Page 98 of The Knight’s Reward

Chapter 32

When he entered the throne room, the first thing Neill noticed was the queen sat beside the king. He’d not expected to see her today. He also noticed that, aside from two guards that stood on each side of the door he’d entered, no others were present.

Typically, the king was surrounded by his retainers.

Neill bowed before his sovereign and his wife, then stood tall and awaited Edward’s direction. The king’s word was absolute, and only he could guide their conversation.

“You’ve come to claim your reward,” Edward said, nodding to a nearby table. A piece of parchment sat upon it, rolled and sealed. “An order for Lord Caxton to be removed as Lord Warden of the Middle Marche, to be replaced, forthwith, by the Earl of Morley.”

Neill took a small step back. Morley? Did Kenton know of this appointment? He hadn’t made mention of it, though he had seemed to have knowledge that Neill did not.

Another reason to accept the king’s reward. He liked the Morleys and would be pleased to have their father as the replacement warden. Did that mean Edward would support their claim against the Derricksons as well?

“I have come to discuss your reward,” he hedged. “Aye.”

“Discuss?”

The king was not a stupid man. “Aye, Your Grace. As I said the other day—”

“Bring her in,” Edward bellowed, interrupting him.

Neill turned when the door opened behind him, and gasped.

It could not be.

Kathryn walked toward them with all of the grace of a gentled courtly lady. She was dressed the part. So beautiful.

Kathryn was at court. But what the hell was she doing here?

“You are surprised?” the queen asked him as Kathryn curtsied perfectly beside him.

“I am,” he admitted, realizing he could not elaborate.

Chancing a glance at Kathryn, he saw a similar look of surprise on her face. So she hadn’t known he was here either.

“Lady Kathryn came to see me earlier this morn after our discussion was interrupted yesterday . . .” She stopped, looked at her husband, and then continued. “And had a curious request.”

Neill suspected he knew exactly what Kathryn had requested. Had he known earlier, he would have warned her away. But now that she was here, pride welled in his chest. Of all the places she could have gone, this possibility had not occurred to him.

“I was not aware,” he said, “that Lady Kathryn was here, at court.”

“Oh, she is very much here,” the queen said, “despite having been warned away by her father.”

Neill did look over at her then, surprised she’d told Eleanor everything. But he should not have been. Kathryn was as fearless standing here across from the king and queen as she’d been striding up to the Earl of Bothwell in Brockburg’s courtyard, prepared to demand answers about her father.

And now they both awaited Edward and Eleanor’s judgment.

“Your request, Lady Kathryn, is granted.”

Neill stared at the queen, wondering if he’d misheard her words.

“Go,” the king added. “Take the message with you and deliver it to the Hedford. The lord warden will know how to execute it.”

“If you need assistance,” the queen added, “Lady Kathryn is well-equipped on how to deliver royal messages.” She smiled for the first time since Neill had entered the chamber. “She’s had much practice in doing so with a man whom this court misses deeply.”

Neill looked from Eleanor to his king.

“It is as the queen wishes,” he said. “Lady Alina was her request, and ’twill be her duty to see Lord deBeers mollified when he learns his daughter will not be betrothed. At least not yet.”