Chapter Twenty Five ~ Regretful News

I was left with a grinning rich boy, holding a ring and waiting for my 'expected' answer.

I turned to look at Callum, sparing a mere glance at ring, then back at his face.

"If you think I will so much as even smile in your direction again, then you are very much wrong. When I leave for Moonacre in the next few days, don't expect me to ever come back. I know the plotting you and your air head mother have been doing behind my back, don't think I'm a fool. And if you think that by giving me some nonsense speech about love and money and a 'better life' is going to even make me consider marrying you then you really are a bigger idiot that I thought you were.

"I love Robin de Noir, you hear me? And nothing you do will ever make me change my mind. So I suggest, you put away your fancy ring and affectionate words and go back to your mother and say that the marriage is not on.

"This is me, Maria Merryweather, rejecting your proposal. Take the hint."

His smile had well and truly disappeared from his smug little face.

ROBIN'S POV

"And where do you think you're going?" A familiar voice cried as I marched down the streets, not caring where I was going, just trying to get as far away as I could from that house and that slimy toad.

He proposed to her!

I couldn't believe it. After everything I had expected, nothing would have braced me for hearing the words come out of Haversham's mouth. And all the things he said about 'treating her well' and that 'she deserved better'. God, my stomach churned at the thoughts.

But what if he was right?

"Robin stop." Suddenly, Mr Gomez was in front of my path. His hands were gentle but firm on my shoulders, bringing me to a halt. His clothes hung off him and I didn't let my mind wander too much at the possibilities that could mean. My head was still aching.

"Let me go." I tried, my voice breaking. A sad expression fell across Mr Gomez's face as he looked on at me.

"What that boy said, was all nonsense. Don't you dare let it get to you, boy." Mr Gomez told me, slowly. His eyes bore into me but I shook my head.

"It's not nonsense." I muttered. "He's right. He could give Maria a better life." Mr Gomez's eyes widened.

"Robin, don't-"

"He can treat her well, Mr Gomez! He can give her everything she would ever need or want. All the dresses and the luxuries that she deserves! She can go back to her old life again, living back in the city with all her friends. Going to fancy dinners and dances with her posh friends and spend all the money she could ever want to.

"Did you see the engagement ring? Lord, what is my batted old necklace anything compared to that? Plus I don't really think Callum Haversham would lock her in some dungeons in the grimy pits of De Noir castle then chase her through the forest! Think of all the times she's nearly been killed since she's moved to Moonacre?

"She belongs here in the city, no matter how many times she denies it. She'll be safe and cared for… and happy too."

"She loves you, Robin." Mr Gomez spoke slowly. I shook my head.

"Why?" I asked, voice strained. "I am nothing, filth at the bottom of her shoes." Mr Gomez looked on, his face sad, before he pulled me into a tight embrace with firm arms.

"Don't you ever say such things again, boy. You are worth more than that Haversham lad tripled." I couldn't quite hear the words he spoke, all that went through my head were the words that Haversham had spoken to Maria just earlier.

Choose me and you could live like a princess!

And I thought she was my princess.

END ROBIN'S POV

I waited for Robin to return, waiting to set him straight on what he had witnessed and inform him of the answer I had given to Callum.

Robin had saw. He had saw Callum's proposal. But it wasn't that that bothered me the most. He had heard everything Callum had said about him. His words of disgrace and insults that were all towards Robin. Though I knew the De Noir boy liked to keep up a hard and brave façade, I knew the words would have hurt him deeply.

Plus his strong jealously for every man who set eyes upon me didn't help. I remembered the situation with Henry a long time back and how angry Robin had gotten when he thought I cared for his cousin. He had gotten angry and he had also cried. I couldn't quite think of how Robin had reacted to Callum's proposal, but I intended to find him and set him straight. Before he started to convince himself that I would even considered accepting the Haversham boy's hand in marriage.

God, the thought alone repulsed me!

He didn't return though. Soon Francesca found me waiting, telling me it was time to head back inside, smiling sympathetically and leading me towards the house when I was reluctant to go.

I headed straight up to Robin's room, half hoping him to be in there, waiting. He wasn't and the room was strikingly empty. This unnerved me and in a frantic fit, I rushed to Mr Gomez's room to check there too.

What I found made me nearly cry.

It was as if there had been no one living in there. The bed sheets were neatly pressed and everything looked orderly and tidy. Not like Mr Gomez had made this his home over the past few days. I gasped to myself at the prospect of what this all meant.

Quickly, I ran out the room and down the large staircase, only to be greeted by Mrs Haversham and Mrs Heliotrope at the bottom. Mrs Heliotrope was watching me with a sad expression before she averted her eyes. Mrs Haversham looked positively angry, though appeared to mask it quickly with a very false smile.

It seemed the mummies boy had informed his mother already.

"Ahh, Maria. There you are! We were beginning to wonder where you were." Mrs Haversham muttered though gritted teeth. I glanced at Mrs Heliotrope, who still wasn't looking at me, then back to the lady of the manor.

"You wouldn't be chance have seen The Barthes have you?" I asked. Mrs Haversham's eyes narrowed for a moment and she pursed her lips into a thin, tight line. I saw Mrs Heliotrope look up and meet my eyes with a sad expression that worried me even more.

"Why, it appears you've just missed them, my dear." Mrs Haversham informed me slowly. I frowned.

"What- what do you mean?" I stuttered. "Have they gone out for a little while?" Mrs Haversham picked up my strained tone and raised an eyebrow.

"Mr Barthe has made a marvellous recovery and he got a telegram this morning informing him that he must return to his home at once for an emergency. The poor fellow seemed awfully sad when he told us and deeply regrets leaving without saying a proper goodbye to everyone, but desperate times called for desperate measures. So he thanked us for our hospitality and he and his son have just got on their way."

She spoke those words with an air of smugness, though I didn't care. I processed their meaning before I finally comprehended what this God-awful woman had just told me. I understood Mrs Heliotrope's sadness now.

"You mean, they've gone?"

(A/N) Okay, it's an update but a short one at that! Apologises! Not one of my best, I agree, though I will true and bring it up to scratch over Christmas. Of course, it is a very busy time at the moment (with shopping and what have you...) so I'm afraid there may be a great deal of waiting for the next chapter. Though I suppose you're all used to waiting with my useless updating skills!

Thanks ever so much for all your kind words and comments, they make my day and I'm glad that this story and the one before it are enjoyed. I really did not think they would be when I began writing them! It's all been quite a surprise, I tell you!

Anyway, I know some of you may be angry with this chapter, but c'mon! Robin's insecurities were bound to happen. Tell me how you feel about it anyway! I'd love to hear your critism! :D

I must give a very HUGE shout out to my friend, s a mcauley, who is truly a star! She's given me such amazing ideas, which I will be incorporating into the rest of the story, so I very much would like to thank her for her words and ideas which helped me through my writers block (yes, I hit the wall with this story for a moment *gasp*). I would dedicate this chapter to her, though as I'm not too proud of it, I'll wait till I produce something much more worthy for what she deserves. I hope you don't mind, Stephanie. THANK YOU AGAIN, you're amazing! :)

Until next time my readers!

-Jemlou-