Awakening early the following morning, Marian looked lovingly at her sleeping husband, then rose from the bed and quietly dressed. Thankful that Robin had survived battle with nothing worse than an arrow wound, she wanted to attend early mass here in the convent, lured by the hushed peacefulness of the chapel and the solemn beauty of the service. Robin slept soundly on, exhausted from yesterday's battle, and Marian was careful not to disturb him.

Robin was dearer to her than she could express...considerate and kind, noble and brave, charming and clever, and if that weren't enough, incredibly attractive and alluring. Marian smiled, remembering last night, then caught herself, realizing hers were not exactly the proper thoughts to take to church. Instead, she focused on her husband's considerate nature. Marian knew he was continuing this trip for her, because she wanted to visit Aquitaine. "A true honeymoon at last," he had whispered to her when the Queen had invited them, just before she asked if they could bring their daughters.

Thinking of the girls now, she opened the door to her daughters' room and peeked inside. Ellen and the nurse were still asleep, but Grace was up and out of bed. "Mama!" Grace cried delightedly when she saw her.

"Shh," Marian said, picking Grace up and placing a finger on her lips.

Grace's eyes sparkled with mischief, and she opened her mouth as if to bite her mother's finger.

"No, Gracie," Marian warned. "No biting. Remember?"

She and Robin had worked hard this past year, teaching Grace not to bite. Unlike her hair, Grace's teeth had come in early, and the little toddler didn't understand that biting hurt, but enjoyed the reaction it caused when she did. But her parents had cured her of the disagreeable behavior at last, without resorting to Allan's heartless advice of biting her too, to teach her how it felt. That they had strictly forbidden.

Marian realized now, if Ellen and Nurse were to get any more sleep, she would have to take Grace with her to mass. So much for her peaceful time of worship! She sighed, but didn't really mind, enjoying her little girl's company. She hurriedly helped her to dress, then had trouble when Grace thought it great sport to pull her feet back every time Marian tried to put on her shoes.

Her daughter's childish laughter was contagious.

"Just like your father," Marian teased, finally succeeding in getting both shoes on. "Very playful."

"I good girl," Grace happily stated.

"You are," Marian agreed, smiling and rubbing noses with her child. "Come along, Gracie," Marian said. "We're going to church. You need to be very quiet during mass, and sit nicely beside me, or on my lap. Can you try for me?"

"I be quiet as a little mouse," Grace whispered solemnly, then called out a series of noisy squeaks.

"Oh, dear," Marian sighed.

Sitting with Grace in a back pew, Marian tried to focus her mind on the service, knowing she would not be able to stay for the entire mass. Grace was too young to expect her to sit quietly for so long, but she did well, staying fairly quiet and looking adorable during prayers, her head bowed, her eyes closed, and her hands clasped together in an attitude of prayer. When Marian realized Grace had reached her limit, she lifted her down from the pew and led her quietly out of the chapel.

It was another beautiful day. As it was too early for breakfast, Marian decided to take Grace to the convent's apple orchard. The nuns had told her she could take all she liked, as the trees were weighted down with apples.

The orchard was small and enclosed by high stone walls. Grace tottered happily about collecting apples off the ground and bringing them to her mother, but Marian began to feel uncomfortable, unable to shake off the feeling that someone was watching them. Marian whipped her head around to look behind her, but saw nothing unusual, not even a shadow. Yet she couldn't shake the feeling. A coldness travelled up and down her spine, and her heart began to race as fear gripped her.

"Don't be ridiculous," she told herself, clutching an apple in one hand to use as a possible weapon. "Of course there's no one there. Unless, of course..."

She relaxed and rolled her eyes, then called her husband's name. "Robin?"

There was no answer and her uncomfortable feeling returned. It wasn't like Robin to frighten her, she knew. Irritate and surprise her, certainly, but never frighten her. Robin wouldn't hide behind a wall, stalking her, but drop gracefully from a tree at her feet, or swing heroically from a rope down to the ground, never hide and hover, ominously.

"Who's there?" she called, sure she could hear someone panting.

"It's me!" Grace answered back. "Gracie!" Grace ran to her, and covered her little face with her hands then pulled them away. "Peep boo!" she cried.

There was nothing for it but to face her fear and protect her child. Marian hoped she was being ridiculous and would find nothing but a cow on the other side of the wall, or at worst a nosy nun. Picking Grace up and holding her close, she approached the direction of the breathing.

A foot or two away, she was terrified when Guy of Gisbourne hurled his body over the wall, almost landing on top of her.

"Guy!" she cried, stepping backward while trying to calm her fear.

"Surprise," he sneered dryly. "Resurrected from the dead, just as you were. You tried to kill me, but here I am, alive."

"That makes us even," Marian reminded him. "I already knew you weren't dead, Guy. Isabella told us."

"Us?"

"Robin. My husband," she emphasized, regaining her courage.

Gisbourne stared at her, tortured by his feelings. She was as beautiful as ever...more beautiful even, if that were possible. Yet she was with child again! There was no denying the gentle swell of her belly, and Gisbourne seethed with rage at the thought of her carrying his enemy's child, when she should have borne him heirs!

Hood had taken her, could enjoy her every night of the week! Hood, with his smug little smile and his skinny little manhood! The anger he felt toward Marian was actually rage toward Hood.

"Your husband," he sneered, taking a threatening step toward her. "That wound to his thigh ought to make him easy to kill."

Marian caught her breath, wondering how long Guy had been watching them.

Frightened, Grace began to wail. Gisbourne shoved a finger in her face, shouting, "You, shut up!"

Immediately, Grace bit down hard on his finger, causing Gisbourne to raise a wail as well, or to be more exact, a curse.

Seeing her chance to escape, Marian held Grace tighter and raced past Guy, on her way to the gate. Alone, she could propel herself over the orchard wall, but she couldn't do it holding her daughter.

Guy was after her, and Marian turned and faced him, then threw the apple in her hand at his head, stunning him for a moment. Guy bellowed in pain and anger, then caught up just as Marian ran through the gate.

Seizing her, he pulled her to the ground and forced Grace from her arms. Marian fought like a tiger to protect her child, but Guy was stronger. He didn't want the baby, only the woman who should have been his. He'd tried capturing Hood's other brat once before, and had hated holding her, locking her in a chest because he couldn't bear to look at her. Leaving Grace crying on the ground, he grabbed hold of Marian and carried her to his horse, the one he'd only just stolen from Hood.

Marian continued to fight him, and he knocked her senseless with a blow to her face, hating himself and blaming her for his brutality. Then, slinging her body over the horse, he pulled himself onto its back and galloped away.