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“Nay, tell me here. Please.”
“Bothwell has been imprisoned for killing your father.”
He’d not imagined telling her precisely like this, but Neill did not want to hold her in suspense any longer. He wanted her to rest easy with the knowledge her father’s murderer had been caught.
He told her then of all that had transpired, including his audience with the king. Her eyes widened when he spoke of Bothwell’s sudden appearance.
“When the king called for a guard to escort me from the hall, I thought I would be visiting Edinburgh’s dungeon next. I was taken to a chamber as a ‘guest of the king’s,’ where I waited for hours. It wasn’t until late that evening that I was escorted back to the king, this time in his solar. He informed me that Bothwell had denied all charges, of course, but one of his men had buckled under the king’s questioning.
He hesitated, unsure whether or not he should share the details.
She deserved to know all that had transpired.
“The man who actually killed your father . . .”
She sucked in a breath.
Neill reached for Kathryn, pulling her against him.
“He confessed quite easily, I’m told. Alexander assured me Bothwell would receive ‘a king’s justice’ and that he would renew his oath to Edward, which he’d intended to do before learning about Bothwell. I expect the message has already been delivered.”
He pulled back, watching for her reaction.
“Bothwell has been imprisoned?”
“Aye. As has the man who carried out his orders.”
“The oath of fealty. King Alexander will give it.”
“Aye.”
She shivered in his arms. Neill cradled her against his chest, soaking in her presence, the warm, soft feel of her. The smell of sea air wafted up to them.
“This changes nothing between us,” she said.
“It serves only to hasten Edward’s reward. One I was most grateful to have been given, but no longer.”
She pulled away to look up at him.
“You can bring peace to the border.”
“Nay, not I. The borderlands alone can do that.”
“But you can provide the conditions to make it happen.”
“Aye.”
“By marrying Lady Alina.”
“Never.”
He said it emphatically, for he felt emphatic. They would find another way. He could live with no other conclusion.
“Thank you.”
He barely heard the whisper that sent shivers through him. Her gratitude was more valuable to him than any tournament he’d ever won. It had sent him to Edinburgh, to the Scottish royal court. He’d go anywhere to defend her.
He closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of her, a scent he’d come to love more than any other.
