AUTHORS NOTE TO START – so yeh this chapter is a little bit of homage to "the mask of Zorro" a truly great film (go watch it) and I firmly believe that if Robin as Spanish he would be Zorro…
ENJOY!
PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!
KNIGHTON HALL
Alan and Marian were stood dressed in their finery and masks. They were walking up the flower petal covered floor in an almost carpet stretch towards the door, between the torches, on the summer night towards Knighton hall.
It looked new, but exactly same as Marian remembered it.
She took a deep breath to stop herself from crying.
Alan was fiddling with the hem of his black shirt. His black trousers, jacket and boots made him gleam darkly, but he seemed far brighter and warmer than Guisborne ever did.
"This is ridiculous Alan muttered, glancing as Marian did at the servant's entrance, where the gang were being ushered in, unbeknownst to the guards.
Alan sighed shortly, "This is the most stupid thing I have ever done…"
"I doubt that." Marian murmured.
Alan slowed his walk, "we will never get away with this."
"Yes we will…" Marian said with a firm voice.
"A nobleman is nothing but a man who says one thing when he means another."
"And what if Guisborne and the Sheriff realise who we are, who Robin is?" Alan demanded and stopped walking.
They could see Thornton and his wife in the doorway greeting guests now.
Marian turned to face him.
"Guisborne and the sheriff like to think of themselves as true gentlemen." She said with far more confidence than she felt, "they would never look a servant in the eye."
She was not so sure she would not be recognised, or Alan.
But she knew Robin would never put her in danger far greater than he had to.
She was amazed she had still been involved in his plan after their spar that morning.
"And as long as we remain in character and Robin distracts them all will be fine." She said.
Alan sighed, "I am unsure why I am this nervous, I feel almost sick…"
Marian turned her eyes back up to what should have been her house, and did not speak the fact that she felt also nauseous.
She swallowed and turned to Alan and straightened his collar as she spoke.
"The most important thing of all, do not let the lords leave the table without you." She said firmly.
He nodded, "Yes."
She smiled slightly and took a small step away.
"Stand up straight, charm…" She stressed with a grin.
He smiled and took her hand, kissing it lightly before putting it to hold the inside of his elbow as he crossed his arm across his body.
"Demure…" He stressed back at her, her final instruction form Robin when they had split a few moments ago.
She held her skirt up slightly as they walked up towards the house.
Somehow she felt strangely at ease like this with Alan.
It got lighter and lighter as the torchers grew closer together as they approached the doorway where Isabella and Thornton stood.
Marian and Alan both narrowed their eyes at Isabella, trying to think where they had seen her before. Most of her face was covered by a mask.
Alan and Marian stepped into the hall, arm in arm, to stand before Thornton and Isabella.
Both couples did the appropriate bow and curtsey form behind their masks.
"Good evening my lord." Alan bowed lowly at Thornton once more.
Marian folded her hands in front of her.
Demure.
"I am Earl Rutland, and this is my wife Countess Marianne from the French court of Aquitaine, former lady's maid and personal attendant of her highness the queen mother."
Thornton nodded, his dark eyes twinkling, and made no excuse to gesture to Isabella.
Alan continued his speech as though he had not noticed.
"I arrived this morning in Nottinghamshire from Paris, where my wife and I spend the summer months, inspecting her family's holdings," He said firmly, and his superior tone almost matched Robins.
"Interesting." Thornton moved to business, his eyes looking the both of them over.
"What brings you to my door?"
Alan carried on as though he was not being studied, by both Thornton and Isabella now.
"When I heard you had arrived in Nottingham to take residency here, I knew I must introduce myself." He said, "His highness the prince spoke very highly of you at court last time I was there."
"Oh really?" Thornton's eyes seemed to narrow.
He lifted his chin, "I was under the impression that I was out of favour with the prince, especially when a few of my fellow lords and I failed to complete something for him."
Marian and Alan both knew that Thornton was referring to the failed mission to kill the king in the holy land, which he and all the other black knights had been a part of.
Thornton did not know that though.
Alan sighed quietly and Marian glanced at him anxiously.
He stepped closer to Thorntown to whisper in his ear.
"Only in certain circles, his highness knows who really is at fault for such a disaster." Alan had managed to quietly let on that he knew enough about the circumstance with the king to have been told it, without having been there…
Alan moved back to Marian's side, his hands in front of him.
"I have been told that under yours and your friends watch and leadership this county and others like it will lead England forward with the prince, a good place for a man with vision."
Thornton's eyes seemed to gleam, as if finding a long lost brother or family member.
"And you are a man of vision?" He asked.
Alan played his part so well, Marian almost laughed.
His eyes flitted to the ceiling before back down to Thornton.
"I am a man in search of a vision."
She smiled to herself.
Thornton chuckled at him and Alan looked around, as if for the first items noticing what was swelling around them.
The noise of guests in the larger hall inside was growing.
"But our timing is unfortunate; we have interrupted a party… perhaps some other time I could call in?" Alan raised one eyebrow.
"No." Thornton held up one hand with a dark grin.
"It would be my honour if you stayed and joined us."
Alan bowed his head, "It would be our honour my lord."
There was the heavy sound of footsteps on the stairs leading up to them from outside, and the unmistakeable ringing of spurs.
Alan and Marian both bowed and curtseyed and two figures entered, who could not have been more different in looks.
"Ah Guisborne," Thornton shook the tall man's hand firmly as they entered.
Isabella curtseyed and stared at the floor.
Alan and Marian both stared at the floor as Guy surveyed the room, glaring profoundly at Isabella.
"My lord Sheriff." Thornton nodded his head.
"Yes, whatever… I am only going to pretend to enjoy this party for so long before I insist we start on business…" Vaisey rubbed his hand together and walked further into the party, ignoring Isabella completely.
Guy grunted and followed.
Marian and Alan exchanged a small and secret victorious smile from behind their masks.
They turned to walk towards the party when Thornton stopped them.
"Rutland."
Alan had linked arms with Marian and turned to look at the man.
Thornton walked towards them, leaving Isabella where she was.
"Perhaps you will leave your wife to the festivities of the party and join me and some other guests in my study; there is something I want to show you."
Alan tried not to grin, "Oh really, what is that?"
Thornton chose his words carefully before answering.
"A vision."