Robin turned to Cora when her voice breached his thoughts.
"She's never been a biddable girl, and as I told you at our last meeting, she can be quite unpleasant," Cora refilled her glass and continued, unawarer of the dark scowl on Robin's face. "It appears you manage her quite well, if I say so myself."
Cora looked up and was aghast at the cold look on Robin's face. Looking over the rim of her glass, Cora felt chilled to the bone by the blue eyes, hard like glacial ice, that held her.
"Why the hell did you not keep your mouth shut, Cora? I told you earlier of the conditions, which you agreed to?" Robin asked.
Somewhat indignant over the tone Robin used, Cora shot out of her seat. "I beg your pardon, Your Grace, I thought to keep her pure, unsullied for you. I did not feel it proper for the chit to be out galavating throughout the country side, when she was betrothed,"
In a voice filled with icy sarcasm, Robin said, "What you have accomplished, Cora is to make my task more difficult. While I don't give a damn what she thinks of you, I take exception to being linked in her mind to the likes of you,"
Slamming his fist down on the desk, causing the brandy to spill from the glass, he went on, "I told you before I wanted to handle the situation. Now I am being forced to court her after the marriage rather than before."
"Your Grace, listen here, I will not tolerate you speaking to me in that tone of voice. What do you think I can do about this? It was you who created it, not I," Cora said defensively.
"What you can and will do, Cora, is leave as soon as possible. I want you-" Robin pointed his finger an inch from Cora's nose "gone from here till the social engagements commence."
"See here, Your Grace. You will not order me about as your lackey. I am a member-"
"I don't give a damn what you are a member of. Listen well, Cora." Robin gave him a black look and said threateningly. "Don't push me. It would be very unwise on your part. I want you gone as soon as possible. You will not cross swords with the lady again. You will leave. She needs time to come to terms with this, time we no longer have. Your presence here is not conducive to my ends. As long as she has two enemies in sight, I cannot win the battle."
"Now...now, see here..."began Cora, only to be silenced by the tone of Robin's voice.
His words came slowly, uncompromising, uncoiling like a whip. "If you can't accept my terms, I shall have her moved immediately to Sherwood. There I will no longer need to concern myself with your interference or her safety from your heavy hand!"
Cora's face was red with rage. Robin was deadly still, save for the muscle that twitched in his jaw. The air was heavy with tension.
Sweeping into the study, Henry exclaimed, "That won't be necessary, Your Grace. Will it Cora dear?" Without waiting for her reply, he turned to Robin. "Let me assure you, Your Grace, Cora will take a holiday. She is long overdue and was just saying the other day she might retire to our other estate to check on how it's running. I can promise you, as a man of honor, there will be no further incidents or episodes."
Cora stared open mouthed at Henry. Robin did not miss Cora's response and turned to Cora, asking, "I trust you won't disappoint me, madam?"
"Disappoint you, Your Grace? Hardly, for no one would dare disappoint you."
Robin nodded to Henry, and strode across the room to the door, where he paused, turning back toward Cora. "You're a fortunate person, Cora; the people who surround you make up for your shortcomings." Robin stalked out of the room.
"How dare he tell me what to do! Duke of not! The gall of that man knows no bounds. I'll call on my solicitors on the morrow and null the betrothal immediately." Cora swore.
"You'll do nothing of the kind, Cora. What you're going to do is have your maid start packing now so come morning, you can depart." Henry said.
"Henry! Have you gone mad?" Cora asked.
"No, but by your recent behavior, it appears you have." Henry said. "You have harassed and abused our daughter, placed her in a deplorable situation, to which she responded desperately. You not only lost your temper, you struck her and then locked her in her room like an animal. Do not fool yourself in thinking you will outwit or outflank him. He will know the minute your messenger leaves for the solicitor and he will come himself, Cora. He will take Regina and elope before your man is two miles from Mills property."
