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“My destination is north. Dunbar, perhaps.”

Dunbar was just north of Brockburg. Even still. And yet . . . Neill stopped to consider his next words. Although he doubted she could keep the pace they had intended to set, they could afford a short delay. One or two days at most. And he’d never before refused a lady in need. After what he’d witnessed the night before, he thought it best for her to leave the inn. “Who would serve as your escort?”

“My escort?”

He knew her answer before she gave it. No one would accompany her, which meant she cared little for her reputation. Perhaps she was not so gently bred as he’d thought.

“I have none,” she confirmed.

“Your mount?”

She stared blankly at him.

No escort. No mount.

“Dunbar.” He sighed. “The border is no place for a lady.”

“The Wild Boar is no place for a lady. Though I am but a simple serving maid.”

Unlikely.

“The Wild Boar has been fortunate to avoid the turmoil happening all around, yet I cannot stay here.”

After what he’d witnessed, Neill could not blame her. But neither, under the circumstances, could he take her with him.

“I plan to attend a council in Brockburg and will be heading straight there, staying on the open road.”

“I’ve traveled as such many times before.”

“The pace will be brutal.”

“I will not slow you down.”

“You have no mount.”

“Perhaps I can share yours?”

She asked much of him. Too much.

“I’m sorry.” And he truly was. Something about the maid pulled at him. Nevertheless, the council was too important for him to risk that she could not travel as well as she claimed. “Good day, my lady.” Using the title he knew to be hers, Neill nodded in parting, wishing he could be of service.

He should not have looked back. Had he not done so, he would have missed her crestfallen expression, her appearance of defeat. That one look sealed his fate. And perhaps hers too.

Neill held out his hand, cursing himself for a fool.

The lady intrigued him and was much too beautiful for the close proximity they would be sharing. He was all but promised to another lady. And yet, he could not deny that he’d spent the night thinking of this woman, who did indeed mount behind him as if she’d done it many times before.

Kathryn Baird had at least been honest about her ability to ride. Only someone who had been raised around horses could maneuver one so well.

So many mysteries surrounding this woman, but it was not his place to learn them. She’d asked for an escort to Dunbar, and he would take her there, but he would not involve himself in any further intrigue.

He had a job to do and could not be distracted.

Chapter 5

“Lord?”

Neill watched as Kathryn bent down to the river, the hem of her gown no doubt wet by now. He’d warned her not to get too close.