Annora Fitzhugh fidgeted nervously, twisting Queen Isabella's ring back and forth on her finger while she struggled with her conscience, trying to decide whether to unclasp the ring's stone and empty the white powder into Lady Locksley's milk.

As the queen had pointed out, it would be amusing to watch the perfect lady have to rush to the privy, suffering from "the runs." She deserved it, after all, for being so superior, having everything Annora wanted. And yet, actually causing her discomfort, by deliberately pouring poison into her milk, was a step Annora wasn't sure she was willing to commit.

"Oh, Robin," Annora sighed, standing alone in Locksley Manor's hall, her eyes locked on a cup of milk on the dining table, "I know you really love me! You're just too noble to act on your feelings!"

Memories of the first time she'd met Robin, when he had been disguised as a monk at her husband's party, sent unfulfilled yearnings through her, making her miserable and restless. No man's eyes had ever looked so deeply into her before. And what eyes they were, not to mention all his other manly charms!

Wanting him decided her. Making certain no one was watching, Annora unclasped the ring's stone and emptied the powder hidden within into Lady Locksley's milk.

By the time Marian appeared, Annora's pounding heart had almost settled back into its regular rhythms.

"Mistress Fitzhugh!" Marian barely hid her displeasure at finding the chancellor's wife at her table, after returning home with her small daughter from paying a visit to a frail, elderly widow in her village.

Disappointment in finding that her husband had not yet returned from protecting the king added to Marian's displeasure. Nonetheless, she graciously invited her unexpected guest to join her and Ellen at their midmorning snack.

"Would you care to join us?" she asked, politely. "Ellen and I usually have a small snack about this time. There's only milk, bread, and fruit, but it's good, isn't it, Ellie?"

"Daddy?" Ellen asked, looking all around.

"He'll be home soon, Precious. My husband was called away to Nottingham last night," Marian explained, when Annora didn't speak.

"I know," Annora finally spoke up, in a tone indicating she resented Lady Locksley daring to know something about Robin she already knew.

Marian couldn't stop herself from rolling her eyes. "Please, join us," she repeated, trying to appear patient, when she didn't feel so. "I've been ordered to drink milk every morning. It's said to be good for the baby."

Annora jealously sucked in her breath, glad that she'd finally summoned the courage to do as the queen had advised, by treating Lady Locksley's milk. "Don't let me stop you," she said, beginning to giggle as she anticipated the milk's effect. "I don't care for anything, but I'll sit with you, while you eat and drink."

The situation was awkward, but Marian was used to the chancellor's wife's lack of manners. Sitting at the table and helping her daughter to a snack, Marian tried to make pleasant conversation, fulfilling her duty as lady of the manor.

"Ellen and I just paid a visit to the Widow Tannerson, in our village," she began. "She's a kind old woman, whose memory never fails to astonish me. Every time I see her, she tells me something new about my husband's boyhood."

"Aren't you going to drink your milk?" Annora asked, clearly not listening.

"Thank you, I will. I just don't want to be rude."

It felt even more awkward to drink, with Annora's eyes watching her so carefully. But, like Ellen, Marian was thirsty, and Matilda had ordered her to drink milk every morning. Slowly, she sipped from her cup, smiling at her adorable little girl.

Before she'd even finished her milk, Marian began to feel strange, with jabbing pains in her belly. The pains quickly grew in intensity, becoming agonizing spasms, as the muscles in her stomach cramped.

Annora watched, satisfaction giving way to guilt, as the color drained from Marian's face and she doubled over in pain.

"Don't you need to go to the privy?" Annora asked, anxiously.

"Tell Thornton to fetch Djaq," Marian whimpered, her breathing labored. "Please, take Ellie to her nurse."

As the pain intensified, fear gripped Marian's heart. "Robin!" she wanted to scream, longing for her husband as she began to panic, fearing the worst. "Please, Lord," she silently prayed, "don't let my baby die! Please!"

She was far too distraught to notice Annora not moving, staring at her with guilt struck eyes. And then, as another spasm of pain racked her body, Marian felt what she most dreaded, a warm wet gush flow between her legs.

Outside in the yard, Robin, returning home at last, leaped from his horse and ran into his house, when he heard his wife's heart rending cry.