Page 8 of The Knight’s Reward

“I must go.”

And so she did.

Kathryn.

He turned the name over and over in his head, though he knew very well that he should not do so. He definitely should not watch her move from table to table, effortlessly avoiding overzealous patrons as she served them food and drink. Despite himself, he was impressed by the ease with which she handled herself. Fascinated by her self-assurance. He passed the time trying to imagine why Lady Kathryn passed herself off as simply “Kathryn.”

It was only when the reiver stood to leave that Neill did the same, following the man wordlessly into the night. Three companions accompanied the man, but Neill was not put off—he simply waited for his moment. He needed to catch all four of them unaware if he had any hope of coming away from this with his body parts intact.

They entered the stables, and Neill, knowing the quarters were too close inside for him to make a move, waited near the entrance. The mostly pleasant smells of the hall, lamb pie and ale, were replaced with the stench of hay and manure. Two men stumbled from the entrance of the inn, looked his way, and then quickly moved off when his hand drifted to the hilt of his sword.

A whiff of lavender preceded the sound of soft footfalls. How had she come from the inn without his notice?

“I suspected as much,” she said as Neill turned and stared straight into a pair of clear green eyes. Though the only light beamed down from the moon, it shone uncommonly bright this eve.

“Please let the matter rest.” She glanced nervously toward the stables. “’Tis not good for business. Magge will be upset and—”

He nodded, placing his finger to his lips.

Knowing she must have left the inn through a back door, he circled the stables and headed back toward the larger building. He spotted the back door then and walked toward it.

“Stay here,” he instructed, fully intending to ignore her request.

“Please.” She grabbed his hand as he turned back toward the stable. The shock of such a bold gesture wore off quickly when he realized they were still connected, her small fingers wrapped around his much larger ones.

Fighting the temptation to hold on, Neill allowed her hand to drop. The loss of her touch made him regret his foolishness.

What would she have done if he had attempted to do so just a bit longer?

“I cannot allow him to leave—” he began. But even as he said it, Neill watched as the men exited the stables with their hobblers—another indication they were, indeed, reivers—and mounted the small horses.

“Please, sir, I implore you—”

He spun on her so fast, Neill worried he may have startled her. But she must have known his intentions were honorable, for she stood tall and did not flinch.

“Tell me who you are, and I’ll not pursue them.”

This time, there was no mistaking the flash of panic in her eyes before her calm composure was restored.

Looking over his shoulder, clearly stalling for time, she cleared her throat.

Allowing her to believe she’d bested him, Neill crossed his arms and waited. He hated to allow the reivers to escape without more than Magge’s scolding, but it would be worth it to speak with her. Although he knew better than to expect he’d get the truth from her, he was nonetheless anxious to hear what she’d say.

“My name is Kathryn Baird, the daughter of Richard Baird of Bondgate-in-Darlington.”

His lady, though spirited and uncommonly fair, was a liar.

“Hmmm. And that is all you’ll give me, I suppose?”

“What else do you want?”

Realizing what she’d said, Kathryn looked at him with wide eyes, and even though Neill considered himself a gentleman, he purposely goaded her.

“Shall I answer that honestly?”

Her mouth parted, those full lips tempting enough for his mind to consider the possibilities. And then she promptly closed it.

“Since you are very much a lady,” he said, hurrying to finish before she could argue that point, “I’ll not do so. Instead, I’ll ask only for your true identity.” He frowned. “It intrigues me to learn why a highborn lady such as yourself is serving men like the one who just left here with his person fully intact.”