Marian's father was kind. Not only did he permit her to forego another day of sewing, but he suggested she spend the night at home, in Knighton Hall.
Pleased and excited, Marian first rode her horse to Locksley.
Should I tell them Robin's earned a knighthood? she wondered, then decided against it, in case Robin wished to break the news to his village himself. He probably won't have the chance, she believed, with Much sure to announce it before Robin could climb down from his horse.
Robin, she realized, would like that. He could bask in his people's admiration without having to boast on himself. Marian rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. She wasn't blind to Robin's faults, but she didn't mind them.
Arriving in Locksley, she was surprised to see a woman she didn't recognize pleading with Thornton, just outside Robin's house. The woman was delicate looking...pretty...and she held her toddler son by his hand.
The feeling in Locksley was different whenever Robin was away...calm and subdued, almost as if the people were sleeping, waiting for their master to return. Marian understood how they felt. Life was so much more exciting when Robin was near.
She rode Vesper to the manor and dismounted, handing over the reins to Robin's groom.
"Lady Marian," Thornton said, pleased to greet her.
"My lady," the young woman said, bowing her head.
For a moment, Marian experienced a feeling of panic. She had been listening to so much gossip lately, her thoughts took an ugly turn. This pretty mother asking to see Lord Locksley couldn't be...? That is, her son didn't belong to Robin, surely!
But no. The woman only wanted to make her home in Locksley, under Robin's protection.
"Lord Locksley is away and cannot see you," Thornton told her.
The woman looked defeated, and Marian's heart was touched.
"Allow me, Thornton, on Robin's behalf," Marian told him.
The steward obeyed by a nod of his head and stepped aside.
"I am engaged to Lord Locksley, and will be lady of this village," Marian explained kindly. "What is your name, and your child's?"
"I am Alice Little, my lady, and this John. His father is...his father is away."
"I see." Marian didn't quite, and didn't venture to guess, feeling it none of her concern. The woman might be fleeing from a brutal husband, or have no husband at it. It didn't matter. What mattered was this woman seemed to need a home...a safe place she could raise her son.
He was a cute boy, Marian thought, big for his age, and well behaved. He kept looking at Locksley Pond, as if he wanted to splash in it. The day was unseasonably warm.
"Have you any means of supporting yourself?" Marian asked the mother.
"I sew, Your Ladyship."
"Sew?" Marian felt sorry for her.
"I mend for those who can't mend their own clothes, and make garments for those who have no womanfolk to do it for them."
"And you can earn enough to feed yourself and your son, by sewing?"
"Where I lived before, my lady, no. But here in Locksley, with Nottingham within miles, I know I can."
"Forgive me for asking, but why here? Why not in Nottingham?"
Alice sighed. How could she tell this lovely young lady she would have no hope of ever seeing her husband again if she lived in town, among soldiers? Little John had stolen to feed her and was now an outlaw, hiding in the forest. She hadn't seen him for over two years, but held out hope they would one day be reunited and she could introduce him to their son. Locksley was a safe village, and its young lord was known to be more than fair and kind and generous. Alice answered Lady Marian's question with only half the truth.
"I'd rather my son grew up away from the dangers of such a big town. I've heard Locksley is a wonderful place to live."
Marian smiled. "You are not the first to want to move here. Locksley is growing. Luckily, we have a skilled carpenter who's built nearly half this village. I'm sure Lord Locksley will agree to your living here, and Dan Scarlett can build you a cottage. But be sure to keep an eye on your son. I nearly drowned in that pond, when I was little."
"Thank you, my lady!"
"Lord Locksley should return within a few days. Have you a place to stay in the meantime?"
"I'm afraid not, Your Ladyship."
Marian thought for a moment. "Is your son afraid of cats?"
"Cats? Little Little John isn't afraid of anything."
"Then he'll get along well with His Lordship!" Marian smiled down at the toddler. What his mother had called him was odd, but Marian guessed she had simply stuttered. "Lord Locksley isn't afraid of anything, either. Come with me. You may stay with Widow Elspeth for now, in her cottage. She has several cats, but none of them scratch."
"Thank you, Lady Marian!"
