“I wanted to send more messages, but I was hardly at liberty.” She pointed at the door.

John followed her with a curious face. “That’d be my next question. If you’re not a prisoner, why is there a guard outside your door?”

“There are normally two guards outside my door.”

“There was only one,” he said guiltily. “I may have clobbered him.”

“Oh dear.”

“Why are they guarding you if you’re here on your own?”

“They’re not guarding me.” She could be proud of this one. “They’re afraid of me. The Captain of the Guard thinks I may be a spy, so he has them watch me day and night. If it weren’t so annoying it would be quite flattering. But if I sent Sir Amon again, they would have known. And then they would have found you.”

John humphed. Finally he took the glass of water and stood, stretching his back and slapping his arms. She noticed a wet dark circle at his side. “You’re bleeding.”

“Probably.”

“Let me see that,” she reached out, but he twisted away.

“It’s nothing.” He stretched his body around to prove it. “But I’m too old for this. Maybe ten years ago, but I’m not as strong as I remember myself.”

Marion tugged at his lapel, straightening it out. “Don’t sell yourself short.”

He sighed and patted her leg, leaning back and taking in the room again. “So he’s not so bad then, this William de Wendenal?”

“Not at all.” Marion thought on it. In the admittedly short time she had known him, William had shown a degree of responsibility and temperance she had rarely seen. “He reminds me quite a bit of Robin.”

John didn’t respond, but held her gaze. He always had that way of looking into someone’s eyes, deeper, as if he were reading a person’s soul. “But you don’t love William.”

She had to look away. “There is that distinction.”

“Marion—”

“It’s fine.”

In many ways, William was a better man than Robin. But circumstance had given William an opportunity to use his talents for good, while Robin had always struggled with his place in life. Still, John was right. Love had little regard for logic.

“You were lucky, John. You and Marley shared so much together. Not everyone has the luxury of marrying someone they love. It’s a silly thing. William is a loyal and decent man. And he’s pretty, I like pretty things.” She tried to get John to laugh, but he no longer seemed interested. “In his own way, at least. I could certainly end up with a lot worse.”

“I think that may be why Robin wants to rescue you.”

“Why?”

“He probably loves you.”

“He probably does.”