Page 96 of The Knight’s Reward

“There is only one choice,” Neill said, knowing he did not quite speak the truth. One obvious choice, aye, and a choice Kathryn seemed determined to foist upon him. He imagined she had left because she wanted him to give the king what he had demanded. And yet . . . “Caxton must be removed.”

He waited for Morley’s affirmation, but the man cocked his head to the side.

“Indeed. But perhaps there is another way,” he said, giving him a knowing look.

Neill must have seemed surprised. And not slightly confused.

“Love is love,” Morley said as Aylmer approached. “I bid you well, Sir Neill.”

“And I you, Morley.”

The earl’s son nodded in greeting to Aylmer and walked away. Neill watched him go.

“Recalling your tumble at his hands?” Aylmer said, laughing at his own joke.

“Aye,” he lied. “Would you like to bring him in the hall with you?”

Aylmer’s only answer was to scowl at him, a look that was becoming all too familiar, as they made their way through the courtyard. His audience with Edward was just past midday, but as was his custom, Neill had arrived early.

Love is love.

He stepped through the double doors and into the castle.

And so it began.

* * *

She’d waited for this audience for the better part of two days. Finally, Kathryn was ushered into the queen’s solar, a room two floors above the bedchamber she’d been given. Silently thanking Rosalind for the second gown—everyone at court would notice had she donned the one she’d worn to dinner—she made her way to Eleanor’s high-backed chair and curtsied as deeply as she’d done the day before.

Normally surrounded by her ladies, the queen was quite alone this morn. Though unusual, the circumstance was cause for celebration. She’d dreaded the possibility that Lady Alina might be present.

“You are a lovely sight, Lady Kathryn. Mistress Rosalind?”

Kathryn nodded. The deep blue velvet gown fit her perfectly. Its wide-hanging sleeves, though fashionable, hid her hands when lowered, so Kathryn clasped them in front of her as she prepared to speak.

“My thanks, Your Grace,” she said. “May I inquire after the king’s health this morn?”

“You may,” she said. “He is feeling much better this morn.”

All knew the queen loved her husband, and it was that love she would appeal to now. It was her only hope.

Knowing Neill’s audience was arranged for that day, Kathryn launched into her request. She was running out of time and could not afford to be waylaid again.

“I have a request for Your Grace, if she would be kind to allow for a story first.”

Eleanor indicated she should continue.

“I believe Sir Neill Waryn met with our king and told him about the Earl of Bothwell’s interference with the message my father brought to King Alexander.”

“Aye, Lady Kathryn. He did so.”

“Sir Neill told him that my father was murdered to prevent his delivery of the message.”

As expected, the queen began to look suspicious.

“Go on.”

“He did not tell him that we met at The Wild Boar, where I worked as a serving maid these many months. Once he learned my true identity, he pledged himself to my father’s cause, which was, as we learned later, also his own.”