A/N-Dedicated to Jordan.
Robin spun around, hearing Will call him. He turned from the window where he had remained through the night, awaiting word.
"Captain Faulkner sends this message, Robin. 'The Duchess of Sherwood had booked passage to France.'
"And the name of the ship she's on?"
Will smiled broadly. "The Outlaw Queen."
Robin's face split into a grin,the first one in the last twelve hours. "We ride to London, Will. Tell Keegan to bring the carriage as well. I'll not have her ride astride, but in comfort."
Will smiled, turned and whislted as he left.
The sun broke the horizon as four horsemen galloped down the road. A black, well sprung coach followed in their wake, its coat of arms, two lion rampant on a field of noie, the mark of cadency, the File, the signs of a firstborn son, gleaming as the first ray of light appeared.
"Feeling better, Regina? I do hope you're not already seasick. We do have quite a journry ahead of us." remarked Daniel, noting the greenish tinge to her face.
"The tea the captain sent is soothing my stomach," she replied softly. The smell of lemon oil and sandalwood pleasantly teased her nostrils. Lifting her eyes, she studied the cabin. There was a knock on her door just then. "Enter."
Captain Faulkner entered, after nodding to Daniel, he turned to Regina, inquiring. "Do the quarters meet with your approval, madam?"
Regina smiled. "Yes, Captain, they are lovely. It was kind of you to give me yours."
"Madam, these are not mine, they belong to the owner of the yacht. And you, boy. Are your quarters acceptable as well?"
"Certainly, Captain."
A moment passed. The captain looked upon his passengers and then he said, "I camt to inquire if you'd both care to join me for dinner."
Feeling the beginnings of hunger gnaw at her stomach, Regina readily agreed. "That is quite kind of you, Captain." The Captain smiled and left them alone.
"Regina, there is some business I must attend before we set sail," Daniel said.
Will and Killian watched the stable boy leave the yacht. A devious smile lit Will's face and he nodded to Killian, who shadowed the younger man.
"This ship is beautiful," Regina remarked to the Captain as the took a stroll on the ship.
"Indeed, this ship is a gift to his wife."
An incredulous look crossed Regina's face. "You mean this yacht is purely a pleasure vessel purchased for his wife?"
The captain nodded. A call from a mate forced the captain to take his leave. Her hair blew back with a slight breeze. Turning her face to the sun, feeling its warm caress, she grabbed the rail to balance herself against the sudden gentle rolling of the anchored ship.
Lifting her head again into the breeeze, she closed her eyes. Feeling a sadness in her heart, Regina tightly shut her eyes, trying to prevent the tears from falling. Behind her lids, blue eys and a mouth whose corners tipped in smile appeared.
"Princess!"
Eyes flying open, she felt a momentary jolt of happiness, then turned, gazing down from her perch to the deck below. Blue eyes and a mouth whose corners pulled up into a smile greeted her.
"Well, well, Daniel. Fancy meeting you." Will moved uninvited to the table, Daniel occupied. Straddling a chair, he drawled, 'Why, wasn't it just yesterday, or was it the day before, you were at Robin's home?" Will paused, stopping a passing serving wrench to retrieve his mug of ale. After drinking and slamming down the mug, which caused Daniel to jump nearly out of skin, Will asked casually. "So what brings you to London?"
"Ah...I...er, that is to say, I had business to attend to." Daniel said.
"Really?"
Refusing to be intimidated, Daniel gathered courage and asked pointedly, "What business brings you here?"
"Why, Robin's, of course."
Daniel's head snapped from left to right when Killian and John suddenly appeared-drawing chairs, flanking him. Killian straddled his, crossing his arms across its back, leaning toward Daniel, while John sat stretching his long legs before him.
"What brings you chaps to London?" Daniel asked.
Will lit a cigar, blowing a curl of smoke at Daniel he replied in a silky voice. "A bit of Locksley goods is missing."
"Surely you have insurance to cover the loss?" Daniel asked.
With cigar clenched firmly between even white teeth, Will stated, "That's not the point. The Locksleys are a possessive lot and like to keep what's ours."
John casually added, "Besides, the goods are princess. Worth far more than its weight in gold."
"Or someone's life for that matter," Killian added.
"We intend to recover it," Will added, stopping a serving wrench, ordering another round.
"No matter what the cost or at whose it is," Killian stated quietly.
Daniel did not miss the ominous quality of his voice, and swallowed hard.
"Go away, Robin," She watched him move up the gangplank.
"Not without you, love. You must know that by now."
"Oh, I know everything, you deceitful man."
"Yes, I know you found the papers, love. I know you read them." Robin moved casually toward her. "Come down from there and we can discuss the matter."
"If you come a step closer, Robin. I swear I'll jump." Turning, she looked down at the dirty waves lapping against the side of the ship, and the bil rose in her throat.
Robin did not miss the ashen hue of her face, and moved. He knew she would not jump, but he feared if a roll hit the ship suddenly, she'd be tossed over. "Come down off there and we shall discuss this intelligently."
