The next few days flew by easily. It was like a good omen – people were eager to buy much of William's stock and what they couldn't sell they could mostly give away. The house was up for sale within a couple of days and they were ready to leave.

They packed as many bags as they could find with food, money and supplies and loaded up the horses. Neither complained, but there was a definite unwillingness about the pair.

They left.

Robin wasn't completely sure which direction he was meant to go, so they traded some chairs for a map and worked out where the Moonacre valley was. As it turned out, Robin had actually travelled in a circle. He could identify the village he'd stayed in with Grace and he could roughly work out how he'd got there, using a scattering of settlements as a rough guide. It should take them two days maximum to reach Moonacre.

This made Robin feel slightly sick. It was completely feasible, then, for the De Noirs to have murdered William's sister. He still had no idea why and no evidence, but the proximity made it all the more likely.

Robin already knew that Ivy wasn't a fan of road walking, so as often as he could he walked her on the grassy verges and between the trees. William and his horse, Jasper, didn't seem to understand.

"It makes an echo." Robin tried to explain. "Makes her feel like she's being followed."

"He doesn't seem to mind it, though." William mused, patting Jasper's large shiny neck. He was a bold, splodgy horse with a giant patch of ginger fur above his shoulders and over his tail.

"Maybe he's used to it." Robin shrugged, stroking Ivy's neck with the back of his hand. She walked quietly, ears twitching at the occasional fly.

They walked and walked, aiming for a village which was conveniently placed between the one they'd just left and Moonacre. On the way, Robin spoke some more about growing up in the forest.

"When I was little I'd wake up at six in the morning every morning. I couldn't hear birds from my room – they tended to stay away from my house – but I knew they'd be waking up. I'd slip my boots on and run out before breakfast to play in the trees and listen to them singing. I guess I wasn't named Robin for nothing." He laughed. "My sister played for a few years, too. But then she became a woman and fell in love and ran away."

"With the man?" William asked, quickly checking the map and turning Jasper to the right. This meant Ivy had to walk across the road and she quietly made her feelings known.

"No. Away from him." Robin sighed heavily, remembering the sadness he'd felt for Loveday and the awful anger of his father. "But they're together now. It's all sorted. I used to visit her while she was away. No one suspected anything – I was always out and about anyway. I felt so grown up."

Robin was staring straight ahead so didn't notice the rustling to their left which Ivy, Jasper and William all saw. By the time they'd caught his attention and he'd realised where William was pointing, it had all gone quiet.

"Maybe it was a squirrel," he suggested helpfully. William laughed and shrugged.

"Tall squirrel."

They reached the stepping-stone village quickly but decided not to try making it all the way to Moonacre in one day. "We have money," William reasoned. "And we planned on staying here. It won't serve us well to be caught out in the night."

That evening was quiet, with just one brawl in the inn they were staying in. Robin resisted the temptation to join in by quickly rushing out of the way to head to the stables to check on Ivy. His excuse was that the banging and shouting might startle her, but really he was just feeling tense and excited about going home.

He also felt very sick and nervous.

Would Maria be married by now?

She would be eighteen, so probably.

He found himself desperately hoping that she wouldn't be, because the difference between an eighteen year old and a twenty three year old wasn't as bad as fifteen and twenty.

Somehow it didn't sound as inappropriate.

But maybe that was just him being hopeful.

He started to brush Ivy silently, smiling slightly as she leant into him. "Careful," he mumbled. "You'll knock me over."

She was quiet and just blinked at him, as if she knew what he was thinking.

"She's really lovely, you know." He told her. "She's brave and gentle and so understanding but she's so – so silly." He laughed and rested his forehead on her neck. "I hope she's okay."

"I suppose you'll see her tomorrow." A voice from behind him made him jump away from Ivy with red cheeks. A young woman with black hair was watching him from the stable door, her arms folded across his chest.

"This was a private conversation." Robin tried to look relaxed, but he was completely embarrassed.

"And a very stimulating one too, I'd imagine."

"What's your name?" Robin put the brush down and crossed his arms awkwardly.

"Susie. Or Su. Yours?" She asked, stepping towards Robin who backed into Ivy.

"Robin. And this lady is Ivy."

"Pleased to meet you, Ivy." Susie held out a hand for Ivy who stretched around Robin to nuzzle her softly. Robin stepped sideways awkwardly.

"The landlord. I'm his daughter. We get a lot of you guys here."

"You guys?" Robin repeated, eyebrows rising. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Wistful travellers who are returning home after a ridiculously long time away to some young girl who probably has had ten babies since they last saw them." Susie was rolling her eyes and stroking Ivy's nose. Robin stepped closer to her, feeling braver.

"Do you see many of us more than once?"

"No. Well, a few." She looked up at Robin through loose strands of hair. "Mostly crushed under a woman's fickle heart and trying to drown themselves in beer."

"I don't think I'll be like that." Robin laughed, silently praying that he was right.

"No? Why's that?"

"Because I'm not going home for some girl."

"Sounded like it." Susie laughed, stepping away from Ivy. She started to walk away, back towards the inn.

"Hey!" Robin called after her. She stopped and looked back. "I'm going back to see my sister."

Susie laughed, waved her hand and walked away leaving Robin feeling numb and breathless.