HOW TO TURN YOUR PARENT'S HAIR WHITE

Eleanor entered the stable. It was dark and quiet. A horse snorted and pawed the floor with a heavy, iron-shod hoof. The sudden sound made Eleanor jump.

"Hello? Is there anyone there?"

"Thought you'd never get here," said a disembodied voice from the vicinity of one of the stalls. Eleanor jumped again.

"Who are you?" she asked.

A young man, leading a horse, stepped out from the shadows and into the faint light near the doorway.

"Are you Lady Eleanor?"

"Yes. Are you the person sent to meet me?"

"Uh-huh."

"What's your name, please?"

"What does it matter? I'm taking you to your lover boy Robert, aren't I?"

Eleanor drew herself up and addressed the stranger in her best authoritative voice.

"I'm not going anywhere with you until I know who you are!"

He laughed. "You're as nosy as that stupid servant who answered your door."

He threw back his head and sneered unpleasantly at her. She could just make out his features in the dim light.

"The name's Peter. And yeah, I'm that Peter. What of it?"

Eleanor dropped her satchel and stared at him as though he were a venomous snake.

"Robert told me he wasn't associating with you after what you did to Rodger. He told me—"

"Well, he's a liar then, isn't he. Look, I haven't got all night to stand around discussing this. Are you coming with me or not?"

Eleanor's shoulders slumped in dismay. Half an hour ago, running away with Robert had seemed so right and perfect. But Peter had called him a liar.

No, no! Her heart cried out a denial. Robert loves me. We can start a new life, far from Locksley. No more mean parents, no more snubs from Rodger.

Exactly where she and Robert would begin that new life with no place to go, and what money they would live on should his father disown him, she did not stop to think about. Somehow, it would all work out. She had only to get to Robert, and if Peter was the one to take her there—

She sighed and picked up the satchel. "I'm coming."

Peter turned the horse toward the door and vaulted easily into the saddle.

"What am I going to ride?" she asked.

"You'll ride behind me," was the curt response. "Mount up."

Eleanor was ready with an objection, but the boy was so rude and abrupt that she had no wish to argue with him further. She threw the satchel onto the horse's back. Peter made no move to assist her as she struggled to mount. She barely had time to balance herself before he kicked the horse's ribs and they shot out of the stable and onto the road. They rode along at such a tremendous pace that she was forced to grab him around the waist to keep from falling off.

"Can't you slow down?"

"No."

Eleanor remembered Mama's story of her rescue from Uncle Guy. Papa had boldly ridden up on his horse, right under the noses of the guards, and whisked Mama off to the safety of Sherwood Forest after she punched Guy during the wedding vows, tore off her ring and veil, and ran away from him. How exciting, how thrillingly romantic!

But there was nothing exciting or romantic about this. She hung on for dear life, her hair flying in her face and her arms wrapped unwillingly around the detestable Peter. Why hadn't Robert come for her, as Papa had come for Mama, instead of sending Peter, of all people, to meet her?

Surely there was an explanation. Yes, no doubt a good and sensible reason. In any case, it would all end well. Peter would take her to Robert, and then all would be perfect.

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"She's not in Nettlestone," said Robin, rubbing his furrowed brow in frustration. "Whoever she was meeting at the stable, they've already gone."

"This can't be happening!" exclaimed Marian. "How could she be so foolish?"

"She's not foolish, Marian," said Meg gently, "she's just young."

But Marian didn't hear her. Instead, she turned on her husband.

"Robin, this is your fault!"

"My fault? How do you figure that?"

"You spoiled her. You always let her do exactly what she wanted, and now look what she's done! Run off with that boy, and if we don't find her and stop her she'll marry him."

"Oh-ho, and who is she like? Dare I mention someone else who's stubborn and doesn't listen to me and does what she wants?"

"Don't you blame me! At least I've tried to curb her. You're the one who never tells her no."

"That's not true. I've told her no plenty of times."

"Oh, I should have seen this coming! She was with him at the tournament. They danced together. You saw them, Robin. Why didn't you chase him off then?"

"Me? You're her mother. Why didn't you?"

"Ahem," said Guy. He cleared his throat and tried not to smile, though he took a perverse pleasure in watching Robin and Marian argue. Robin was so cocky when he was convinced of his own rightness, and Marian was so pretty when she was angry. Her pale cheeks were flushed rosy pink and her eyes were flashes of clear blue sky.

