Page 47 of The Rogue’s Redemption

“We are not betrothed. Or not officially, of course.”

“When your favorite Kerr brother overheard us.”

Allie held her breath. “What did he do?”

Aidan’s smile broadened. “Nothing. Which was when Graeme officially declared war.”

“Graeme?”

“My stubborn brother came upon us and took Gillian’s side, of course. I simply mentioned that Reid was doing nothing more than submitting himself to an unprovoked attack upon his character when—”

“Graeme told Aidan not to become involved,” a newcomer to their conversation said from behind them.

Reid.

She and Aidan turned in tandem.

“You followed me here,” Aidan said, though the accusation lacked heat.

“I did.”

“Knowing I would tell Allie.”

Reid walked toward them, but he didn’t speak until he stood at Allie’s side.

“And I thought your brother was the more intelligent of the two of you,” he teased good-naturedly. “It seems I was mistaken.”

Aidan clasped Reid’s shoulder. “Though I admire your restraint back there, I must say, we may be on the losing side of this battle.” He glanced at Allie. “Of course, the war has already been won. Your sister—”

“Will come to know Reid as I do,” Allie said, her voice firm. “She’ll have no choice.”

Aidan looked back and forth between them, bowed, and then chuckled the entire way out of the hall.

Allie wanted to ask Reid why he hadn’t come to her last night. Though she didn’t dare admit it aloud, she’d waited for him until the wee hours of the night. In the morning, she’d felt totally unequal to the day ahead.

Her sister was angry. Her training, on hold. And Reid . . . perhaps he had thought better of being with someone whose family hated him. Even if he did deserve some of Gillian’s ire.

All of those worries seemed to ebb away now that they were together. Nothing had been resolved, and yet it seemed to matter less now that they were together.

Reid sat atop the table opposite her, his feet on the bench below. “Good day, Lady Allie.”

“Good day,” she replied, though in truth it was not.

And then she remembered their last encounter. The tub. His fingers . . .

“You’re embarrassed.” Though he might not intend for it to provoke, that lazy smile put her in mind of the day they’d met and his arrogant attempt to take her to bed.

“And you are enjoying it.”

He continued to smile at her. “I am enjoying . . . the view.”

Allie’s pulse raced as it did every time he was near, which only made her more cross. “Reid, please be serious.”

He was unapologetic. “I am.”

“This is not a jest. Aidan said the meeting went well. When an accord is reached, you will leave. And if Gillian—”

He stood and reached for her before she could finish her thought.