"DEAREST ELEANOR…."
"Do you think Rodger will ever come back to Locksley, Papa?"
"I'm sure he will."
"But when? He's been gone for months! Doesn't he miss us, his family, I mean?"
"Of course he does, Eleanor. But from what I gather he's having a pretty good time in London with Archer. He's a young man. He craves adventure, excitement—"
"And I don't, just because I'm a girl? I wouldn't mind a little excitement in my life, too. It's so dull around here!"
"Now you're starting to sound like your mother. She used to go out looking for adventure. Problem was, it often led to trouble."
"At least she got to be the Nightwatchman! What do I get to be? I'm not like the other girls in Locksley. All they dream about is getting husbands."
"I'm sure that's not all they dream about."
"Well, it's all they talk about. They're all so silly! And the boys in the village are busy working with their fathers. There's no one left who just wants to have fun like we used to."
"You're growing up, Eleanor, along with your friends. You can't expect everything to stay the same as it was."
"I hate growing up."
"You may not mind so much in a few years. There are a few good things about growing up."
"Like what?"
"Like falling in love with your best friend and spending the rest of your life making each other happy."
"Now you sound like Mama. She thinks I should marry Rodger."
"I can think of worse fates for you."
"Oh please, Papa! Rodger? We couldn't. We'd kill each other!"
"I thought you missed him."
"I do, but—"
"The best and happiest marriages often start out as friendships. You've known Rodger all your life, and he's been a good friend to you, a loyal friend. Don't toss that aside lightly because you imagine you like someone else. Someone you hardly know, I might add."
"Do you mean Robert? No, I'm all over that."
"Good. I'm glad to hear it. I know he seemed nice enough, but he's not for you."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because from what I've seen, he's not of strong character, and I don't entirely trust him."
"You just don't like him because he was friends with that Peter, but he's sorry for it! He can change. Look how much Uncle Guy changed."
"I'm just asking you to wait a while, Eleanor, before you make such an important decision. Wait until you're older."
"Don't worry, Papa, I'm not going to rush out and get married tomorrow, to Robert or Rodger or anyone else."
"I should hope not. I'd like to keep my little girl here with me for a while yet."
"Little girl? Oh, Papa, really!"
"I know. But you'll always be my little girl."
"I just wish there was something to look forward to before the fair this summer. It's still months away."
"Maybe there is. What do you think about the idea of a trip to London to see our friends?"
"Really? When?"
"We've been talking it over with Guy and Meg. There's a tournament coming up in a few weeks, and Archer and Rodger are going to take part."
"Why don't you and Uncle Guy enter it?"
"My dear daughter, don't you think we're a bit on in years for that sort of thing? Our old bones couldn't take the pounding anymore. It's a young man's sport."
"Uncle Archer isn't that young, either."
"No, but he's a lot younger than us. Besides, I really don't want to see Guy in a suit of armour again."
"When did you see Uncle Guy in a suit of armour? I've never seen him in anything but leather."
"It was a long time ago, before you were born."
"A full suit of armour? Wow, I'll bet he looked amazing."
"Try hilarious instead."
"Hilarious? Papa, why are you smiling like that? What did you do to him?"
"What makes you think I did anything to him?"
"Papa!"
"Okay, okay. So I might have had a bit of fun with him that day. Just a little. Get him to tell you if you really want to know. Ask him to tell you the tale of the indestructible armour."
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Rodger settled into his bed in Archer's quarters. After the dreary accommodations he'd endured all winter, the simply furnished apartment was blissfully warm and cozy. It was a luxury he enjoyed only occasionally. He still spent most nights in the hall with the other knights-to-be, as part of his training. Though it was spring, the nights were chilly, so he was thankful for the fire and the soft blankets. He sighed as he nestled deeper under the bedcovers. Archer was already asleep, snoring contentedly from his bed on the other side of the room.
He'd received a letter from his parents that morning, telling him of their plans to visit. He hadn't seen any of them since November; now it was April. In a few days he was to compete in his first tournament and act as his uncle's attendant, and now here was this news that his family was coming to watch.
Rodger wasn't sure how to feel about it. Mother would pressure him to come home, no doubt, but he wasn't ready to return to Locksley. Father would want to see evidence that his eldest son had used his time in London to good advantage, and Rodger could only hope he wouldn't let him down. As for Eleanor—
'What's so great about jousting?' she'd said to him, only a few months ago, before the fair in Nottingham. 'It's just a bunch of showoffs bashing each other up.'
