Page 49 of The Knight’s Reward

“Then what?”

Of course she’d thought about that many, many times, but she’d never come to a conclusion. Another sign of her impetuous nature, she knew.

Someday, Kathryn, you will learn patience. Otherwise, I fear you will kiss the hare’s foot.

Her father’s favorite saying. No doubt it would have horrified him to learn she’d put herself in such a situation without a real plan.

“You cannot go this course alone. You must understand, if Bryce or I were to question him, it would raise suspicions. Toren, however, has dealt with Bothwell for years, and he and his wife would be ideally suited to questioning him quietly. Delicately. But we must keep you safe in the interim.”

“I am safe enough.”

He made a face. “And when Douglas recognizes you?”

“I’d planned to stay away from the hall.”

“Then where, pray tell, did you plan on confronting Bothwell? Did you think he would simply grant you an audience?”

She crossed her arms. “I could have spoken to him upon his arrival if a certain English knight had not waylaid me in the courtyard.”

“And thank the heavens I did,” he shot back.

They stared at each other, neither of them speaking, until Neill said, “Bryce awaits me. Shall I bring my brother and our hosts here after they break their fast, so that we may speak to them and devise a plan? Or will you follow me through that door, find Bothwell, and demand justice for your father in front of a hall filled with his loyal subjects? The choice is yours.”

He made it difficult to think.

Her very life could be in jeopardy if she made the wrong choice, but like a silly twit, Kathryn could not stop staring at Neill’s lips. She’d never imagined a man’s lips could bring her such pleasure.

This time, it was she who closed the distance between them. Touching his hand, because she needed to touch him, she gave him the only answer she had. “I simply do not know. If my father were here—”

“Kathryn,” he said gently, “he is not.”

She was still unsure.

“What do you want? What does Kathryn Wyld, and no other, want?”

That was easy.

“I want you to kiss me again.”

He groaned and pulled her head toward him, giving her what she asked for. His lips moved over hers as he tilted her head to the side. It was heaven, his kisses. And she never wanted them to end.

When he pulled away, Kathryn expected to see the same regret in his expression she’d noticed each time, as if he was angry with himself for kissing someone in her station. Instead, he looked at her with a combination of desire and resolve.

He emboldened her.

“Bring them,” she said. “If you think it best.”

He nodded, stepping back with a formal bow as if she were the queen of England and not a lowly serving girl he’d picked up from an inn.

And then he was gone, leaving Kathryn to contemplate the choices that had led her so far astray from her plans.

Nothing good would come of this, she was sure.

Chapter 15

“The timing is all wrong for any sort of confrontation,” Toren said.

Neill agreed, but there was no help for it. It was just before the midday meal, and he, Toren, and Bryce were making their way to the solar to meet the mistress of the castle, Lady Juliette, and Kathryn. That morning, he’d pulled the lord and lady aside to explain he needed their help. And although Bryce had scowled throughout his explanation, his brother had at least possessed enough sense to remain quiet.