"Regina will marry him, no matter how unwilling, but she will not be abducted as a result of your foolish pride. For if she is, never can she forgive His Grace for his action, and never will she find the happiness that can be hers. Cora, let her be happy with him." Henry said.
Regina jumped at the sound of the light tap on her door. Leaving the windows where she hid, she walked to the door and threw it open.
Henry whisked into the room, closing the door softly behind him. Turning to Regina, she gently inquired, "Do you think it's wise refusing to see him again? It's been a week already."
Ignoring the question, Regina asked instead, "Is he gone?" knowing full well he was, for she had watched him mount his stallion and ride off. She hoped somewhere between Mills property and his lair, he would break his neck.
Henry sat on the edge of her bed, regarding his daughter. "I think, my dear, you know the answer to that."
Tossing her head, Regina turned away to pace the length of her room, exclaiming, "Well, good riddance. Now I can go to the stable and ride!" Rushing over to where her boots lay, she pulled them on over her breeches, which she elected to wear as a sign of defiance and rebellion.
"How long do you intend to refuse to see him?" Henry tried again.
"However long it takes for His Grace to realize I have no intention of seeing him or marrying him," Regina answered.
Nodding his head, Henry watched Regina dash about the room. "I see and do you intend to remain closeted each and every day?"
Regina turned to face her Father. "I think he had gotten the message. And so I think it's safe to venture forth. God knows I could not stand another day of this forced captivity!"
A smile crossed Henry's face. "Self-imposed would be a better choice, my dear."
Silence reigned until Regina, for some strange reason unknown even to herself, asked, "Was he angry?"
"I think a man of His Grace's caliber rarely knows his anger, dear, nor does he let it blind him from his purpose. That is not to say if he is pushed too far, he would not use his anger as a tool to gain his end. A man as he should not be easily dismissed, not taken lightly." Henry said.
"Well he had no reason to be angry with me I have been indisposed, and Sidney had told him as much. Not that it is any business of his." Regina said. "If you'll excuse me, Daddy, I think I'd like to ride." Regina said as she headed out of her room.
The wind in her face, her raven tresses loose and flowing, the warm sun caressing her, Regina rode with an abandonment she hadn't felt in days. Rocainte sailed across the last hedgerow, landed, kicking up her hind legs as if feeling the restraint as well.
Rider and horse recklessly rode, unmindful of the low branches of the woods they now entered. Suddenly Regina pulled sharply on the reins, halting the spirited mare just feet from the bluff's edge.
Dismounting and dropping the reins, unmindful that Rocainte moved away to graze at the grass near the edge of the woods, Regina walked quickly to the edge. What a sight her eyes beheld. It was breathtaking. She looked upon the wonder with eyes of a woman but memories of a girl. The bluff formed a sort of plateau three hundred feet of so above sea level. Just then an image of Daniel popped into her mind, her sweet stable boy. The man she wanted to marry more than anything, was lost to her forever.
Suddenly a hand, like iron talons, grasped her waist, lifting her back against a hard body, turning her easily so she faced him. "You!" she screamed, pushing against his chest, then bracing her hands against him, leaning away while he held her firmly.
Moving away from the edge, carrying her against him, he spoke sharply, "What the hell were you trying to do? Kill yourself?"
Her eyes narrowed, seething with anger. "You egotistical bastard! Do you honestly think you're worth killing myself over?" She began to kick her feet and pummel his shoulders as he carried her away. Ducking her flailing hands, he moved his, cupping her buttocks and leaning forward slightly, causing her to fall precariously backward so instinctively she was forced to steady herself by her legs about his waist, her arms about his neck to gain her balance. Robin held her buttocks tightly, pressing their loins together. His hardness pressing against her softness caused a surge of warmth to uncurl in her belly. She felt aware of his swollen, hard manhood pressing between her spread legs.
Regaining her senses, she demanded, "Put me down this instant!" unwrapping her legs from his waist.
