Before heading directly home, Robin paid a visit to the village of Clun, ensuring all was well among its residents. The company of these good, simple people helped to somewhat shake off the stain Isabella's filthy talk had cast over him, but it wasn't until he was home again, holding his wife in his arms, that he truly felt clean again.
Marian, still recovering from the effects of Isabella's poison, was asleep in their bed, softly snoring. Robin grinned, finding her snoring adorable. Without even bothering to kick off his boots, he climbed into bed beside her, wrapping her gently in his arms.
The taint of Isabella's company seemed to wash off him, as he basked in his wife's warmth. He filled his senses with the fresh, clean scent of her hair, the silky smoothness of her skin, and the incomparable loveliness of her ink black lashes above her creamy, rounded cheek. He felt an overwhelming desire to kiss her lips, moist and slightly open as she slept, but he settled for her hair, not wanting to wake her.
"I love you, Marian," he breathed, pouring out his heart to her, unaware he had spoken the words.
She stopped snoring, exhaled a small, contented sigh, then fluttered her lashes open as she pulled herself from her dream.
"You're back," she smiled, snuggling even more closely against him.
"Sorry to wake you, my love. Ellie's napping, too. The servants are beginning to complain. Not enough demands from the ladies of the manor, you know."
"The lord keeps them busy enough, putting his muddy boots on the beds."
"Oh! Sorry."
"Kiss me...no. Take off your boots first."
Happily, Robin obeyed. After removing his boots, he tucked a stray lock of her hair behind her ear, marveling at its softness, then kissed her so slowly, so deeply, she began shuddering with delight.
When the kiss ended, she lay back in his arms and confessed, "I had the most wonderful dream just now."
"Yes?"
She sighed again, nestling her cheek against his shoulder while her fingers played absently with the lacings on his shirt. "I dreamed we were at Knighton, taking Ellie to visit my father. It felt so real, it made me happy. I felt we were really there, with him."
Ever so gently, Robin tightened his arms around her, moved by her longing for her father. "He'd be so proud of you," he told her truthfully.
"And of you. And he'd adore Ellie."
Her eyes widened for just a moment, and an even brighter smile lit up her face. Without saying a word, she slid her husband's hands down her arms, placing them across her belly.
Robin grew excited, then euphoric, feeling the baby within her move.
"Someone else just woke up, it seems," Marian told him.
With tears in their eyes, they laughed joyfully together, sharing the beauty and wonderment their love had created.
Robin didn't care where Isabella was, so long as she wasn't under his roof, threatening the lives of his wife and child, or even the life of this precious unborn baby, who already seemed to want to make its presence known with will and determination.
"You see," Marian softly teased him. "This one's just like you, always wanting to be doing something."
"No sluggards in my family," Robin said with a grin, kissing her again.