Chapter 36

Maria's pov

The following day I spent mostly in my bedchambers. I became ill more so today than I have yet so far since becoming with child. I knew it was mostly due to the intensely anxious state I was in. Lord De Noir was to arrive here today to discuss a matter with my Uncle. A matter I was sure I already knew.

Loveday had invited me to join her and Miss Heliotrope for tea in the piano room at midafternoon. I had reluctantly obliged, hoping to take my mind off of the turmoil that was brewing inside me in relation to what this very evening would bring.

I immediately regretted accepting the invitaion to tea. I was in such a state. My tea cup clanked loudly against the saucer as I set it down. And in my nervousness, my finger had caught in the handle and the contents of my cup splashed into the saucer. Miss Heliotrope gave me a look, unpleased by my rather unladlylike actions. I quickly tucked my hands beneath me, forbidding them to fail me again and bring more attention to myself than I had deemed and stared out the window.

"What ever has gotten into you, Maria?" Miss Heliotrope scolded me in a polite manner. I gave her a weak smile, excusing my behaviour. She accepted it. And I returned my gaze to the window.

"Maria, I am confident that everything is going to go swimmingly." Loveday began with a warm smile. "Now it pains me to see you in such a state, not eating and having become rather withdrawn. You shan't feel guilty to enjoy yourself in the mean time. For surely, you will discover how to break the curse soon and we can put this all behind us." She reached out and placed her hand over my knee. I stopped bouncing my leg, having not realised I had been in the first place. Her confidence in me was rather unnerving and I stared back at her is disbelief.

"Perhaps you should compose a letter to Robin. Invite him for a visit? Take your mind off of this curse for a spell." Loveday gave me a knowing smile. I continued to stare at her with wide eyes but then quickly corrected my composure.

"It would be improper for a Lady to do such a thing, honestly Loveday!" Miss Heliotrope gave an exasparated sound at Loveday's suggestion. "That would be much too foreward of Maria. She is too wait until a gentelman sends his correspondence first, of course." Miss Heliotrope scolded.

"Very well then. I will send my dear brother a letter-" Miss Heliotrope gave a disapproving snort. Loveday paused, changing her words slightly to appease my governess, "and invite him to tea. Robin and I have lot's of catching up to do." Loveday winked at me, patted my knee and returned to her tea and needlepoint.

I groaned inwardly and fought the urge to burst out into to tears. If only my life were ever that simple. I turned back to the window and recalled how much closer the moon was last night. And how it drew nearer with each passing day. Just how many days did we have at all? I wondered desperately.

Later and into the late afternoon and after a rather awkward lunch, due mostly on my part for I was such a bundle of nerves, I found myself pacing about the floors of my bedchambers once more. Surely I would all too soon have worn out the floorboards at my frequent and incessant pacing.

I stay holed up in my room into the evening. Crying. Pacing. Suffering. This is the day. This is the day where my life will fall apart. I thought to myself.

I cringed at the sound of a carriage drawing near. And I sat at the foot of my bed. My nerves have gotten the best of me. I am awaiting punishment. I feel as a child who has absentmindedly broken a valuable family heirloom and lie in waiting to be caught.

I pick frantically at a loose thread on the bodice of my dress. Winding it around my finger tightly until my finger turns from pink to red and then near blue. I unwind it and then wind it around another finger. Repeating the process until my fingers have gone numb. The physical discomfort comes as a welcome distraction from the turmoil I am enduring internally.

My stomach is in knots. Protesting the small bits of the meal I had forced down at supper in an effort to appear unfazed by the impending arrival of Lord De Noir.

Time has eluded me again. I stare out at the clear night sky. The snow-covered ground below is illuminated in a bright silvery glow. Much too bright. Unnaturally so, as the moon has drawn closer with each passing day. It hangs heavy and ominous above our valley. I lay back onto my bed and look to my enchanted ceiling, hoping to find comfort in the twinkling stars and floating wisps of the clouds. I watch as one of the stars falls and shoots across the magical sky and disappears.

I am sure an hour or so has passed. In an effort to preoccupy my mind, I begin to count the stars. I counted forty-five stars this time. That's peculiar. The time before that I distinctly recall a count of fifty-two.

I am startled by a rapping at my door. I sit up and smooth my dress over, "Enter." I draw in a shaky breath and feel the blood drain from my face.

