Page 98 of His Betrothed
“We’re both fine now,” he said softly, and she clung to him with gratitude to God for keeping him safe.
Alex pointedly cleared his throat. “My turn foranswers. So you’re alive, Spence. I was beginning to wonder.”
As Spencer faced his brother, Roselyn stayed beneath his arm, at his side. She realized that this was the first time the brothers had seen each other in well over a year. But there wereno hugs, no warm greetings. She sensed a wariness between them.
Spencer briefly told his brother everything that had happened to him as a Britishagent, as well as Roselyn’s encounter with Rodney Shaw.
Alex’s frown deepened and he rested his head back against the pillow. “So this Shaw is going to claim that you murdered all those British spies, and you’re going to claim that he did it.”
“’Tis not a claim,” Spencer said tightly. “I saw it—and he tried to do the same to me.”
“But if you can’t prove it, you’ll lose your head at Tower Hill.”
“How kind of you to remind me.”
Alex swung his legs over the bed and stood up, wrapping the sheet about him with such obvious practice that Roselyn didn’t even have time to be embarrassed.
“And because I aided you in this deception,” Alex continued coldly, “This could very well be a twin execution.”
Leaning on his cane, Spencer stepped in front of Alex. “Do not worry yourself, brother. Thequeen knows how small your part in this has been. If anyone loses his head, it will be me.”
“Gentlemen,” Roselyn quickly said, stepping between them, “we have a problem to solve, and I think I know just how to do it.”
But before she could procure the Spanish letter, they heard a sudden pounding, then the splintering of wood. The brothers looked briefly at each other, before Alex dropped hissheet and reached for his clothes.
With a gasp, Roselyn covered her eyes.
“Sorry, but I’m not going to meet our guests quite so exposed,” Alex said.
In the distance, they heard a maidservant’s cry, then the pounding of booted feet on the stairs. Spencer suddenly grabbed her arms and held her still.
“Do not say a word to them,” he said urgently.
“But who is it?”
“Probably soldiers. You arenot a part of this and I will not have you endangered.”
“But Spencer, I have something to tell you!”
Before any more words could leave her mouth, the door was thrown open and the room was suddenly full of soldiers wearing plated brigantine and waving muskets and pikes. Spencer shoved her behind him, and she wanted to scream when he was pulled from her and forced to his knees while they boundhim from behind.
“On whose authority do you imprison me?” Spencer demanded.
“By Her Majesty’s authority, my lord,” said one of the soldiers. “You’re to be held for questioning.”
Alex, wearing only a shirt and wide, loose breeches over his hose, was similarly restrained. “Let me at least put on my boots,” he said with a growl.
“Iam Spencer Thornton,” Spencer said. “You want me, not my brother.”
Although Alex shot Spencer a speculative look, the captain merely said, “We cannot tell the difference between you. Better that we make a small mistake than a large one.”
Roselyn stood beside the bed, clutching one of the tall posts, wondering if the queen had turned against Spencer. She felt useless, able only to cower like a weak woman while the brothers were led toward the door.
“Where areyou taking them?” she demanded.
She immediately regretted her bravery when more than one soldier turned her way. Spencer looked over his shoulder, giving her a narrow-eyed warning.
“Lord Thornton has a broken leg!” she said. “Please, at least take his cane.”
