Marian wandered along the bustling halls of the castle. She'd been there for two days, her father having left her behind due to some business in London that he wouldn't discuss with her. She wouldn't have minded, assuming she'd be able to see her friend, Juliana, a bit more, and have time to go visit with Robin in Sherwood, but that was not to be.
The sheriff had guests arriving, and Juliana and Marian had been somehow talked into helping to entertain those guests. A prospect she was not looking forward to. She knew what kind of guests he would be entertaining, or she had some idea, and the thought of spending too much time with them repulsed her. Even more bothersome than the thought of the sheriff's guests was seeing Juliana when Guy was around. She would be happy and chatting with Marian, and as soon as Guy came into view, she stopped and looked sullen. She had obviously not gotten over her humiliation at his hands.
She stopped walking and moved over to the side as two men moved large chairs along the hall, taking them she knew not where, nor did she care. As she waited for them to pass, she spotted Juliana speaking to a servant at the far end of the hall, tucked into a small alcove. She would have thought nothing of it, but the way they had their heads together and looking around now and then as they spoke, made Marian curious as to what was going on.
Finally, the servants passed her and she moved purposefully towards Juliana and the servant. Looking over, the servant, a tall blond man, saw Marian, whispered something to Juliana, and with a bow to both ladies, made a hasty exit.
"What was that about?" Marian asked as she watched the man walk off, looking over his shoulder at the pair and smiling.
"Come with me." Juliana said, moving the pair quickly down a set of halls, past two of the guests who'd arrived early, and into her own bedchamber.
"Why so secretive?" she asked as Juliana shut the door behind them.
"The sheriff and Sir Guy are planning something against Robin." she whispered as she moved Marian to the center of the room, hoping no one might hear them from there.
"What?" she asked. "When?"
"I don't know those specifics as of yet." Juliana said. "There are some servants who have been so kind as to keep me filled in on things such as this."
"But they don't know anything other than the fact they're planning something?" Marian asked rather impatiently.
"I'm sorry." Juliana apologized, shaking her head. "I will inform you the moment I know more, I promise you."
"Thank you." Marian said, embracing her friend in a hug. "You have no idea what this means to me, or Robin."
"Or all those who follow him." Juliana added. "Robin is my friend as well, I will do what I can to help him."
A knock sounded at the door, and both women jumped in surprise.
"Who is it?" Juliana called.
"Sir Guy." came the answer.
"Come in." she replied.
Guy opened the door and strode in, intending to go straight for Juliana, but came up short when he saw Marian standing with her.
"Marian." he said with a slight bow of his head.
"Sir Guy." was her chilly response.
"What is it?" Julian asked.
"The sheriff would like a word with you, and with Marian, in half an hour's time." he informed them.
"Why?" Marian asked.
"I don't know." he said. "He will fill you in on that when you meet with him."
"He probably has more charming gentlemen for us to 'entertian', lucky us." Juliana said with a frown.
"If I'm groped by one more..." Marian sighed.
"Oh, I know, Marian, I know only too well." Juliana laughed. "I need to see if father needs anything, I'll meet you in the sheriff's office." she added.
"Of course." Marian nodded, glancing at Guy as though willing him to leave before her.
"It's fine Marian." Juliana prompted her friend. "Four brothers, remember?"
With a small smile to her friend, Marian shot Guy a warning glance before leaving.
"How many men have groped you?" Guy asked as he made sure Marian was gone.
"Too many to count." Juliana groaned. "Especially when they've had too much wine."
"If you're in need of someone to defend your honor..." Guy said with a smile as he closed the door and turned to look at her.
"I have three brothers here." she reminded him. "And a sister-in-law who has quite a knack for making people quite ill in very devious ways."
"True." he said as he walked towards her.
"Was there something else, Sir Guy?" she asked with a smile and stepped back until her back hit the wall behind her.
"If I do something to anger you, will that sister-in-law of yours poison me?" he asked as he stopped inches in front of her.
"Yes." she answered simply. "In a heartbeat." she smiled. "Was there anything else?" she asked.
"One or two things, perhaps." he said as he leaned down to kiss Juliana.
"You do realize what will happen to you if any of them catch you in my rooms, don't you?" she asked as she looked up at him, smoothing a small wrinkle in his shirt. "Especially if they found you in such a position."
"Then we'll just have to be very careful, won't we?" he asked with a laugh.
"Yes." she said, gently pushing him away. "And that being said, you should leave now. I do have to check on the old man."
"Of course." he said, bowing gallantly. "Might I say though, before I take my leave of you, you're doing a wonderful job of acting hurt and embarassed when Marian and I are in the same room."
"I do my best." she shrugged. "It helps that she wants to believe the worst where you're concerned."
"How fortunate." he said dryly as he moved to the door. "Don't forget, half an hour."
"Yes, Sir Guy." she said sounding completely serious, even as a laugh was about to escape her lips.
"A sister." a voice whispered in Juliana's ear as she stood watching the guests dance about, thankful for some time away from those very special guests of the sheriff.
"What?" she asked quietly.
"He has a sister." the voice repeated. "We can use that."
"Thank you, Kit." she whispered back. "Go now, before someone sees you."
"How much money do you have?" Sir Robert asked as he hobbled up to stand next to Guy.
"Excuse me?" Guy asked, looking over at the old man in confusion.
"How much money do you have?" Sir Robert repeated, annoyance clear in his voice.
"Why?" Guy asked.
"Because, I see you making googely eyes at that girl of mine." he answered. "I want to make sure, if you're wanting to marry her..."
"If I could provide well for her." Guy finished for him.
"No, for me." Robert snapped, swinging his cane into Guy's legs.
"For you?" Guy asked, wincing at the sharp sting of the cane.
"If someone takes that damned girl off my hands, I'll need to hire a nurse, or a maid, or both. That costs money, you idiot!" Robert hissed, cracking the cane across Guy's legs again. "If you mean to have her, you'd better hurry up and ask me for her before one of the sheriff's guests buys her first."
"If I mean to have her," Guy growled, taking the cane from the old man "Then I shall, and I will not pay for her, and I will not ask you for her." he finished, snapping the cane over his knee.
"You damnable idiot!" Robert hissed as he grabbed the pieces of his cane from Guy. "You will go anywhere near her. If you do..."
"If I do, then what?" Guy asked, turning to the man, his patience gone. "You'll scream at me, swear at me, throw things?" he asked as he moved forward, pinning the old man in the corner.
"That damned girl is nothing but trouble." Sir Robert wheezed as he tried to flatten himself against the wall.
"How it is that she has not yet beat you over the head with your cane, or poisoned your food, I do not know." Guy said, moving back. "She has far more patience with you than I." he added as he turned to leave.
"Stay away from her!" Robert called after him, gaining a few curious looks from others around them.
Guy continued to walk away, ignoring Robert's words. They needed to hurry up with this plan. Nothing could move on until their guest of honor arrived, and that was still a week off. Then, though, then Juliana's plan could be revealed to the despicable old man, and they could find a way to rid themselves of him. That moment could not come soon enough.