Robin wanted desperately to scratch himself. The rough woolen monk's robe he wore as a disguise itched so fiercely, he wondered whether it was infested with mites so small they were invisible to the eye. He prayed it wasn't, not wishing to journey back to Sherwood with anything other than the young lady he'd come to Nottingham to rescue.
Robin knew Lady Cecily of Edwinstone very well, being a friend of her brother's, even before he'd fought alongside him in King Richard's Crusade. Stephen had fallen at the Battle of Acre. Robin had held his head and watched him die. And now, he vowed he wouldn't let anything befall Stephen's little sister, the fair Lady Cecily.
With all of Cecily's family deceased, the young woman had inherited her family estate, and Sheriff Vaisey meant to seize her lands and property for himself. Robin intended to stop him.
Cecily and Marian had never been friends, though Robin had never found fault with the young woman. The two ladies shared nothing in common save their age and rank to forge a friendship between them. Cecily thought of nothing but gowns, jewels, young men, and amusement, and Robin remembered Marian rolling her eyes and being bored in her company. What he didn't realize was that Marian resented the way Cecily always put herself forward whenever Robin was near. "Another foolish girl who thinks Robin of Locksley hangs the moon," she used to tell herself, scornful and slightly jealous.
Cecily had been to Court, and had dined and danced with Robin in the company of royalty. She excelled in all womanly, graceful accomplishments, and had always seemed worldly wise to Marian, having been married and widowed at a young age.
Robin's plan today was to pose as a priest and meet Cecily in the confessional, then lead her out the chapel to the safety of his camp. She had sent him word that she feared for her life, believing the sheriff meant to have her killed after he had failed to convict her of any crimes.
"Better to lose your holdings than your life," Robin believed. "Still, with me on your side, I'll see you keep both." He hoped Cecily would see reason and go willingly with him.
Quick, light footsteps beat a path to his hiding place in the confessional, and he hoped they belonged to Cecily.
"Yes, my child?" he asked, lowering his voice to a deep growl.
"Forgive me, father, for I have sinned. Please, can you shrive me?"
The lovely tones responding to his welcome did not belong to Cecily, but to Marian!
What to do? Reveal himself and enlist Marian's aid? He knew she would insist on helping him, and that was the reason he kept silent, and let her offer her confession.
He didn't want to mix her up in this. The getaway would be dangerous enough, with Cecily dragging her heels and possibly screaming. No, Marian didn't need to know he was here at all. Besides, he couldn't help but think how much fun it would be later to tease her by letting details of her confession slip out, making her wonder how he knew her secrets.
Gisbourne still remained locked in Vaisey's dungeon. Would Marian's confession involve him? Robin gritted his teeth and prepared to listen.