Page 84 of The Knight’s Reward

“Nay, Kathryn. It was not I who uncovered Bothwell’s treachery. ’Twas you.”

She accepted his words but could focus only on the other information he relayed.

“Three days . . .”

“I will not do it.”

“Neill, you must. You have no choice.” The words felt like poison coming from her mouth, but they needed to be said.

His jaw was set. His expression, so serious.

“I cannot be the cause of Caxton remaining in power. Think on it, Neill.”

“I already have and would have denied him already, but he ordered me from the room before I could do so. But mark my words, Kathryn, I’ll not be swayed from my purpose so easily. I will not marry any woman but you.”

Kathryn sank to the bed, defeated.

She had to make him understand.

“I have to go,” he said abruptly. “Lord Lyndwood learned I was in London and wishes to speak with me.”

She’d heard the name before. “Lyndwood?”

“You met Reid Kerr. Lyndwood is his father-in-law. Lady Sara knows him well, though I’ve never met the man. Besides, it would not do for me to be caught here. Especially now. I don’t want you connected to me in any way.”

He moved to her, but Kathryn shook her head. His touch always made her forget the obstacles between them, and right now she’d do best to remember them. She could not let herself be swayed by him now. She needed to think.

He cannot do this. I cannot let him do it.

Chapter 27

“This way, Sir Neill.”

He knew little of the man he was about to meet other than what he’d learned from his friends and siblings. The man’s elder daughter, Gillian, was a close friend of Sara’s. Lyndwood Castle was less than a two-day ride from Kenshire, and the women had practically grown up together. Now married to the chief of Clan Scott, Gillian resided with her husband in Scotland. Her sister, Allie, had wed Reid Kerr, who had told Neill much of what he knew of the man before him.

Neither Reid nor Graeme deSowlis, Gillian’s husband, cared for their father-in-law. They did count him as shrewd, however, and admitted he’d done much to repair his relationship with his daughters after attempting to marry both of them off to an old, though very wealthy, man.

As the castle steward led him into a bedchamber in the East Tower of the royal court, far from the throne room where he’d spoken with the king earlier, Neill caught his first glimpse of the man he’d come to meet. Tall. Well-built for his age. Likely no more than sixty. Stern.

“Lyndwood.”

The man stood to greet Neill as he approached.

“The great tournament champion.” Shaking Lyndwood’s hand, he took in their surroundings. From the size of the chamber the man had been given, Neill could determine his connections at court.

The space was small though well-appointed. Still, Lyndwood was here as Edward’s guest, no small feat. Neill could only assume that his past troubles with the crown, something to do with a rival claim to his title and home, were no longer of consequence.

“Well met,” he said, taking Lyndwood’s cue to sit. Two goblets waited for them on the small wooden table adorned with a red and gold cloth, the same colors that could be found throughout the royal castle.

“I heard of your meeting with the king,” Lyndwood said, pouring them both wine from a well-used pitcher.

“Did you?” he asked, cautious. Lyndwood’s purpose was still unclear.

“Aye. And asked you here to warn you.”

Neill took a sip of wine. Red. French.

“We’re bound together, you and I.”