The Heirs of Locksley (The Robin Hood Stories 2)

Mary still didn’t have a good answer for that. At least she had the excuse of unstringing the bow and putting away arrows rather than looking at her mother. Eleanor answered for them: she simply marched past them, making a broad gesture that was surprisingly eloquent in dismissing all of them and their nonsense.

Marian turned to the next in line. “John?”

John heaved a sigh. “Court politics is stupid,” he said, handed the reins of both horses to Mary, and followed Eleanor away.

Leaving Mary to offer any further explanations. They were all looking at her expectantly. “It might be better if you didn’t know,” she said finally.

“Really, Mary,” Robin said. “I would like to know.”

“Where did you get those horses?” Will Scarlet interrupted.

She worked to keep her voice steady. “From Sir William de Ros of Helmsley Castle.” She would never be able to explain, not in a thousand years.

“William de Ros!” Robin exclaimed.

“Yes, he is coming to see us tomorrow. Today, rather.” She looked skyward. Yes, it was today.

“You met William?” Marian said. “In the middle of the night, unchaperoned, doing God knows what—”

“Will, could you help me picket these two until Sir William comes for them?” Mary asked tiredly.

“Yes, of course.”

She handed the horses to the care of Will and his assistant, which gave her leave to try to get at least a little sleep before William arrived.

Astonished, her parents both said, together, “Mary!”

Mary continued through the camp, pausing to add over her shoulder, “I like him.”

* * *

William arrived late that morning. Everyone made excuses to come and get a look at him, except for Mary, who was in the back of the tent in a panic. Her mother tried to calm her.

“I must look terrible, my eyes must be bloodshot, and I’m sure my veil isn’t straight—”

“You are beautiful, my child.” Marian held her face and kissed her on the forehead. Mary couldn’t breathe before, but the touch settled her. “Now come be sociable.”

Her mother brought her to the camp’s forecourt, and had to give her only a little push to make her step forward, to her father’s side.

“My daughter, Lady Mary,” Robin announced to Sir William, standing properly before them. He looked very well in the daylight, which brought out golden hints in his light-brown hair, and his smile lit his eyes, which were blue. She hadn’t noticed the color of his eyes in the dark. He was neatly turned out in an embroidered coat, his sword at his side.

It was suggested that she and William go for a walk together, just around the meadow and back. So they did, side by side, with a polite space between them. All very proper.

Mary decided that William was right: she preferred the way they met, in a panic without worrying about saying the wrong thing.

“I hope you didn’t have too much trouble keeping those men off us,” she said in a rush, when they were out of earshot of camp. “I really hadn’t meant for you to get involved.” Mary took an extra look around, sure that John and Eleanor were creeping around trying to eavesdrop. She didn’t see them. Perhaps Mother had tied them to a bench.

“It was no trouble. By the time they got past me, you all were well away. I’m happy you all got back safely,” he said.

“We had a bit of trouble at the palace, but the king cut straight through it.”

“What good is being king if you can’t smooth out trouble?”

“Thank you for loaning us the horses. We’d never have got everyone through safely without you.”

“You’re very welcome. I like a bit of adventure.”

“Well, yes, it’s all right for you, a knight who is used to fighting—”