Page 68 of The Scot’s Secret

He took her arm in the crook of his own, and they made their way to their seats. Her gentle Scottish warrior. After so many years of posing as someone else, it felt so natural, so right, to look the part of a lady and to be escorted to the dinner by Alex Kerr. Lord help her, she could get used to such a feeling.

“Lady Emma,” he said, bowing once again as he released her arm and pulled out the

empty seat next to the youngest Waryn.

His own seat was on the other side of Geoffrey’s. She watched him make his way there, her eyes taking in his fine figure in his evening clothes. He was dressed more formally than normal, the surcoat he wore stopping short of his waist, shorter than most men’s. His white undershirt deliciously complimented his tanned skin. Emma leaned in toward her.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she accused, the mischievous sparkle in her eyes putting Clara immediately on the defensive.

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

She nodded to the cupbearer, who filled her cup with a deep red wine.

“He’s a fine man,” Emma whispered. “For a Kerr,” she added.

“Your brother is married to a Kerr,” she reminded her, stealing a glance at Alex, who appeared to be in deep conversation with Geoffrey. But just as she was about to look away, he caught her eye.

And winked!

The Scotsman was incorrigible. Every person in the hall would know of their ‘affinity’ by the end of the evening.

“You’ve met Lady Catrina,” Emma said eagerly.

“Aye, your brother is quite lucky.”

“They are both lucky,” she responded, glancing at Sara, who smiled and nodded in agreement.

“I understand you have another brother?”

“Neill is my twin,” Emma said, a wistfulness in her voice.

“You miss him.”

Clara took a sip of wine. Delicious. Though she’d forgotten how cumbersome the draped sleeves could be.

“Very much,” she said. “When we lived with my aunt and uncle, after. . . well, after we lost Bristol, we were inseparable. I love all of my brothers, but Neill. . .

“Where is he now?” Clara thought she’d heard something about him being fostered.

“At Langford Castle.”

“Langford,” Clara repeated. “I’ve not heard of it.”

“It was once a Caiser holding, but it was given to a man by the name of Sir Adam Dayne many years ago. He was fostered by my grandfather. ’Tis an interesting tale—”

Emma was cut off by the appearance of the first course.

The first of many.

“I’ve not eaten so much in one sitting,” Clara said much later, after the food had finally stopped coming. With every passing moment, she relaxed just a bit more. Emma was an easy companion, and their ‘forced’ friendship felt like it was fast becoming a real one. As Sara had said, the visitors at the banquet were limited to two wealthy merchants passing through Kenshire to the border. The others were all Kenshire knights, retainers, and servants. It should be safe.

“’Tis nice to see you smile,” Emma commented.

Clara immediately looked at Alex.

“He does appear in good humor most often. I’m not surprised he and Bryce did not get along very well.”

Clara thought it might have more to do with their shared history than their dispositions, though she did agree Sir Bryce appeared somewhat surly. But she kept that thought to herself.