"Sorry to interrupt this riveting discussion," Guy continued, tearing his eyes from Marian and back to Robin, "but while you're deciding who's more guilty of spoiling the girl, your daughter is getting further and further away. Shouldn't we make a plan, or half-a-plan if you like, and find her?"

"You're right, Guy. Marian, where's that letter? Where were they going?"

"To London." She handed the letter to Robin.

"We don't know where she's meeting Robert, but we do know they're headed for London. We need to stop them before they get there and disappear. There's only one main road from here to there, so unless they take some other way, we've got a chance of finding them. Guy, Rodger, saddle the horses. Archer, come with me. I'll see if we can recruit some help."

"I don't want this to be broadcast all over the village," Marian objected.

"Then we'll be discreet," answered Robin. "We'll go ourselves, just our family. Marian, are you coming?"

"Of course."

"I'll stay here," offered Meg, "and look after the children."

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Finally, the bone-shaking ride was over. Eleanor wasn't sure whether to laugh at the absurdity of it all or cry with relief when she saw Robert running toward her. She scrambled off the horse and rushed to him. He swept her up in an embrace, and then his lips were on hers. It was the first time he had kissed her on the mouth. His mouth was hungry and greedy and almost rough, not gentle like Rodger's. For a second she pulled away from him with a feeling akin to revulsion, before reminding herself that this was Robert. She loved him! He was going to take her away to a whole new life where she would be adored and appreciated.

"We've got to hurry!" he said as he strapped her satchel to his saddle. "They'll be after us as soon as we're missed."

"Where are we going?"

"To London."

"Yes, I know, but that's a long way from here. We can't get there in one night. Maybe we shouldn't—"

"Stop worrying!" His voice was impatient. "Have a little faith in me. I've got it all figured out."

Eleanor caught Peter's smirk from the corner of her eye. She wished he would go away, now that his part in the elopement was done, and leave them alone, but he remained on his horse and showed no signs of departing.

"There's an out-of-the-way inn we can stay at tonight, and then we'll make for London tomorrow."

"I-I can't stay at an inn with you. Not if you mean in the same room. It wouldn't be right."

"Well, I'm not paying for two rooms, silly. What's the problem? You're as good as my wife now anyway."

"I'm not your wife, not until I marry you properly."

"Oh, yes, I forgot. You're Little Miss Prim and Proper, aren't you?" he said. "And you weren't even brought up in a convent."

If he meant to be funny, it didn't work. Eleanor heard only sarcasm.

"Robert, why are you being like this?"

"Why are you dragging your feet?"

"I don't like the way you're talking to me. In fact, I don't like this whole business. I don't like all this sneaking around and running away."

"You were willing to a moment ago."

"Well, I've changed my mind."

"Just like a woman," Peter muttered under his breath. "Can't stay in the same mind from one minute to the next."

"Peter, stay out of this!" snapped Robert. "Eleanor, please, we need to go, now. Let's not argue about it."

"You haven't told me why we're in such a hurry, and I'm not going anywhere until you do."

She sat down on a fallen log and crossed her arms. No sooner had she done so than Robert took hold of her arm and hauled her bodily off the log and toward his horse.

"Ouch! Stop it!" she cried.

"Now, don't get stubborn on me. Get on the horse!"

"No! Not until you tell me!"

Peter grinned at the spectacle. "I'll tell you why Robert's in a hurry, darling, if he won't," Peter said.

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Robin and Marian, Guy, Archer, and Rodger rode at a gallop toward Mansfield.

"We'll find out first if Sir Henry knows anything," Robin shouted over the thunder of hoof beats, "and we'll start our search from his house. They couldn't have gotten far."

Halfway to Mansfield, however, they were met by Sir Henry and two servants, who were on their way to Locksley.

"Yes, Robert left me a note, too," Sir Henry told them. "Wait until I get my hands on that worthless son of mine!"

"He left a letter for my daughter," said Marian, "just before she ran away. He said you were arranging a marriage for him against his will."

"Against his will?" answered Sir Henry. "Perhaps it was, Lady Marian, but I'm afraid it was necessary." He shook his head with resignation. "You may as well know the truth. My son, well, he—"

And as Sir Henry, unlike his son, was an honest man, the Locksleys soon knew the truth.

