Page 26 of The Scot’s Secret

There was also the matter of the Day of Truce. It was fast approaching, and he should attend it. Both his brothers had said there was no need, that they would both be there, but Toren was newly married and Reid was, well, Reid. Strong and capable, he was nevertheless the youngest Kerr brother. And neither Alex nor Toren were willing to see him hurt.

But he had to know. If there was even the slightest chance he could find her, Alex had to look.

“I’m travelling to England.”

The decision was made.

“You can continue to train with the men if you’d like,” he continued. He’d give her no further reason to flee.

“Where in England?” she asked.

“Northumbria. Northeast, along the coast.”

“Why?”

“’Tis the same simple question that caused you to flee, alone, rather than remain at Brockburg.”

As he expected, she said nothing about herself or her decision to run. What she did say shocked him.

“I’m coming with you.”

It struck him that her tone was that of a highborn lady. His English lass was gently bred. How could he have missed the fact before? The hat was back in place, and she’d restored the artfully placed smudges on her face. But he easily saw past the disguise now that he knew it was one. The high cheekbones and dark, delicate lashes. Her smooth, pink lips that he ached to feel beneath his own.

Aye, she was a woman in every way but her dress.

“Nay, you are not.”

“I am much more comfortable on the move. I—”

“Nay,” he said firmly. “I travel alone.”

His brothers would not like it, but Alex wanted no witnesses to his folly. “It’s much too dangerous for you to—”

“I’ve been travelling without an escort for some time now. At least you will be there. Please let me come.”

It was a terrible idea.

Not only was it dangerous, but he desired her. Others may think her a lad, a squire, but he knew otherwise. He could not find himself alone with her—

“I watched my father be murdered.”

She’d said it so quietly, Alex had to ask her to repeat herself. When she did, he was only left with more questions. But to voice them would silence her, and so he simply nodded for her to go on.

“I cannot close my eyes even now, years later, without seeing the dagger slice through his neck. Since then, I’ve moved from place to place. Usually following the tourney. Even still, movement makes me feel safe. As grateful as I am for your brother’s offer to stay here, I feel. . .”

He waited, but she said no more. No mention of why her father had been murdered or who he had been in life. Alex could guess at some of it. A lord, no doubt. Judging from her accent, though, not a border lord, and she was clearly not from the south.

She’d made no mention of her mother. Or siblings. Alex tried to imagine living through his father’s death and mother’s abandonment without the support of Toren and Reid and Catrina.

He’d not have managed well.

“Please,” she added, her voice soft but urgent.

Why she wanted to come so badly, he could not understand. But neither could he deny her, especially not out of an inability to control his own desire.

He was stronger than that.

They halted just as Brockburg came into view. Alex turned, her grip on his waist loosening.