XIV

Insincerity

Rebecca had fallen asleep in the chair beside Guy's bed. She had no idea when she had drifted off, for the next thing she knew was the slanted glare of the sun shining through the slitted windows. It caught her face and she blinked open her eyes. At first she let out a lazy and contented yawn and merely curled up all the more on her chair. It was then she realized she was sitting on a chair in the first place. This realization brought with it a startled squeak and a jolt which nearly sent her crashing to the floor in a heap.

Gaining her bearings she glanced about the room. Guy was still fast asleep and he did not look as if he would wake anytime soon. Rebecca highly doubted he would, what with all the blood he had so recently lost. He looked quite pale and helpless lying amongst the quilt and pillows. He would need more than one good night's rest in order to regain his strength. Once again Rebecca felt her heart undergo all the familiar sensations of a wet cloth being wrung dry in her chest.

She placed a hand against his forehead lightly, checking for fever. To her surprise he felt rather cold to the touch. Rising from her chair she began to search the room for any extra quilts or blankets. She tried to be as quiet as possible in her search. She found one blanket in the depths of one of the trunks in the far corner of the room. She drew it forth, it was warm enough, it would do. Unfolding it, she draped it over Guy gently. He did not even stir in his sleep. Rebecca smiled, almost relieved, at least this spared her any awkward conversation.

Even thinking on last night brought on a dizziness. Guy hadn't even been feverish and yet he had spoken so candidly to her. He hadn't done such a thing in years. Rebecca had resigned herself to the fact that he no longer cared or remembered everything they had been to one another, but last night he had decided to say that he did remember. Inseparable. That's what he had called them. What had prompted such a statement? Perhaps she shouldn't wonder over such things, no sense in getting greedy over it. Point was that he remembered, whether or not he liked it, whether or not he wanted to admit it, he did remember.

Perhaps Isabella had misunderstood her brother that day. Perhaps what he had truly meant was that he had been pleased to find her a place outside of the manor so that he could think over what she had said. Isabella wouldn't have understood, because she had not been witness to their conversation just a few days before! That was it. She had misunderstood, because Guy's actions had been far from that of a master about to release a servant. They hadn't even been of master and servant. More of a friend finding a friend after a long separation. Rebecca tried to calm her hopes, which were already rising too far and too fast. She tried to stop herself from getting too far ahead. She should wait until Guy woke up and then judge what his mood was for herself. It may come to pass that last night was a mere quirk, and that he would rather forget anything he had said to her. Then of course it could be the complete opposite...this back and forth within Rebecca's head went on until she realized--

"Isabella!" She whispered, slapping a hand over her mouth. She had almost forgotten about her. No doubt she would be looking for her. She had to find her before she realized she had not spent the night in the servant's quarters.

She started for the door, but doubled back in a frenzy toward the window. She swiftly closed the drapes, cutting off the ray of light filling the room. Guy needed as much rest as he could manage. The sun would just have to wait until he rose. Rebecca made her way out into the corridor beyond the bedchamber. She breathed in a deep sigh before taking off down the way to try and find Isabella.

It was pure luck which had them both round the same corner opposite of one another. The two women gave a slight start at seeing one another from down the end of the hall. Rebecca even managed a laugh as she approached her mistress. "Good morning, my lady!"

"Becca..." Isabella nodded, raising an eyebrow at the chipper servant.

"How are ya, my lady? Most beautiful day out, wouldn't ya say?" Rebecca smiled, and Isabella was briefly reminded of the woman's former cheerful grins. Those dark eyes were all laughter.

"I wouldn't know." Isabella said, "I have only seen it through the archways and windows."

"Then what in hell's name are we doing here? Fine waste o' a morning." Rebecca teased.

"You are certainly brimming with joy this morning, aren't you Becca? You're positively beaming."

"Why not, my lady?" Rebecca shrugged with a light sigh. She smoothed wrinkles out of her linen dress.

"What's caused such a significant alteration, I wonder?" Isabella mused, walking in circles about her, as if amusing herself with a mock analysis of her servant's status. She leaned in close and whispered mockingly, "Not my brother, surely?"