"We've got to stop them!" cried Marian. "Robin, our daughter!"

"We'll find them, Marian. Sir Henry, I'm not familiar with this area. Where's the nearest road in the direction of London?"

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"Shut your mouth, Peter!" Robert bawled at him, but Peter only laughed.

"Got a girl in trouble, didn't you, laddie?"

"You back-stabbing little—"

"What?" gasped Eleanor. She wrenched herself from Robert's grip and faced him. "You got a girl in trouble? That kind of trouble? What girl? Who—when—"

"I heard tell there might be more than one who's got herself a bellyful from your Robert," Peter snickered. "One for sure, the nobleman's daughter he's running away from."

"Robert? Is this true?"

"It's a lie! Don't listen to him, Eleanor!"

"You said your parents arranged a marriage for you. Is this why, because you got her—"

"It's not like that, Eleanor. It was all a mistake. I don't want to marry her, I love you!"

"You say that, and yet you—I can't believe it! I trusted you, and you lied to me!"

"No, Eleanor, I love you, I do! I don't care anything about her. It's all in the past."

"Pretty recent past," remarked Peter dryly, until Robert shot him a scathing glance.

"Please, love, we need to get out of here before they come after us. If my father catches me we'll never be together. Is that what you want, to be torn apart forever?"

She looked up at him. He was so handsome. His golden hair shimmered in the moonlight, his eyes shone earnestly into hers. All those beautifully worded letters of love and devotion danced before her mind's eye. He couldn't have been toying with her, he couldn't!

He'd made a mistake with a girl, yes, but he was hardly the first. He was a young nobleman. These things happened. They would get married, and then he'd go home and face his parents. He would pay for the child's upbringing, if indeed the child was his. If luck was on their side, her parents would soon marry her off to another. The scandal would die down, and she and Robert would live happily ever after….

No! What am I thinking? There can be no happily ever after, not if this is all true. Rodger tried to warn me about Robert. He said Robert would hurt me. Rodger was right, but I didn't listen because I was angry with him.

Would Rodger have tried to talk me into running away with him instead of being married in Locksley with all our family and friends there to celebrate with us? Would he have wanted us to hide in some grubby inn, and expect me to sleep with him before we were married?

No, because Rodger is a gentleman. He always does what is right. He didn't take cowardly revenge on Peter or Robert after what they did to him. He competed with honour and chivalry in the tournament. He's good to his family, and he's never lied to me or tried to get me to do something shameful.

And this is shameful—eloping with Robert so that he can escape marriage to a girl he left with child, his child.

What am I doing here? Have I lost my mind? I can't do this! No, this is wrong!

"Robert, I'm not doing this. This isn't the right way. I'm sorry, but I can't marry you, not now. I want to go home."

Instead of pleading with her to change her mind, as she expected, he took hold of her arm once again, and shook her.

"It's too late to turn back now, Eleanor," he said through gritted teeth. His loving gaze was now cold, and his eyes glittered with barely suppressed fury. "You're not going to make a fool of me. You agreed to marry me, and that's final as far as I'm concerned. Now, get on the horse, or I'll put you up there myself."

A sudden realization struck Eleanor. This was the husband that Robert would become—harsh, domineering, even cruel if his will was contested. She recalled the story of how Uncle Guy had reacted when Mama had run out on their almost-wedding. He'd taken his revenge upon her when he burned down Knighton Hall, and dragged her and her ailing father off to house arrest in the Castle.

Was Robert, up until now so sweet and charming in his wooing of her, about to turn into another vengeful Gisborne? She had no intention of staying around to find out. It was dark and cold, and they were miles from Locksley, but she did not want to ride home with Peter, nor with Robert, who was not the man she had believed him to be.

"Someone's coming," said Peter. "Methinks it's your family here to rescue you."

They saw the torches through the trees, and then heard familiar voices.

"Eleanor!" her father called. "Is that you?"

"Robert! Are you there?" It was Sir Henry. Robert turned to Eleanor in a panic.

"Come on, now!"

"No, Robert, I'm not going!"

Their pursuers rounded the curve of the road and reined in their horses. Eleanor saw her father and mother, her Uncle Guy and Uncle Archer. And Rodger. Her heart sank.

"Robert, Eleanor! What is going on here?" demanded Robin. "You'd both better have a good explanation!"