Disclaimer: I do not own BBC Robin Hood.

Duchess of London, the belle of the ball was seated on the right hand of the Sheriff with his henchman on his left. She was quite radiant in her gown, tiara and evening gloves whereas Sir Guy only wore the gift she managed to retrieve from the outlaws in order to look the part.

"Doesn't our guest look wonderful?" hinted the Sheriff.

Vasey had noticed a decline in Sir Guy's visits and the time he spent with Duchess Rose and was wondering if the pair had fallen out. However, when he encouraged Sir Guy to pay the Duchess a compliment he responded like a gentleman.

"As usual Sheriff," he said, with a slight smirk.

The feast was soon over and a band began to play. The Duchess declined many offers during the evening and seemed to enjoy watching others dance and be merry. The Sheriff was surprisingly getting a lot of attention leaving the Duchess and Sir Guy alone to talk.

"Have you caught any outlaws yet?" she asked

"No I haven't," he replied, grimly.

"Is there anything I can do?" she asked, calmly.

There was silence and Sir Guy shook his head. Of course there was nothing she could do; they had tried offering rewards for the capture of outlaws in the past but there was no chance of the locals betraying their only aid.

"Well if there is anything you can think of let me know; weapons, men, gold, silver and that sort of thing I can arrange," she added.

Sir Guy stopped drinking and narrowed his eyes. He had no idea how much her friendship could work to his advantage until she offered him her many services. He had misunderstood the Duchess' affection from the start; she was trying to help him not control him and turn him into some fair lady's husband.

"Do you mean that?" he asked.

The Duchess laughed slightly.

"Haven't you been listening to me Guy? Did you honestly think that my friendship wasn't going to profit you any more than a kind word here and there? Really I'm almost offended by your lack of faith," she replied.

Sir Guy leaned closer and the Sheriff noticed the change in mood between them. The Duchess was smirking and Sir Guy looked at her unblinking and as though there was nothing or anybody else in the room.

"What did I say about lepers and women?" he asked aloud.

Robin and his men had already breached the castle and the Sheriff once again had almost captured them himself with the aid of his guards. Of course Sir Guy was nowhere to be seen; he was busy at the ball with his new friend and the Sheriff blamed the Duchess for taking his best chance of capturing outlaws away from him; but he'd never admit it to her or to anyone out of fear for his life.

Meanwhile back at the table, Sir Guy was trying to find out how much his friendship meant to the Duchess.

"You can get me more men?" asked Sir Guy.

"I can get you better men, better quality weapons, the best killers in the world if you wish it," replied Duchess Rose.

Sir Guy smirked at her and they toasted each other. The Sheriff tried to find out what was going on when he sat back down but the pair were very quiet, happy and secretive so much so that news of how the Duchess was going to help him finally be rid of outlaws that Sir Guy held out his hand to her and they danced.

The Sheriff had never seen Sir Guy dance with anyone before; he assumed that after he murdered the woman he loved that he was beyond all hope with women but then along came the Duchess and once again he had some form of human being rather than a damaged killing machine.

The pair were last on the dance floor and Sir Guy had no intention of releasing the Duchess despite the band leaving and the Sheriff shaking his head in disgust as he closed the hall doors behind him and decided to write his own letter to Prince John, who began to get concerned about his cousin.

Your royal highness,

My liege it has come to my attention that the Duchess of London has formed some kind of attachment to Sir Guy of Gisborne despite my best efforts to keep them apart.

At the noble's dinner the pair were inseparable. In all my years in Nottingham I have never seen Guy of Gisborne dance with anyone and yet he was the last to leave the dance floor with the Duchess of London.

I regret to inform you that I am at a loss of what to do; as well you know Gisborne does not have the best track record when it comes to women he supposedly cares about. I would hate to be responsible for anything to happen to the Duchess that would distress you and the rest of the royal family; I ask that she return to London as soon as possible but I do not have the authority to send her away.