"Wouldn't that be foolish." Rebecca maintained a lightly secretive air. She felt her arm clasped in Isabella's as they both walked down the hallway together.

"I was curious as to what he wanted with you last night." Isabella said in a most conspiratorial manner, "If I asked you to tell me, would you oblige me with an answer?"

"My lady, since when were ya ever interested in silly gossip?" Rebecca fired back, "I remember ya threw a dish towel in Jane's face when ya grew tired o' her blabbering on."

"Well, as I have no dish towel to throw at you, you should consider this a privilege." Isabella retorted, gripping Rebecca's arm with a slightly more determined squeeze. The wry smile on her lips was frozen on her face. She would hear what Guy had wanted with Rebecca last night. He had said something or done something to her to make her so foolishly giddy. Only a fool so infatuated with love would ever grin so insufferably long.

"It was truly nothing." Rebecca insisted, "He had gash along his leg which needed t' be tended to."

"Why could he not have sent for a physician then?" Isabella snorted. A gash? How had that come about? It didn't have anything to do with the Sheriff's recent demise did it? She would stake her life that her brother was somehow the cause of his death. The wound would prove he had at least had a fight with someone.

"He didn't ask for one." Rebecca said, "Besides, I've seen the master with far worse than a cut on his leg." She laughed.

"And bandaging my brother has put you in such a giddy mood? Well, we should see that he is injured more often." Isabella did allow for an honest chuckle.

"It is not what I did for your brother, my lady, it is what he said t' me." Rebecca said.

"Oh? You are exceedingly enigmatic, Becca. Out with it." Isabella insisted. Let her have out with it before she broke her neck with this frustration.

"I think you misunderstood him when ya spoke with him last, my lady. I don't think he ever meant t' turn me from Locksley. We...we spoke briefly about what passed between us an'...I think he truly heard me for once. I think he wants t' change what was. Is that not good?"

"I marvel at it." Isabella said tightly. She bit her lip so hard she swore she felt the tangy taste of her own blood on her tongue. Damn Guy for undoing all her work. She had felt she had been gaining a foothold on Rebecca's heart and mind. Now that Rebecca was convincing herself that there had been a misunderstanding, all because her brother--no doubt--had a moment of weakness, all her planning could very well be for naught. She would not allow this. "But what if he is lying to you?"

"I thought o' that already, my lady." Rebecca said, "An' I think I'll wait t' hear his own words once he wakes." She smiled again, "It's not like it hasn't happened before. Rather not feel too terrible about it though." She looked out past the archway towards the bright morning, "Far too beautiful a day t' worry."

***

Guy awoke to a muffled darkness and as he blinked open his eyes he began to question if it was still night or he had slept straight through the day. A thin groan escaped his lips as he sat up. His injured leg throbbed with a demonic urgency; moving it even a fraction of an inch caused pain to shoot up the length of his leg to reside in the pit of his stomach. He allowed himself to lie back down, realizing he would not be escaping from this bed anytime soon.

He craned his head to the window. A dark curtain had been drawn over it, but he could see slivers of light trying to fight their way into the room. So it was morning after all--or afternoon, he couldn't be sure. He stared curiously at an empty chair at his bedside. It was turned outward as if someone had risen from it. Rebecca must have left him at one point during the night. He felt hollowly disappointed that she was not with him, but had he really expected her to stay? Maybe there might have been a time when she would have, but she had stated quite plainly that she was no longer his friend and he had no right to assume such a thing of her.

Disappointment rapidly turned into heated anger. Rebecca was his servant, who was she to dictate what he could or could not expect from her? If it was in his power he would have risen from his bed and gone to seek her out and tell her exactly that. He would not be made to feel guilty at her hands again.

It was then the door creaked open, letting in a flood of light which illuminated the room with such a joyful speed he thought the sun was mocking him. "Oh!" A delighted gasp caught his attention, "You're awake!"

Guy had to blink his eyes rapidly to adjust to the sudden brightness. Rebecca bustled into the room, carrying a tray laden with bread, a tankard of ale, and more medical supplies. She set it down upon the desk. He watched, dumbfounded, as she crossed the room to the window and flung back the curtain. Guy felt as if he should recoil from so much light. "How are ya feeling, master?" Rebecca asked, gathering up the bandages she had brought in with her.

