Page 17

“Apologies? For being exhausted?” He sighed. “It is I who should apologize. Our pace has been brutal, and I’m sorry for it.”

“You are anxious to get home?”

He didn’t answer immediately. Phillipa could tell he was guarding his next words.

“I need to get back up north, aye,” was all he said. “But tonight you shall sleep in a real bed. We should make Brookhurst Manor by nightfall.”

Their eyes locked.

“And then?” she asked.

“And then I will introduce you to a dear friend of my uncle’s.”

“Your family has many friends scattered about England, it seems.”

And Scotland too, but he’d not point that out to her.

“I’ve a large family,” he acknowledged. She waited for him to expand on that,“My mother was an only child but my father has two brothers, Bryce and Neill, and a sister, Emma. We visit an old friend of Emma’s husband.

“I’ve heard of Sir Neill Waryn.”

“Of course. Everyone has heard of my uncle Neill.”

“And his son, Sir Blase.”

“My cousin is an even more skilled tourney player than his father, aye.” He paused. “We’ve discussed this before, Phillipa. If you wish to ask me something, there is no need to hold back.”

“Your Uncle Bryce. He is the one who lives at the border?”

She was surprised he revealed so much. “You are hesitant to answer.”

“I am,” he admitted, looking at her as if he found her enticing. As if maybe he’d been disappointed she’d fallen asleep before he returned to the room last eve.“Should I be?”

She pulled the coverlet to her chin, aware her answer was too delayed. “We find ourselves in an unfortunate position as husband and wife,” she said finally. “Do we not?” It was not something she’d have said to him three days ago. She found it easier and easier to be honest with him.

“Do you know why the king facilitated our marriage?”

“Your family is a powerful one,” she hedged. “And he wished to reward mine for its service.”

“Perhaps.” He did not seem angered that she avoided the question.Haydn stood. “And because he does not trust you,” she added. “Or your parents, more like.”

“Because?”

“Because of your connection to Clan Kerr. Your aunt, is it not?”

He seemed surprised she knew of the connection. “My father’s brother Bryce married the clan chief’s sister, Lady Catrina. They were enemies,” he said, “for many years. Bristol Manor had once belonged to my family, but as with many properties along the border, it changed hands, into the Kerrs’. When my father and Uncle Bryce took it back. . .” He hesitated with the next part of the story but continued.“The chief’s sister was caught in the crosshairs. Taken captive. By my uncle Bryce.”

She must have looked horrified, but Haydn laughed. “That was many years ago. And not long before they fell in love and married. No need to worry for my aunt Catrina. She is tougher than any man I know. Raised among brothers, she cusses more than all of them combined. And gave my uncle Bryce a time of it, from what I understand.”

“And now. . .”

“And now she and her family are our family. My cousins are like siblings. We call her three brothers ‘uncle’ and their children ‘cousin’ even though ’tis through marriage. Once enemies, our family and the Kerrs are now allies strengthened by blood.” He stopped there. It seemed that was all he would say on the matter.

“You will protect them, including your Scots relatives, above all.”

He did not need to answer her. The truth of her words resonated in their very presence here, in this inn. Hayden stood.

“Then you understand how I feel about my sister. She is ten and six, and I was her closest companion.”