Chapter Twenty Eight
“I’m terribly nervous, Rose,” Elizabeth said as she stood with Rose and Tristan on the forecastle of the Messenger. “What if your family doesn’t like me because I’m English.”
Rose wrapped her arm around Elizabeth’s shoulder. “I’ve told ye before, my family is going to love ye.”
Elizabeth nodded, but the frown did not leave her face. “I believe you, but I am still nervous.”
Rose considered how best to soothe away Elizabeth’s fears. “It might relieve ye to know that three of my four sisters-in-law are English; two are nobly born.”
Tristan raised his brows at her. “How is it that English ladies are married to Scottish commoners?”
Rose shifted on her feet. She had yet to inform her husband about her family’s colorful history. “Well…ye see, there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation…” Her words trailed off. What was she going to tell him now? That her brothers were wanted men. That they hid out on a small island in the Hebrides because they would be drawn and quartered if ever they were caught.
Tristan canted his head as he studied her. “Why do I have the feeling that you’re hiding something from me?”
She opened her mouth, but no words came out. How did she even begin?
“Philip,” Tristan said, calling down to the main deck. Philip turned about, giving his captain his attention.
“You’re in command,” Tristan said. Then he gently gripped Rose and Elizabeth’s arms and led them down to the captain’s cabin. “Both of you, sit on the bed so I can fit in the room.”
Rose’s heart thundered in her chest as she sat down and scooted back to allow room for Elizabeth.
Tristan closed the door, then turned to her. “Rose,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. “What have you not told me?”
She cleared her throat. “I really should have told ye about my family before ye married me.” A burst of a hysterical laugh fled her lips. “But ‘tis too late now. Oh God,” she groaned. “I am so sorry, Tristan.”
His composure did not falter as he reached for her hand. “I love you, Rose. There is nothing you could say to change that. I vow, now and always, to protect you, and to stand by you and your family. Do ye ken?” he said with a smile.
She nodded and took a deep breath.
“So out with it,” he pressed her. “What is your secret?”
The words burst from her lips. “My brothers are secret rebels for the cause.”
“What is the cause?” Elizabeth asked, her avid gaze locking with Rose’s.
“The cause for Scottish independence,” Rose answered. “There are many supporters of the cause who are publicly known, but then, there is a secret band of rebels, led by Abbott Matthew. How many he commands, I do not know, but my brothers are all counted in that number.”
“Is that all?” Tristan asked.
She shook her head.
“Go on, then,” he said simply.
She took a deep breath. “In the beginning, they were thieves, robbing English nobles on the road north into Scotland.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened in alarm. “Thieves!”
Rose held out a placating hand. “Not ordinary thieves, Elizabeth. They did not steal to fill their own coffers. They became highwaymen to fight against the tyranny of King Edward, giving their gains to the abbot and to those in need, orphans exiled after the massacre and the like. I swear to ye both, they are men of honor.”
Tristan scratched his jaw. “Did Abbot Matthew send Ian to London?”
Rose pressed her lips together before she nodded.
He looked at her pointedly. “So then, after the wedding, when Ian asked me for passage for himself and Ramsay and their cargo of ‘this and that’, were they carrying out some kind of mission for the cause?”
She cleared her throat. “Aye, that is correct.”
Elizabeth’s eyes nigh bulged from her head. “Ian was on a secret mission when we met.” Then she leaned closer to Rose. “Are your other brothers on missions right now, too?” she asked eagerly.
Rose shook her head. “I suppose ye might say they’re retired.”
Tristan arched his brow at her. “Meaning?”
Rose swallowed hard. “Meaning, they’re all wanted men.”
Tristan’s eyes widened in surprise. “Yer brothers are all outlaws?”
Rose nodded. “Aye, they are.” She scooted to the edge of the bed. “Now that ye know, why don’t Elizabeth and I change for—”
“Rose,” Tristan interrupted.
“Aye.”
“Besides robbing nobles on the road north into Scotland, what else have your brothers done?”
Rose took another deep breath. “They may have broken into the King’s Palace and stolen his treasure from the Chapter House of the abbey.”
Tristan smiled. “I heard about that. Edward was in an uproar. That was your brothers?”
She held her breath and nodded.
“I will be proud to shake their hands,” he said, surprising her.
She smiled up at him. “That’s it? Yer fine with all this? Ye still love me?”
He leaned down and cupped her cheek. “I didn’t know I could love you more, Rose, but somehow knowing your brothers are responsible for robbing King Edward, makes me love you all the more,” he teased before he kissed her.
“There is something I still do not understand,” Elizabeth said.
Pulling her gaze away from Tristan’s loving eyes, Rose turned to her sister.
“How did two of your brothers come to marry English noblewomen?”
Rose laughed, “I will let Catarina and Bella tell ye themselves.”