Hi! Sorry, I have been longer in updating than usual and this chapter isn't very long but I'm currently in the middle of rehearsals for the Proms and they're pretty full on xD so apologies, more soon! Thanks to everyone who's reading and reviewing! xx

Chapter 15

Robin

She was working for the Sheriff? A part of me wished she'd just been having an affair – everything would have been much simpler. The boys were right though, I had been going to ask her the same thing, so I squared my shoulders

"I'm sorry. Shouldn't have shouted OR jumped to conclusions, it's just..." I spoke through a tiny gap in my lips so the rest of the gang wouldn't laugh at me "I really care about you, it makes me react to things in ways I haven't before."
"What makes you react differently, Robin?" She asked, folding her arms, "Your vanity? Your arrogance?" I looked down and drew a deep breath.

"Er...I was thinking love, actually." I said, scuffing a boot along the ground and refusing to meet her eyes.

"What?" Her voice is hushed and I lift my eyes to hers.

"Yeah...I've known for a while." I sounded so stupid! What was I thinking? I must have been mad to -

"Robin I love you too." There was no sentimentality in her voice, just truth. Relief rushed through me as she wrapped her arms around my shoulders and looked steadily into my eyes.

"I have to do this, Robin. My life depends on it – you know the punishment for murder and the Sheriff means every word he says. Please believe me that this is all there is to it, nothing more." And I did believe her, actually, now I thought about it...and I felt vaguely silly for reacting the way I did. However in no circumstance was she to know that so I merely shrugged and smiled my most winning smile – and that is pretty winning, let me tell you.

Lizzie

I woke up without any memory of what had happened between Robin and I – I was in my own bed and had slept soundly, but bit by bit I began to recall last nights events; my decision to do what the Sheriff demanded, the dress, Andrew Richomme himself, our moonlight encounter, Robin witnessing said moonlight encounter and getting on his high horse, me pleading my case pretty successfully, him saying he loved me...ME saying I loved him...so...we were in love.

And my world turned upside down.

Hurriedly I dressed for breakfast, pushing the thought that I was completely in love with a wanted outlaw whilst living in the castle under the thumb of the tyrannical Sheriff (whom my life depended on) who hated said wanted outlaw. I dressed in my red dress that was fitted from the waist up but flowed nicely from the waistband to the floor – I liked that dress, it cheered me up. As I clattered down the steps – definitely NOT thinking of the way Robins eyes had lit up when I'd told him I loved him – I was stopped in my tracks by a tuneful whistle, coming from the bottom of the stairs. I picked up my skirt and crept down the remaining stairs and saw Andrew, to my horror. I tried to sweep past him but he moved swiftly in front of me,

"Ah Elizabeth! How nice to see you again, may I escort you to breakfast?" He said smoothly, offering me his arm which I took with a forced smile. His eyes roamed up and down my body as we walked,

"I must say that dress is very becoming on you." He commented then leaned in to whisper in my ear

"But then again, no doubt you could wear a sack and still be beautiful." He drew me closer to him and I cringed internally but kept my sickly smile on my face.

"You are too kind, sir." I said, keeping my eyes straight ahead and thinking - unattainable! Alluring! - as I walked. It seemed to work as he couldn't keep his eyes off of me for the whole of breakfast, his mere glances made me feel unfaithful to Robin but I knew what rested on my composure and I kept it.

All the same, I have never eaten so fast in my life.