Morning came, and with it, bright sunlight, which streamed into the room, its fingers touching the faces in sleep. The chirping birds had long since risen, and the soft, insistent knocking disturbed the couple who lingered in that half sleep state, comfortably and contently entwined about each other.

Robin was the first to open his heavy lidded eyes. He held his breath for a moment to be sure the knocking was not his heart, but the door. He gazed down at Regina molded against his side, her leg straddling his thigh. His eyes roamed appreciatively over her naked buttocks and he would have continued, save for the incessant knocking. Robin pulled the sheet up over them and called out, "Enter."

An impeccably dressed servant rushed in, unusual for him since the valet was always quite stolid and pompous. He approached the bed a bit hesitantly, still not used to serving both master and mistress. He averted his gaze from Regina's form. His eyes betrayed his discomfort when Regina, in her sleep, moaned and sighed, snuggling closer to Robin.

Robin shot him a grin an asked," Yes, Mortimer, what brings you here?" Robin reached for a cheroot, which Mortimer quickly intercepted. While Mortimer never approved of the filthy habit, he was most grateful for the diversion from this most embarrassing situation. After lighting Robin's cigar and procuring an ashtray, again Mortimer averted his eye from Regina and stared at Robin.

Robin puffed leisurely on the cigar, noticed a flush creeping up his valet's face, and raised an eyebrow in question. "Er...Your Grace, Monsieur Richilieu sent me to see if you or Her Grace are ill." Mortimer wrung his hands nervously as Robin regarded him with a puzzled look. "The hunt, Your Grace...Twas scheduled for early morn. They are awaiting you and Her Grace." Mortimer raised his eyes to include Regina, then quickly looked away when she kicked out a slender leg.

Seeing his valet's discomfort and always delighting in upsetting him, Robin took longer than necessary to reply. "Tell Richilieu we will be down within the hour."

"Very good, sir." Mortimer said as he quickly left the room.

Regina slowly drifted up from her sleep, hearing the closing of the door. Slowly she opened her eyes, still heavy with sleep, and saw Robin lying beside her, smoking his cigar.

He smiled softly thinking how soft and beautiful she looked when she first awakened. She returned his smile, laying her head against his shoulder, snuggling against his body.

Robin shifted his leg, which rode strategically between hers, brushing against her woman's flesh. Regina felt the thickness of his thigh against her and the beginnings of a sweet ache. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, she allowed her body to move against the pressure of his thigh.

Robin smiled, moving his knee closer, applying delightful pressure, feeling her grow warm and moist against his leg. Reaching over, he pulled her beneath him. He was stopped by a knock on the door and called out angrily, "What!"

Mortimer's head peeked around the door, his eyes widened as his face turned crimson at the sight before him.

"What the hell is it now?" ground out Robin.

"Ah..er...Monsieur Richilieu wishes to know which saddle to tack Her Grace's mount," stammered Mortimer.

"Hunter. Now, get the hell out of here!" Robin yelled.

Realization slapped Regina awake. She sat up, the sheet falling to her waist, and covered her mouth. The hunt! She scrambled to get out of bed, but Robin snaked an arm out, catching her about the waist and holding her to his supine form.

Looking down at him, love shining in her eyes, she said softly, "Robin, the hunt. We're late. They are waiting."

With the cigar clenched between his teeth and a mischievous look in his eyes, he replied. "Let them wait, Princess, or let them hunt." Removing his cigar, but holding her, sure she would dash away as he reached over and put it out, a wicked grin lit his features as he said, "I've a need to improve my skills on a mount worthy to be ridden. Moving his hand down her belly, feeling the muscles jump under his fingers, he found her soft, moist essence.

"And, you, milady, need to improve your skills as a rider."

Regina smiled, then put her hands against his chest, pushing him away, explaining, "Nay, Robin. They will know. I will not be able to face them, nay." She shook her head.

"Princess, they already know. Why else would be be abed so late?" he reasoned.

Frowning at his words and shaking her head, she persisted, "Nay, they will only think we were tired and slept," She smiled brightly at her explanation.

"Like hell they will! I'll not let them believe I'm some tired old man in need of rest." He moved his fingers slowly over her core. "Nay, Princess, as you say, they will know. for there is nothing like the glow of a recently bedded woman, all rosy and radiant."

He lifted her, and just as his tip teased her opening, he said huskily, "Aye, Princess, they will see my mark on you this morn." Before she could utter a protest, he lowered her onto him, and a deep moan from her throat was her response.

Sure enough, as the descended the steps an hour later, Regina's cheek bloomed like the petals of a red, red rose. It was evident that everyone knew what had detained the duke and duchess this morn. The stares from the sea of faces awaiting them made Regina want to thrash Robin She colored fiercely, her cheeks becoming warmer when she caught Will's snug smile, John's wide and knowing grin, Killian's infamous raised brow, and Richilieu's slow, secret smirk. And then there was Daniel's look of disbelief.

Daniel was helping take care of the horses on Richilieu's estate, he watched Regina move to where the women all stood. John watched Robin watch Daniel, and Will watched John watch Robin watch Daniel. Will threw down his cigar, shaking his head, thinking he didn't need any of this. Robin knew the moment Regina moved by the looks on Daniel's face. Robin moved toward her, coming to stand by her, smiling softly, offering her a sip of his brandy. She took a sip as he held the glass to her lips. Robin reached up, brushing a lock of her hair from her face, then lightly brushed her lips with his. Placing his arm across her shoulders, they descended the steps.

The call to mount brought all to their horses. The teams were chosen, and much to Robin's dismay, Regina and he were separated. His displeasure stemmed from the knowledge of her fear of the kill and his need to protect her.

Robin saw Will was to ride with Regina. He nudged his mount forward, cutting Will off.

