With one brief exception, Isabella remained quiet the remainder of the journey to London, angry at Robin's reaction toward his younger daughter jabbing her hand with the needle.
Rather than giving the round-eyed, bald-headed brat the type of beating Isabella had suffered under her own father, Robin had at first snickered, then given Isabella a triumphant, somewhat vicious "Ha!" after she objected to his merriment. Marian's reaction was no better. She had smiled proudly, then picked up her daughter to kiss her on her chubby cheek.
Isabella only managed to control herself from ripping the brat from its mother's arms and throwing it overboard by reminding herself she would have the final laugh, once the news of Richard's imminent demise reached England. She would have her revenge against Robin then, for rejecting her after she'd offered him her very heart.
Yet her anger did not stop her from trying to seduce him one more time.
It was late when they reached England's shores, and having no better place to spend the night, Robin engaged beds for them in the nicest inn he could find.
"You could chain her in the stables," Marian suggested, referring to Isabella. "That's where Sheriff Vasey put me, on the way to the Holy Land."
"I am not Vasey," Robin responded, happy to be back in his beloved England. "And this way, with Isabella sleeping in the same room with us, I can keep an eye on her all night, so she doesn't pull any of her tricks."
"That's what I'm afraid of," Marian said, somewhat teasingly.
Grinning happily, Robin took his wife in his arms, wishing he could kiss her. "You are not afraid of anything. You know the king called you a lionheart, too?"
Marian's gasp of pleasure filled Robin with delight. "Really?' she asked, and his answering look of admiration and love thrilled and warmed her.
Robin engaged every bed in the inn, so Marian and their children would not have to sleep in a room with strangers. He put Isabella on a bed all alone on one side away from the door, while he and his family took the beds as far from her as possible. And to ensure she didn't escape, Robin tied her wrists to the bedposts.
"Naughty," Isabella told him, breathing heavily as she hoped he felt the same temptation she did while tying her up.
Robin recoiled from her, his face sneering in disgust before regaining a stony look. "Goodnight, Isabella," he said unkindly before turning and walking away.
Isabella watched him by the light of a single candle as he and Marian prepared their little girls for bed. Lovingly, they guided them in saying their prayers before tucking them into bed and kissing them goodnight. Once the children were under their covers, Robin told them a story that made them laugh, playing all the characters so effectively Isabella viewed him with scornful disgust. Afterwards, Marian softly sang them a lullaby in a voice so clear and sweet Isabella wanted to reach into her mouth and yank out her tongue.
The children and their nurse fell asleep, and Isabella watched and listened as Robin sat on the edge of Marian's bed, talking happily with her as they made plans for their family and their village.
"He must be asleep," she next heard Robin say, his hand over Marian's belly.
"He?" Marian teased.
"Or she." He grinned back down at her, gently stroking her hair back from her face. "Our little Matilda."
Marian was not yet sold on that name, even though she loved its namesake. She still hoped for a boy, to be named after the king. "I haven't felt him move," she said, concerned, "not since..."
Isabella smirked, knowing her poison had weakened the baby.
Robin, disturbed by her news, waited, then offered, "Let's have a physician check you out, when we reach London."
"No." Marian was firm in her refusal. "It can wait until we're home, and Matilda can examine me. I'm sure it's alright. Goodnight, my love."
Isabella's eyes turned hawkish, watching Robin lean over and kiss Marian's lips. He probably would have climbed onto her bed and squeezed beside her, holding her while she fell asleep, Isabella realized, had she not been watching.
Isabella laughed out loud when she heard Marian begin to snore. "Ha!" she cried, wriggling until she was able to lean up to better watch. "Does Guy know the lady of his dreams snores? How daintily feminine!"
"She can't help it," Robin angrily snapped. "She only does it when she's expecting."
Isabella smirked. "So you claim. What a pity she didn't go through with their marriage! Guy wetting the bed, and her snoring! Though he hasn't wet his bed since he was twelve, I think."
The thought of Gisbourne having been a bed wetter restored Robin's good humor. Whistling softly under his breath, he removed his sword belt and his boots, and lay down on the bed next to Marian's.
"You said you'd keep an eye on me all night," Isabella reminded him. "Just how do you propose doing that, Robin, once you're asleep?"
He didn't choose to answer her, knowing he would only allow himself to doze off now and then, so that he could keep watch on her most of the night. It was a skill he had trained himself to do as a crusader in the Holy Land, and one he'd used again and again as an outlaw in the forest.
But Isabella had learned survival skills of her own, and she used one now, once Robin appeared to be asleep.
Her husband had frequently bound her wrists to the bedposts, as well as her ankles, and Isabella, over years, had taught herself to undo a vast number of knots. She did so now, freeing herself, then crept silently to Robin's bed, intending to touch him in ways he couldn't resist, to enjoy his body one final time. But she did not get the chance.
Robin's eyelids flipped open and he leaped from his bed, grabbing Isabella and shoving her backwards.
Recovering from her initial surprise, Isabella refused to give up. Her excitement increased with Robin manhandling her. "It'll be better over here," she said seductively, "away from them. You know you want me, Robin, as much as I want you."
"I want you locked away, as much as you want to see me dead."
"I would like that," she mused. "You dead, I mean. I've made no secret of my desires for you...any of them. Perhaps I'll have my wish, sooner than you think."
"I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you." He pushed her down on her bed and began retying her bonds. "Looks like I won't be getting any sleep tonight."
"It won't be the first night I kept you awake," Isabella reminded him.
Robin glared at her in disbelief. "You must be thinking of one of your other lovers. The one or two times I made the mistake, it was over before I had the chance to regret it."
"I was referring to the nights you must have lay awake tossing and turning, burning for me."
Robin shook his head, snickering at her in disgust. "That never happened," he told her, smugly.
"No? I believe you're lying. But anyway, when you did succumb, your conscience and your guilt did make you rush through it a bit," Isabella agreed. "But even so, you know I enjoyed it. So did you, Robin. Just think how exciting it could be if you took your time to savor every wicked moment, here and now, with your family across the room, knowing nothing!"
Her offer disgusted him. "Is that supposed to interest me? You're sick," he seethed, stepping away from her. He wondered what she had meant by suggesting she might soon have her "wish" and see him dead. Was she bluffing, or did she know something he didn't?
In any event, she was dangerous and cunning, and he was forced to stay awake all night tonight, guarding her.
Isabella closed her eyes and snored on purpose, mocking Marian, then laughed triumphantly to herself, knowing she would see Prince John tomorrow, and signal to him their plan's success.