"You want me to betray Sir Robert so that his daughter can get some sort of revenge?" the sheriff asked with a laugh.
"She has the money." Guy reminded him. "And she's assured me that she has people to back it up."
"And yet we'd still have an extremely annoyed Sir Robert on our hands, and he'd be able to run off and inform people of our plans, which would put an end to it all." the sheriff countered.
"I do believe Juliana has thought of that as well." Guy said. "This seems to be something she's given a great deal of thought to."
"And why have you agreed to bring this idea to me?" the sheriff asked. "What are you getting out of it if you succeed?"
"Anything I want." Guy answered with a smile.
"And what do I get if I go along with it?" the sheriff asked.
"You get the money and support you need to carry out this plan." Guy answered.
"I can get that with Sir Robert." the sheriff smiled. "I want something extra. After all, I'd be taking quite a chance on this little plan of her's."
"What do you have in mind?" Guy asked.
"I don't really know off hand." he replied as he sat down and began to drum his fingers on the table in front of him.
"I can't take that back to her as an offer." Guy pointed out. "She's going to wonder what it is you want in return."
"If she'll give you time to think on it, she'll do the same for me." the sheriff said. "At least, she will if she wants to usurp her father's place in this little scheme."
"I can have her come here to speak with you." Guy offered. "It would save on so much going back and forth..."
"Don't pretend you don't like it." he snorted. "Getting to spend time alone with a lovely young woman with a mind as devious as your own." he laughed.
"I'll speak with her then." Guy said, choosing to ignore the sheriff's taunts. "If her father will spare her for a time, that is."
"Oh, I've no doubt he'll allow it." the sheriff smiled knowingly.
"Why do you say that?" Guy asked with an raised eyebrow.
"The foolish old man thinks you're getting ready to offer for her." the sheriff cackled.
"I didn't realize that a couple of rides constituted a marriage proposal." Guy said dryly. "Have to be more careful he doesn't get the wrong idea."
"Well, do so after you've seen what you can get for me." he said as he shooed Guy towards the door.
"Of course." Guy said stiffly as he headed out the door.
"You don't know what it is he's going to want?" Juliana asked as she paced around the room.
"None." Guy said.
"Let me think." she said as she stopped to look out the window.
It had taken an hour before Sir Robert had finally agreed to let Juliana leave to speak to Guy alone. Instead, he'd insisted that they could speak in front of him, and when they wouldn't, he decided to speak himself.
Guy didn't see how Juliana could stand it. There was half an hour alone on Sir Robert's bowel movements, something he most definitely could have done without. She must have the patience of a saint, he'd thought as he listened to the old man drone on about different ailments and complain about everyone's incompetence.
"One hundred pounds." she suddenly said after a few moments silence, causing Guy to start in surprise.
"Excuse me?" he asked.
"One hundred pounds, to himself." she repeated. "Apart from the money he's trying to raise, for whatever it is."
"Do you have one hundred pounds?" Guy asked.
"Not at the moment." she answered. "But, I've some jewels I can sell, they should fetch a decent price."
"You're sure you want do part with your possessions simply to get back at your father?" he asked.
"Yes." was her simple and short reply. "He's had it coming for years now."
"Very well." Guy sighed. "Do you have someone to sell them to?"
"No, but I'm sure it won't be too difficult." she said, "If the sheriff is willing to accept my offer, that is."
"I'm sure he will." Guy assured her. "Don't worry, I'll work out the details with him."
"Thank you, Sir Guy." Juliana said with a smile. "You've no idea what this will mean to me and a few others."
"Think nothing of it." Guy said. "Don't forget, I do get something out of this myself."
"True." she laughed. "Your intentions aren't completely altruistic. I'm glad to see that." she added as her father bellowed out her name. "The dragon has woken." she sighed. "Good day, Sir Guy."
"You need not add the sir part." he said as Sir Robert's yelling grew louder. "After all, we're business partners."
"Only if the sheriff agrees." Juliana pointed out. "But, I have the greatest faith in you, Guy."
"Three hundred pounds?" the sheriff asked with a smile. "Miss Juliana is being quite generous, isn't she?"
"Yes." Guy answered with a slight nod.
He had decided to augment Juliana's offer to the sheriff, without either of them knowing. The sheriff could be quite greedy at times, so he thought it best to add a bit to the amount offered in order to assure the sheriff's cooperation.
"She has three hundred pounds just lying about?" the sheriff asked in surprise. "How on Earth has she managed to keep such an amount from her father?"
"I'm not sure." Guy said. "All that matters really, is that you seem to approve of her offer."
"Oh, that I do, that I do." the sheriff nodded. "And, so it would seem that Sir Robert has been forced out."
"What a pity." Guy smiled.
"Yes." the sheriff said. "I shall miss his long talks about his different ailments." he added as he made a face.
"Yes, that will be a loss." Guy agreed.
"Well, you should go then, tell the young lady that I'm more than willing to accept her generous offer." the sheriff said after a moment's silence, thinking of what pretty trinkets he might just buy with his stash of money.
"Very well." Guy said as he bowed his head and left the room with a smile.