"Fine." he croaked out. He thought Rebecca had left him.

"Don't ya lie t' me, master." Rebecca retorted, steadily unwrapping the old bandages from about Guy's leg. She could see him wincing all the while.

"I'm not lying--ah! Damn it, woman are you trying to kill me?!" Guy swore at her as she gave the last of the bandages a swift tug to remove them.

Rebecca merely snickered as she changed his bandages, this time treating him far gentler than before. "You're smiling." Guy pointed out bluntly.

"Sorry, master." Rebecca said.

"Why are you smiling?" He felt as if she was a stranger to him. He once knew her better than anyone alive, and now she was so far away from him it was as if he was staring at the most distant star in the sky.

"No offence t' ya, master, I swear. I...suppose it's 'cause I'm happy." Rebecca shrugged, "Or I think I am."

"Seeing your master injured and confined to his bed makes you happy?" Guy's voice bristled with intended insult.

Rebecca laughed, her fingers working deftly to wrap the bandages about him tightly. The tugging shot sickening pain through him for a moment before it faded, and as she tied the bandage off Guy realized the pain from his wound wasn't as bad as when he had first woken up. "There. Try an' make that do for the day. I ain't bandaging ya up again. I ain't your nursemaid."

Guy smirked as he lazily tore off a piece of bread from the tray beside him, "That's what you said after I fell from my horse and broke my arm, and then again after I caught a fever from staying out in the rain with you." He commented between mouthfuls.

"Ya remember?" Rebecca whispered with astonishment. She was still smiling, but now it appeared as if she might cry as well.

"Don't you?" Guy shrugged, trying to pass this off as an everyday occurrence. In truth he had not mentioned their childhood misadventures in years. Such sentimentality was beyond him, and he could see that it was having an affect upon Rebecca. It was making him uncomfortable. He tried to look away from her. He didn't deserve to see her smiling; he hadn't for a long time.

A hand appeared at the corner of his eyes, causing him to turn and look up at her. "C'mon, master, I'll be damned if I see ya waste a day abed."

"I can't get up." Guy said petulantly, glaring at her like a pouting child.

"'Course ya can." Rebecca scoffed, "Saw a bench out in the cloisters, not too far a walk from this room. I think ya can make it there. Be better than sulking alone in here."

"Yeah? And what would you care?"

"A great deal more than ya, I'd say, master." Rebecca said sharply, knowing full well when Guy was arguing for the sake of argument. Was nothing ever simple with this man?

Rebecca felt Guy reluctantly take hold of her hand. Helping him sit up, he quickly slung an arm about her shoulder as he tried to rise. He nearly fell back upon the bed, but Rebecca grabbed him and held him steady. With Rebecca helping to support him they made it to the door of the room. "See?" Rebecca could not help but giggle, "We're managing just fine, master."

Guy merely held tight to her as they walked, careful not to lean too much upon her. Rebecca was significantly smaller than he was, and if he wasn't careful he would topple them both. Rebecca had both her arms about his waist, and Guy found that he could limp fairly easily with her help. For a brief moment he wanted to draw Rebecca in closer to him and hold her properly, not merely have her be his support. The urge faded and he wondered where it had come from. Perhaps it had been from her smile. He had forgotten how beautiful it could be when those dark eyes of hers suddenly lit up as if to rival the shine of the sun. He was staring at her and he didn't even know it until he nearly stumbled. Rebecca tightened her hold about him, whispering reassurances all the while, "I've got ya, master." she said, "I've got ya."

1193

With the last of the candles in the hall lit, Rebecca was keen on making her way back to the servant's quarters for the rest of the evening. Grasping the handle of her candle holder she trundled her way down the shadowy hall towards the door which would led around to the back of the manor.