Would she say the same thing to him now, in that same scornful tone, when she saw him on the field?
Why do I care what Eleanor thinks, anyway? She never answered my last letter. I'll bet she still likes Robert. Oh, so what? There are plenty of other girls in the world.
Swarms of them, in fact. From his first invitation to dine with King John, only a day after their initial meeting, his eyes had been opened to a larger world far removed from the quiet seclusion of Locksley village.
At the banquets and celebrations in King John's court, elegant, beautifully dressed, and accomplished young women were everywhere. Every lord and knight and wealthy merchant who ate at the king's table had a pretty daughter or two, with a ready smile and a willing hand to extend to a handsome young squire who requested the honour of a dance. As a consequence, Rodger never lacked for pleasant dinner companions or lively partners in the dance. He now had reason to be grateful to his mother for her insistence on the hated dance lessons, and he only wished he'd applied himself, as his brother Richard had done, to learning a musical instrument as well.
The women of the court were fiercely guarded by their fathers and brothers, at least while in the public eye, but away from their guardians, in the dim hallways and moonlit balconies of the castle, many were surprisingly bold. Temptations abounded. Although an avowed bachelor, Archer was a charming rogue, with a silver tongue and a come-hither twinkle in his dark blue eyes, and he did not always retire to his bedchamber at night alone.
Rodger was aware of his uncle's philandering ways, but he said nothing about it. Archer was a grown man, and his private life was none of his business. If his parents learned of it, Father might understand, but Mother certainly would not. She would label Archer a bad influence, and order Rodger home immediately.
So Rodger kept his uncle's secrets for him. He had none of his own to keep. He was far too shy to pursue such a relationship beyond a flirtation, and too keenly conscious of the disappointment in himself that would undoubtedly follow if he did. He wanted something better to look forward to.
No, I'll wait. I want what Mother and Father have—a deep and lasting love—and I won't settle for less. I want to be with one woman only—my wife.
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Eleanor took down the little wooden box that rested on the shelf in her bedroom, and unlocked it.
'For all your little treasures', Mama had told her when she'd given her the box with its golden key. Jewelry, hair ornaments, keepsakes from her family—no doubt that's what her mother had in mind. Eleanor's box contained those things, but also other, more carefully hidden, secrets.
She pulled out a bundle of letters from the bottom of the box, lay down on her bed, and started to read them.
'Dear Eleanor', began one, 'I miss you. I hope I can see you again soon. It seems so long since we spoke.'
'Dear Eleanor,' read another, 'I remember how lovely you were at the dance in Nottingham. I hope we can dance together again very soon!'
'Dear Eleanor, I think of you every day, and dream of you at night. Is it wrong of me to tell you? But I must, it's the truth….'
With a guilty flush, Eleanor tucked all but one of the letters back in the box. She kept the key carefully hidden in a dark corner of her clothes closet, in case her mother took it into her head to snoop. Mama would be angry if she knew about the letters. She's scold and lecture. Papa, he'd be angry, too. No, not angry. Disappointed, because they were chums and he trusted her. And she'd lied to him.
'You lied to Papa', the insistent, accusing voice echoed in her head. She thrust it aside impatiently as she picked up the last letter.
It wasn't a real lie. It was only a little fib. Nothing big. Besides, my parents don't need to know everything, do they? This is my life, and I can make my own decisions!
She broke open the seal. The letter was dated from ten days previously. It had passed through a number of discreet servant's hands before reaching her.
Ten days! He must be worried that I'm not going to answer. But it can't be helped. There's no other way to keep it secret.
She unfolded the sheet of paper. 'Dearest Eleanor', the letter began. She eagerly devoured its lines. When she reached the last line, she smiled softly, and pressed the letter to her lips.
It was signed, 'your Robert'.
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Author's Note: Once again, my apologies, dear readers, for the long delay. I haven't been well (physically) and my writing has had to be put "on the back burner". I will try to do better for future chapters!
Just a note on Eleanor's "crush" on Robert-neither she nor her parents are aware at this point of what Robert is up to as far as his history of seducing girls, and his selfish designs on Eleanor. Didn't want any of you to think that Robin and Marian are negligent parents! As for Eleanor, well, she's blinded by infatuation. She can't see at this point that she has someone far better-Rodger-right in front of her. How will it all play out? Will Eleanor see through Robert in time? Will Guy and Rowan ever make peace? More to come!
Thank you once again for reading and reviewing, and a thank you to the anonymous reviewers whom I can't thank personally through PMs. I appreciate your continued interest!