Despite her husband's love of spontaneity, Marian knew small children thrived on routine, and her established one now dictated that it was time for Ellen's nap. "Sleep well, Precious," Marian sweetly told her daughter, tucking her into her cradle. Lowering her voice, she confided, "If I'm not here when you wake up, blame the carriage. It's ridiculous the Nightwatchman can't ride, but I promised Daddy."

"Daddy," Ellen echoed, fondly. Holding out her toy horse, Ellen offered, "Ride horsey?"

"I wish, Boo, but I can't. But if you think I'll let that...Isabella wear my earrings, you're wrong. Sweet dreams, Ellie. I love you."

"Mama."

After casting one final lingering smile on her daughter, Marian set her mind upon her plan.

That conniving slut Isabella may had stolen her earrings, but Marian had stolen something last night, as well. Isabella's Nightwatchman mask lay hidden in the Locksley coach, along with a pair of Robin's trousers, a shirt, vest, old mantle, and scarf, ready for Marian to change into, while the carriage rolled slowly toward Nottingham. The Nightwatchman was about to strike again.

...

"Not bein' funny, but it's not one of your better plans."

Allan a Dale, disguised as a jewel merchant, held a casket of Maggie's "jewels" while waiting with Robin in a corridor of Nottingham Castle, just outside Annora Fitzhugh's bedchamber. "Why can't you just break into Isabella's rooms, and steal Marian's earrings back? And don't give me your 'Where would be the fun in that' melarky!"

"Trust me, Allan," Robin said winningly. "This will work!"

"About as well as your monk act, if you ask me. Any chance this chancellor's wife gonna accuse me of rape, 'cause there'd be a lot of grievin' ladies in Nottingham, if I was to lose my-"

"Shh! She's coming! Just stick to the plan, and you'll be fine."

Robin disappeared into the woodwork. If Allan wasn't used to it, he'd be as anxious as Much, for it was uncanny how Robin could do it. Slicking down his false eyebrows, Allan stepped forward to approach a very young, very blond, very wispy woman, bowed, and said, " 'Cuse me, Madame. I was told you were the loveliest flower in all England, but I didn't believe it till I laid eyes on you myself."

Allan had to admit, he liked Robin's opening line. If it went over well, he'd be sure to use it himself someday, not that he needed any help with the ladies.

Annora, pleased by the flattery, smiled at the stranger. Her ancient attendant who had raised her from the cradle, was far less pleased.

Grinning jauntily at his instant success, Allan continued his act. "Such a beauty deserves nothin' but the finest jewels to highlight your many charms! All the gentry buy from me, Madame, especially the Earl of Huntington himself, my very best client. Allow me to show you my wares!"

"The Earl of Huntington?" Annora repeated, flushing, then going pale and weak kneed. "You mean...Robin Hood?"

"The very same."

"Let me see! Let me see! They're beautiful," Annora gasped, not knowing any better that Maggie's "jewels" were only made of paste. "But I can't buy any right now. I could ask my husband for money, but he's..." she sniffled, miserably. "He's unhappy with me."

"All the more reason to show off your charms, covered in these priceless gemstones," Allan coaxed.

"I told you, I can't pay right now."

Knowing his goal was to get Annora to wear the jewels, Allan decided to deviate from Robin's script, saying, "Oh, but these aren't for sale! Because of your beauty, I was sent by a secret admirer to present these to you as a gift. His only wish is to see you decked out in them, Madame."

Annora's hand flew to her throat. "A secret admirer? Then, it's true! He loves me!" Her face lit up in a smile, and she gave a little scream. "He loves me!"

"Yeah, well, who wouldn't?" Allan grinned back, proud of his success. "Take these jewels with his compliments, and be sure to tell Her Majesty the Earl of Huntington gets all his jewels from me."

Annora wasn't listening, so rapt in blissful ignorance of the truth that she kissed each piece of jewelery, over and over again, then turned without so much as a goodbye, to be alone with her joy, and her "gift," in her bedchamber. Huffing, her old attendant followed.

"Like takin' candy from a baby," Allan boasted, when Robin reappeared. "Oi! Why are you lookin' like you swallowed your tongue?"

Robin slowly let the air out of his cheeks, then dismissed his forebodings. "It'll be alright," he assured himself. "You didn't say I was the admirer, after all. Pretty lass like that's bound to have one or two admirers."

"Not my type," Allan snorted.

Annora wasn't Robin's 'type' either, but he was far too much of a gentleman to say so.

"Now what?" Allan asked.

"Now," Robin answered with a grin, "we tell her the Queen has sent for her, and watch the fun unfold."