Chapter three: Guy's manor and manners
Meg decided that she'd call on Guy to give him an update to Marian's condition. She had no trouble finding her way to his house. The villagers were able to point out where he was instantly. She approached to find his house being swarmed by soldiers.
One of them approaches her. "Halt!" He has his hand on his sword hilt. "State your business."
She glowers at him. "My name is lady Meagan Bennett and I have business with Sir Guy. If you fear for your life, you'll let me through this instance!" The man stepped aside. Meg smiled as she added a snap of authority in her voice. "Good. Now go and find him for me this instance!"
The man scurries off and she rolls her eyes as she moves towards the house. Finding the side door open and soldiers taking it off its hinges, she steps inside the manor. "Oh my word," she shook her head in appreciation as she surveyed the manor. It was a beautiful manor. It was a two-story building, it had a few sticks of furniture, but she could see the potential the house would have as soon as Marian was the mistress of this house. "this is a lovely little place."
"You like it?" Guy rumbled directly behind her ear, causing her to jump. She turns towards him as he frowns. "What?"
"God, you're quite. You ought to give a girl a bit of a warning before you sneak up on them." She removed her cloak. "However, this place is a bit of a sight. When was it last cleaned?"
"Cleaned?" Guy looked at her as if the idea of having someone clean his manor had never occurred to him.
"Yes, cleaned." She groaned. "You cannot bring your bride here tomorrow night with it in this state. You'll give the impression that you married her to be your housekeeper instead of your wife." She looks around the room and claps her hands together. "Have one of your men find me a bucket, rags, a cake of soap and vinegar."
Now, he looks completely perplexed. "Vinegar? What on earth for?"
"For the floors and the woodwork," she explained as she rolled up her sleeves past her elbows. "of course."
He shakes his head. "Oh no you don't, vinegar is an acid. I won't have it eating my floors away."
She snorts and rolls her eyes. "You use vinegar to refine the wood, make it look like new. It's a little something I picked up in a visit when my aunt to Italy. Now hop to it!" Guy's eyes widened slightly. "And yes, I did just tell you what to do and I'm going to tell you again until you do it. Now go on!"
He groans in aggravation. "This is my house, and true, you are Marian's friend and guest," she can hear his patience is running thin. "but I warn you, I will not tolerate being ordered around in my own house."
"If that was to frighten me, you didn't succeed." Meg pushed up her sleeves and took her cloak to hang it up. "Now, go on. And see if they can find a woman or two in the village to help, I'm willing to pay them handsomely for their troubles." He opened his mouth but she waved him silent. "I won't hear a word of it. Now go! And get your men onto repairing that door."
He let out a groan and stomped off. She heard him mutter something under his breath. She wasn't sure what he said, but she was certain that it was something like stupid girl. "Get out and scour the country for the night watchman." Guy snapped as the soldiers walked away with the broken door. "I want him found by sunset!" she rolled her eyes as she went up the stairs. "Marian."
She paused at the mention of Marian's name. Marian shouldn't be here in her condition. "I am quite well."
"Uhm, a robbery. Small thing, but I've taken extra precautions, you'll be safe."
"I hope they've not taken anything important."
Marian enters the manor, with Guy right behind her. Meg flattens herself up against the wall where she can't be seen. "I'll get it back." The darkness in Guy's voce is enough to ensure her that he meant it.
After a few moments of awkward science, Marian speaks. "Sir Guy," she frowns. Why was she calling him Sir? After all, they were supposedly getting married tomorrow morning. "I must ask you a difficult question. "
She can practically envision the smirk on Guy's face. "I'm intrigued."
"Did you try and kill the king in the holy land?" Meg's eyes widen in surprise. Guy is silent. However, since she cannot see his face, she isn't certain if it's a sign of guilt or if he's shocked at Marian's question. "Is it true that last year you were not in quarantine with a fever, but that you traveled to the holy land? You and the others, dressed as Saracen's and tried to kill the king."
"Robin hood." He says tightly.
"What of him?" she can practically envision Marian squirming uncomfortably.
"Been talking to him?"
She is almost certain that she catches a hint of sadness in his voice. As if, a part of him knows that Marian and Robin still have some kind of unrequited feelings for each other. Marian was able to keep her voice firm. "This is a rumor which has been circulating and I need an answer. I could not marry you if it were true."
That's when Marian made her mistake. Even if it had been true, Marian had now put him in a position to lie. He had no choice to lie to her now, because she'd forced him into it. She hadn't given him a chance to answer honestly. She made it clear that forgiveness was not an option for her and she'd break her vow.
"Rumors Marian." Meg knew in that moment, he had gone to the Holy Land. She could hear it. But she wasn't going to accuse him. After all, she was a member of the Spanish Court and the few members of her family resided in Ireland. Why should she care if the English killed English royalty? He and Marian both had their secrets; he deserved to keep one to his heart. He loved Marian, he could change. "You need to be more careful of whom you listen to." He walked around Marian slowly, gauging her. "The day the king returns, is a day of joy for me." She did not doubt that. Marian surely must hear that. "It is the day I marry you."
Marian is still somewhat unconvinced. "I am not sure."
"Well," Guy said slowly. "you must be sure.
"But-
"Have you not seen what you do to me?" Guy asked Marian as he gazed into her eyes. "My passion for you?" Marian trembled as he leaned forward to kiss her on the mouth. His lips had barely touched hers before she leaned away. "I have never felt like this before."
Marian suddenly had the urge to leave. "I must go."
"Stay." Guy asked her, a plea in his hoarse voice.
"I must go." Meg shook her head. If any man had asked her to stay the way Guy had, she would have gladly done so! No. Not Marian! Marian wanted to get out of his sight as soon as possible.
Guy catches a hold of her arm. "Not until you tell me you believe me."
Marian speaks hurriedly. "I believe you." She smiles at Guy before turning and walking swiftly out of the manor.
Meg moves towards the window and watches Marian walk away. Marian brings her hand up and wipes Guy's kiss off her lips. She exhaled and shook her head sadly. Marian, how could she treat the man like that? She let him believe that she had some affection for him, when clearly, he fill her with revolt. She would talk to Marian tonight; demand that she be honest with Guy. If not, then at least tell him that her heart wasn't ready for his affection. ask him for a while longer, to wait for her heart to be free to love him unconditionally.
