Chapter four: Meetings
Everything hurt. Her muscles ached, but it had been worth the discomfort not to be trapped in a carriage with Isabella for the eight hours it had taken them to arrive. Now, her head hurt after getting nearly an hour long lecture from Isabella. She refused to call her 'mother'. She didn't care much for lord Vaisey; he was too close to Isabella to be any good for her. In truth, she was surprised that Isabella hadn't considered going after Vaisey for money.
"Are you listening to me!?" Isabella shouted as she gripped Meg by the shoulders and spun her around. Meg gasped as she looked into Isabella's eyes. Isabella was beyond upset, she appeared to be on the border to insanity. It was in this moment that Meg decided that it would be healthier to just play the willing bride and then make her escape later. "Tonight, you will play to lord Robin, agreeing with everything he says. Understood?" Meg nodded. "Good! now, let us go!"
Meg stood silently and exited the room with Isabella leading the way. She said nothing as they moved towards the dining hall. The castle was dark and dreary, she couldn't imagine being the mistress of this place. She wasn't even sure what her intended looked like, but she hoped he didn't take after Vaisey.
Ugh, who was she fooling? She'd almost been happy when she'd seen the tall, dark figure at the top of the stairs with Vaisey. for a moment, her heart had jumped in her chest as she'd studied Guy's expression. He had kind and sympathetic eye and for a moment, she thought she'd seen something in his eyes. However, that hopeful feeling in her heart soon passed once she realized that he was not her intended. Still, that didn't stop her from being drawn to him.
"Ah, Isabella," her head came back into focus at lord Vaiseys' voice. "you and your daughter are just in time."
"Thank you Vaisey," Isabella stated with a sly smile on her face. "my daughter is most anxious to meet your son's acquaintance. I trust he will be joining us tonight?"
Vaisey chuckled tightly. "Indeed, he is." He glanced around. "I had Guy go fetch him."
"Guy?" Isabella inquired.
"He was the man who greeted us with Vaisey this morning." Meg said softly.
Isabella shot her a harsh look. "Indeed, he was. I'm not of the habit of marking the names of staff."
The sound of boisterous laughter, caused them all to look towards the corridor. Guy came around the corner, gently pushing a slightly intoxicated young man. Her intended could be handsome, were his first impression not so bad. "Got him, milord. He was celebrating with a friend in the tavern."
"Yes," Vaisey said tightly. "I see. Come, sit down Robin."
Guy turned to leave, but Robin grabbed ahold of his arm. "Guy," he stated jovially. "join us!"
Guy blinked in surprise. Meg blinked in surprise at Robin's offer. She assumed that he and Guy must be friends, for him to make such an offer. "Certainly," Isabella stated. "you would not expect a lowly marshal to be seated at the same table with a lady of our station?"
"Guy is a friend." Robin stated, his jovial tone turning dark. "I asked him to join us."
Meg glanced between Isabella and Robin, before clearing her throat. "Please, won't you join us Sir Guy?" Again, he glanced at her, his dark eyes curious. "I'm sure, she did not mean to offend." Isabella kicked her hard under the table and Meg bit back a sound.
Guy, however noticed and he glanced at Robin before stating. "It's alright milady, it's really not my place."
She inhaled and spoke quickly before he could turn away and leave. "How is Valentine?" Robin moves to sit at the far end of the table, as far from her as possible, she noted. "Is she settling in well?"
"Yes, milady."
"Oh, for God's sake," Robin groans. "will you sit down Gisbourne? The lady and I have requested it. now sit!"
Guy glances at Vaisey who nods. "Do sit Gisbourne. I will need your assistance in keeping Robin in check."
Guy exhaled uneasily. "As you wish, milord."
"So," Robin stabbed his knife into a loaf of bread. "tell me about yourself. How old are you?"
Guy kicked Robin under the table, causing him to glare. "Sorry."
"You know damn well you weren't."
