Page 94 of The Knight’s Reward

There was a time she had cared very much about the opinions of the other women, when the court was her home. These ladies, her family. But she was no longer that same person.

“You’ve met the others,” Lysa said as conversation ceased around them. “Although I do not believe Lady Alina was present earlier . . .”

Kathryn froze.

While Lysa continued the introduction, Kathryn’s heart thudded in her ears.

Lady Alina.

This was the Lady Alina. The one Neill was promised to marry.

When the young woman smiled, a kind and seemingly genuine smile—a rarity here at court—Kathryn managed to mumble out an acceptable greeting.

Sneaking glances at the pretty young woman, she couldn’t help but compare herself to the striking beauty. Everything about her was pleasing, from her long, dark hair to her deep brown eyes.

Just when she’d thought herself above the petty comparisons and competitions of the ladies of the court, Kathryn had taken the first opportunity to emulate them.

But this is different. This is the woman who is to marry the man I love.

Nay!

A ferocity Kathryn hadn’t known she possessed took hold of her then, rebelling against the thought.

“Where have you been these past months?”

It took a moment for Lysa’s question to penetrate.

“I have been making my way back from Edinburgh.”

A servant poured wine into her goblet at exactly that moment, and she was able to avoid further questions by taking a long draught from it.

Lady Alina was watching her.

Kathryn half-heartedly listened as her companions chatted excitedly about their brief respite. With Eleanor at the king’s bedside, they were not required to attend to her. Which meant the night would be spent dancing and flirting. Musicians even now began to play in the far corner of the hall.

Just as she was prepared to excuse herself to her chamber, the conversation took a turn Kathryn had dreaded.

They started discussing Neill Waryn.

The others clasped their hands in excitement as Lady Alina answered questions about the knight who would be coming to court the very next day.

“The queen says we will be formally betrothed any day now that he has returned.”

“Minstrels will sing of it. The favored knight and his reward,” Lysa said.

Kathryn could stay no longer. She had to shake the mental image of Lady Alina holding Neill’s hand as they were bound together in a ceremony that was as binding as marriage.

“Pardon,” she said, not waiting for the women to bid her a good-den. Neither did she stop to ask for the maid’s assistance. She would manage her gown somehow.

Most importantly, Kathryn needed to get away from the hall at once.

Away from Lady Alina.

Chapter 31

He was a fool.

Kathryn had not come back, and he still felt unsure of the path he would take that day. Aylmer was unsurprisingly frustrated with him, enough so that he’d let Neill ride ahead of him to the royal stables, although not as frustrated as Neill was with himself.