"Pardon me, Miss. Your presence has been requested in the piano room." Sarah announces after coming into my room and closing the door behind her.

I stand. But waiver as my knees threaten to give out. My breathing hitches and the trembling in my body is so intense that I have to clench my jaw to keep my teeth from clattering together. I nod and follow after her.

This is much too intense. I can't do this. I can't do this. I chant as I methodically make my way down stairs. Am I floating? I feel as if my body has disappeared and only my inner thoughts now exist. Have I finally succeeded at disassociating my subconscious from my physical being?

I reach the parlour but it is empty, much to my surprise. My ears ring in the silence. I fear what I will find behind the closed doors am I to enter. I picture a house full of horrified, disgusted and appalled faces of my family, not even able to bring their eyes to meet mine with the knowledge they have been given by Robin's father.

Why had Lord De Noir changed his mind and decided to throw me to my fate? Perhaps it's better this way. For surely I could not have brought myself to utter those words at all. Better that someone else had instead. For now, all I would have to do is nod my head when I am asked if it what they had been told is true. I could do that. Simply nod. And then let myself leave my body again as their wrath is unleashed upon me. And simply float back up the stairs and disappear.

Sarah opens the doors of the piano room once we have reached it. And I stood there unable to move for a pause. She clears her throat, prompting me to continue. And I snap back into realty.

I step into the room and hear the doors click shut behind me. My pulse races. I will my eyes up from my feet.

There, I find Robin standing in the middle of the room. I stare at him, confused. My mind not yet comprehending what I am seeing.

He turns as the door shuts and faces me. It pains me to see him. We lock eyes and a silent exchange happens between us. Many emotions wash over me. Anger. Pain. Fear. Confusion. Love.

I am completely shocked to see him standing alone in my home. I break contact with him and my eyes search about the room quickly as I wonder where everyone else may be. I am afraid to move. Afraid to speak. Afraid that this isn't real. Afraid that my eyes have deceived me.

After a long pause Robin finally closes the gap between us. He reaches out in a calmly manner and gathers my hands up into his. I stare down at my small hands and admire how perfectly they fit into his. Gently he pulls me down the steps and further into the room. We stop in front of the fireplace. I glance once into the dancing orange glow and then turn back to him and search his eyes. Finally he speaks.

"Sir Benjamin thought it best...if I...er..ask you myself...Maria, will you marry me?"

I drop my hands from his and stumble back a step. Confusion, excitement, elation all grip me. Robin takes a step closer and again takes both my hands in his. He stares down at me intensely

I stare back at him perplexed. Guarded. I am at a loss for words. I had come down here thinking I had been thrown to the wolves. I had not expected instead to find the love of my life. To receive the chance to talk with him again. To feel him. To hear his voice.

"Marry me, Maria Merryweather. Marry me because I love you. Because I knew I loved you this first time I saw you. At your father's grave that day... you looked so sad and innocent and so alone. But you were the most beautiful girl I had ever seen." Robin shifts closer to me and I can feel his warmth. My heart aches with longing and I stare up at him in disbelief of his words.

"And marry me not because it is an obligation due to the...circumstances. Because that is far from truth."

He tilts my face up to his and presses his lips against mine ever so softly. "I love you." He whispers against my mouth and wraps his arms around me. I fall into him with a sob and he squeezes me tighter. I take a deep breath into the crook of his neck and close my eyes as his familiar scent envelopes me. I process his words slowly as he holds me. We stay that way for while until I finally pull away.

"Robin I am confused. How can this be?" I shake my head incredulously at him. "Where is your father, isn't he here? Didn't he come here tonight to tell...Does my family know? Wait. You didn't kill him did you?" I gasp with wide eyes. Becoming frantic and on the brink of crazed. Robin slides his hands down to my waist and pulls me closer. The feel of his warm hands on my body calms me. He looks at me with a smirk.

"What? No. I would never...my father is in Sir Benjamin's study with everyone else. And no, nobody knows."

"I don't understand. Why has he allowed you..." I trail off, my emotions getting the best of me. After the last conversation I had with Robin's father, this is rather proposterous to me.

