Page 78 of The Knight’s Reward

“You, Bryce, and Emma all married for love, and I aim to do the same.”

“I wish it for you, Neill. I truly do,” Geoffrey said, and he could see in his eyes it was true. “Indeed, Sara has ensured we’ve spoken of the matter quite a bit while you were away. But I fear King Edward . . .”

“Is an inflexible man, aye. I know it well.”

“Are you willing to incur his wrath? The possibility that he will retaliate by keeping Caxton in his position?”

Neill had thought of little else and knew there was little he could say to appease his brother. Because he knew the stakes were high indeed. He’d nearly gotten himself tossed into a dungeon in Edinburgh. This time he would, perforce, need to be more careful. “Now we wait. ’Tis Edward’s move—”

“And when you receive an invitation to court? To your own betrothal ceremony?”

He didn’t answer. He couldn’t.

When the door swung open, his heart leapt at the thought of seeing Kathryn on the other side. Instead, Sara entered. Alone.

“She’s in the hall,” she said, in answer to his silent question. “And you can stop scowling,” she chastised her husband, which earned a grin from Neill. At least he and Kathryn had one staunch supporter.

Without hesitation, he left his brother and his wife alone and made his way to the great hall. When he entered, Neill spotted Kathryn immediately. She stood by the hearth, the two of them speaking quietly. She appeared, somehow, even lovelier than when he’d left.

Content to watch her, for now, as her hands moved from side to side in conversation, Neill thought of the first night he’d spotted her at The Wild Boar. Though she’d seemed comfortable enough among the patrons, she’d stood out immediately. She had never belonged there, the truth obvious to anyone with a discerning eye.

She belonged here.

As if sensing his scrutiny, Kathryn turned toward him. Her broad smile was exactly as he remembered it.

And then it happened.

He recognized the expression on her face and fairly ran toward her. She was breathing heavily, Faye looking on in confusion.

“My lady!” Faye put her hand on Kathryn’s back.

“She will be well,” he insisted, taking his lady’s hand. “This has happened before.”

Eyes wide, Kathryn continued to struggle for breath. Ushering her toward the hall’s entrance, he reassured his aunt by marriage as best he could.

Neill led Kathryn down a familiar but private path. Stopping at the top of the stairwell that led down to the Sea Gate, he wondered what had provoked her latest attack.

“I’m feeling better.” She took a long, deep breath, held it, and smiled. “I don’t know what . . . I saw you on our way back from the village, so I knew you were well. ’Twas so hard to wait for you.”

He kissed her.

Hard.

She’d insisted she was well, and Neill had thought of little else on his journey but the feel of her lips, the sound of her release.

It was like that first time, their mouths melding together so perfectly that Neill knew this woman was meant to be his. Groaning, he pulled away while he still had the strength to do so.

They stood in the darkened corridor, the only light from the crack beneath the door they’d used to enter the passageway.

“I don’t believe anyone but Faye noticed,” he said, still wondering what exactly had happened. “Does this occur often?”

She nodded. “The first time was the day after I arrived at the inn. Finally safe after days on the road, I sat alone in my room and began to feel as if I could not take a breath.”

“How do you feel now?”

“Much better. Though very curious to learn what happened in Edinburgh, I’ll admit.”

“Shall we go back to the hall, or down to the sea?”