Regina subbonly refused, tossing her head.
"Madam, if you do not come down of there. I shall advance, and when I reach you and after I bring you to safety, I will thrash you for putting yourself and the baby in danger."
Regina believed him. To salvage her pride, she negotiated, "I shall come down only if you step back and promise not to whisk me away."
Robin smiled at her word. "You have my word as a gentleman, love. I shall step back. "He did so. "And I will not whisk you away unless you want me to."
Moving down the steps toward him, she exclaimed, "Want you to! Are you mad? I ran away from you."
"Aye, that you did. Are you well? You look tired." The purple circles under her eyes and pale skin prompted him to ask.
His voice was like a soothing balm to her low spirits. She nearly drowned in the dept of love in his eyes. She wanted nothing more than to lean against him, knowing his broad shoulders would never tire with any burden. She wanted it all to be as it was before. But, the wound, though smal, was still tender, and her anger still new. Stepping back, she replied sharply, "I am not fine. You have seen to that! You lied to me, deceived me, and betrayed my love. Damn you, Robin, I don't want to love you anymore! I can't even believe I love such a deceitful, ruthless man as you. All you see me is another possessaion, another conquest."
Tears of anger welled quickly, she brushed them away and turned to hide their flow, lest he see.
"Is it so bad loving me love?" he asked gently, his voice like a sweet caress. "Why are you so upset over the transaction?"
"Did you know that Daniel was still alive? Did you know what my mother did to him?" Regina asked.
"No, love, I did not. I gave the money to his family for their pain and suffering," Robin answered. "I never lied to you, Regina. I may have deceived you by not telling all of it, but lie, nay, I did not." He shrugged. "As to being another possession, make no mistake, love, you are mine as much as I am yours." Pausing to brush an errant curl from her face.
"Daniel didn't deserve what happened to him," Regina said more to herself than him.
"While I agree, I could imagine no worse hell than to taken from you. I wanted you, above all else." He lifted her tear streaked face. "And I love you above all else. If you were one bit honest with yourself and gave up this childish charade, you'd admit that whatever it is I've done matters not, for you love me as well."
She angrily spun away from him, heading toward her cabin, but was stopped by his words and did not mistake the promise etched in them.
"Regina, I give you tonight to make your choice. Tomorrow I'll make it for both of us." He pushed off the railing and departed. She stared after his retreating figure till it disappeared in the crowd.
Pushing the empty plate away, Regina, full and contented, sat back. "Oh Captain Faulkner, your chef outdid himself." She smiled, thinking the salmon tender, the shrimp delicious. "I could not eat another bite."
The captain motioned for the first mate to clear the plates. "Do you mind if I enjoy a cigar with my port, milady?"
"If you open the window a crack, I'd not mind." The mate complied and the captain lit his cigar, the aroma wafing in the air, reminding her of Robin's rich cigars.
The mate placed a plate of bonbond and chocolate mousse before her. Regina smiled at the captain and commented delightedly. "This is my favorite dessert. Perhaps I can eat a little more."
The mousse was sinfully delicious and the bonbons heavenly, and belying her words, she not only ate her mousse but the captain's as well.
The captain escorted a very full and drowsy Regina to her cabin. He made sure she was settled in before he left for the deck. In the shadows he saw the tall, dark clad figure of a powerfully built man move with easy grace up the gangplank to the deck.
"She's asleep and settled for the night," the captain said as he pulled out a cigar, offering one to Robin.
"Did she eat well?"
The captain smiled, wondering what the hell was going on, but being a seafaring man, did not ask. Instead he replied easily. "Everything, including my dessert."
The flash of white even teeth was seen in the night. "Good!" was Robin's reply. He turned and disappeared into the night.
Much later, Robin entered the smoky, noisy inn and was directed to the private room in the back. Entering the room, he saw that seated at the tables were John, Will and Killian. A very drunk and very disheveled Daniel sat between Will and John. Daniel smiled crookedly at Robin before his head fell upon Will's shoulder. Will shoved it off and it promptly fell against John's shoulders.
"Well, Robin, what we have here is a very drunk stable boy," Will remarked, pushing Daniel's head back.
"You assured me there would be no bloodshed," Robin smiled and shook his head.
"You would doubt my word? I'm merely saying it would have been cheaper to kill him, that's all." Will said.
A loud bang on the rear door interrupted them. The door bang open, and in swaggered their old friend David.
"You summoned me? Who the hell is this?" David asked as he looked at Daniel.
"This is your cargo," Killian said.
"What will you have me do with him?" David asked.
"Use your imagination," Will said.
David winked at him, knowingly.
Regina sat up. Her hand moved to rest against the soft swell of her belly. She held her breath, a moment passed and a smile lifted the corners of her mouth. Beneath her palm she felt the first stirrings, like the flutter of a butterfly's wings.