"Maria, my father and I had come to an impasse. In which I may have made some threats that in turn brought us to an...agreement. We both came to the conclusion that it needn't be known...that we could keep our secret and he will accept the fact that I am in love with you and that I refuse to abandon you."

Robin watches as I process his words and the reality of them finally hits me. He smirks at me as the emotions play over my face. I am still confused by all of this but I don't care. All I care is that I am standing in this very room with Robin's hands on me and he just asked me to marry him. This can't be real? My mouth spreads into a wide grin and excitement bubbles up into my chest.

"Yes! Yes I will marry you! I love you Robin De Noir." I squeal and jump into his arms, wrapping myself around him. He laughs and stumbles back at my advance. I pull back and slide my hands down onto his chest and stare into his eyes, "I love you." I whisper.

Then I lean up on the tips of my toes and touch my lips against his. He pulls me against him tightly with his hand on the small of my back and I moan softly at the feel of him against me. He pulls back to look at me with a smile and then slides his fingers into my hair at the back of my neck and kisses me deeply.

"I still can't believe this is true." I pull back and look incredulously at Robin. "So how are we supposed to keep our secret? Engagements are traditionally for one year..."

"This is Moonacre, we are far from anything traditional." Robin smiles down at me in a reassuring way. "But yes, my father agrees that we must make haste on the matter because of the..." His gaze falls down to my stomach and he takes a step back from me. He places a hand on the mantle and stares into the fire before turning back to me.

"Maria, I pray you will forgive me. For how I treated you. And I want you to know that I am not doing this out of obligation. Child or no child, I want to marry you. I can't stand to be away from you. I can't lose you. I won't let anyone take you from me...I love you." He takes one of my hands in his and brings it to his lips.

"And I may be many things but I don't fancy myself a liar. When I told you that you were mine and I was yours, I meant it. I am sorry that I had a terrible way of showing it."

"I forgive you. Of course. I love you. Now kiss me again so I know this isn't a dream." I smirked at him. He wraps me in his arms and kisses me heatedly and my knees go weak. But I am haunted by images of his father. I pull back and steady myself by placing my hands against his chest.

"Robin, I'm frightened of your father..."

Robin chuckles and takes a step back. He takes my hand and leads me over to the settee and we sit next to eachother staring into the fire.

"You don't have to worry about him-"

"What happened...after you left me in the forest? Why did you tell him straightaway?"

"I didn't. I had no choice but to tell him, as he was trying to keep us apart. I feared what he was going to do to you. He had gone mad again as he had that day we found the moon pearls."

There was a pause as I took in Robin's words and images of the day the curse was broken pushed into my mind. I clenched my jaw as I recalled the fear that gripped me when Lord De Noir had held me at gun point.

"And I'm sorry you had to see all that. To go through that at the castle. You haven't had the best impressions of us have you?" Robin asked rhettorical.

"That's just the way we De Noirs are. But eventually after some fists and a bit of blood we'll listen to reason...Usually." Robin smirked at his family's barbaric antics.

"What did he say to my uncle? I am surprised everyone hastily agreed to our engagement." I interrupted as the thought crossed my mind.

"He came to discuss your betrothal. And Sir Benjamin agreed that I was an honourable suitor. As well, I told him I was in love with you." Robin grinned at me, pleased with himself. He leant over and pressed his lips against mine. I wrapped my hand around the back of his neck and pulled him in closer, deepening the kiss.

"Ahem."

Startled we both pulled away to see the doors wide open and five faces staring down at us in surprise. I felt myself blush profusely. Then I shifted awkwardly next to Robin as I braced myself to see his father again. I wasn't prepared to see him again. In fact, I wouldn't mind to not see him ever again. He frightened me so. And I was rather content to spend the evening wrapped up in Robin. Although I knew that wouldn't be possible. But I was disappointed that our moment of bliss had been so embarrassingly interrupted.

"She's accepted!" Loveday concluded by our embrace and clapped her hands together as she floated down into the room. Robin and I stood and she gave me a squeeze and a kiss on either cheek. She then turned to her brother and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"This is just splendid!" She beamed at us. "A right cause for celebration. I knew this would be happening soon enough. Digweed! Champagne, of course!"

I was gladdened for Loveday's bubbly and positive attitude. One could always count on her to lighten the mood. Uncle came and stood before us next.

"I believe a congratulations is in order." He gave a nod and shook Robin's hand.

