Heavy black boots adorned with silver spurs beat a rapid pace along the flagstone floor of Nottingham Castle.
Sir Guy of Gisbourne could not locate the Lady Marian anywhere, and he was determined to question the person he believed had been the last one to have seen the noble maiden tonight.
The heavy timber door to Lady Sybille de Lusignan's bedchamber was shut tight, but Guy forced it open by shoving one strong shoulder against it.
"Guy!"
Lady Sybille was thrilled and excited by her lover's forceful entrance. She hastily dismissed her attendants, then turned glowing eyes on him once they were alone.
"This is a surprise," she said, her voice low and suggestive. "I did not expect to see you again so soon."
"Where is Lady Marian?" he demanded to know, ignoring her pleasantries.
Lady Sybille was taken aback. So, this was the reason for his surprise visit! She seethed inside, but hid her displeasure under a cool guise of detachment.
"Lady Marian?" she repeated, as though his question made no sense. "I assume she's in her room, of course."
"No, she is not," Gisbourne sneered. "Don't insult me. You were the last person to see her tonight. You will tell me where she is!"
He took a threatening step toward her, but Lady Sybille did not fear him. Instead, his dangerous gesture excited her.
She was not wholly lying to him. She truthfully did not have any idea where Marian was now. After she had failed at her attempt to push the young woman to her death, all because Robin of Locksley had appeared out of nowhere, swinging on a rope to rescue her, she had quickly retired to her bedchamber for the night.
Lady Sybille continued to meet Gisbourne's steely gaze. He was so sexy and masterful when he was angry like this! Desire for him flooded her, and she waited, breathlessly, for him to pick her up and carry her to the bed.
But he did not. Instead, he strode to her, raised one black gloved hand, and slapped her hard across her face. She fell, reeling to the floor.
She was in shock. The flesh on her cheek stung, and the area under her cheekbone felt displaced. Tears of pain and stunned surprise sprang to her eyes.
Gisbourne stood towering over her, his face almost ugly in its fury.
"Where is the Lady Marian?" he asked again.
"Guy! I don't know! Truly!" Lady Sybille was weeping uncontrollably. Never having been struck by a man before, she felt belittled and helpless.
"Perhaps this will jog your memory," Gisbourne hissed. He pulled an object from his coat, something Lady Sybille did not recognize, and slashed it hard across her face. She screamed in fear and agony.
The object he used to strike her was composed of a wooden handle with thin leather straps at one end. Embedded into the leather were bits of sharp metal studs with jagged edges.
A red bleeding welt began to rise on her cheek. Lady Sybille buried her face in her arms and cried aloud for mercy.
Gisbourne, cold and heartless, asked again, "Where is Marian?"
Not hearing a response except for pleas and continued cries for mercy, he dropped to his knees and yanked his lover up by the hair on her head.
"You will tell me where I can find Marian, or you will die in this room now, by my hands," he whispered into her face.
She was so frightened and hurt, she could not speak. She was gulping for air, choking on bile in the back of her throat.
"Whore!" Gisbourne bellowed. His left hand clutched the neckline of her gown, and he used his right fist to beat her face again and again. With each blow, her head swung from side to side with such force that she feared her neck would snap in two. Blood poured from her nose. He had broken it with his fist, as well as her jaw. One eye was displaced from its socket and she could do nothing but whimper.
At that moment, her door opened. Her husband, Sir Guy de Lusignan stood framed in the doorway, witnessing the brutal beating of his wife. He drew his sword and rushed at Gisbourne.
Immediately, Guy of Gisbourne dropped the injured woman and drew his own sword.
Sheriff Vaisey stepped into the doorway, raised his eyebrows in surprise, and asked snidely, "What happened Gisbourne, hmm? The leper Melusine wouldn't share her toys with you?" Eyeing the swordfight between the men, he cooed, "Ooooh! This is good! This is good! I hardly know whom to root for! Sir Guy, or Sir Guy?" Chuckling, he licked his lips, hoping one of the Guys would suffer a slow, painful death he could savor.