The Troubles from Monsters and Men (The Secret of Moonacre Fanfiction)

The Line Between Pretense and Truth

The waning winter morning covered the black carriage traveling out of Moonacre with frosty dew. Maria, Cat, Lizzy, and Jane sat inside. Henry and Richard manned the carriage while David and Robin rode on horseback alongside. They were going to split up at the fork. Robin and Maria would head down to Silverydew's port, while the rest would leave for London.
Before the trip, Robin had insisted Richard stay and rest. He was still incredibly weak and gaunt. barely managing to walk.
Richard was adamant, however, that he had rested for long enough. Then when they insisted he ride inside, he vehemently protested. He had spent far too long inside a room and wanted to feel the sun and wind. Ultimately, he won, and his friends lifted him onto the driver's seat. He and Jane were to return to Moonacre with Henry and David once they dropped off Lizzy and Cat.

Though Maria was talking to her friends again, her eyes lacked their usual affection, and her friends felt a wall had been built between them. They had hurt her, they knew it, and deserved her anger, but as they watched her, they wished she would talk to them. Something was clearly bothering her.
Maria sat stiffly, looking out the window with a distant gaze. She was deep in thought. Her shoulders were tense, and her leg was shaking, sending vibrations throughout their carriage.

Lizzy looked to Jane and Cat, jerking her head in Maria's direction, urging either of them to speak with her. After all, both Jane and Cat had done the least damage, they too had been in the dark until just a couple of weeks ago. Lizzy however was riddled with guilt. She allowed her feelings for Henry to muddle her rationality. She should have never kept any secrets from Maria. This was after all her world. Maria needed to know everything and had more right to the truth than any of them.

The carriage's shaking worsened and Maria began to bite her lips. With a nod of encouragement from Lizzy, Jane reached over and placed a hand on Maria's knee. "What's wrong?" she asked. "We have no right to ask after what we did, but we want to help. Something's clearly bothering you."

Maria pursed her lips. It was a matter of her disguise... she was wearing a simple green dress that could easily pass off as a traveling commoner, being a wife was just a matter of her behavior, but she still wasn't sure if that's what she would do. She had packed a couple of Sir Benjamin's old clothes, just in case she changed her mind.

She looked out the window and studied Robin. His black steed trotted proudly, a sharp contrast to its stiff rider. A few curls framed Robin's dark eyes which were currently focused on the road. His hands were clamped tight on his reins, leaving his knuckles white. His jaw clenched and unclenched.

His eyes turned to her and Maria looked away feeling flushed. She missed the concern that crossed his face.
Maria shook her head, then sighed. What was wrong with her? This was her friend, and for goodness sakes, she'd kissed the man already, many times now. This should not be affecting her as much as it was.

Then she turned to her friends. They were focused on her, concern written on their faces, still awaiting her answer.

Maria bit her cheek, wondering if she should confide in them. When she pushed aside her feelings and thought practically about their secret-keeping, she understood that knowing the truth wouldn't have changed much from the start. Sure, she would have been able to help Richard sooner, but that's about it. Robin swore they had spent every waking moment searching for Charles and Althea with little luck. If Robin, the gifted hunter and tracker, who was able to find young Maria with no clue but her name, couldn't find the escaped prisoners, it wasn't likely she could have done much better. Especially with how watchful Mrs. Watson and Sir Benjamin were over her. She hated to admit it, but she didn't think much would have changed.

She wanted to be petty and keep a few secrets from them as well, but that was simply her pride. When it came down to it, she needed their advice.
"We have an issue," Maria finally said breaking the silence. "I can't travel as a lady without a proper escort, so I'm disguising myself. I have two choices, but I still haven't made up my mind."