Marian led them to Elspeth, who was pleased to welcome them to her home.
Marian felt a warm glow of accomplishment, being able to help this woman and her son. She couldn't imagine having to sew to earn her bread, and decided she would try harder to be patient, spending her days sewing while her aunt visited.
...
The weather remained hot, even after the sun had set. Marian was pleased to be home in Knighton tonight, where she could sleep with her window open, rather than in her stuffy castle bedroom.
She loved her home. She'd missed the quiet, her friendly servants, and her garden. Her garden had desperately needed watering, and she had enjoyed pouring water from jug onto its thirsty soil. Her horse Vesper also seemed to be glad to be home in her comfortable stable.
Thinking of Vesper, Marian was surprised to hear hoof beats approaching her house. It was too late for visitors! Who would be coming so late at night?
From her bedroom window, she spied two riders approaching. Her heart beat faster when she recognized them.
Robin and Much reined their horses just beneath her window.
"Wait here," Robin told his servant, leaping to the ground and tossing Much his reins.
In no time at all, Marian was in Robin's arms inside her room, kissing him over and over again.
"How did you know I was here?" she whispered, not wanting her servants to know he was with her.
"Your father told me. I missed you!"
"I missed you, too. You went to Nottingham first?"
"That's where your father is. Of course, he didn't think I'd come see you tonight."
"Of course not!"
He couldn't seem to stop kissing her, and Marian returned his kisses with matching fervor until she realized she wasn't "decent," having forgotten to cover her thin silk nightdress with a robe.
She was just about to pull away to look for her robe, when Robin, panting for breath, complained, "It's hot." He looked at her as if asking for permission, then pulled off his shirt.
Marian feasted her eyes on him, then noticed him staring at her, and not into her eyes. This was getting too exciting, and dangerous, and Marian loved it.
"That's all you're taking off," she warned him, before throwing herself back into his arms.
They allowed themselves only a few moments of such intense, tingling pleasure, before stopping themselves from going any further.
He'd murmured something into her hair, but Marian hadn't been able to make out the words. Had he finally admitted he loved her? The words, "I love you'' had been on the tip of her tongue, but she hadn't spoken.
"What did you say?" she asked, looking deeply into his eyes.
He didn't answer, not with words. His eyes clearly told her what was in his heart, but his tongue remained silent.
His silence broke the mood for her. Removing herself from his embrace, she located her robe and put in on.
"You had better get dressed," she told him. "Just because my father isn't here..."
"It's just so hot," Robin tried to explain, pulling his shirt back on.
"It is," she agreed. "Far, far too hot! Would you like a drink of water?"
Robin nodded his head and Marian poured him water from a pitcher by her bed.
"Thank you," Robin said. He took a sip, then dashed the rest of the contents over his head.
Marian laughed. "Such behavior, from a knight!" she teased.
"You heard? I am a knight, Marian! King Richard-"
"Shh! You're too loud! The servants will hear you."
"Sorry." He lowered his voice to a whisper. "King Richard knighted me. He's wonderful, Marian! We're living in what will soon be England's Golden Age!"
"Well, Sir Robin, I am happy for you. You deserve all the honors the king bestows on you. But it's late, and I'm sure Much is anxious to get home."
"I'll come see you in the morning, after I've viewed my village."
"You might present yourself at the door to my house, the way a proper suitor should."
"I might, but where would be the fun in that?"
It was wonderful having him back! He looked at her, as if asking permission to kiss her goodbye.
After so many heated kisses, Marian found it funny he felt the need to ask. "Goodnight," she whispered, lifting her face to give and receive a slow, sweet, satisfying kiss goodbye.
"Don't come here," she said, realizing how busy he would be after being absent from his village. "I'll come by Locksley, on my way back to Nottingham. I can't resist seeing Lochinvar, you know."
Smiling, she watched him climb out her window and drop to the ground. Much was indignant. He stared at Robin with wide, accusing eyes.
"What?" Robin asked, mounting his horse.
"You know what," Much told him. "I'm not saying anything."
Robin grinned up at Marian in her window, then steered his horse and galloped away. "Master, wait for me!" Much cried, following him on the way back to Locksley.
