Duchess
Part 10
I do not own Robin Hood.
30/4/09
Squire Thornton.
Isabella was highly spooked. She had seen Squire Thornton, her husband, eyeing up the castle from the window. It was dark, late, and exactly when Thornton used his own darkness. She panicked and without so much as a knock at the door, flew into Duchess Jane of London's quarters. Jane opened her eyes and sat up slightly, surprised at the intrusion.
"There had better be a good reason for this awakening." She warned.
"He's outside!" She cried.
"Who is?" Asked Jane.
"My husband!" Replied Isabella.
Jane sat up in shock. She couldn't blame Isabella for waking her up over this. Although she never said what happened between them, she knew that Thornton wasn't a nice man. There was another knock at the door. Jane pressed her finger to her lips and waited for the person to announce who they were. Evetually Jane could make out her father's voice.
"Jane! Are you in there?" He asked.
Jane and Isabella breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yes!" Replied Jane.
"Decent?" He asked.
"Yes!" She replied.
The Sheriff entered the room. He too was in his nightwear, a long, black nightshirt. He was smiling nervously and looked at Isabella.
"Squire Thornton would like his wife back." He said.
"You're under orders to protect her." Said Jane.
"That was until he threatened me." He added.
"He kills you and Nottingham burns." Added Jane.
"But he doesn't really care about that, Nottingham is nothing to him." Added The Sheriff.
Isabella looked at Jane for help, as did the Sheriff. She had to do something and nodded at them both in understanding.
"Can I speak to him?" She asked.
A man entered the room. The Sheriff backed away from him and Isabella gasped. It was the first time that Jane had met him. Thornton didn't even attempt to bow. He pointed at Isabella.
"I believe you have something of mine." He said.
"Isabella is currently under my order. She has little to do with you. She is my lady-in-waiting." Said Jane.
"She was my wife first." Argued Thornton.
Jane looked uncomfortable and glanced at Isabella, she shook her head, begging her to do more for her. She nodded at her briefly, before she turned back to Thornton.
"From what I gather, you paid for her. How much?" Asked Jane.
"In order to give her to you? Or how much I paid her brother?" Asked Thornton.
"The same thing as far as I am concerned." Replied Jane.
"Oh no. I won't be paid off so easily this time. If I'd have known what trouble she would be, one thousand crowns." Said Thornton.
"Don't be greedy." Added Jane.
"Make me an offer." Said Thornton.
"Five hundred." She said.
"Eight hundred." He said.
"Six hundred." She said.
"Seven hundred." He said.
Jane glared at him. The Sheriff's eyes were bulging over the amount of money that was being mentioned. Isabella could only watch as Jane and her hated husband made offers on her freedom.
"Six hundred and fifty." Added Jane.
"Done. I want it by sundown tomorrow." He said.
"Does that mean you'll leave her alone?" Asked Jane.
Thornton smirked and glared at Isabella.
"It means as far as I am concerned, there was never a Mrs. Thornton." He replied.
"Very well. I shall see you at sundown tomorrow." Said Jane.
Thornton left the room. The Sheriff went to follow him, but Jane cleared her throat and he stopped where he was when he was addressed.
"Oh father, I believe the money is your duty to solve, or I shall tell Prince John that you have not kept your promise." Added Jane.
The Sheriff looked appalled and mouthed wordlessly at her for a few moments.
"I don't have six hundred and fifty crowns!" He shouted.
"Taxes." Argued Jane.
"Oh and guess where they are? Because I tell you this, they aren't in my treasury!" Added The Sheriff.
"I'll get the..." began Isabella.
"No. I promised protection and I meant it. Father I shall give you a loan. Then you pay Squire Thornton." Decided Jane.
"Fine! Now can I get some rest? Is that acceptable Duchess?" Asked The Sheriff, snappishly.
Jane dismissed him with a tiresome hand. Isabella turned to Jane and smiled at her.
"Thank you, thank you so much." She said.
"Just be glad you have a friend in Prince John." Said Jane.
Isabella frowned slightly and Jane gave her a knowing look. She gasped slightly and Jane smirked at her and laughed slightly.
"Don't worry, it will be our secret." She added.
"Why are you doing this for me?" Asked Isabella.
"Don't thank me yet. I don't have the money." Replied Jane.
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Jane went into Sherwood forest the next morning. The oulaws were counting up and sorting out money to give to the poor. Guy stopped as he heard his name being called and a smile creeped up upon his features and he stopped what he was doing. The other outlaws shook their heads as he left without so much as a word. Munch pulled disgusted expressions and Robin smirked at him.
"You'll be like that one day." He said.
"Not bloody likely." Added Munch.
John and Robin laughed, as Guy hurried to where Jane was, grinning like the cat that got the cream. Jane looked relieved to see him and he kissed her, for once, Jane found that she pulled away quite quickly.