"Thank you, Uncle." I smiled back at him.

Robin felt me shifting nervously beside him as his father drew nearer. He took my hand in his and squeezed it encouragingly. I willed my eyes to lift from the floor.

"Maria." Lord De Noir took my hand and brought it to his lips. I clenched my jaw, fighting to remain calm as everyone looked on. "Robin couldn't have made a finer choice." He stated without emotion and gave Robin a curt nod before turning to find a seat. I tried to keep a warm smile but my mouth trembled. Lord De Noir was definitely no stranger to keeping us appearances.

I blew out a shaky breath and turned into Robin for support. "That was rather nerve-racking." I whispered against his ear. Robin smirked down at me and rubbed his thumb over the back of my hand. I quickly pulled away from him as Miss Heliotrope made her way over to us.

"Well Maria. I-I don't know what to say. This was all rather sudden. You two didn't even have a proper courtship. B-but I...congratulations." She huffed and flicked her eyes over to Robin and then back to me. I thanked her before she took a seat in an armchair and fanned herself.

Digweed appeared with Marmaduke and Sarah and passed each of us a glass of champagne. Marmaduke gave me a wink from across the room and Digweed and Sarah smiled approvingly at us.

After an awkward moment of silence Lord De Noir stood up. I quickly grow nervous, fearing what he could have to say. Robin squeezes my hand again as he feels me stiffen beside him.

"A toast!" he begins loudly as he raises his glass, "A De Noir for a Merryweather and now a Merryweather for a De Noir. A healthy trade in my book." He chuckles before sitting down again.

"Here, here." We all say in unison as we tip our glasses together, grinning widely at eachother.

"Pardon me...what did you say?" Loveday furrows her brow at her father and we watch as her lips move, recounting his words silently. She stands up and paces the floor in the slightest.

"Loveday my dear, what are you on about?" Uncle asks, looking down his nose at her.

"'There will be a day when a De Noir is taken as a Merryweather'...to restore the balance...a Merryweather must be taken as a De Noir. It's just as father has said, a fair trade. I believe that is what the prophecy pertains to. I believe this is what will restore the balance it speaks of!"

"Loveday that's bloody brilliant!" Robin exclaims.

"It makes perfect sense. The answer is there in itself we just couldn't see it until now." Loveday continued.

"So what you mean to say is, our union shall break the curse?" I chime in and gesture between Robin and I.

"Yes, yes. I believe so!" Loveday replies.

"This is brilliant." Uncle says to himself just above a whisper as the realisation dawns on him, "brilliant indeed."

"What is?"

"The fact that you two are already engaged and we don't have to force an arranged marriage on you." Uncle chuckles.

"Would you've really done that?" I ask with amusement.

"To save the valley from being plunged into eternal darkness?...Yes." Uncle bellows a laugh. His enlightened mood brings humour to us all. "But it appears you two have always been destined for one another."

"As have you and Loveday." I retort.

"But how long do we have? Surely this curse of a moon won't wait for an entire year during the time of their engagement." Miss Heliotrope points out.

"No, we surely do not have that long. We shall shorten the engagement accordingly." Lord De Noir cuts in and shares a look with Robin. Clearly doing his best to move our wedding up as closely as possible in as subtly a manner as possible. I was instantly greatful for him. I had feared him only moments before and now I was gladdened that we had him. That Robin and I could trust him.

"In the meantime we shall do our best to discover when the final moon will be." I state. Everyone nods in agreement.

"This is just splendid! I knew that uniting our families would bring good. Just look at how far we've come in regards to figuring out this curse since coming together!" Loveday beamed, jumping up to give her father a squeeze.

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"I wish you didn't have to go." I whisper to Robin in the parlour an hour later. His father is waiting outside in the carriage and everyone else left Robin and I to bid farewell to one another in private.

"I will see you again soon." He whispered back to me and touched his lips against mine softly and yet again. I slid my hands beneath his cloak and wrapped my arms around him and trailed kisses down his neck. I heard a groan rumble in his chest and I smiled.

"I love you."

"I love you too. Goodnight." Robin leant down and kissed me one last time before turning to leave. I stood there and watched after him. Feeling warmed by his embrace. My head clouded dreamily with the turn of events this evening had brought rather surprisingly. And I smiled to myself.