They walked for a long while in silence, treading the castle, the woods, and finally the familiar grounds of their home. Only when they reached the door did Maria realize why Robin seemed so different, so distant. He hadn't truly looked her in the eye during their entire conversation. Who was this changed man? Because he certainly did not seem to be the friend she had grown to care for so deeply.
She began to open the door to the manor but felt Loveday's hand on her arm, stopping her. Maria expected some word of comfort from her, perhaps advice on how to proceed from here, but when she lifted her eyes to meet Loveday's all she saw were the tears flowing freely.
Gathering her aunt to her, the two stood there a while, letting the toll of what they had seen run its course through them. It was so easy to feel helpless. Seeing Robin look at her in that way, the way his eyes hardened against her… Sure, he'd been irritated with her at times in the past, but never to the point of real anger.
"We have to go inside at some point," Maria pointed out at last.
"And we have to tell your Uncle." Loveday wiped her eyes and opened the door for them both, resolute.
...
"I don't quite know what you expect me to do with this information."
It was nearly dinner time. The sun had set over an hour ago and the three Merryweathers had been holed up in the drawing room discussing what Maria had seen. While Sir Benjamin had taken in everything they told him, it would have been a stretch to say he completely understood it all.
"Uncle, surely there is something to be done… We can't let him marry this… this witch. He'll be-" Maria couldn't find the strength to finish that thought. Loveday took her niece's hand in hers, squeezing gently.
"He'll be just fine if we can get him away from her," Loveday interjected. "It shouldn't be too difficult, I imagine… He would listen to you if you tried talking to him again, Maria, I'm sure of it."
Despite Loveday's reassuring smile, Maria was not quite as sure. Her mind couldn't help but wander back to the strange shimmer that seemed to light Helene's eyes when she looked at Robin. It was as if she held some kind of power over him, something Maria wasn't sure she could break.
"But when will I even have that chance? I doubt he'd see me now."
Benjamin had remained silent during the previous exchange but sat up a little straighter at Maria's question.
"Is that answer not obvious?" he asked, clearly a little proud of himself. "Maria's your birthday's at the end of this week. And I suspect Robin can easily be added to the guest list. Would that not be a sufficient time and place to have such a conversation?"
Maria was, admittedly, a little surprised by her Uncle's competence in this situation. She loved the man, of course, but he could be so oblivious to the world around him, even more so now that his every day was occupied with thoughts of his incipient child.
"I suppose you're right, Uncle," she answered, considering the possibility of seeing him again so soon. It was strange, after not having spoken for months. The last memory she had of him was bittersweet, but something she had held on to. Now, all she could think about was the anger in his voice and the way his eyes couldn't seem to meet her own.
"Let's send him an invitation."