Chapter 2

Marian sat up at once, tugging her blankets up over her thin nightgown. Despite her shock she managed to think quickly enough to slide the emerald ring off her finger and stash it under the bedcovers.

"Sir Guy!" she said indignantly. "I must insist that you leave at once!"

He took no heed of her sharp words, instead crossing over to her bed. She tensed, clutching the blankets tight to her chest, although she relaxed a little when she saw that his eyes held neither lust nor malice. Apprehension flooded her, however, when she saw the emotion that did fill them: desperation.

"You have to leave," he implored. "You have to leave right now."

She stared at him, stunned. "What?" she asked incredulously. "Why?"

He straightened up and cast his eye around the room. Seeing a dress laid out on a chest he hurriedly picked it up and held it out to her. "Put this on quickly," he said, but she , still waiting his answer. "The Earl of Durham saw you earlier when he arrived. He's said that since he didn't get the debtor's daughter, he'll have you for his bride instead. Vaisey needs allies among the Black Knights now, he cannot afford to refuse Durham. He's coming to claim you now – I cannot protect you. They weren't even going to tell me about it – I only know because I eavesdropped. They probably thought if I knew the truth my loyalties would be divided."

"And are they?" she hazarded.

He shot her a look as if to say "I'm here now, aren't I?" and pressed the dress into her hands. Memories of the last time Guy had come to her rooms unannounced to warn her of much the same thing filled Marian with fear, and she took the garment from him, suddenly fuelled with the same desperate force. He turned his back as she tugged it on over her nightclothes, and then fastened a thick, warm cloak around her shoulders.

"You'll have to leave through the kitchens. All the other ways out are in lock-down."

She nodded sombrely and then froze. One glance at his own wide eyes told her that he had heard the same thing she had: the unmistakable sound of armoured footsteps entering the far end of the passage outside. They were much slower and quieter than normal, but that did little to reassure Marian; clearly the guards did not want to be a sound of warning to her.

Marian's heart skipped a beat and panic started to rise in her. There was no other way out but via that passage, and leaving now would not only mean she would be seen and pursued – and most probably caught – but would implicate Guy as well.

He equally understood the situation and turned this way and that as he searched the room for another means of escape. Between the two of them they had only one weapon, not nearly enough to fight their way out. The narrow window of Marian's tower-chambers would offer nothing but a fatal drop to the group, and there was nowhere for one person to successfully hide, let alone two.

She balanced on the balls of her feet, struggling to subdue her panic and erratic breathing as she fought against her instinct to flee. Her eyes were wide with fright as she fixed them on Guy, his frantic pacing and muttering doing nothing to allay her fears.

"... there's nothing we can do... Unless..." He trailed off, casting the thought out of mind.

"What is it?" she demanded, with far more strength than she felt. "Tell me."

Guy locked eyes with her for a few precious moments. "Durham would not have you," he began slowly, carefully, "if he thought you were not..." His eyes flitted to the bed, and then back to meet gaze. At the meaning of his words sank in, she blanched at the implications. "I'm not saying we have to..." he hurried to pacify her. "Just to make it look like we have."

Marian turned away from him, running the suggestion through her mind. She had little time to consider it, however, as a door slamming in the distant passage brought her back to the immediacy of the situation, and she turned back to Guy fearfully and nodded once. "Yes," she whispered. "Do it."