short! Sorry, guys - life's being busy at the moment. I hope this is okay - I know I haven't updated in a while but this is all I have! (So far)- Jane
"Robin?" Grace asked after dinner one night - around six months after he'd started working for her father. Robin looked up, pulling himself out of a daydream.
"Yes, Grace?"
"Why don't you ever talk to Maria? You talk to Ivy all the time - do you just not like her?" The girl had aged over the last month from fourteen go fifteen but she was still a timid, uncertain speaker. Not at all like the princess.
"I didn't really realise. I'm sorry - I'll talk to her more." He hedged, looking down at the table. They were there alone - Grace's father, Mr Knight, had gone away on business - and it was very quiet.
"Do you like it here?" She asked, making his skin freeze.
"I miss home." He confessed, looking up at her. She seemed sad at this. "But I'm glad I'm here."
This last comment had made Grace smile and she obviously was feeling braver because she asked another question.
"What do you miss most?"
He licked his lips, daring himself to be truthful. It wasn't easy to say. "My friends. Well, one in particular. And the trees in the forest there - I"ve grown up around them and they've become a part of me."
"What was their name?" Grace seemed determined to find out as much as possible about Robin's life. He took a deep breath, stealing himself.
"Maria."
"Oh," Grace gasped, nodding and sitting back in her chair. Robin raised his eyebrows.
"Oh?"
"That's why you don't talk to my horse. I thought it was something like that - you nearly frightened poor Ivy to death when I first told you her name."
Grace was smirking at him across the table so Robin glared - playfully - in response. After a few moments she was asking more questions.
"What was she like?"
"Who, Maria? Loud. Noisy. Big mouthed. She wasn't afraid of anyone." Robin realised that he'd been staring into the distance wistfully and immediately regretted it - she had noticed.
"Why did you have to go? Really?"
He looked down and back up at her, frowning. He could tell her.
"My father and her uncle agreed that it was best for everyone if... If I left. There was too much at risk if I became involved with her."
"Involved? What do you-?"
"Do you ever stop asking questions?" Robin bellowed, standing up and pushing his chair away. Hisface was red and his eyes were burning like fire.
"I'm - I'm sorry." Grace mumbled, eyes wide in fear. His breathing calmed down slowly and Robin realised how stupid he'd just acted. His face softened and he walked towrds her, hands held out.
"I'm sorry, Grace. Forgive me?" She was frozen, still terrified by his outburst. He sighed. "It's very difficult for me to talk about," he explained. "Please don't ask me about it again."
Grace nodded slowly and leant into his chest for a forgiving hug.
"If you promise to wash up." She laughed, a muffled, childish giggle. Robin smiled and released her, feeling like he could probably fit in nicely with this family. Grace needed a father figure - an older brother who could teach her the ways of the world while her real father was busy growing old.
For a time, that was what Robin did for her. But all things end.