Chapter 7


"What do you mean?"Loveday asked. "Do you know if he is alright?"

"I have no idea if he is well or not he doesn't stay here long enough to speak with."Coeur replied. "It's as if we only see him as a shadow."

"Well this is a peculiar situation"Sir Benjamin said.

"Why is it that you have come?"Coeur asked.

"Robin seems to have confronted a man who was with Maria."Loveday said her eyes cast down. "Although we don't know all of the details."

They spoke of what course of action to take for at least another hour, and they were still undetermined when Loveday and Sir Benjamin left in the carriage.

The many people who were spread out along the entire length of Moonacre valley couldn't be counted as many villages at sprung up after Maria had saved Moonacre, and they thrived. The Moon ball had been created by Maria after saving Moonacre, it was a sort of offering to Moon to let it know they would not again be corrupt by selfishness and greed, it was also a time for the people in the villages to have a good time and celebrate all the prosperity that had been brought to them over the past years. But along with the many good people that filled the villages there also came some rather evil characters.


~Robin's POV~

It was all I could do to keep going, just to keep following the deer farther and father into the woods, when it got to when the sun was beginning to go down, I would ride my horse back to the castle and begin again the next day where I had last seen the deer, and it was always there waiting for me, leading me farther away.

I knew my father was worried about me, but I hardly knew what do to about that. I was ashamed about how I reacted in front of Maria; although I did not regret getting a good one off on that pompous city boy.

I had to find him, I had to find that low lying thieving scum who hadn't even dared to show me his whole face.


~Maria's POV~

Maria sat in the parlor holding her french needlepoint, as she did it she thought of how she had scarred that boy who had tried to get her out of the carriage the first day they had arrived. Elijah was sitting next to her on the couch with a book in hand, except he seemed more interested her needlepoint than he did in his book. He kept on commenting on how small her stitches were, or how excellent her pattern was turning; he was leaning over towards her as often as he could, and kept finding more things to complement her, it was getting hard for her stand being his presence for long. It had been that way from the day he arrived, he stuck to her like glue and no matter how often, or how hard, she tried to pry him off he would always find some way to stick to her side.

He was just telling her about how his mother could make wonderful patterns with needlepoint and that Maria's skill was dreadfully close to hers. She could feel eye twitching slightly and a couple of her fingers as well; ready to make close hard contact with him when Loveday entered the room.

"Ah, Maria there you are."Thankful for an excuse Maria stood up, leaving her needlepoint, Elijah, and his comments to make her way to Loveday. "We need to get you fitted for the ball, and there are some details I would love your help. . ."

"Of course, Loveday."She said quickly, not letting Loveday finish. "I'd love to."

"Do you mind if I drag her away Elijah?"Loveday asked. A cold dread filled Maria when she heard this.

"No not at all, sounds like she has a busy day ahead of her."Elijah replied.

Loveday looped her arm around Maria's and started towards the door. "Come along then Maria, we have work to do."

Once they were out the door Maria whispered. "Thank you so much Loveday."

"Why do you feel the need to whisper?"Loveday whispered, with a knowing smile.

"Precaution."

Loveday let out an amused laugh.

The day went on without another interruption from Elijah, in fact Maria didn't even see Elijah for the rest of the day he didn't come to lunch or dinner, Digweed reported that Mister Elijah had gone out riding and said he would not return until after dark.

The whole of the day went to arrangements such as what food that needed to be prepared, table settings, and writing invitations. Maria's dress fitting had gone on uneventful, unless you called a few pin pricks eventful.

The day had gone by and Maria was lying in her bed staring at the fantastic ceiling and moldings of her room, she felt tired but couldn't quite fall asleep. She had tried everything but wasn't able to get her eyes to stay closed. She got out of her bed, fed up and ready to do something, she put on some pants and one of the dresses that had been left in the wardrobe; she still didn't have any of her London fashion, but the ones she had seemed to do for the occasion.

She quietly ran down the stairs holding on to her boots so there wouldn't a sharp tap when she stepped down the marble steps. She wasn't sure what had possessed her to go out at night the young lady that she was, she felt older then she was, she had been 14 when she had first arrived in Moonacre Valley, and now she was nearly 18(not that she knew that).

She made her way to the door and walked out looking at the stars that were spread out above her. She walked slowly through maze and when she made her way out of it she went further on until she was in front of the line of trees where the woods began, she walked along the edge of it just looking in at it and hearing the sounds of the nightlife, an owl hooting, crickets and cicadas, the sounds were oddly comforting.

She came up to a sort of overlook where she could see into a small valley that held a meadow. She blinked her eyes when she something glowing that was moving, she squinted to make out the figure. It was a horse, and not just any horse it was a unicorn.

It just stood there. Watching her.

(A/N) Well that was fun, How do you guys think the pacing is going? Should I speed it up? Please Review. :)