Marian moved through the castle corridors as quickly as she could without breaking into a run.

She was late for the appointed time she was supposed to spend with her Aunt Mary sitting and working on embroidery... very late. Somehow, the time she had just spent with Robin had flown by. "We should have stayed on horseback," Marian realized, "and not gotten down for that...that walk."

The walk had been the most pleasant and exciting part of their day, however, and Marian could not regret it. After amazing her fiance with her unexpected skill at archery, Marian thought Robin looked at her with even more respect. Walking hand in hand through the edge of the forest where Much remained behind to supposedly watch over their horses, Robin had told her of his plans for Locksley, answered her challenges and considered her suggestions.

It was their future together they were planning, Marian believed, and she grew as excited as he, discussing his ideas to make his people even more prosperous and happy.

And then, delighted with each other, they ended their discussion to enjoy a few brief stolen moments alone, feasting on kisses.

Was it then that the time got away from them, Marian wondered, or had it been while they were talking? It was both, she understood, and now she would pay for today's pleasure, enduring a scolding from her elderly, sour aunt.

Smoothing down her hair, she took a deep breath before pushing open the heavy wooden door leading to her aunt's guest chambers.

Aunt Mary sat by the window, stitching away at her tapestry frame. She was surrounded by young ladies, some already wives, others still maidens, all sitting complaisantly sewing undergarments and linens which would be part of Marian's wedding trousseau.

"I'm sorry I'm late," Marian said, slipping into a chair without offering any explanation for her tardiness.

"Hmm," her aunt muttered, looking at her with severe disapproval.

The young ladies looked at her with curiosity. Lady Audrey Glasson, a woman nearing thirty whom Marian had always regarded more like an aunt than her true Aunt Mary, gave her a kindly smile. "We are glad you are here now," she said. "Would you prefer I continue this lovely filmy nightdress all in white, or would you care for some colored trimmings?"

"It's beautiful!" Marian cried. "Thank you! All white, I think. Any other color might spoil it."

"Not that Robin will notice," another young lady offered. "He'll be in too great a hurry to get to what'll be underneath!"

"Lucky, lucky you!" another lady cried. "Robin's so...!" She sighed, hotly.

"Isn't he?" others gushed.

The ladies tittered with laughter, and Aunt Mary looked severely at Marian as if she herself had led the discussion.

Aunt Mary disapproved of her brother Edward's daughter. She disapproved of many things, beginning with her brother's marriage seventeen years ago to far younger bride. Kate had died giving birth to this daughter, and Edward had been too indulgent, his sister firmly believed. Unhappy and having a selfish and controlling nature, she frowned at her beautiful niece, her disapproval extending even to Marian's sense of dress. Every lady of rank wore fashionable hanging sleeves, but Marian's sleeves ended just past her wrists. Marian choose such garments so that she would not be hampered, riding and shooting as she had today. Her formal gowns, such as the one she would wear tonight at the banquet and ball, had the requisite hanging sleeves so fashionable just now, but her Aunt Mary still frowned.

"I am glad, Niece," she said at last, but without the appearance of pleasure, "that you came back in time for the banquet. Last night you did not return until after dark."

"I was looking at the stars," Marian tried to explain. "There was even a shooting star!"

"Ahh," sighed one young lady. "Looking at the stars, with Robin of Locksley!"

"That bodes well for a happy marriage," Lady Glasson said, wanting to protect Marian. "It's said to bring good luck."

"Luck!" Aunt Mary looked scornful. "I don't know what my brother is thinking, letting you gallivant at all hours alone with that young man!"

"We weren't alone," Marian explained. "Lord Locksley's manservant was with us." And then, with a frustrated sigh she added, "He's always with us."

Aunt Mary studied Marian under severe eyebrows. "I will speak to my brother. It is unsafe for you to travel about on these jaunts of yours...unsafe and unseemly. If it were up to me, I would forbid you."

Marian bit her lip, stopping herself from saying something rude. She focused her attention on her embroidery, trying very hard to make her stiches small and even.

How boring to have spent the entire afternoon here with her aunt, sitting and sewing! Marian was glad she had escaped her aunt's disapproval, at least for most of the afternoon. She was grateful for the ladies who worked on her trousseau, but could not understand how they could enjoy themselves. But she knew they did. One of them, a Lady Gladys, took up their gossipy conversation they had been enjoying before Marian had interrupted it by her entrance.

"Martin of Aylesbury says that Prince Richard refuses to marry the French Princess Alys, because he caught his father the king in bed with her!"

"But hasn't he been betrothed to her since childhood?" another lady asked.

"Indeed. Queen Eleanor is furious! Imagine enduring such a betrayal, especially after raising the princess as if she were already her daughter!"

"She can't complain," another lady added. "What did she expect, cheating on her first husband, Princess Alys' father, King Louis of France, with King Henry herself? She knew our king was lusty."

"It takes one to know one," yet another lady said, laughing.

Wolves, Marian thought. They are like the proverbial wolves in sheeps' clothing, with their vicious gossip. Marian saw Lady Glasson smile resignedly at her, and shake her head. Only Audrey and herself seemed uncomfortable by such gossip. Aunt Mary seemed to enjoy it, though she said nothing to contribute to the conversation. But Marian could not be silent.

"Surely we should talk about something other than ugly gossip," she ventured. "Isn't this the way rumors are spread?"

"What do you suggest we talk about?" Aunt Mary demanded. "Your unladylike behavior, shooting against men today?"

"It was a lesson," Marian explained, upset by her aunt's vitriol. "Not a competition."

"But you were the only woman who participated! That fact alone ought to have warned you. Your behavior was unseemly. Make no mistake, I mean to speak to my brother about you, young lady. If indeed you may still be called a lady."

"How dare you?" Marian blurted out. Then, remembering her manners, she apologized. "I am sorry, but what did I do that was so wrong, other than be late?"

"If you do not know, things are worse than I feared."

"And yet you revel in nasty gossip. I spent this afternoon, if you must know, discussing ways to improve the lives of the people of Locksley. Is that so wrong, that you must speak to my father against me?"

Marian saw several young ladies giggle and whisper to one another behind their hands. She caught only a few words, but understood their gist. "Not the way I would spend time...lucky enough...alone with Robin... with only idiot manservant..." Marian wanted to groan aloud in frustration.

"If you cannot appreciate that we have spent hours, helping to prepare your trousseau," Aunt Mary scolded, "then you are even more selfish than I thought."

"Excuse me, milady," Lady Glasson interrupted, "but Marian is not selfish."

"She will be Countess of Huntington before long," Aunt Mary scolded. "I will thank you to use her proper title in the future, when speaking of her. The matter of her lack of decorum will be handled. Now," she continued, "who knows more of what this Martin of Aylesbury told you, about the royal family?"