"Guy, I don't have the time for this. It's Isabella. Thornton came to the castle last night, he cares nothing for Nottingham and threatened to kill my father. I managed to persuade him to part with Isabella, for a price, a price we can't actually afford." Explained Jane.
"How much does he want?" Asked Guy.
"Six hundred and fifty crowns." Replied Jane.
"That's more than double what he gave me for her, why do you have to pay it?" Asked Guy.
"I told him she was my lady-in-waiting, plus the Sheriff was ordered by Prince John to protect her. We need the money or either Isabella goes back to him or Nottingham is doomed." Replied Jane.
Guy sighed.
"Wait here." He said.
Jane waited where she was. Guy went back to the outlaws, who all noticed that the smile had faded from his face. He looked at the money and then at Robin.
"How much is there?" He asked.
"Why?" Asked Robin.
"Just tell me!" Replied Guy.
"Roughly eight hundred crowns. What's going on?" Asked Robin.
"Thornton went to Nottingham last night. He's threatened to kill for Isabella if Jane doesn't give him six hundred and fifty crowns for her. He's threatened the Sheriff, which means..." began Guy.
"The whole of Nottingham is in danger!" Added John.
"Exactly. We stole the taxes and so they can't afford to pay him. That's why Jane's asked for our help, please, she isn't asking for all of it." Said Guy.
"She's a Duchess..." Began Robin.
"Whose allowance comes from Prince John, it would be too late by then. Isabella and Jane are on our side. We have to help them." Said Guy.
"No. Jane is your future wife and Isabella is your sister. This is your problem, not mine." Said Robin.
"It is your problem if Thornton kills the Sheriff, even more so if he decides to kill Jane. You'd risk Nottingham burning just because they live in a castle and are related to me?" Asked Guy.
"Robin!" Scolded Munch.
After a momentary battle with his conscience, Robin gave Guy the money that Jane needed to free Isabella. Before he gave it to him, he made his position very clear.
"I'm doing this for Nottingham." He said.
Guy nodded and left, only to find that Jane was missing. There he stood, with money, but no one was there. He called out for her, but there was no response. His voice got louder, so much so that he was heard by the outlaws, he found him and looked at him questioningly.
"She's gone. Something isn't right. I told her to stay and she's gone." He said.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jane had been captured while waiting for Guy by Thornton's men. They took her to Shrewsberry to see him and he smirked at her, sat sidewards on a chair. He sat up and gestured to the entire room. He bowed mockingly and looked up again.
"Welcome to my home your ladyship! Now tell me why I should let you go back to that outlaw of a lover of yours? You see it is clear to me that you don't really love him as much as you claim to." Said Thornton.
"How dare you?" Asked Jane.
"Which part? Kidnapping you or saying you don't love Guy?" He asked.
Jane glared at him more. Both were just as offensive to her in equal measure. Thornton smirked and continued with his theory.
"Thing is Duchess, my wife robbed you of what you want most now, Guy as your husband. You seem to be thanking her." He said.
Jane thought it was time to turn the tables. She smirked back at him and he gave the order for her to be released and looked at her with curiosity.
"Thanking her? I don't know what kind of husband or master you are Squire Thornton, but there's a reason I have been without a lady-in-waiting for a long time." She said
Thornton walked over to her.
"Are you telling me that you're taking her off me just to punish her yourself?" He asked.
"Oh believe me, I can be much worse, possibly enough for us both. But I can't do that if you have me here. You see I was robbed of my idea of the perfect wedding and the perfect wedding night. I won't be satisfied until I reap my revenge. So to start, I'll return a favour and end her marriage. Then give her many jobs to do by day, that will run into the night. She'll beg for you to take her back before long. Wouldn't you prefer that?" Asked Jane.
Thornton smirked. Jane was returned to Nottingham, where Isabella ran up to her, in haste and worry. Her tone was breathless.
"Jane! Thank God! Guy is terrified!" She cried.
"Where is he?" Asked Jane.
They ran out of the castle. The sun was getting lower and time was short. Guy and Jane met, he made it clear with a kiss and a brief hold that he was pleased that she was safe.
"Go! Take the money!" He ordered.
With the money intended for Thornton, Jane and Isabella ran back to Nottingham, just in time to hand the Sheriff the money, so that he could pass it to the smirking Squire. He looked at Jane, who said nothing but glared at him. He bowed to her and threw his money in the air and caught it.
"All yours Sheriff." He said.
The Sheriff looked quite unnerved at the very thought and left the room. Thornton followed him but couldn't help but turn back to Jane and Isabella with a huge smirk on his face. When he left, Isabella turned to Jane with relief and smiled with gratitude.
"He'll be back. He has to believe what he was told, or it puts the agreement in jepordy. I don't want to do this and I will pay you what I can, when I can." Said Jane.
"It's fine. I owe you my life. I'll make a start on your room shall I?" Asked Isabella.
Jane smiled in agreement, then as soon as her back was turned, she smirked. Jane's revenge was just beginning. She'd have her money back soon enough as far as she was concerned, and possibly more.