They departed the following day almost immediately after breakfast. I was genuinely sorry to see Lucy go, although I wanted Robin back to myself. She was such fun; I couldn't help but miss her company. I was relieved, however, to see Adam leave without him managing to talk to me alone once more.

Lucy hugged me as her luggage was being loaded on to the carriage.

"I think you are going to be asked to make a decision soon, Maria." She said quietly so that only I could hear her. "I hope you make the right one." I looked at her for a moment and she smiled that same sad little smile she had given me the previous night. I was about to ask her what she meant, although I feared that it had something to do with Adam, when she raised her voice so that everyone could hear her.

"It's been so lovely coming to see you, Maria. Moonacre is every bit as beautiful as you said. I do hope we can come again." I assured her that she would always be welcome, as would Adam. He had also come over to take his leave and he pressed my hand gently to his mouth,

"Au revoir, Maria. I won't say goodbye, it has such finality to it."

I felt the blush rising up over my cheeks. How undignified it made me feel. I managed to reply but I am not entirely sure what I said as Adam helped Lucy into the carriage and then climbed in after her.

I watched the carriage roll down the driveway and I waved to Lucy as she leaned out of the window. I heaved a sigh of relief. I suddenly realised just how exhausting I had found their visit and I longed for my days to return to their former pattern. I turned to see Loveday looking curiously at me,

"Are you so sad to see them go, Maria?" she asked.

"No," I replied honestly. "Lucy is a dear girl, but I am glad to have Moonacre back to myself." And Robin, I added silently to myself.

"What are you going to do now?" she asked.

"I really have no idea." She laughed at my reply and we linked arms and went inside.

Miss Heliotrope suggested that I did some needlework that morning as my mind was clearly too occupied for lessons. I complied readily with her suggestion as I had a cover that I was making for the table in the den and it was close to completion. I really wanted to visit the den that afternoon and just sit by myself and think. I could take the completed cover with me.

I hardly ate any lunch and I saw that Loveday was looking at me in concern. I smiled at her.

"I ate far too much breakfast." I suggested and she smiled back at me, although I wasn't sure that she was convinced.

"Don't be late," she warned when I left the house. "It looks like bad weather might be on the way."

I promised her that I would not be late and I left the house.

It seemed so dark in the den when I arrived and it was cold. I put the table cover on the table and moved the dead flowers from their containers. It seemed so long since I had been there and it was clearly in need of a little care.

I was just taking the covers for the sofa outside to shake them when I heard footsteps. It was Robin. My heart sank as his face became serious on seeing me.

"Hello," I managed to stutter.

"Good afternoon, Maria." His reply was unusually formal.

"I was just tidying a little" my words faltered as I took in his grave expression. He took the covers from me,

"Here, let me." I watched as he hung the covers over a nearby branch and beat them with a large stick. Great clouds of dust rose from them and it made him cough. The exercise seemed to restore some of his usual good humour and he smiled at me as he took them back down from the bough. I noticed that he looked pale and tired and I immediately forgot my worries as concern for Robin overtook me,

"Robin, are you alright?" I couldn't help raising a hand to his cheek. He was hot, clammy even. "You aren't well." It wasn't a question. He took my hand from his face and looked at it for a moment before letting it drop.

"I am alright, Maria. I just have a slight sore throat. The dust made it a little worse."

"You should have left me to beat the covers. I could have managed." I told him.

"It is ok, Maria." His tone wasn't encouraging and I didn't dare speak further. I took the covers from him and went back down to the den. I was shaking as I replaced the covers; I had never known Robin so distant. Even when we were enemies, he seemed to have some feeling for me.

He had followed me into the den and stood behind me as I replaced the covers. When I had finished, I didn't have the courage to face him. I just stood still, looking at the floor. I think I would have stayed like that all afternoon if he hadn't suddenly asked,

"Where is your necklace?" The question jolted me,

"My necklace?" I stammered slightly and then felt annoyed with myself for being pathetic.

"The one I gave you." He spoke slowly and patiently like I was a child. That irritated me further and I suddenly turned to face him.

"It's in my bedroom. It didn't feel appropriate for me to wear it anymore." I noticed a flicker of pain flash across his face, but I felt hurt and angry and I didn't allow it to check me. "Perhaps you would like it back?" I was relentless now, allowing all of my hurt and jealousy to spill out. "Perhaps you could have given it to Lucy?"

I watched as his face grew paler.

"Lucy?" he asked. "Why would I give it to her?" He did sound genuinely puzzled, but I wasn't feeling generous just then.

"I really don't know, Robin." I replied and I swept passed him and out of the den. When I reached the surface, I was dismayed to see that Loveday's prediction had come true. Heavy black clouds were gathering in the sky and the sound of silence was ominous. I sighed heavily; even the weather was conspiring against me. I was debating whether to face the storm on my way home or to face the storm in the den, when a huge crash of thunder made the decision for me.

I ran back into the den just as the first drops of rain were falling. Robin was sitting on the couch with his head in his hands. I looked at him in irritation for a while, but he didn't look up. Eventually, I grew tired of standing and I moved across the den to sit by him. He still didn't acknowledge my presence and I began to regret my earlier outburst.

"Robin?" I put out my hand to touch his arm, but he didn't respond. "Robin, please look at me." He slowly lifted his head I was appalled to see his face had turned chalky white. "Robin, what's wrong with you?" He looked straight through me with unseeing eyes and I knew that I had to get him home.

I looked out of the den, the worst of the storm seemed to have passed and I didn't think that I had much time to waste. I returned to him and held out my hand.

"Robin," I said softly. "Can we walk back to the castle?" He looked as if he hadn't heard me, so I grabbed his hand and pulled. He seemed to understand what I wanted and finally moved to follow me out of the den.