Page 70 of The Knight’s Reward

Geoffrey grunted. “He panicked.”

“He did.”

Reid paced the length of the small chamber.

“Luckily, the person who went after him has enough connections to gain access to court, though how close he’ll get to Bothwell and the king remains to be seen.”

“Who went after him?” Neill asked.

“My brother Alex. We arrived at Brockburg just after you left for Kenshire. We both agree with Toren—if Bothwell is guilty of what we suspect, he could stand in the way of all we seek to achieve. Including the deal with your king.”

“I’m going to Edinburgh.” Neill had been considering it for the past few days, but now it would seem he had no choice. Although they did not have much evidence as of yet, it seemed likely Bothwell had indeed turned on Kathryn’s father. He was likely aligned with those attempting to take advantage of the instability along the border.

“I will go with you,” Reid said. “Restoring the peace is of the utmost importance.”

“You will stay, to protect Kathryn?” Neill asked his brother.

Geoffrey looked at him as their father once had, as if he was not sure whether or not he could be trusted. This rift between him and his brother, Neill had not expected it. And he hated it. But until Geoffrey relented on the matter of Kathryn and his obligation to the king, there was nothing that could be done about it.

“I will,” he said finally as Reid glanced back and forth between them.

Reid whistled. “You can tell me about it on the way,” he said, likely realizing Kathryn was a source of tension between the brothers. “We should leave now.”

“Faye will want to feed you first.” Geoffrey opened the door, its creak a testament to how little it was used.

“I would be most grateful to take a bit of bread and cheese with us.”

Geoffrey’s bark of laughter took Neill aback.

“Most grateful? Lady Allie has been good for you, Reid.”

Neill did not know the Kerr brothers as well as Geoffrey, but even he knew of the youngest’s reputation. It appeared his wife had gone a long way toward taming the wild Kerr.

“I would like to know how Lady Allie managed such a thing,” he said, looking around the hall. Kathryn was nowhere to be found. Neill needed to find her before he left.

“You’ll have plenty of time to hear the tale,” Reid said, following Geoffrey toward the kitchens.

“I’ll meet you in the stables,” he said, ignoring his brother’s frown.

He spotted Peter in the distance and was prepared to inquire after Kathryn when the very lady he sought addressed him from behind.

“Looking for someone?”

He wasted no time escorting them back into the chamber. Pulling her toward him, Neill found her lips, claiming them. Claiming her. Her murmurs of pleasure made it difficult to stop, so he didn’t. Instead, Neill tightened his arms around her.

He groaned when her hand tugged on the nape of his neck. She wanted more, and he wanted to give it to her. But now was not the time.

Reluctantly, he pulled away. And without a word, kissed the tip of her nose, smiled, and led them back to the hall.

* * *

Kathryn would have closed her eyes were she not astride a fine-looking mount, following Sara away from the loveliest of places. The countess had taken her to what she’d described as her “favorite place in the world,” a small lake surrounded by forest and framed by willow trees.

She’d enjoyed it, really she had, but her mind kept returning to the feel of Neill’s lips on hers before he had ridden off to Edinburgh. She’d not been pleased, of course, to learn he was leaving, especially given what had happened on her last visit to Edinburgh. Kathryn would forever be leery of that place. Neill had insisted he and Reid would be safe.

But would she?

Geoffrey did not seem to think so. He had not been pleased about their ride, but Sara had refused to allow Kathryn to be a prisoner in the castle. The guards they’d been forced to take rode both in front and behind them.