Please take action to return the Duchess to London and away from Gisborne. My only wish is to ensure no harm will come to her,

Vasey

Sheriff of Nottingham.

Back in the main hall of the castle; Sir Guy continued to slowly dance on the spot with the Duchess with his arm around her waist and holding her hand.

"I will go to London as soon as I can; I will bring back the best men and the best quality of weapons that I can lay my hands on and send them to your home in Locksley," she said

Sir Guy held her closer to him.

"And what about you? Will you come back?" he asked.

The Duchess gave him a great smile.

"Do you want me to?" she asked.

Sir Guy realized that he was actually the one with his arms around her and stepped away; he had been so wrapped up in their plans that he hadn't even realized that he had broken his own wish to be untouched.

"You're a Duchess…" he began.

"I know what I am but that wasn't the question. Do you want to see me again?" she asked.

Sir Guy was rooted to the spot and Rose began to feel nervous as though scared that he was going to reject her.

"Guy?" she asked.

"I'll never forget all that you have done for me but I can't keep putting you in harm's way," replied Sir Guy, walking away from her.

Rose tried to soothe him and convince him that she didn't think that she was in harm's way when she was around him.

"How am I in danger? Guy we are friends, we are good friends and I would never give you cause to want to harm me. Can't you see I'm not her?" she asked.

Sir Guy turned back and glared at her.

"I am well aware of that! I acknowledge your help, your friendship and your kindness but I can't trust myself to feel anything for you despite how much you care about me; I won't make the same mistake again!" he snapped.

Sir Guy got quite a shock when once again he made to leave the room but Rose practically marched after him and turned him to face her. It was impulsive behaviour on her part and she knew that what she was doing was wrong but it was the only way to make him see how she felt about him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply on the mouth.

Sir Guy was caught off guard by her behaviour but he finally understood the chemistry between them. His heart was somehow beating in his ear and his blood had heated up to a point that he was certain it would burst out of his veins. He managed to break the kiss and her hold in order to give her time to reconsider her actions but she looked at him with determination.

"I'm warning you…" he began.

"Consider me warned," she added.

Sir Guy pulled her close to him; he was interested to know how much her passion burned, how she'd respond to him. He was a hard man; everything about him was hard, his stare, his body, his arms, legs and his kiss. Rose thought that her own kiss had been forceful as she was trying to get through to him how she felt about him; but Guy was many steps ahead of her.

Duchess Rose's back hit the table with the force of Sir Guy's kiss. She was no longer in control of her senses; all she wanted was Sir Guy's lips against hers and their bodies against each other. It wasn't until she heard the rip of her dress that she came back to reality.

"Guy no!" she cried, pushing him away.

The black knight came to his senses and he knew he was in trouble the moment he opened his eyes and saw torn satin and pale skin. He ran his hand through his hair and shook his head in despair.

"I told you, I warned you…" he began.

"Guy, darling…" she tried, trying to cover the tear of her dress.

"No! No more!" he commanded.

"I forgive you," she pleaded.

Sir Guy turned around angrily and grabbed her by both of her arms with a mixture of passion and anger about him.

"You forgive me? Would you have forgiven me if I had taken you? Would you have forgiven me when you lost your title, home, wealth?" he asked.

Rose nodded and tried to kiss him but he turned his head in annoyance.

"We can't go on like this; this is a nightmare waiting to happen!" he added.

Rose shook her head in disagreement. As far as she was concerned there was nothing wrong with how they felt about each other only their circumstances and the depth of their feelings that was meant for those who had taken vows of marriage.

"No Guy it isn't. I have never been happier then when I am with you. There just seems to be this feeling between us that clouds our judgement when we're alone together. Please don't leave me because of a torn gown," she pleaded.

Sir Guy's grip lessened on her arms and she moved a strand of his hair from his face. He gently brushed her face with the back of his hand before he spoke.

"Better a torn gown, than a torn you. I'm sorry Duchess, your Grace…" he added, leaving.

"No, no, no, Guy," begged Rose.