Meg smiled. "Pardon me milord if I chose not to answer that question."
"Why?" he inquires.
"It is unseemly for you to ask me such a question, especially in front of other men." She held his gaze. "You may ask me another question milord."
"She shall be twenty this year." Isabella stated.
Robin bowed his head at Isabella. "Thank you." he turned back to Meg and inquired. "Do you look forward to being a mother?"
She didn't even blink. She knew he was challenging her and she wasn't going to back down. "It depends on my husband. If I loathed him, I wouldn't look forward his children."
Robin arched a brow. "What number do you have in mind?"
"Three, no more that four. Preferably two of each."
"Tell me," he leaned forward. "what if one of your daughter has a habit of spending money? How would you deal with that?"
she chuckled. "You forget my Lord, that if I were to marry that my husband would take control over my dowry and everything that my marriage would bring. The question would be, how would he handle that?"
Guy let out a chuckle as he lifted the glass of wine to his lips to hide the smile on his face. Robin glowered at him before demanding. "Do you play instruments?"
"Yes, I play several. I'm mostly proficient on the fiddle."
"Do you read?"
"Frequently milord. I've almost finished reading my father's library in its entirety."
"Mostly, poetry, I assume?"
she smirks as she leans forward. "No, I said I read my father's library. While my father did have great works of poetry, he also had books of history, science, philosophy, mathematics and other subjects."
She heard Guy chuckle as he hid his smile behind a glance of wine. Robin, was now in a panic, she could see it. "What about dancing? Do you approve?"
"I do, but if one has the wrong partner it can be barely tolerable."
" Meg," Isabelle said sharply. "mind your words."
"Do you ride?" he inquired.
"Yes." She stated without even blinking. "I also hunt and I'm proficient at archery if I do say so myself!"
Guy chuckled at the look on Robin's face. "She may have you bested Hood."
She turned to him inquiringly. "Hood?"
"Ah, it's a story from when we were young." Robin kicked Guy in the shins. "It's a private joke."
"I see."
"See," Vaisey points out. "I told you that I had your best interests at heart. She's an intellectual woman."
"She's an intellectual child." Robin stated. Everyone stared at him in surprise. She bit her lip and forced herself to take a drink from her wine.
"You will apologize." Vaisey said firmly, now.
"I will not. her mother said she is but nineteen, I am more than 5 years older than her." Robin shakes his head. "I myself am but 4 years younger than Gisbourne. In truth, you picked someone too young for me."
"Robin," Guy said firmly, yet softly. "you've made it clear that this is not what you desire. There is no need to insult the lady when she has been more than kind towards you."
Robin shoots him a look. "Did I ask for your opinion, Gisbourne?"
"Is he not allowed to have an opinion?" Meg asked. The words popped out of her mouth before she could stop herself from speaking them. "You said he was your friend, yet you forced him to join us against his will. Your stepfather hath allowed him to venture forth in his opinion yet, when he speaks you silence him. your behavior milord, is unbecoming!"
"Enough!" Isabella states firmly. "You will retire Meg and you will beg his lordship for forgiveness for speaking thusly."
Meg bit her lip, clearly pondering to speak or not. Guy glanced towards Robin who didn't appear apologetic in the least. Guy turned back to Meg who stood, along with her stepmother. "If you will all excuse me," she stated in a calm and collected tone. "I will take my leave."
Her stepmother rounded the table to meet her as Meg intended to make a swift exit. "I said apologize."
"I will not." Guy's brow arched. She didn't mind stating her mind even in front of company. Vaisey's mouth dropped open in shock at her refusal. Even if it hadn't been her fault, she was disobeying a direct order to apologize. "I am not his wife, nor are we courting. It is his office to-
Meg's words were cut short by Isabella drawing her hand back and slapping Meg's cheek! CRACK! Meg let out a cry and grabbed her cheek. Unable to stop himself, Guy jumped up and all eyes went to him.
