Chapter Nine: The Kiss

Once at Locksley, Guy ordered the horses stabled and a Christmas lunch prepared. "Allan, you stay here and keep the Lady Marian company, while I show Lady Deirdre around Locksley."

"Well, I could do that for you, Guy." Allan volunteered. Deirdre lit up at his offer.

"It is my responsibility as Lord of Locksley. And it would give me pleasure." Guy's voice was low and menacing, a dog protecting its chew-bone.

Deirdre raised a brow and accepted Guy's gloved hand. Behind them, Allan quipped, "We'll see you soon, then. I mean, no disrespect or nothin', but there's not really that much to see, is there?"

Guy turned and glowered at Allan before he and Deirdre stepped back outside. Deirdre suppressed a giggle, but couldn't hide the smirk Allan's comment brought to her lips. Allan's ready smile and sarcasm were the day to Guy's solemn and almost shy night.

A cool wind had begun to blow as they had ridden toward Locksley and now made it a bit chilly walking around the village. Deirdre shuddered involuntarily and Guy reached over to put his arm solicitously on the small of her back to steer her.

"Over here is the smithy." As they went by, the warm air from the forges danced out to meet them. They walked by a few other buildings, mostly small farms. "Just here is the mill. Shall we step inside to warm up?"

Inside the granary was a bit warmer than the outside-at least the breeze was cut. Deirdre crossed over to the small window and opened the shutters to look out at the stream just below and the water wheel that ran the grinders for crushing the wheat into flour. Her cheeks were glowing from the sudden change in temperature.

"It really is quite a beautiful sight." She turned back to the room and found herself face to impressive chest with Guy.

"Yes, it is. Quite." Guy put his finger under her chin and tilted her head up as he lowered his to kiss her.

Deirdre resisted Guy's kiss at first, then gave in, feeling his lips become even more demanding as she surrendered to his assault. He really was quite a good kisser, all confident male, despite his outer appearances. She broke free, pushing her hands against his chest-such a strong chest-and ducking her head away as she gasped for air. This was exactly how she had planned things-to have the sheriff's captain of the guard develop feelings for her, and yet, it felt wrong. Which was also odd. How often have you not done something because it felt wrong? None. Never. Jamai. Riamh.

She risked a glance back up at his face. His handsome face. She swallowed hard to try to regain her composure. "Sir Guy, I'm sorry, I didn't realize that you…I mean, aren't you with Marian?"

Guy was breathing hard, trying to regain control of himself. His eyes were hazy with his feelings as his gaze locked on her face, dropping to her lips.

"Marian and I are…friends." He stroked her lips, pulling them open before he dipped his head for another taste. Deirdre began talking as she ducked her own head so his lips landed on her forehead.

"I see. I was under the impression that it was more than that."

Guy pulled back and chucked her chin once more to force her to look at him. "At one time, it was, but that is no longer the case."

Deirdre flushed at the desire written all over his face. Is is hot in here? It's awfully hot in here. "Sir Guy, I'm sorry. I am flattered, truly I am. You are everything a woman in my place could want—or the father of such a woman." She smiled up at him shyly. "You are handsome. You have land, wealth, power and ambition."

"But…"

Guy was looking down at her earnestly, the desire gone, replaced by pain. A wall seemed to brick itself up over his features even as she watched. He was used to pain and rejection, then. Damnable shame, that.

Deirdre decided to be honest with him, at least as honest as she could be right now, to spare him what pain she could by putting him out of his misery as quickly as possible. It was stupid and might destroy her plans. Even as she spoke the words, she cursed herself for ten kinds of fool. "But I have feelings for another."

"Allan." It was a statement, not a question, and Guy turned his head from her as he spoke Allan's name.

"Yes." She cringed inside, hoping she would be able to salvage something. Maybe being honest would earn his trust? Ha!

"You realize your father will never agree to such a union." Guy was still holding her, his closeness disturbing.

"It's possible. It's also possible that he'll be so happy that I'm showing interest in a man, that he may overlook Allan's…breeding." Deirdre smiled impishly at him and Guy's lips pulled up in a lopsided grin.

