted his full goblet and downed the contents.

Sara did not know the truth about their situation.

But she would, as soon as Geoffrey told her, and then her attempts to throw him and Kathryn together would end.

He didn’t wish them to.

“’Tis silly, I know. But I did not want you to believe I’d encouraged it.”

“Why silly?” he asked, despite himself.

He took his empty goblet back to the table, returning empty-handed. About to sit down again, he changed his mind and stood instead at the foot of Kathryn’s chair. She looked up at him, unsure of what to do.

The way he felt for her . . . it was madness.

If only he were a stronger man. Neill had faced down opponents twice his size. Men hardened by a lifetime of battle. Men who should have bested him . . . but didn’t.

And yet, he was still the impetuous young lad his brothers had failed to tame.

He extended a hand to her instead. She hesitated, as she should, but only for a moment. When she lowered her goblet onto the floor and took his hand, it felt like the embers from the fire flitted toward them in protest.

Neill did not, could not, heed the warning.

“She saw what has been between us from the first time I took your hand in mine.”

He took her other hand, completing their connection.

“She saw my admiration for a woman who would travel across the dangerous border, intent on confronting the second most powerful man in Scotland.” His throat thick, Neill forced himself to continue. “What she did not see, because she could not know, was how deeply I offended you without intending to do so.”

“Offend me? Neill, you have done so much to help me, from the very start. You’ve caused me no offense.”

He hated the words he was about to speak. Hated what it would do to them.

“There was another condition to the king’s reward,” he forced out. “He will remove Caxton with a renewed pledge from Alexander, but I am also to wed Lady Alina deBeers, as decreed by King Edward.”

He didn’t have to wait long for her reaction.

Chapter 20

Kathryn pulled away so quickly she nearly stumbled backward. Her stomach hardened, a feeling of sickness welling inside her. Perhaps she had no reason to react so fiercely to his news. She had no claim on this man. Except . . .

“You kissed me.”

Kathryn was aware she sounded like one of those silly ladies she and her friends had giggled about at court, the ones who spoke of nothing except the handsome, well-positioned men in their circle.

But she didn’t care.

“More than once.”