Robin did not miss the quiver that shook her body on contact with his nor the sweet blush that crept up her cheeks. A mischievous smile lit his face. "As you wish." He slowly lowered her so each part of delectable body slid intimately down his length. Her hands glided down, feeling every firm muscle of his chest, touching the skin that lay exposed from his half-opened shirt. His hands remained possessively cupped her buttocks, pressing her against his arousal.
Stains of scarlet appeared brightly on Regina's cheeks. When her feet touched solid ground, she leaned against him to steady her legs, still shaking from the erotic sensation, and then quickly pushed away from him, hoping she did not betray unsettling the experience was.
"What are you doing here? Your actions are as misguided as your sense of direction, Your Grace. You are trespassing! This happens to be Mills land!"
Robin had missed nothing of her reaction and smiled confidently. He leaned back against a tree, "This bluff, Milady is the dowry you bring me, and you are mine, so it is."
"A bit presumptuous, Your Grace."
"Not at all, Milady, it is a certainty." Robin said as he watched her toss her head at his comment.
Balling her hands on her hips, she retorted, "Nothing is ever certain, Your Grace."
"Ah, Milady, I beg to disagree. I am certain I'd find you here. And here you are."
Regina paused before asking, "Oh, and how did you know where to look?"
She was awarded with a devastating smile, one that made her feel weak-kneed and caused shivers to course down her spine. Before she succumbed to it's effect totally, she caught herself, averting her gaze from his visage.
"You wound me, Milady," he replied mockingly, holding his hand over his heart.
"I only wish it was fatally, my lord!" she snapped, glaring at him.
He smiled, loving every minute of their bantering. He regarded her. "You don't remember, do you?"
"If it involved you, I thankfully forgot."
Ignoring her comment, he explained. "You know, Milady, as you soon to be husband, I really should take offense, especially since I've carried that fond memory for awhile now." Noticing her quizzical expression, he continued, "I recall a very young girl doing cartwheels on the bluff at dawn." Her wide-eyed look gave him cause to refresh her memory further. "Of course, I forgive you for defaming my sire then, for how were you to know it would come to this?"
Her mouth dropped as the memory of that day flooded back. It was him! He was the root of it all. The term "full circle" took on meaning.
Narrowing brown eyes regarded him. "Do you mean to say, my lord, you arranged the betrothal then?"
"Nay, Milady, the bloom was too tender to be plucked." He paused. "I was introduced to you in Paris at the opera just after your season." At her skeptical look, he added, "You were surrounded by your faithful admirers and paid me no notice. I, however, recognized the bloom on the bluff."
Regina took a deep breath and turned from him, affording him a lovely view of her derriere, where his blue eyes rested with appreciation. She asked, "Was it arranged then?"
Lost in carnal thoughts involving her derriere, he had to ask, "Was what arranged?"
She spun around, catching his unguarded look of desire. "The betrothal, you dolt!"
"No. I kept tabs on you over the next few years, but it was not until the racetrack encounter that I decided you would be mine."
"You did, did you?" Rage at his high-handness flew like sparks as she marched toward him, hating his arrogant manner, his nonchalance as he leaned against the tree. "Well let me tell you this, you have interfered with my life enough. No more, do you hear me? I don't want to marry you. Now or ever."
"Why do you insist on fighting the inevitability of this marriage? A marriage I assure you will take place." His words, though calmly said, were stated as if etched in stone.
"Because I don't love you. Nothing will ever change that!"
"Milady, I assure you. I will do many things that will change the way you feel."
"You can't change my feelings. Nothing you do or say will make my feelings change." Regina said, even though Daniel was dead, the love she still felt for him was still alive.
"You will discover, Milady, there are few things that are not changeable." Robin said as he crossed his arms negligently against his chest, seeing her anger gleam in her eyes.
Seething she retorted, "As my feelings for you!"
Shaking his head in disagreement, he smiled confidently. "Now, that is precisely one of the few things which is changeable. You will come to love me above all else, Milady."
