Guy of Gisbourne tensely led Lady Marian inside Locksley Manor, then pulled his sergeant aside to quietly sneer out an order. "Get the filthy slattern out of my bed, and out of the house. Make certain she is not seen."
"Yes, Sir Guy," his loyal sergeant agreed, fully understanding how important it was for Gisbourne to hide the wench from his unexpected guest.
During the men's exchange, which she made certain to overhear, Marian let her eyes scan the entrance hall of the manor, trying to hold her tumultuous emotions in check. This was Robin's house, she kept thinking, feeling anger well up within her. How Gisbourne revelled in having usurped the rightful Lord of Locksley to his family's estate!
Marian cherished memories of Robin growing up in this house, recalling how happy he had been living here. Not to mention, how happy he had made all those around him in his house and his village. She stopped her thoughts from admitting how extremely happy she used to be in this place, all due to him, and how eagerly she had looked forward to residing here as his wife.
Gisbourne had changed little in the house she remembered. Of course, the Huntington green and gold crests had been torn down and replaced with the black and yellow Gisbourne colors, but other than that, and the presence of Gisbourne's men, not much had changed.
So little altered, yet so very different everything seemed! The house even smelled wrong, stale and foul, despite the efforts of the servants to keep things fresh and clean, under Thornton's meticulous care.
Letting her thoughts dwell on all these things, Marian found her anger give way to sorrow.
But she bravely refused to allow herself to suffer. She had come here on a mission to retrieve Robin's clothing, only a small gesture, but one she hoped would help him. And that is what she needed to focus her mind on doing.
Without warning, her mind lost its focus, for she and Gisbourne received a sudden surprise. Robin himself appeared at the top of the stairs, cockily smiling down at them!
Clutching his arm, stood a woman with crumpled clothing and frousled hair. Gisbourne's slattern!
"Hood!" Gisbourne cried out. "Men! Get after him!"
"Good morning!" Robin called down jauntily. "Your men are indisposed, it would seem, Gisbourne. Much and I saw to that. But look what I found in my bed! Oh, good morning, Marian. I didn't see you."
"You're wearing trousers!" Marian blurted out.
"Why do you say that?" Gisbourne sneered viciously at her. "Have you seen him without?"
Robin laughed as Marian stumbled over her reply. "There was talk of him wearing nothing but his cape around his waist. Like a woman's skirt," she added, glaring furiously up at Robin.
"Speaking of skirts," Robin continued charmingly, "yours is very pretty, Marian." He began descending the staircase, escorting the trollop on his arm. "If I'm not mistaken, I'd say you're wearing the same gown you wore at the banquet celebrating my return. Rather formal, isn't it, for a breakfast meeting?"
"What Marian wears is no concern of yours, Hood," Gisbourne barked.
Sir Guy's nerves were on edge. There was no way to tell how many men Hood had brought with him. They must be all around, lurking just outside, awaiting their foul leader's orders.
Above all else, Gisbourne wanted to avoid Hood making him appear a fool in front of Lady Marian!
"Get out of my house, Hood," he threatened.
"Whose house? I should say the same to you, Gisbourne." Robin had reached them by now, and stood eye to eye with his enemy. "But enough debate. I, for one, am hungry! Looks like there will be four of us for breakfast. What are we having?"