He gave her a sad look. “He died two days after we escaped.”
Rosalin’s heart squeezed, more stricken by his answer than she would have believed. Learning that her efforts to save him hadn’t been enough made what she’d done seem so much worse. “I’m sorry.”
He nodded. “He was a good man.”
She did not doubt it. “Might I know your name?”
“Sir Alexander—Alex—Seton, my lady.”
He was a knight? She must have shown her surprise. One side of his mouth lifted in a wry smile that held a hint of sadness. “I know it doesn’t seem that way, but we are not all brigands.”
There was more than a little bitterness in his tone, which she thought it better not to explore. At least not yet. But it was clear that if she hoped to find a friend from among the rebels, this man would be her best prospect.
Suddenly, she realized what else he’d said. Her eyes widened. “Seton? Were you related to Sir Christopher?”
He looked down at the fire, prodding it with a stick. “He was my brother.”
He said it matter-of-factly, but she sensed the deep emotion underlying the simple words.
Her shock was complete. Like Wallace, Sir Christopher Seton had been one of the great Scot heroes in the early days of the war. Losing Sir Christopher’s brother would have been nearly as big a blow to Cliff as losing Robbie Boyd. “My brother didn’t know?”
Sir Alex shook his head. “Circumstances…Well, suffice it to say I had reasons for not making my name well known at the time. In the chaos and confusion of the surrender, no one made the connection. I was lucky. Others were not.”
The sick feeling in her stomach grew along with her guilt. Now she had not only the release of Robbie Boyd on her list of grievous betrayals of her brother and country, but Sir Christopher Seton’s brother as well.
He must have guessed her thoughts. “Thank you for what you did for us, my lady. I owe you my life. We all do.”
His gratitude was so graciously given, she could not refuse it. She bowed her head. “You are welcome.” Her gaze slid over to Boyd, who was still locked in conversation with the Black Douglas, and she shivered reflexively. “I wish all felt as you do.”
She turned back to Sir Alex in time to see his mouth harden. “I tried, my lady. If it were my command, you and the lad would have never been taken.” He paused, a tinge of resentment sneaking out. “But it isn’t my command.”
“Thank you for trying. Is there nothing more that can be—”
She stopped, stiffening, as a dark shadow fell across her. Good gracious, how had he gotten there so quickly?
She didn’t need to look to know who it was. The strange hum along her skin and spike in her pulse identified him. She resisted the urge to glance up and confirm it, guessing that her disinterest would bother him.
If the sharpness of his voice was any indication, it did. “Time for bed, my lady.”
There was nothing suggestive in his tone, but her stomach did a little flip anyway. She smothered a sharp intake of breath but wasn’t able to stop her face from paling. She looked up at him and knew from the glint in his eyes that he’d guessed her thoughts and was taking devilish pleasure in discomfiting her.
Why was he so angry with her? The dark look he directed at Sir Alex made her wonder if it had something to do with him.
“I’m not tired yet.” It couldn’t be much past seven o’clock. She stretched her feet close to the fire. “And my shoes aren’t dry.”
“If you wish to be returned to see your brother in the morning, you will go to bed now.”
Her shocked “What?” was drowned out by the half-dozen or so louder ones coming from the men around her. She didn’t know who was more stunned: her, Sir Alex, or the Black Douglas.
“You are releasing us?” she asked incredulously.
“Not ‘us,’ you.”
The Black Douglas exploded. “You can’t release her! Clifford will give his left arm for the chit.”
Rosalin’s gaze had immediately slid to her nephew on Boyd’s pronouncement. Although Roger was trying valiantly not to show his fear among the enemy warriors, she saw his face pale. Her heart went out to him. Despite the height and armor, he was still only a boy. As terrified as she was, she would not leave him.
“No!” She didn’t realize how loudly she’d spoken until all the men turned in her direction. With so many eyes upon her, heat rose to her cheeks. “I won’t go,” she said in a more moderate tone. “Not without Roger.”