"It's a shame, Your Grace, that the few remaining years you have will be wasted on wishful thinking." Regina smiled unpleasantly at him.
A gleam of amusement lit his eyes. "In my dotage, am I? I imagine someone your age would think so." He closed the distance between them, a devilish gleam appearing in his eyes.
Suppressing the urge to step back, not pleased with the look in his eyes, Regina stood her ground. "Well, you are quite old."
"Do you fear, Milady, I'll not be able to perform my husbandly duties and leave you wanting?" He smiled at the blush that crept up on her face as he stood a breath away. "My age will in no way hinder my performance. Actually, my experience will compensate for your lack thereof."
Regina's face burned at what his words implied. Straightening her back, which caused her breasts to press against her muslin shirt. "Experience or not, Your Grace, an unwilling wife makes a cold one."
A leisurely smile broke over his face at her challenging words. Cocking his head slightly, an eyebrow raised inquiringly, he asked. "Is that a threat?"
Giving him a cool stare, belying the spark of fear she felt, she retorted, "Nay. A promise."
"We'll have to see about that, won't we?" He pulled her up against him, cupping her buttocks, molding their lower bodies together. At the challenging glint that lit his eyes, Regina flung her head away from him, struggling . In a husky voice filled with promise, he stated, "You will be anything but cold." His hands slowly caressed her firm, round cheeks, pressing them intimately against his arousal, moving down so his fingers touched between her legs.
Regina struggled, then stiffened, feeling his fingers touching her from behind. "Stop touching me!"
Ignoring her, he whispered, "You will discover the pleasure my touch can bring you. You will find pleasure by my hand." He bent his head, capturing her mouth with his. Moving his mouth over her, his tongue caressed her lips, coaxing them to part beneath his. Regina felt his lips, warm, dry, and insistent. When his tongue lightly traced her lips, she felt an uncoiling in her belly. His hands caressed her buttocks, pressing her closer to his desire. She let out a small gasp as he moved her hips to rub against him, an ache began between her legs, so sweet, she parted her lips, feeling his tongue enter her mouth.
Robin moved his hands down her body and over her britches, between her legs. He could feel the heat emmate from her center and moved his finger, stroking her woman's flesh through her britches. The movement of his finger and the material of her britches caused molten waves of sensation to begin.
Robin deepened his kiss, his tongue darter into the soft recesses of her mouth and then out and in again, an imitation of the act he wanted to do with her. He drew her tongue into his mouth. Regina matched his movement, mindless, lost in raw, hungry desire. When he lifted his mouth from hers, she could not stand and felt him support her, bringing them down to the ground. She clung to him, her body ached and throbbed. Currents of desire ran through her body crying for fulfillment.
She felt the light, featherly kisses he rained on her and the soft, gentle caress of his hands, wanting them to be as ardent and persuasive as before. He noted her lips, still parted and swollen, drawing air in short breaths, her eyes half-closed and dazed, and her face flushed with waning passion. He held her against him, he smiled in consummate pleasure at her reaction to his touch. He knew she rivaled him in passion, and that pleased him so. She belonged to him, and he ached for the day he could mark her physically as his own. He was a step closer in the course he had charted to win her heart, he had awakened her passion and was sure none other had before.
Regina's mind screamed of her body's betrayal to her heart. She pressed her hands over her face, feeling wretched as the stab of guilt pierced her, causing the agony of defeat to come clearly to light. She tore away from the protective circle she had clung to with a choking cry, "I hate you!"
Robin had expected her reaction, and grabbed her shoulders, pulling her to face him. "You might hate me, but your body does not. You resist not me, but yourself."
"You keep thinking that," Regina whispered as she came closer to him, before kicking him in the shin. The action, caused him to release her shoulders and she took off running towards her horse. She took off, but heard his laughter coming from him as she kept riding. She could not believe how she had betrayed Daniel's memory, she loved Daniel. Even though death separated them, he would always hold her heart. Never, she swore, never would Robin touch her heart.