The Eternal Shadow

Chapter 64

LXIV

Marian wakes with a jolt.

"Guy?"

There's a sharp intake of breath to her left.

"Ooooo don't call me that – a man's got feelings you know."

Robin!

Warm feelings of relief flood through her but then as she realises she is in her bedchamber (and therefore so is he), the cold sweat she'd felt upon waking returns with a vengeance.

"What are you doing here? He'll kill you!"

The outlaw laughs long and loud, boldly moving to lay next to her, kissing her with smiling lips. She goes to shove him off; terrified of them being discovered like this, but he catches her hands and places them on his shoulders before moving in to press his lips to hers once more.

"No my love, he won't be killing anybody around here anymore, least of all me."

His eyes twinkle with mischief.

Her eyes narrow in suspicion.

"What are you talking about?"

"He's gone." Huge grin. "Up and left."

She clearly cannot believe it and it is with great relish that he delivers the next bit of news.

"Took his wife with him."

Wife!?

"He didn't waste any time your former fiancé, I'll give him that."

"Wife!?"

"It's true; Lady Francesca no less. Heard it from Thornton and he should know, he attended the wedding." He pauses to let her digest this, but is having too much fun with this to leave it long. "She was not only so good as to save your life, but also so kind as to take Gisborne off your hands in the bargain." He grins so large it must ache and Marian simply cannot believe it, won't allow herself for it surely cannot be possible.

"She saved my life?"

"He found out why you collapsed. Was ready to let you bleed out..." Robin's jaw sets in anger at the very thought but then softens, "She talked him out of it. He let Mary Lambert see to you."

"But surely he's told the Sheriff!" Marian panics. This is exactly what she feared upon collapsing – that Guy would find her out and seal her fate. That she lived showed he could be merciful, but how far would his mercy extend?

There is no way he would have kept it from Vaisey.

She moves to get out of bed, but Robin holds her down, worried that she will burst her stitches again.

"I must go to father..." she protests, but he shakes his head and holds firm.

"Shh... calm down..."

She continues to struggle, resistant to his attempts to soothe and Robin now understands why Mary had kept her sedated so long.

"Please Marian..."

Something about the way he is looking at her makes her stop wriggling and take notice.

"What is it?"

He is repressing a smile. He needs to go slow on this one. It's going to be a hell of a lot to take in.

"You can't go to your father right now because he's at the castle."

"Oh no! What does Vaisey want with him? Oh God, it's because of me isn't it? They know!"

A whole new round of struggling begins and Robin entreats her to listen.