She was stopped by the sound of voices coming from the room to her right. Casting a lazy, sideways glance she saw a figure standing in the centre of the room, a fire crackled in the hearth, dispelling the gloom from the halls beyond. Rebecca recognized Lady Marian in an instant. What was she doing in Locksley at this hour of the night? Rebecca immediately took a step back as she saw Guy come to stand before Marian. He was clothed in nothing by his trousers, and as he walked calmly and confidently over towards Marian she could hear the light clink of the armoured leg guards he was wearing. Blushing bright red to the roots of her hair, Rebecca slammed herself against the wall beside the entrance to the room. Her mind began to form bright, little questions which served no purpose, but to confuse her.

Marian had left Guy at the alter almost a month ago. What more could she possible want with him? She didn't want to hear whatever those two were discussing. Marian should not have even been allowed back into Locksley after what she did. Peeling herself away from the wall, Rebecca walked right past the glowing warmth of the fire-lit room and back towards the servant's quarters. She moved with such an urgency she could hear every step of her shoes upon the wooden floorboards, and ever brush of her linen dress upon the ground. Shadowy night brushed upon her skin, causing her bangs to bounce upon her forehead. She was submerged in darkness. Completely silent and black darkness.

That was when she realized she had forgotten her candle upon the mantel. In her haste to avoid eavesdropping she had left the candle and it's holder behind. Cursing her absentmindedness she skittered back to retrieve her candle. She fancied herself as quiet as any mouse as she snuck over to the mantel. Snatching it up she whirled about to make haste back to her quarters. In her speed she nearly collided into the very woman she sought to avoid. Marian blinked in surprise and took a step back to evade the crash. "Rebecca?"

Rebecca winced, "My lady." She willed herself to perform half a curtsy.

"What are you doing, sneaking around?" Marian asked her.

"Forgot my candle, my lady. Left it on the mantle by accident. Got it now. I'll bid ya a good night." Rebecca said through gritted teeth. She would not be chastised by her. She tried to walk past her, but she was stopped by Marian's words.

"You never did like me did you, Rebecca?" Marian's voice held cold humour in it.

"My lady, I would...I never...." she said, "No, my lady, I haven't."

"Why is that? Have I done something to offend you?"

"Not me, my lady." Rebecca shook her head, not entirely comfortable standing in the middle of a shadowy hallway telling a noblewoman why she disliked her, especially when there was strange sincerity behind Marian's words. Why was she being kind to her? "My master."

"I see..." Marian said in that quipped tone that could so often be mistaken for one of disdain.

How could she be so callous as that? "Ya don't see, my lady!" Rebecca said emphatically, "Ya never have."

"Then, perhaps you might explain how I have been so blind." Marian insisted.

Rebecca fumbled a bit, eyeing Marian with a wary eye. "Don't be so nervous. I'm giving you leave to speak freely." Marian said.

"Ya left him. Ya made it clear o' your feelings for him an' o' course I can't dislike ya for that, but...now...with ya coming t' the manor in the middle o' the night--"

"I can understand why you would take me for a fickle woman." Marian said and she seemed to be reminding herself of a previous conversation, "But there are things that you are not aware of, which are of importance."

"I am sure." Rebecca shrugged non-offensively, "but are such things worth the hurt ya cause? My master may not have been the most talented at showing it, but he loved ya, my lady, an' he loves ya still. Turn your games elsewhere for your 'important matters' an' leave my master be."

"And this is why you dislike me?" Marian asked.

Rebecca gave no answer, she merely stared at her with cold indifference. She shifted about, her candle shaking in her hands. Shadows crossed over Marian's face, making her expression unnoticeable. "Shall I show ya the way out, my lady?" Rebecca asked.

"That will not be necessary." Marian said as she turned to leave. "Rebecca."

"My lady?"

"Sir Guy is very lucky."

"How is that, my lady?"

"To have so loyal a friend as you."

"I am not his friend." Marian could not help but hear the sudden snap to the woman's voice, and she knew then that she had struck upon a tender nerve with her. "I am his servant."

"What does that have anything to do with it?" Marian smiled mischievously, seeing the glares being shot her way from the envious woman.

"Good night, my lady." Rebecca said thinly, and she turned and slipped away back into the shadowy halls, her candle light spinning and bouncing all the while.

A/N: I actually don't hate Marian. I like her quite a lot actually, and writing a character that has a very strained and envious relationship towards her is a lot of fun for me to write. Anyway, do remember to review! :)