Then he knew he had failed. A moment unhinged and two revealing words had slipped out.
‘Then there’s only one other you care for,’ she whispered.
He looked away from her then; waited for the truth to be told through her.
‘Robert’s not dead, is he? William talked of how they never found his body; the Scots never sent his head to King Edward like they promised. Robert’s alive and you’re protecting him.’
A ragged sigh. Defeated. He was always defeated when it came to her. But maybe if he wasn’t clumsy he could make her understand and Robert could still be kept hidden.
She’d be lying to the King, and her honour would be blackened like his own. But Robert would live and so would she. Maybe if he told her everything she would fully appreciate why he did it and why he still had to die.
‘He’s alive. He’s alive and married to a Scot.’
Alice gasped.
‘So now you see why I had to keep this secret. They met...’ Rueful, he shook his head. ‘If so light of a word could be applied to them, they met when Robert investigated the massacre at Doonhill. Gaira and four children were still alive and surviving there. Scottish children, whose families had died at the hands of the English. He took them under his care, and along the way...’ He shrugged.
‘Where were you?’
‘I had followed Robert to Clan Colquhoun land, intending to rescue him, only to discover he wanted to stay. To marry. He was happy.’
‘And you couldn’t take that away from him?’
‘Never. But to ensure he kept that happiness he needed to be dead. So I showed Edward Robert’s ring he gave him, and detailed the devastation of Doonhill. I let him come to his own conclusions.’
‘And the Seal?’
‘I gained Edward’s trust that day, and I have been spying for him ever since. Inevitably, I was given secrets that would affect the Clan Colquhoun. I had the Half-Thistle Seal made to send a warning message to Robert.’
‘So the Half-Thistle Seal is only between you and Robert?’ At his nod, she continued. ‘And you doubt your honour?’
‘I’m lying to the King and will continue lying to the King.’
‘For love.’
‘For...friendship. I gave my word to him.’
‘You love him. You told William you fought by his side for years.’
‘I did. He lost someone very dear to him, and he left everything behind to fight by Edward’s side, and I fought with him. But we met long before that.’
‘When?’
‘After my father died, I had enough coin to buy myself into Edward’s Court, but rumours of my father followed me. As a result, I suffered at the hands of men like Allen—except these were well trained men with swords. Robert arrived when I could no longer defend myself. He didn’t say a word, or show his sword. He simply stood there and they all stopped. I immediately knew who he was. He’d already earned his spurs and a property. Can you imagine what I felt that day? I was poor, couldn’t fight properly, and Robert, who was almost a legend, saw me at my worst.’
‘How many beat you?’
‘I think four took me down and others followed. It felt like there were others.’ Hugh shook his head. ‘I was poor. Disadvantaged. I had dreams of making my mark by defeating all of them. But Robert gave them one quelling look and I realised that whatever skill he acquired, I wanted to learn it as well. I was his shadow after that, and he let me be. Along the way he told me he knew of my father, and then he told me of his.’
Hugh turned to see Alice’s steady grey gaze. So warm, but determined.
‘I know that look,’ Hugh said. ‘You’re intending to fix me. This isn’t a project. There’s nothing to repair.’
She threw up her hands. ‘Ofcoursethere’s something to repair. You have confided a great secret to me. I understand now.’
‘What do you understand?’
‘You did it for love. You’re not a traitor—you’re a man who protects. Who gave a vow to his friend and has been honouring it ever since, even at the expense of his own life.’
