Everything I Do: a Robin Hood romance (Rosa Fitzwalter Book 1) by M.C. Frank Page B

speaking to himself, a moment later.
    “What?” she asked, almost visibly gasping for breath..
    “That is where your loyalties lie, fair Rosa,” he pronounced in a voice quiet and astonished. “I should have known. It was always thus, wasn’t it? From the very first. And I thought all this time… I wanted to kill the villain personally, did you know that? I wanted to kill Robin Hood for being the cause of your suffering, of your death almost. Damn, it was him that should have been hurt that day, not you. But apparently I was wrong.” He brought his fist vehemently down on his thigh.
    “I would gladly have laid down my life for Robin Hood that time and any other time, if that is what you mean,” she replied, a hand pressing her aching side.
    Only then did he realize what the matter was.
    “Good God, is it hurting you? Your injury?” his eyes examined her, his expression dark with concern.
    “I’m better now, I think it’s passed.” She took another careful breath. Yes, the pain had definitely grown less intense. She closed her eyes in thankful relief.
    “I did not know it still troubled you…” he murmured, frowning.
    “It doesn’t, really,” she replied dismissively. “I only suffer some rare attacks, usually caused by uneven breathing, or some extreme agitation. The left lung is quite destroyed, you know.”
    “Attacks?” He persisted, much to her discomfort. “Of what kind?”
    “Of black, intense pain, if you must know.”
    “It appears to me you take no small amount of pride in this,” he said slowly, observing her.
    “Indeed, you are correct, Sir Hugh. I consider it to be the great accomplishment of my life.”
    Silence reigned for a minute after this emphatic statement. A nightly breeze stirred a few stray hairs that had escaped her elaborate braids, and she lifted her burning cheeks to the blissful coolness it brought with it.
    “Why?” Sir Hugh burst out suddenly, anger darkening his eyes. “I mean, I have never made the mistake of comparing you to other women, but still this act was by far the most heroic deed I have ever heard about, and I have seen my share of battle. Such a brave, fearless risk you took, probably knowing you might meet your end by it, too. Why? What has this robber done to inspire such unbelievable courage in your heart, to earn your loyalty unto… well, death, literally?”
    “He has given me hope.” She answered simply, a faint smile softening her features. “He made me believe in goodness again. And justice. You know,” she continued after a moment’s pause, since he didn’t seem to be inclined to speak, “I sincerely believe that everyone, from the poorest waif to a king, both men and women, everyone needs a worthy cause to live for. To believe in, to fight for and even to die for if necessary. Life acquires meaning when one lives for something worth dying for. Robin Hood is that to me.”
    He regarded her in silence for a few minutes; admiration, respect and incredulity mingling in his expression. Finally, a thought seemed to strike him and he spoke angrily again.
    “I… I cannot even begin to imagine the gratitude, the guilt… the pain this injury of yours would- or must I say should- have caused to he who is responsible for it, even if he thought it was accidental, which were not the case. If, of course he were a man of honor-”
    Rosa interrupted him abruptly.
    “He doesn’t know!” she cried.
    Sir Hugh looked at her for a moment and then laughed a dry, harsh laugh.
    “Of course he doesn’t,” he said. “God, how could I have thought otherwise, knowing you as I do? Of course the coarse, uncivilized oaf has no idea whatsoever.”
     
    …
     
    Rosa wouldn’t have thought it possible, but some miracle must have occurred.
    It was the next day and here she was, riding into the forest a few hours before sunset, her heart lifted almost to the skies.
    Was it possible that the man was actually telling the truth when he spoke of having true, honest