"What goes, Robin?" Will asked.

Lighting a cheroot and offering one to Will, he explained, "Keep an eye on Regina if we should get separated."

Will puffed leisurely on his cigar, gazing over to his team, seeing Daniel mounting a horse. Turning to Robin, an eyebrow raised in disbelief, he cocked his head in Daniel's direction. "From that twit?"

Letting out an exasperated sigh, an expression of pained tolerance crossing his features, Robin remarked, "Be serious."

"Then tell me the danger and I will keep her from it," Will said.

"The kill." At Will's puzzled look, Robin elaborated, "She cannot handle the kill."

"What's she do? Go all aflutter and swoon?" Will asked.

"Precisely." Robin spurred his mount, leaving Will muttering to himself as he made his way. "First we have an old flame, nearly a duel, and now the vapors, bloody hell, I don't need this."

Will was put back on Robin's team as Regina's team had far too many riders, once he was gone Daniel made his horse go up to hers.

"Good luck, Regina," Daniel said as she smiled at him and the horns were off as the riders took off.

Robin's team had come to a dead end, and some of the women wanted to rest before looking again. Robin was impatient to be back with Regina, "Killian will remain with you all. Will and myself will head off."

Regina saw the pack surround the petrified fox. She tried to leave but the other riders kept pushing her forward. The need to escape was overwhelming, a primitive terror born of fear overrode reason. She raised her terrified eyes in search of Robin.

The group moved in on her, shouting, "Bloody the duchess, bloody the duchess." Someone pulled her from her mount and drew her to the hounds. She watched in horror as the hounds attacked the fox, she cried and bile rose to her throat. She tried to back away but was restrained.

"Come now, its tradition," one of the men said as one of her cheeks was smeared with the fresh blood then other other. Instinctively she touched her cheek and looked at her bloody hand. She gazed down at her shirt, splattered with blood, then looked up at the crowd celebrating their blood sport. She backed away, terrified, in shock, then turned never seeing Robin or Will trying to push their way into the crowd, and screamed.

No one heard it, but Robin saw her terrified face and silent scream.

She fell in her rush to be gone, slipping on the muddy bank. She scrambled up, bile rising, threatening to spill, and she ran. Robin followed and saw her stumble, nearly falling into a ditch. He pushed his mount to gain on her.

Regina ran, her hair streaming out, tears blurring her vision. She was very close to complete hysteria and unaware the ground sloped. Stumbling, she would have toppled down the steep hill had not an arm swooped down lifting her up. Robin swung her across his saddle within the safe circle of his arms, bringing her close against his chest. Gently he moved his hand up and down her back until her sobs slowed, whispering, "Hush, hush." He kissed the top of her head and rocked her in his arms. Her sobs slowed to gulps and hiccups. She turned her face in to his chest, feeling protected and safe.

"I...I...I'm going to be sick."

He swung down, and when her feet his the ground, she ran, tripping over a tree root, sprawling to her knees. Nauseated bile rose as she heaved. She felt fingers pulling back her hair as she emptied her stomach, leaving her weak. Robin lifted her up, feeling her tremble.

Will arrived and dismounted, taking Regina as Robin remounted. Will saw her bloodstained cheeks where her tears cut paths through the clotted blood. His eyes traveled over her bloody shirt. He handed her up to Robin with a question in his eyes.

"Relay my excuses. I'm heading back." Robin said as he took off

Regina sat across his lap, locked in the shelter of his arms before a fire which burned in the hearth. She rested her head against his shoulder, feeling him kiss the top of her brow, her eyelids, and the tip of her nose. She was clean, warm and safe. She drew up her knees, which poked out from under the lawn shirt she wore. Robin casually caressed her bare legs. She sighed.

A soft knock on the door interrupted the silence, and Robin called out, "Enter." Mortimer entered and poured two glasses of brandy, while he stole looks at his mistress.

"Will there be anything else sir?"

Robin shook his head.

After he left, Robin picked up the glass, "Here, Princess, take a sip." Dutifully Regina obeyed and Robin turned the glass to where her lips touched and drank as well. Regina moved her hand soothingly over his chest. The feel of his chest gave her a sense of security and she felt safe. She accepted another sip of brandy, feeling its warmth spread into her limbs.

She leaned her head back against his arm, watching him finish the brandy. Feeling her eyes on him, he looked down and smiled softly, brushing a newly washed tress from her forehead. "Feeling better?"

She nodded her head and softly said, "It was horrible. All the blood. The poor little thing was mangled and..." She stopped, turning her head in to his chest, and began to cry softly.

"I know, Princess, it's all right now. Hush, love. You're safe now." he whispered soothingly.

"You don't think I'm childish, do you? I just-"

"Hush love. No, I don't think you're childish, quite the contrary." He smiled and continued, "I knew about your aversion to the kill. I even know about your aversion to eating meat."

"How did you know?" she whispered.

"I love you. I made it my business to know all about the woman I love."

She snuggled against him, then remembered how every meal served always offered two entries, one meat, the other fish. She remembered all sorts of things, her breeches, the saddle, the bonbons, her violets. Things she took for granted, things no other, not even her father, had bothered about.

She moved his hand over her legs to caress her thigh, then travel over to her core, where it rested intimately. She lightly touched her tongue to his chest, circling his nipples.

Robin's fingers moved till they found the source of her pleasure and began to caress her. When she lifted her head, he covered her mouth and stroked her till Regina was aware of only the pleasure she felt, and all images of the hunt disappeared. Robin rose, carrying his precious bundle to the bed, where he laid her down and joined her. Regina welcomed him with open arms and parted thighs and he reared over her, entering her slowly, finding her moist and ready for him.

He made sweet, gentle love to her, after which she fell asleep.