"There are some really nice spots here," Lady Alexandrine had noted, only to add with a mischievous smile, "Once you are out of Nottingham."
Hearing these words Sir Guy had not been able to refrain from cracking a smile of his own. On the one hand, he agreed with her statement, and on the other hand, the smile made her look even more beautiful in his opinion. Therefore, he had not been able to help but to respond to it, at least for a brief moment.
The knight was really glad to get the chance to escape from the castle for rides. Of course, his delight had mainly to do with his companion, whom he could refer to not only as beautiful, but also as charming. And as smart. But it had also something to do with his master, who these days was even worse to endure than usual.
After it had dawned on the Sheriff that the guests – that Sir Guy's guests - were not going to leave again soon, this had not helped to improve his mood, although the knight had not assumed anything else. But it got even worse when the elder man eventually understood for what reason his deputy's mother and the young lady had come to Nottingham. He would then have liked to throw them out of the castle, but Lady Gisburne had quickly made him aware that she had the Earl of Gloucester's support in this matter. She had not exaggerated when she had told Guy on her arrival that in the case of need she would be prepared to bring her late husband's liege lord into play. Of necessity, she actually had then to make use of it, and only that resulted in de Rainault to relent - albeit grudgingly - and even to allow Gisburne to spend some time with Lady Alexandrine. While the knight was rather embarrassed that his mother had approached the Sheriff about this issue as well, he had to admit - at least to himself - that he would not have been able to bring up the question. And even if he had, against his better judgment, he would certainly not have been given permission.
"I'm glad you like it here, my Lady," he had replied to the young woman, only to then scold himself an idiot, for he had used exactly the same phrase for a response every time. He would have liked to be better in conversing with Lady Alexandrine, but as soon as he opened his mouth in her presence, he got tongue-tied and moreover had the impression that he had forgotten all his words. He was despaired when wondering how he was to win her over. He could not deny that he wanted to do just that, even though the marriage was already a done deal. He had realized very soon that he would not like it at all if she was an unwilling bride.
"And I'm glad you're taking the time to show me around, my Lord," she had replied, bestowing another smile on him.
At her praise he had not been able to prevent himself from blushing, and as soon as he became aware of it, that just intensified. He was like a youngling who had never had anything with a woman. What was she to think of him?
He had not known what to reply to her remark. The truth was that he enjoyed her company very much, but he could not bring himself to admit this. But of course, he could not tell her that there was another reason why he spent so much time with her. How would it appear to her if he told her that it was a way for him not to have to put up with the Sheriff?
He had started spending time with her the day after her arrival. First he had shown her around the castle and she had followed him patiently, but he had soon been able to realize that she was bored. She was really good at hiding this, but whenever he had believed he was not being watched by anyone, he had glanced at her and for this it had not escaped his notice. Still, he had not dared to ask her what she would like to see and she had been too polite to point it out on her own.
He had taken her to the stables to show her Fury at last. It had been an act of pure despair from his side, since every young woman he had so far dealt with in his life had not been particularly interested in horses. Only then to realize, to his great surprise - and relief - that this was not the case with her. In this way he had finally found a topic about which they could talk without any trouble - give or take. He then also learned how much she loved to go out riding.
Thereafter, he was out with her every day, although he was very careful that they did not run the risk of encountering any outlaws. He had not wanted Alexandrine to experience anything like this, but he would also have been ashamed of himself if this scum would again have gotten the upper hand. Even though his decision reduced the available destinations, there were still enough options open for them.
"Would you perhaps like to rest for a while?" he had later dared to inquire. On the first few days he had not been able to voice even that question, but then his mother had assured him in their nightly conversations that Lady Alexandrine had spoken favorably of him, and this had made it finally possible for him to approach the entire matter in a somewhat more light-hearted manner.
When they then had been sitting for a while, he had always attempted to watch her as inconspicuously as possible. As soon as he had the slightest hunch that she would turn her attention on him, he had quickly looked elsewhere. So, he had not noticed that his companion had not missed the way he was acting. On the other hand, he had not failed to notice the expression on her face when she was obviously of the opinion that his attention was on something else.
It was this facial expression that made him doubt time and again whether he had actually succeeded in winning her over. What he recognized on her face - albeit always only very briefly - was a mixture of despair and fear. He was of the opinion, that this was not something that boded well for the future. There was just one factor that stopped him from getting utterly despaired and this was his mother's assurance that Alexandrine had surely taken a liking to him. If she had not told him that he would have refrained from his attempts to build up a relationship with the young woman.
Nevertheless, Lady Margaret had also deemed it necessary to tell him just the same on this evening as well.