Cantering on Vesper's back toward Lady Glasson's estate, Marian nearly turned her horse around to head back home more than once. Her head felt unusually light, and she wondered whether it was only her shorn hair, so cruelly chopped off for the Sheriff's amusement, or because her thoughts darted about in her mind like rapid swordpoints, making her feel so giddy.
"I need to see whether that woman is working out," she lied to herself. "After all, I wouldn't want to burden Lady Glasson with a lazy, ignorant, dishonest strumpet who won't do as she's told."
In spite of helping Robin by finding a place for his...his...his wench, (she was too well brought up to use the term "whore," even in her thoughts), she had no charitable feelings towards Annie. Robin had sent Will to ask if she could help them by securing a position for the young mother, and she had done her part, securing one as far away from Robin as possible.
She was still under the mistaken impression that Seth was Robin's child. Martin of Aylesbury's gossip had painted Robin as quite the satyr, and Marian was convinced that Annie was some woman he had picked up along his journey home from war, fathering a child upon her.
"He's made his choices...I've made mine. What does it matter if they're two different directions?"
Arriving at the wealthy widow's manor, Marian dismounted and was shown inside the house. She was pleased to be warmly greeted by Lady Glasson, a girlhood friend of her mother's.
"Ah! Marian! How lovely to see you! But, dear! Your hair! May I ask, child, what happened?"
"It is of no consequence. It will grow back."
"No, no, no. Tell me, please."
Lady Glasson took Marian's hands and led her to a seat, where she listened with motherly sympathy to the story of how Nottingham's Sheriff had punished Marian for feeding the starving villagers of Clun.
"Oh, my dear, you must be more careful! You mustn't repeat Robin's mistakes and anger your sheriff too fiercely. Think of your father! Think of your future! Give to the poor whenever you can, but do it wisely! Take care of yourself first!"
Marian smiled her little half smile, masking her thoughts. "Play it safe?" she thought defiantly. "Put myself first, while the poor are starving? I will not!" Still, she reminded herself she hadn't ridden all this way to argue with Lady Glasson.
"Madame, I came to thank you for agreeing to take on the woman I recommended. She needed a place. I don't know why, but apparently, her life was in danger working at the castle."
"Consorting" with Robin Hood had taken on a whole new meaning to Marian in this case. Shaking this wayward thought from her mind, she continued.
"I've come to make certain she pleases you. I wouldn't wish to burden you if she is not all she should be."
Lady Glasson smiled. "Why, Marian, she's a lovely young thing! Annie is quite a hard worker...very respectful and grateful for the opportunity to work for me. And such a devoted mother! I am very pleased with her, Marian. Would you like to speak with her, and see her child?"
Before Marian had a chance to answer, Lady Glasson summoned for Annie to be brought to them. In no time at all, Marian found herself facing the woman she believed had recently been Robin's plaything, and she tried to dismiss the bitterness in her heart as she watched Annie drop a graceful curtsey.
"Milady," Annie was saying, "Thank you again for finding a home for me and Seth. You were right when you told me Lady Glasson is a good mistress. We are very happy here!"
"I am very pleased to hear it."
Marian's cold standoffish tone contrasted sharply to the warmth in Annie's voice.
"Would you like to see Seth? He's napping now, but he's grown so since you saw him. And, if I may be so bold, milady, I would like to show you something else."
Marian pursed her lips tightly together, but nodded her head. Excusing herself from Lady Glasson, she unhappily followed Annie to the servant's quarters.
Her heart froze in her chest as she quietly stepped into the room where Seth lay sleeping. Robin's child! Robin's son! She looked into the sleeping face, feeling numb, yet remembering how wonderful it had felt to hold the squirming bundle in her arms.
"I am glad you are well here." She needed to get away. She couldn't breathe in this house.
"Here, milady," Annie whispered, so as not to wake Seth. "Here is what I wanted you to see!"
Annie handed Marian a miniature Saracen bow and quiver of arrows, fletched with Robin's signature striped feathers.
"What is this?" Marian asked, almost frightened.
Annie smiled proudly. "A gift from the outlaws. Isn't it funny? Will made it for Seth, but it was Allan's idea. Isn't it wonderful?"
Marian couldn't speak. She stared in painful fascination at the tiny Saracen bow and the striped feathers on the arrows.
"I must go," she said, finding her voice at last.
"Milady? Are you unwell?"
"I must go."
Summoning all her resolve, she walked, rather than ran, from the room. Returning to the main hall, she thanked Lady Glasson and asked for her horse.
"My dear, you can't be leaving so soon! You've only just arrived!"
"I must go," Marian insisted for the third time.
"But, my dear, please stay and dine with me."
"I cannot!"
Feeling extremely relieved to see Vesper being led to the front of the house, she quickly excused herself, mounted her horse, and rode furiously away.
Her heart and mind were numb with grief. Cruel, cruel, cruel world!
Her tears began to flow when she was a safe distance from the manor. "Grow up, Marian," she scolded herself. He was not worth all these agonized feelings. He was not worth all these sleepless nights. The only thing worth them were the people who needed her. She doubled her resolve to help them, even if it cost her her life. Sheriff Vaisey would have to do better than cut off her hair, if he meant to frighten her!
She made certain to avoid the forest on her way home. She definitely chose a different direction home than the one she had planned to take.