Lady Cecily took one small bite of Much's "chicken," then pushed aside her wooden trencher.
"I urge you to eat," Robin told her kindly. "It may be awhile until we're fed again, right, Much?"
Much looked offended. "It's perfectly good meat! Your Ladyship," he amended.
Lady Cecily was not about to venture another bite of that vile poison Locksley's man had served her. "Have you any swan?" she inquired.
What was to her a simple request was met with snorts and hoots from the outlaws.
"Swan?" Allan squawked. "Much, go fetch Her Ladyship some swan! And be sure to serve it on our finest silver platter!"
"Surrounded by imported dates and figs," Djaq scoffed.
"And not bein' funny, but no fartin' nor scratchin' yer flea bites whilst Her Ladyship partakes of her dainty repast."
Robin silenced the howlings of his men, commanding them, "Hold, men. Show the lady respect." Turning to Lady Cecily, he smiled an apology and said, "Forgive my men. They are unused to the company of ladies."
Allan's words had reminded him how desperately he wanted to scratch himself, for he had guessed correctly that his discarded monk's robe had been infested with tiny bloodsuckers, who had since taken up residence in his body hair. But he refrained from scratching, out of courtesy.
"But, Master!" Much objected. "We're used to Marian, and she never begs for swan!"
Robin angrily hushed his friend, frustration in his eyes. "Never endanger Marian by linking her name to mine!" he hissed, so quietly only Much heard him.
"Sorry! But, Robin, if you can't trust Lady Cecily, why did you bring her here?"
"I trust her. We just need to be careful, especially concerning Marian. Alright?"
Much grudgingly nodded his head and returned to his plate of roast squirrel. "Still," he muttered, as if to himself, "you're asking a lot to expect us to guard our tongues, when you'd do well to guard your own around Marian."
Robin strutted angrily toward his friend. "And what is that supposed to mean?" he asked.
Much gulped before replying. "I'm not saying anything! I'm not saying anything!" After a pause, he exploded, "You know what it means! You tell her everything, except what she wants to hear!"
"And what is that, Much? What does Marian want to hear from me, eh?"
"You know very well what she's been waiting for you to say!"
"I thought you were complaining I tell her too much! Now you're saying I'm holding back from her?"
"I'm not saying anything!"
Wishing to avoid what he considered a dangerous topic, Robin quickly dropped the subject. He finished his meal, then, trying to shake off his black mood, invited his men to accompany him to Nottingham to distribute last night's "earnings."
"Except for you, Djaq," Robin told the Saracen. "I need you to stay here with Sess, and look after her."
Djaq bit back objections, not wishing to argue with her leader. But Lady Cecily had no such qualms.
"Robin, must you leave me? I don't trust that filthy Saracen! Please, send the others away, but stay here with me yourself, for I'm frightened of your men, and these dreadful woods. Please, please stay."
She looked appealingly into his eyes, looking fragile and lovely. But Robin was fighting a dark mood that had descended over him when he'd heard Marian's confession, and he only grew irritated.
"Djaq will look after you. You've nothing to fear. But get one thing straight, milady. If anyone is filthy in this forest today, it's me."
Lady Cecily turned a distasteful expression on the giant's long, tangled, greasy hair, and on the young carpenter's black edged fingernails. Robin's nails looked dirty, too, but somehow, his did not offend her. She listened raptly as Lord Locksley continued his lecture.
"Saracens wash more often than Christians. So do Jews, for that matter. So, I'm asking you to apologize to my friend for your hastily spoken words. They were unnecessary, not to mention inaccurate."
"I offer my apologies," Lady Cecily said, almost humbly. "I have much to learn."
"Marian could learn a thing or two from her, couldn't she, Master?" Much crowed happily. Seeing Robin's angry stare, Much replied, "Please! What is bothering you today? If you're going to take issue with me, every time I mention you-know-who..."
"Much, shut up!" Robin cried. Almost immediately, he turned to his friend and apologized. "I'm sorry," he said. "I don't know what's eating me today."
"I know what'll cure you," Allan piped up. "Cure us all, in fact! Remember me mentioning Maggie? She can help you relax! What about it, Robin? Just this once?"
"No whores!" Robin insisted, then shook his head at himself. "Forgive me my tongue," he told Lady Cecily. "I promise to come back a better man this evening. Come on, lads. Time to spread a bit of happiness."
Robin led his men away, scratching himself furiously once he was out of Djaq and Cecily's vision. He knew the only cure for him would be to see Marian and talk to her, for he needed her now, though he couldn't explain the reason. He would seek her out, as soon as he and his men completed passing out the stolen money.