Robbie struggled to control his temper. Something he seemed to be doing quite a bit around Lady Rosalin Clifford. The lass was as bad as Seton.
Though he’d overheard only the last few words, it wasn’t hard to figure out what they were talking about. He might be impressed at how quickly she’d identified a sympathetic ear if he weren’t so furious about it. The last thing he and Seton needed was more discord between them; it was even more reason for the lass to be on her way.
He should have guessed after the way she’d refused to let go of the boy in Norham that she would be difficult about this. Her protectiveness toward the lad was commendable, but God’s breath, did she have any idea of the concession he was making in letting her go with nothing in return? Douglas wouldn’t be the only one who was furious—the king, too, would have some questions. Questions Robbie would be hard pressed to answer without revealing what she’d done for him. Something that he suspected she might not want known.
But the lass was right. He did owe her. And Robbie Boyd always paid his debts. That was one thingallthe English could bloody well count on.
He would still have the lad. Clifford would pay with or without the lass.
He tamped down the urge to tell her that the matter wasn’t open for debate and instead turned to Seton. “Take the lad to the cave and get it ready for the night. I want two men posted at the entrance at all times in four-hour shifts.”
Robbie saw the frightened exchange of glances between the lass and lad and wasn’t as immune to their unwarranted fear as he wanted to be.
“But—”
He didn’t let her finish. “Your aunt will be along shortly,” he said to the boy, relieving them both. “Lady Rosalin and I have something to discuss.” He looked at Douglas and Randolph. “Alone.”
The boy looked to her, and she nodded. “Go. I’ll be fine. The captain has given us his word that no harm will come to us.”
From the way her gaze flickered to Douglas’s, Robbie suspected she’d said it just as much for his friend’s benefit as for his.
With obvious reluctance the boy did as he bade, casting worried glances over his shoulder until he disappeared into the misty darkness.
Randolph and Douglas followed with nearly as much heel digging. “You and I will talk later,” the latter said in a voice that promised a reckoning.
There were perhaps a handful of men in this world who would not be intimidated by a threat from the Black Douglas; Robbie was one of them. He met his friend’s gaze unflinchingly. Douglas might not like it, but that wasn’t going to stop him from letting the lass go.
The exchange, however, had a different effect on Lady Rosalin. The fear that she’d been making such an effort to contain returned full force. She watched Douglas walk away as if he were a snake coiled and ready to strike. As soon as he was gone, she turned to Robbie. “What does he mean to do with us?”
He sat opposite her on the stump vacated by Seton. “Nothing. You are under my protection. You have nothing to fear from Douglas.”
She made a sharp sound that was halfway between a laugh and a choke. “Doesheknow that?”
Robbie almost smiled before he caught himself. “Don’t worry about Douglas. I’ll take care of him.”
She eyed him warily, clearly not sure whether to believe him.
He had to fight the urge to reassure her, which was sure as hell not anything he’d ever felt compelled to do with a hostage before. Of course, he’d never had a woman as a hostage before. A woman who was so beautiful it was hard to look at her without his blood heating.
What the hell was wrong with him? She wasEnglish, damn it. Clifford’s sister. The enemy.
His mouth tightened. “Go home, Lady Rosalin. I’ve given you what you asked for. I suggest you take it.”
“I asked for you to releasebothof us. I will not leave Roger here alone.”With you, she didn’t need to add. Her gaze turned imploring. “Please, won’t you just let us go?”
He couldn’t, even if he wanted to. This was too important. He’d been handed a way to bring Clifford in line, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to throw it back—not all of it, at least. The king was counting on him.
“You heard Douglas. You should consider yourself fortunate that I’ve decided to let you go. Your brother is causing trouble. Your nephew will ensure it stops.”
“Then keep me and let him go.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“The boy is more valuable. You might be his sister, but Roger is his heir.”
“To most men, perhaps, but not my brother. He loves me. He’ll do anything—”
