"Surely it will be completely safe with you and Colin here." Anna looked at him with pleading eyes. "You could have the guards bind his hands behind his back."
"Very well." Neacal glanced to him. "If Colin agrees."
"As long as he is bound, I don't see any harm in it. But, ladies, don't get your hopes up. He could be a very skilled liar."
"We'll bring him in here along with two guards," Neacal said. "But for your own safety, neither of you are to go near him."
A quarter hour later, two guards escorted Ralston into the library, his hands bound behind his back. Colin observed as Ralston smiled first at Kristina and then at Anna.
As Anna stared intently at Ralston, her mouth dropped open, and her hand flew up to cover it. Colin wanted to ask her what was going through her mind. Did he look familiar to her?
Ralston bowed. "Ladies, I'm glad to see you are both well, except for… Lady Kristina, where did you get such a horrible bruise?"
Kristina turned toward him. "Red Holme struck me, but I'm recovering. How are you? Were you injured?"
"Nay. Only a few scrapes and bruises." Ralston's attention shifted. "Lady Anna… or should I call you Lady MacCromar? I'm pleased to meet you."
She seemed to get her surprise under control. "Annais fine. You told the chief you are our half-brother?"
"Aye. I don't believe my mother would lie on her deathbed. A priest was there as well, giving her last rites."
"I'm so sorry for your loss," Anna whispered, her eyes still searching his face.
Ralston gave a brief bow.
"Does he look like us, sister?" Kristina asked.
"Aye. He has blue eyes, like you. And his hair is a shade of dark blond. He resembles Da a great deal, especially his strong chin and jawline."
"I knew it!" Kristina smiled. "You seemed like a brother to me soon after I met you, Ralston."
"Well, I knew you were my sister then, but I could not reveal this information. I was simply trying to keep you safe from Blackburn and Holme."
"You did a good job, and I appreciate that."
"How old are you?" Anna asked.
"Twenty summers."
Kristina drew in a quick breath. "The same age as me."
"Aye." Anna frowned, her mouth tightening.
"What month were you born?" Kristina asked him.
"September."
"I was born in March." Kristina's brow furrowed. "Our da was a bit of a rogue, apparently."
"How could he have been unfaithful to Ma?" Anna demanded.
"I know not, but you cannot blame Ralston," Kristina said.
"I don't blame him. I simply thought Da the most honorable of men." Anna appeared devastated by this news.
Colin wished he could say something to offer consolation, but he knew not what. Some men did not take their marriage vows seriously, especially when they did not have a love match. He truly believed his own father had always been faithful to his mother, for they loved one another. And that was what Colin wanted, himself.
"Even if Ralston is your brother, how do we know for certain we can trust him?" Neacal asked.
