In answer to the pounding, insistent knocks on the door to Bonchurch Lodge in what seemed the middle of the night, Eve shooed away a servant and pulled open the door herself.
"I'm sorry to bother you so late," Lady Locksley breathlessly told her. "I'm here for Much. Where is he?"
"Sound asleep, like all good Christian people should be," Eve answered, still uncomfortable in Lady Marian's imposing presence, no matter how kind the noblewoman now always treated her.
"I need him, please!"
Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Much appeared at the top of the stairs, clothed in a nightcap, nightshirt and robe, complete with slippers, all embroidered with flourishing M's. He looked ridiculous.
"Marian?" he sputtered anxiously. "Wha-wha-what? What are you doing here? Where's Robin?"
"In the castle dungeon!" she answered, relieved to see him. "He's been arrested! I need you to help me get him out!"
"Arrested? What? Unbelievable! How? Why?"
"We don't have time for this! Will you help me?"
"Of course!"
Much, uncertain what to do, headed a few steps back toward his room, then raced down some steps toward Marian, then back up again toward his room, his indecision turning him into a frantic yoyo.
"Hurry!" Marian ordered, making up his mind for him. "Change your clothes and grab your weapons!"
"My weapons, yes!" Almost falling down the entire flight of stairs to give Eve a peck on her cheek, Much told his wife, "Robin needs me!" then turned to stumble back up the steps again, while Marian balled her fists against her thighs, waiting in frustration.
"Hurry!" she begged him again.
"I'm coming!" Much called, rushing at last toward his room. "Oooh! I hate this!"
...
"Should you be riding?" Much asked Marian, as their horses galloped toward Nottingham. "I mean, in your condition?"
"No, I shouldn't," Marian snapped, "but what choice do I have? Besides, there's really no risk to the baby. Llanrei would never throw me."
"Yes. But what about all the joggling up and down? Or is it jiggling?"
Marian didn't respond. She was so skilled at riding, she almost glided, one with her mount. She'd never knowingly do anything to put her her unborn baby at risk. All the same, Much's words struck her with guilt.
"I can't believe this!" Much cried, never silent for long. "How could anyone accuse Robin of...of...?" Much couldn't even speak the word, in a lady's presence. "I mean...Robin! He's...he's...he's Chivalry itself, when it comes to women. Except, of course, when you and he argue."
"Even then," Marian admitted, "mostly. He rarely says anything too horrible. He's never vicious. Why did he have to attract that girl?"
"He always does, you know. I'm not sure he can help it. You should have been there, Marian, on our way home from war! No, you shouldn't! I shouldn't have said that."
Another brief silence was broken by Much asking, "What are we going to do, Marian, once we arrive? Have you thought up a plan?"
She drew in her breath, uncertain what to do.
"Not even half a plan?" Much asked anxiously. "Unbelievable!"
"I'll think of something," Marian told him, silently praying for inspiration.