What do you think of Andrew so far? and uh-oh looks like there's trouble in paradise...

Chapter 14

Lizzie

When I got to my room I slammed the door and paced furiously, what was I doing? Just because the man was attractive that didn't mean I could let myself be used as a pawn because of my gender, definitely not!

I decided to go and see Robin – the walk would clear my head and so would he. Feeling slightly better I walked to the window and slid, hand over hand, down the rope attached to my window. Briskly I crossed the grounds until a cough stopped me in my tracks.

"Who's there?" I asked into the silence and a voice I recognized answered,

"Just me. I apologize for frightening you." Andrew stepped into the patch of moonlight that I was stood in and smiled.

"You didn't frighten me." I replied haughtily "I was merely curious."

"As you say." He inclined his head. "And what might you be doing out here all on your own at this hour?" he asked in dramatic whisper, indicating the moon with his hand and drawing closer to me as he did so. "Off to meet a secret admirer perhaps? Or a not so secret admirer..." He let the sentence trail away suggestively and I shook my head.

"No. There is no secret admirer I am afraid." I lied and he ran a gentle hand through my hair.

"None? And a woman of such beauty!" He murmured, caressing my cheek.

"No. Sorry to disappoint you." I said smiling. He grinned suddenly

"Oh don't worry – I'm not disappointed...not in the slightest!" I moved to go and he moved to stop me, making me stumble. He deftly caught me and wrapped his arms around my waist to 'stop me from falling'. Flustered I righted myself and patted my hair,

"I think you should go." I said turning away. I heard him chuckle and start walking back towards the castle.

"I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more of each other." He threw back over his shoulder and I stood, still as a statue til he had gone indoors.

Robin

I jogged towards the castle, pleased at the thought of seeing Lizzie again – it had been too long – and planning how to ask for her help on the Andrew Richomme situation. He got to the castle wall and scaled it with ease then grinned as he saw her walking across the grounds. She stepped into a patch of moonlight and he gasped – she looked breathtaking. Her beautiful figure looked perfect in her dark blue dress and the color made her skin creamy and revealed a new depth to her usually light blue eyes. Robin frowned as she stopped and looked over her shoulder but then she was joined by none other than Andrew Richomme himself! Robin tensed as he drew closer to her and ran a hand through her hair – Robin gritted his teeth – the hand moved to her cheek – his fists clenched – and she seemed to fall into him as he wrapped both arms round her small waist – Robin growled under his breath, seeing red as the man walked back into the castle.

She must have sensed me watching because she started towards me,

"Robin?" She whispered. At the sound of my name I turned on my heel and scaled the wall again, running as fast as I could back to camp and ignoring her as she called for me to come back.

Lizzie

"Robin come back!" I called as loudly as I dared as he dashed back towards the camp. Scrambling to find footholds I climbed the wall and slipped with more ease down the other side. Landing at the bottom of the wall I ran towards the camp, pushing branches and weeds from my path as I ran.

When I got to the camp it was as I expected – everyone was awake and Robin was furious.

"Robin, I can explain." I said earnestly putting a hand on his arm but he shrugged me off.

"There's nothing to explain, Lizzie I saw for myself." He said laughing bitterly. Tears threatened to fall but I pushed them back with a gulp,

"It is not as it seems. I know what you're thinking but that's not how it is." I said, wrapping my arms protectively around my waist.

"Well pray tell me 'how it is' then." He said, throwing up his arms. I moved closer, very conscious of everyone's eyes on me.

"The Sheriff told me he was going to make a bet with Richomme that he couldn't bed me – he wants me to help him win the bet to get Richomme's money. That's all it was! I have to let him think he stands a chance. Trust me Robin, Please." And there it was again. Trust.

There was a moment of silence, then Robin went mad.

"YOU'RE HELPING HIM? WHY? THIS IS WORSE THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS!" He yelled and the other outlaws rolled their eyes almost in unison, but Alan stepped forward.

"Er...but...weren't you on your way to ask Lizzie to do the same thing?" He asked tentatively and Robin turned round to glare at him, his hands clasped behind his head.

"What?" I asked, looking from him to Robin.

"Yes what?" asked Robin through clenched teeth. Alan shrugged.

"Well that's what he was going to ask you – to help us get his money." my eyes flashing I rounded on Robin.

"How could you think of asking that!" I seethed, balling my hands into fists.

"If you're so righteous how come you'll help the Sheriff for his own personal gain and not us to help the people?" Robin asked. Oh dear. He had a point. I saw he needed a further explanation.

"Believe me if I had my way I would be helping you but...the Sheriff has threatened to say that I was lying about Robert – to say that I killed him in cold blood – if I do not co-operate." Silence rang through the clearing – the silence of everybody present trying to figure their way out of an inescapable situation.