Lying back against the pillows, she felt the flutter again, and smiled. Their baby, her's and Robin's. And as if in agreement, she felt the flutter against her womb once again.
She hoped for a girl. Robin would be so good with a girl. And it would serve him and all the Locksley men right, having to defend a maiden from the likes of their own kind.
She laughed, picturing Robin, enraged over some ardent suitor, and Will offering to dispatch him! Yes, a daughter! Oh, with midnight tresses, blue eyes. She would have the deepest dimples and the Locksley smile. She worried at her lip realizing how empty her happiness seemed without Robin.
Getting out of bed and walking over to the table, she poured a small glass of wine, hoping it would help her sleep. She turned, nearly stumbling on a packet of letters on the floor. She picked them up. Her eyes caught the seal on a letter. The seal of the Locksley Bank. Again curiosity won over, and removing the documents, she sat at the table and read them.
Robin walked to the study window, looking out over thte cobbled stone street, now quiet save for the occasional sound of a carriage. He unlike the rest of them, was unable to sleep and would not seek his cold bed until he had Regina to warm it.
He smiled knowing tomorrow would soon be here, and with it, Regina.
He could have made tomorrow today, but he had seen how pale and weary she was. She needed tonight to rest, and time to sort things out. Tomorrow he would board his ship and take her home. He smiled, confidently.
Regina rushed out the companionway and onto the deck with the realization that Daniel never could lover her as Robin did, and more important, she would never love Daniel, the way she loves Robin. With those thoughts, she made her way down the gangplank and was startled to find Keegan appear before her, and briefly wondered where he came from.
"How...how...what are you doing here?" she stammered.
"His grace had me wait here in case anything happend or if ye needed anything," He nodded toward the shadows, where she saw, under the streetlamp, the gleaming carriage bearing the Locksley seal.
Turning to Keegan, she smiled. "Take me to him."
A broad smile broke his face as he agreed, "Right away."
He nudged the sleeping footman awake, who jimped down, opening the carriage door to assist Regina.
"Keegan," she called, "how long have you been here?"
"Ever since ye been on His Grace's yacht, lady,"
"His yacht?"
"Well, tis yours really." At her incredulous look, he explained, "It's a nickname he gave for the two of ye."
Regina gazed back at the yacht before ascending into the carriage, her eyes misting with tears.
Robin leaned back in his chair. His fingers brushed back and forth against his chin. A soft smile lifted the corners of his mouth. Closing his eyes, the images of a raven tressed, blue eyed daughter appeared. A spitfire to be sure! Impetuously reckless, stubborn, and just slightly spoiled.
She'd have the finiest coach, gilded of course with the mark of the Lion, and the softest of silks and velvets and the rarest of gems to adore her. She would have four uncles and a father who'd gladly boot any overzealous suitor out of their house.
He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms behind his head, a broad smile on his lips, thinking of the excellent child he and Regina would make.
The sound of a carriage stopping interrupted Robin's thoughts. Rising, he walked to the window, pulling back the curtain, he smiled, watching Regina pick up her skirts and run up the stone steps.
The study door burst open wide, and there, at its treshold, stood Regina. Breathless, she paused, then walked grandly toward Robin, who sat at the desk, his legs stretched casually atop it, crossed at the ankles, a cigar clamped between even white teeth, grinning back at her.
She stopped before him and quite openly studied him, raking him from head to toe and back. His grin broadened over her obvious appraisal of him.
"How dare you grin at me, Robin! I should by all rights said on my yacht and be done with you, once and for all." Placing her hands on her hips, she hurried on. "But you and the others would only come after me, and while I might be damned for it, I'd be glad you did."
At her admission, his grin overtook his features. Her stormy eyes narrowed at him.
"But that does not change the fact that you are cursed with an inordinate amount of male conceit."
Robin quirked a brow in mock disbelief, blowing out a curl of smoke, smiling.
"Along with innumerable other flaws, you're high-handed, manipulative, and terribly arrogant." She began to pace back and forth in front of him. "Oh, and let's not forget how terribly ruthless you can be. Or how tenacious! Why, you are an imposible man!"
She stopped. Turning to him, she paused, meeting his eyes. "But in spite of it all, I do love you. Above all else."
He grinned broadly, grinding out his cigar, rising and coming around the desk, he scooped her up and headed toward the door.
"Well, aren't you going to say something?"
"What's there to say, love?" He grinned. "It worked out exactly the way I planned."
January 6, 1820
The sun's rays gleamed and sparkled off the icicles hanging from the cornices and gables, reflecting the colors of a prism. On the ice-glazed drive stood a gilded coach with four dapple grays. The sun glinted against the gold-trimmed crest of two lions rampart on the field of noir, the mark of cadency, the File, the sign of the firstborn gleamed in the sun.
The giled coach belonged to the newly arrived duchess:
HOPE ELIZABETH LOCKSLEY
The Locksley men finally had a maiden to defend.
THE END