"Sit down Gisbourne." Vaisey stated.
Guy inhaled. he was allowing his emotions to show again. "If you'll forgive me milord, I remembered that I left something of importance in the stables."
"Such as?"
"The account books." He stated calmly. "I trust you do not wish for me to leave them in my saddlebag."
Meg took advantage of this moment to sweep out of the room. Vaisey nodded. "Very well, be back quickly."
"Yes, milord." Guy bowed and hurried out of the room.
the lady Isabella, fortunately sat back down at the table. "I'm sorry. I told you she was willful."
"Indeed. I'm glad to see you disciplining her." Vaisey stated. "However, she had a sharp tongue, which the boy clearly needs."
Guy rolled his eyes as he rounded the corner, nearly hitting the lady Meg who was in the corner. she had her hands over her mouth and she was crying. She gasped and jumped as she realized it was him. "I'm sorry," she gasped out. "I didn't-
"No, it's alright milady." He exhaled and looked down at her. "I'm sorry."
"It's not…your fault." She inhaled deeply.
"It's not yours either." He looked around and spotted Cora, a maid approaching. "Cora." He waved her over towards him. Cora hurries over. "Could you take Lady Meg to her to her quarters and stay there with her? I'll send Alice over shortly to look at her face."
she nods. "Of course." Cora gently places her hands on her shoulders and guides her towards her quarters. "Come with me milady."
"Thank you." Meg whispered as she held her cheek. "Cora, isn't it?"
Guy shook his head as he went out to the stables. She was a sweet girl and she didn't deserve this. Guy moved quickly to the stables to grab ahold of his saddlebag. He'd sent a stable boy to fetch Alice and was able to escort her to Meg's room. He tapped on the door and Meg opened the door. He was not expecting a purple bruise to form under her eye so quickly. However, it was the scratches on her cheeks that surprised him.
She bit her lip and placed a hand over her hand. "Hello." She shook her head. "May I help?"
Alice removed Meg's hand from her face and studied her carefully. "What are the marks on her face?" Guy asked.
"The rings." Meg whispered. "I'm alright."
"Come inside," Alice says. "I'll clean the cuts and do what I can to help you with this bruise."
"Thank you." she stepped aside to let Alice inside. She turned towards him and said. "Thank you, Sir Guy."
He nods and bows to her. "Thank you milady."
She blinks before whispering. "I've done nothing."
He was silent before admitting. "It was nice…to be recognized as an equal for a moment. I thank you for that."
She smiled sadly before turning back into her room. Guy exhaled deeply. He needed to watch himself. the girl was beautiful. She may have had a sharp tongue, by Robin's standards. But she had a large, soft and gentle heart. He was concerned that it would break under the weight it was carrying.
He made his way back to the hall, only to round the corner to see Robin walking along the hall towards his chambers. All signs of drunkenness now gone. He looked up and grinned. "Gisbourne! Vaisey retired."
"I cannot blame him." Guy inhaled, forcing himself to remain calm. "I can imagine after your display he was embarrassed."
"Possibly, but it is all part of my plan."
"Your plan?" Guy frowns. "What are you doing?"
"To make it obvious that the lady and I would not suit." Robin stated. "If I can show that we aren't compatible, the I can be free from this."
Guy shakes his head. "You do not care that you're hurting her?"
"Better to hurt her now than to hurt her more when we marry." Guy opens his mouth ,but Robin cuts him off. "If I am forced to marry her, I will not hold her in any regard. She'll be there to warm my bed and provide me with a legitimate heir. She is not of any value to me Gisbourne, nor will she be. Best to start making her aware of her position in this marriage. I will never love her!"
Guy was stunned as he watched Robin enter his chambers and slam the door shut. He shook his head. this was a disaster. He made a note to try to speak to lord Vaisey about this marriage tomorrow. He also needed to write a letter to his sister, Marian. He needed advice on how to handle this matter of the heart, for he was clearly out of his depth.