"I appreciate your honesty. More than you could ever know. So I will do the same for you. If your father should…disagree…with your choice, I will gladly step in and offer for your hand myself. Locksley is small, but I have ambitions for much more." He stepped away, allowing Deirdre to move once more.

"Thank you, Sir Guy. Should Allan not reciprocate my feelings or should my father disapprove of the match, I do believe you would be of great…comfort…to me." Deirdre stepped away from the window.

"Yes, well," Guy turned and walked back toward the door. "We should be getting back."

Deirdre slipped an arm through Guy's offered once. "Thank you, Sir Guy. For showing me your home, for your...interest and your discretion. For everything. You are truly a gentleman."

He smiled down at her and led her out the door toward the manor house.


In the manor house, Allan paced back and forth anxiously, stopping to stare out the window every time he passed it.

"Where are they?" he demanded of no one and everyone at once. "They should be back by now. Shouldn't they be back by now?"

He whirled back around to see Marian sitting looking at him as if he'd lost his mind.

"Who cares, Allan? So they're having fun? So what? Maybe he'll set his sights on Deirdre and leave me alone. It's not like she could have feelings for you anyway—and if she did, nothing could come of them."

Marian bit her lip, but too late. Sure, she didn't welcome Guy's attentions, but she wasn't used to being ignored by him and it hurt her pride that she could so easily be replaced. On the other hand, the idea that he was paying attention to another woman and leaving her alone was a bit of a relief. Why are relationships so confusing! I just want to be with Robin—he'll make it all better. He certainly would have made it all perfect as Robin of Locksley, though.

"Who cares? You don't really mean that, Marian, do you? What if he's…"

Allan paled at the thought that had come unbidden to his mind, an image of Guy holding Deirdre against her will, of him violating her.

"I'll kill 'im if 'e's…" As he turned toward the door, hand on the pommel of his sword, the door opened and Guy and Deirdre blew in, both of them laughing, leaving everyone else staring in shock.

"Marian, you were right—this place is beautiful!" Deirdre declared gaily.

Guy was grinning like a boy, which made Allan angry. Allan had never seen Guy grin like that—he must have… A light touch on his arm had him glancing down in confusion. Deirdre's head was cocked to the side, her eyes scrunched slightly, her hand on his arm.

"Are you all right, Allan?"

"Yeah, fine. Never better." He grinned at her, then glared at Guy as Deirdre turned to remove her cloak.

They all took their seats as Thornton and a young girl began serving them. The quiet was stifling.

"Did I ever tell you the story of how my father won those horses I gave you all?" Deirdre knew she hadn't but their responses at least put some words into the silence. "My father has been to many lands. But none held such a stunning wealth of horseflesh as the land of the Bedouins. One night, long after most good people are abed, my father and a Bedouin chieftain were stumbling home after partaking of a bit too much...wine at a local pub. They were set upon by men who did not care for the religion of my father's companion, but did care for his wealth. My father helped the chieftain to fight the men off and by the grace of God, they returned to the chieftain's tribe unscathed, save for a couple of flesh wounds. The next morning, the chieftain praised my father and offered him such wealth that small nations would weep in joy over. My father refused. The chieftain offered his daughters, one by one, to my father, but he demurred, professing of his love for his wife and family back home in Ireland.

'I have been told that your people have some of the finest horses in the world, though I am no judge of horseflesh,' my father claimed. 'Perhaps a few of those, if you could show me some?'

The chieftain bowed his head and the next day, he paraded his herd of fine Arabian horses out for my father to choose. The chieftain's sons were worried to see this stranger take from their inheritances and tried to steer my father toward the older and sickly animals. My father pretended to listen to their counsel and later gave his choices to the chieftain himself, when those two men were alone. The next day, he headed to the docks with the cream of the old chieftain's herd. He made it on board the boat only barely ahead of the old chieftain's sons who had to watch from the shore as the bulk of their inheritances sailed away."

The group laughed at her story, and she continued on, telling them of her father's dealings in the lands to the east, where he traded for spices and silk, and of his travels to the lands to the south, where he traded for diamonds the size of a man's fist. By the time they finished eating, none of them wanted to return to Nottingham, but they squared their shoulders, mounted their horses, and left, arriving back at the castle just before nightfall.