Robin's eyes snapped open the following morning. He was instantly awake, having trained himself to protect his own person and others even when he slept. The distinct impression he was being watched had broken through his dreams this morning, but when he realized who was watching him, he relaxed and broke into a grin.
Three little blonde boys stood at the foot of his bed, staring at him with their wide blue eyes. Three mouths gaped open, three noses needed wiping.
"Good morning," Robin said, greeting Much and Eve's sons, Robin, Will, and John.
The boys turned and fled, screaming, even though they knew Robin well. They were almost never silent except when eating, and even then they made noise, smacking their lips in appreciation. Much adored them, but had no control over them. Only Eve could make them behave, good hearted though they were.
Robin rolled onto his side and gazed in loving fondness at Marian until she began to stir. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled, basking in her husband's love.
"Good morning, Beautiful," Robin said, lightly brushing back a stray wisp of hair from her cheek.
"Mmm," Marian said, wrapping her arms around him. "If I'd known how good it is to wake up beside you, I would have married you sooner."
"You mean, instead of waiting until we were dying?"
"We're alive."
"Are we? This might be Heaven, you know."
They enjoyed a kiss, then Marian remembered they weren't at home.
"It's quiet," she said.
Robin began to chuckle.
"What?" Marian asked.
"You didn't hear Much's boys earlier. Or maybe you did."
"They woke me up, you mean? I don't hear them now. It's early, I think."
"Not so very," Robin told her, kissing her again before climbing out of bed and pulling on a shirt. "I need to talk to Much about sending a message to Queen Eleanor."
He walked to the door adjoining his room to the one where their daughters slept. Pushing open the door, he grinned back at Marian, then said, "Come look."
Marian rose from the bed and joined him looking through the door. Eve had seen that two beds were brought into the room, but both little girls slept together in one, with Moonlight on the pillow of the other. The kitten raised its head, stood up and stretched, then hopped down purring and approached the couple.
"That's just how you walk," Marian told her husband, only half teasing.
"Like a cat?"
"Yes. Light on your feet and gracefully swaying."
Robin shrugged, then kissed Marian's cheek after she'd picked up the kitten. "I better see if Much is up. The sooner I get word to the Queen Mother, the sooner everyone can return to Locksley."
He found Eve presiding over her three boys at the breakfast table, but Much was still asleep. Robin was bothered, used to having Much at his beck and call.
"I can help you," Eve volunteered. "Do you need baths?"
"I need Much," Robin said impatiently, then apologized for his rudeness. "Sorry. I'm not used to...Do you have any ink and vellum? I need to send a message to London."
"There's some in the office," Eve told him. "I can show you-"
"Thank you, but I know the way. This used to be my...Sorry, again."
Eve took in her breath and tried to hide her annoyance, controlling herself for Much's sake.
Entering the office, Robin was dismayed by its lack of order. He knew that Much employed a man to keep his accounts, and he stole a look inside Bonchurch's ledgers, not to snoop, but because he wanted to make certain Much's finances were sound. Even with his own dyslexic struggles over being able to tally long columns of numbers, Robin could quickly see things were terribly wrong.
"Morning," Robin heard Much say from the office doorway, followed by a long yawn. "I must say, it's good to have you here."
"Much," Robin said, surprised to find Much still dressed in the monogrammed robe he'd worn last night, not yet dressed for the day. "These figures..."
"Yes," Much said. "My man told me they aren't what they should be. But what can I do? Stop treating the people with parties? It is your way, Robin."
"Not if you can't afford it. Why didn't you say sooner, you were having money troubles? I suspect you're being robbed, Much."
"Robbed? What do you mean, robbed? Unbelievable! That is...that is revolting."
"Allan ought to take a look at your books. He can tell you if the man you hired has been stealing from you."
"Allan, yes! Right away! He's good with figures! And speaking of money, I wonder if you can loan me a few pounds, until we get this straightened out."
"I was hoping you'd be able to loan me some money, to pay a courier to take a message to Queen Eleanor."
Much looked embarrassed. "Loan you money? Master! I mean Robin! Since when have you been short of funds? I mean, not counting when we were outlaws, and even then! Aside from those first few days in the forest, before you decided we should rob the sheriff-"
Robin had stopped listening. "May I borrow a horse, Much?" he asked.
"A horse, of course!" Much laughed, pleased with himself. "That rhymes! A horse, yes. What for?"
"I need to ride into Nottingham, borrow some money off Allan, and hire a courier."
"At least let me give you the vellum, so you can write your message. Need any help with the words?"
"No thank you, Much."
Much stood by watching as Robin composed his message. "What does it say?" Much asked, once Robin had finished.
Robin, impatient now to be off, read the message then asked, "The horse, Much?"
"Oh! You want to go now, before breakfast? Shall I come with you?"
"Stay here with Marian. It's the first time she's been here since...The horse?" he reminded Much again.
"Since when?"
Robin had never told Much he had used Bonchurch as a place for his honeymoon, and had no time to explain now. He only gave Much a look, so that Much said, "The horse! Yes! I'll see one's saddled! I'm going!"
"Now, Much," Robin ordered.
"Immediately!"
Later, as he galloped toward Nottingham, Robin realized it was much easier to give charity than to receive it, which tested his humility. He considered it a valuable lesson and one he would take to heart, enabling him to be kinder in the future, when he would be able to give again. As for now, he would try to be kinder toward Eve, for his conscience pricked him for his behavior toward her this morning.